The TP-Link Deco XE75 Wi-Fi 6E AXE5400 is the first Tri-band Mesh router we have reviewed. The review is helping us understand the nuances of Wi-Fi 6E and the differences between how different brands handle Wi-Fi 6E mesh.

In TP-Link’s case, it is a Tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz router that uses the 6GHz band for mesh backhaul to the router. While it is great to use the uncongested and faster 6GHz band for backhaul, the trade-off is that the satellites need to be closer to the router, especially if the signal has to pass through walls, doors, cupboards etc.

Our tests confirmed that around 7 metres is the maximum satellite/router distance, but we still got acceptable results out to 10m.

An XE75 Pro is coming. The main difference is a 2.5GHz Ethernet port replacing one of the three Gigabit ports.

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed.

You can click on most images for an enlargement.

After reviewing the stylish art-deco shaped TP-Link Deco X90 AX6600 Mesh router is fast, very fast (review), I was a little disappointed in the more squat cylinder design. It is not ugly by any means, but I would not make a feature of it as I would the X90.

The 3-pack contains three identical devices. The one that you connect to the Internet becomes the router. The LAN port (there are three) you use automatically becomes a WAN port.

Download the TP-Link Deco App for Android or iOS, plug the first ‘router’ in, and once the LED flashes blue, the App takes over. You need a TP-Link account, and there are no overt privacy issues. The admin password is your account password. Nominate the SSID name, password, and give the first device a location like ‘office’. Voice assistants also use that location.

Adding a satellite is simple too. Power it up near the router, and the App finds and sets it up—ditto for a room. Once added, you can move the satellite to the new location and optionally use Ethernet backhaul simply by plugging in a cable back to the router.

The App does not have a satellite-to-router signal strength indicator, so be careful with distance. If a Satellite cannot mesh over Wi-Fi 6E backhaul, you may see a flashing Red LED.

The App is basic – it will list clients on the network or connected to each satellite. There is a scan function and channel optimisation (HomeShield free)

Like many brands, TP-Link has a 30-day trial of an optional HomeShield subscription protection package. The price is A$8.99 per month or $89.99 per year. The subscription includes (included in free and paid versions *)

As I used the system more, I came to see how TP-Link automatically does a lot of things – hence its simple interface. For example:

TP-Link claims up to 200 connected devices, and in theory, that is possible. But the reality is more like 30-40 if you have Wi-Fi-hungry devices like security cameras and 4K streaming.

Samsung S22 Ultra. -dBM – lower is better. Mbps – higher is better. Ms – lower is better. Maximum NBN speed is nominally 100/20.

Conclusions: The 6GHz band exceeds -60dBm (becoming unusable) before 10m, although it still has enough power to get the full NBN 100Mbp DL and UL speeds to drop off. The 5m through wall test proves that the 6GHz is best in line-of-sight.

This confirms our observations with the Netgear RAXE500 AXE11000, Wi-Fi 6E Router (network review).

We retested at 10m from the router, and the results were about 30% lower in Mbps and far longer ping times.

We tested a Wi-Fi 6GHz backhaul Satellite>Satellite>router, and while the satellite transmission speeds were identical, throughput on the furthermost away (15m) from the router dropped by about 30%. This is fine as it still matched NBN Speeds, albeit at 70-90ms ping times.

Conclusions: The satellites perform well using Wi-Fi 6E backhaul, but we recommend no more than 7 metres line-of-sight or 5m through walls, built-in cupboards etc. When you use Wi-Fi 6E backhaul, it dedicates approx. 360Mbps of the 6GHz bandwidth hence the difference between 5GHz 2401 and 6GHz 2014Mbps.

Ethernet backhaul gives 2401Mbps to the Wi-Fi 5 and 6GHz channels, reducing ping latency times.

In any case, all configurations could deliver close to the full NBN UL/DL, with the main difference being ping times.

Typically, 2.4GHz can span 30-40m line-of-site and does not lose much through walls. 5GHz at about 10-15m (losing about 20% through walls) and 6GHz at 5-7m. You will need extenders or a mesh system if you want whole-home coverage.

The limitation here is using Wi-Fi 6E backhaul, and our advice is to keep the satellites to 7m.

That means coverage is as follows

<7 metres>Satellite<7 metres>router<7 meters>satellite<7 metres> or 28m length x 14m diameter 392m2.

Now that is a little at odds with TP-Link’s 650m2, but remember that in Australia, the 6GHz transmit signal strength and 480MHz contiguous bandwidth is lower than in the US with 1200Mhz. That may change, and the Deco is firmware upgradeable.

Note: TP-Link states, ‘Deco XE75 is compatible with every other Deco model to form a Mesh network. Expand Mesh Wi-Fi coverage anytime by adding more Decos’.

We advise against mixing Wi-Fi 5 and 6 Deco devices on a 6E backhaul.

We have only tested the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 AX11000 router that costs more than the Deco 3-pack. It is not fair to compare AX11000 with AX5400. Nor will it be fair to compare the Orbi Quad-band RBKE963 router that costs $2799 for a 3-pack.

The good thing about the TP-Link Deco XE75 Wi-Fi 6E is that you get decent throughput, at least matching NBN 100/20 speeds from the router and its satellites. If you have line-of-sight, use the Wi-Fi 6E backhaul; otherwise Ethernet cable is best. That is our standard advice for any Mesh system.

And if Wi-Fi 6E is not part of your foreseeable future, look at TP-Link’s Deco Wi-Fi 6 range.

We have yet to rate any Wi-Fi 6E router because we have little to compare it.

We are happy to say there is no downside to other Deco XE75 Wi-Fi 6E Tri-band Mesh for medium-sized homes with up to NBN 100/20Mbps access speeds.

Affordable with a 3-year warranty

Either Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet backhaul or daisy chain etc

No signal strength meter for satellite connections

Use Ethernet if you plan to place satellites more than 7-10m from the router

Only one SSID for 2.4/5Ghz (a separate one for 6GHz)

Don’t mix older Deco satellites with this

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