Common Questions on TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 Wireless Router and Deco Products

Q1. What is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 is the upcoming Wi-Fi standard, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT). It works across all three bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) to fully utilize spectrum resources.

For more information about Wi-Fi 7, please refer to: What is WiFi 7?

Q2. Which wireless client devices support 6 GHz Wi-Fi?

6GHz Wi-Fi is supported on Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 products. Since Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are hardware-dependent, client devices manufactured before 2020 is not likely to support 6GHz Wi-Fi. Here are some common wireless client devices that support 6GHz radio:

Common 6GHz Wireless client devices

Note: The above list might not include all devices vendors or models that support 6GHz and there will be more in the future. To make sure that the device is 6GHz capable, it is recommended to refer to the official website of the end devices or contact the device vendor.

The following takes Intel’s AX211 network adapter as an example for reference, you may find the bands 6GHz in the specifications:

Q3. Which wireless client devices support Wi-Fi 7?

Since Wi-Fi 7 is hardware-dependent, client devices manufactured before 2022 are not likely to support Wi-Fi 7. Currently, only several new smartphones support Wi-Fi 7 and there will be more in the future. To make sure if your device supports Wi-Fi 7 or not, it is recommended to contact the device vendor or check the device specification on the vender official website.

Q4. What should I do if I cannot see or connect the 6GHz Wi-Fi of my Router or Deco?

Please refer to the instruction here for troubleshooting: Can’t find or connect to 6GHz Wi-Fi?

Q5. Will my old phones and laptops work with a Wi-Fi 7 router or Deco?

Yes, Wi-Fi 7 products have 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless radio as well. Your old phones and laptops can still connect to the traditional 2.4GHz or 5GHz band. But if you want to connect your client device to 6GHz wireless signal, please make sure your client devices are 6GHz capable.

Q6. Can the two ports of the Combo Port (RJ45 and SFP+) be used at the same time?

No, the two combo ports cannot work at the same time. When one of the ports is being used for data transfer, the other port will become inactive and will not be able to transmit or receive data.

Q7. Can I still use my older Deco units after getting a Wi-Fi 7 Deco?

Yes, all Deco products are designed to work together. You may add a Wi-Fi 7 deco to an existing network first and then setup the Wi-Fi 7 deco as the main node for your network. This will allow your most powerful node to manage your network while providing high-speed backhauls to satellites and devices.

How to Setup the Satellite Deco to be the Main Deco

Please note that the MLO network is only available on the Wi-Fi 7 Deco because other Wi-Fi 6/6E models don’t have MLO capability. Some other features such as MLO, or Signal/ Band / Node Preference require compatible firmware for models across your entire network.

Q8. I have a broadband subscription of over 1Gbps, why is the speed of my PC still lower than 1Gbps even when I am using the 10G port on the Router?

There are a few things that you may check to troubleshoot and identify the cause of your slowed connection:

1) First, make sure the Ethernet Adapter of your PC supports over 1Gbps.

2) Confirm that you are receiving 1Gbps+ from your ISP by connecting your PC directly to the modem,

3) Check the physical link speed between the Router and your PC:

How to check the associated/link speed on a wired client

4) We also recommend using a CAT6 or above Ethernet cable to achieve speeds over a gigabit.

5) Check your Quality of Service (QoS) for any settings or high-priority devices.

Q9. Will the MLO network improve my wireless performance?

It depends on the MLO type of the client, if it’s 2G+6G STR MLMR, then the performance might not raise a lot; If the client supports 5G+6G STR MLMR, it will raise the performance than pure 6G connection a lot.

Q10. How do I use and connect the SFP+ port?

We recommend that you use an optical module (SFP+ LC Transceiver) + optical fiber to connect the SFP+ port to ensure compatibility with the SFP+ port. Currently, we don’t recommend using DAC copper cables to connect to the SFP+ port.