Forum Discussion
mesh access point
So I just got the 5g home internet I'm trying to get the mesh access point to connect. I have excellent bars but the WiFi won't reach my entire house. I've tried to reset my router and mesh point. When promoted it won't connect via WiFi or Ethernet. On the t life app there's no tab for devices or to click to add new mesh access point. It only stays solid white. I don't know what else to do. Thoughts?
New TM 5G Internet user. So, as I understand, I have the new style 5G gateway and mesh unit. Gateway is white with LCD screen and mesh is white/round.
I could only get the Mesh to connect with the Gateway via an ethernet cable. Mesh setup failed 4 times before we gave up. The way to connect via ethernet is rather hidden. After an hour on the phone with kind and capable TM techs, I was a little frustrated at keeping track of everything we did, so I did not keep track of how the ethernet option became available. But it definitely was not a user friendly situation. I am thinking there was something from the home screen of the tlife app we had to select.
Also, TM can see if the mesh is operating. So even though my TLIFE mobile app was showing there was a problem with the mesh, TM said it was operating. The mesh itself was lit GREEN to confirm TM monitoring. Additionally, the increased internet speeds in the area were indicative of the mesh being operational.
TM also said the “new” mesh units do not get their own wifi access name, which apparently was true with the prior mesh unit.
In my situation, the mesh was/is located 2 walls and maybe 30' from the gateway. Probably another 30' away is my TV which receives a strong signal from the gateway. So, I am not sure what the issue is.
Try connecting using an Ethernet cable, and see if you can adopt it that way.
Once that’s working (assuming you don’t have Ethernet cabling to where you want the other AP (mesh unit) to broadcast, wired is ALWAYS a better choice, even generally if the AP is only partway to the desired location), try unplugging the Ethernet and moving it progressively further away from the Gateway.
There's a limit, around -60dBm or so, where things will fall off pretty fast, in terms of reliable connectivity (you can use a WiFI app on an Android device to test the signal strength at a given location). Even at <= -60dBm, you're getting half-signal, given the wireless backhaul. So, if you get say 100Mbps wireless throughput at the location of the AP, devices connecting to that AP will get a max of 50Mbps (that's 50 shared too, amongst any/all devices using that AP). Meshing is okay if it's the only option, but it's far from a perfect solution...
