Customer Ratings & Reviews

I am a big fan of Deco systems and the Deco BE65-Outdoor is one of the best options for getting Wi-Fi 7 in tough environments. I had owned an older TP-Link Deco system for years and it was rock solid, but when I got fiber internet I noticed I was not seeing much of an improvement in overall network speed. Stepping up to a newer indoor Deco Wi-Fi 7 system increased overall network speed significantly (4K-QAM and MLO work great), but I still wanted better coverage in my garage and backyard. I love my Deco system (the app is great) and I have waiting for the BE65-Outdoor to come out since it was announced! I consider the older outdoor model, but I really wanted the interference resistance of Wi-Fi 7 in my crowded neighborhood and I am glad I waited. I now have great speeds and perfect connections in my garage and at the very edge of my yard (it eliminated artifacting due to low connection speeds on my Wi-Fi security cameras mounted on the far corner of my garage). --- Pros ---> 1. Easy to install and versatile wall/pole mount bracket. I was able to use the bracket pole mounts slots to mount the router to my garage pegboard using zip ties (very secure and easily moved if needed). Connecting cables thru the weather tight bottom base/cap is very simple (it has a twist lock that requires no tools to remove/re-install). 2. IP65 rated (humidity and dust proof) and an ambient temp rating of -22F to 140F make it perfect for bringing Wi-Fi to my open frame detached garage (no insulation/climate control near Houston, TX). We have already seen temperatures in the mid-90s since installing the unit and it has not had any issues (although it gets pretty warm). I am considering using the supported POE (power over ethernet) feature (over the internal power supply) to see if it helps reduce heat generation. 3. Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, & 6Ghz). My main Deco node in a newer dual-band (2.4Ghz & 5Ghz) Wi-Fi 7 Deco unit, so I am missing out on some of the advantages of this tri-band router (6ghz), but they still work great together. Even if there aren't many devices that use the 6Ghz band yet, Wi-Fi 7 features like MLO (multi-channel link) and 4K-QAM (which improves bandwidth usage and resist interference) are a big advantage over older Wi-Fi 6E systems that can only use one band at a time. The cost difference between the the new deco outdoor dual and tri-band units is not significant and tri-bands systems like this are less likely to have interference (at least for now) and gain additional bandwidth on the 6Ghz band. The Deco app, has features for minimizing channel interference and managing 6Ghz band competition (AFC). 4. One of the best features of any deco system is the easy to use app. The Deco app has a variety of tools for setting up and monitoring your network via your iPhone or Android (I have both). It makes it very easy to check the signal strength to each Deco (the BE65-Outdoor will even give you an exact signal strength reading in dBm) , check internet speed, set passwords, enable a guest/MLO network (including a separate 6ghz band), set connection preferences between device or nodes, add/update nodes, and get important notifications (like new device connection alerts). Due to concerns related to thieves using Wi-fi jamming, I set Deco to send an alert if any of my Ring security cameras goes offline. I also have all of my kids devices set up in the basic parental controls section, so I can disable them if needed (you can also set content filters, bedtimes to disable devices for one period during the day, and monitor the sites they visit). --- Things to Consider ---> 1. Overall I like the simple look of the Deco unit and I think it should blend into the background in most applications. I like that you can disable the status LED or set time ranges when it is on/off. One thing that I wish it had was some form of cable routing as cables leaving the weather seal are angled down toward the base and hard to hide (not a big deal in my situation, but it detracts from the clean look of the unit). 2. Still a work in progress for me, but Deco recommends and I plan on implementing a wired backhaul for some of my network nodes (my house has an older CAT5 distribution system that needs some work). Wired backhaul is a great feature that Deco supports and can significantly improve network performance (wireless backhaul rarely gets anywhere near quoted speeds in real world conditions).

This Deco mesh router is impressively built, with one of its standout features being its suitability for outdoor use. While the device is quite tall, don’t let its size fool you, it’s surprisingly lightweight. It supports Wi-Fi 7, as well as Wi-Fi 6E, 6, and older standards, and operates across three bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. Setup was quick and straightforward using the TP-Link Deco app, which automatically detects the device. Just follow a few simple steps, and you’re up and running. The app itself is intuitive and user-friendly, yet it offers a wealth of advanced settings for power users. It was a pleasant surprise to find some features typically found in gaming routers. This unit is rated to cover up to 3,000 square feet. My home is around 2,000 square feet, so instead of placing it outdoors, I installed it in my garage mancave, which is located on the far side of the property. Even with the router enclosed in a cabinet, I experienced strong signal strength and fast speeds throughout the house. The only noticeable drop in performance occurred when using the MLO (Multi-Link Operation) network when far away from the router. With my gigabit fiber connection, I was consistently getting around 800 Mbps wirelessly, something I couldn't achieve with my Google Wi-Fi Pro mesh system. Designed for outdoor installation, the router includes a sealed bottom cover that protects the dual 2.5Gbp Ethernet ports and power adapter connection. The rubber gasket ensures weather resistance, and the included approximately 8 foot power cable is durable, though a bit stiff. Mounting hardware is also provided for wall installation. Despite being an outstanding outdoor mesh router with excellent performance and features, the $300 price tag for a single node is difficult to justify. Overall, I’m very pleased with this router not just for its outdoor capability and Wi-Fi 7 support, but for its consistent speed, reliability, and seamless setup. It integrates easily into an existing Deco mesh system. In the box you get the router, power and Ethernet cables, mounting bracket, zip tides and manuals.

The Deco BE65-Outdoor (part of the BE11000 Whole Home Mesh WiFi 7 System) is a well designed outdoor access point with great performance. Design I like the sleek, white cylindric look. It has some weight to it, making it feel very solid. The sealing of the wires going into the access point and the mounting hardware included are great. I was especially impressed with the seal design for the power cord and one or two Ethernet cords. I'm only using the power cord, connecting it wirelessly to the rest of my Deco 11000 Mesh network. It has two, 2.5 Gbps, Ethernet ports along with the power cord port. They're all accessible through the base. It can also be powered using Power over Ethernet on either of the two Ethernet ports, so you don't need to run power to it separately if you're connecting it to a PoE Ethernet port. Again, I connected via wireless so I used the power cord. See the attached pictures showing the ports, seal, and mounting hardware. Setup The setup of this access point couldn't be easier, since I already had a Deco network. I just connected it to power, opened my the Deco app on my phone, and it asked me if I wanted to add the BE65-Outdoor to my mesh network. Then I named it giving it a name based on where it is on my property. Usage My home network already included three DE65Pro Mesh Access Points, also part of the BE11000 Mesh network, before adding this. That was almost enough to get the garage well. While I had some data coverage in the garage, it was pretty weak unless you were in just the right spot. Now I have the BE65-Outdoor in my shed, and then one of the BE65Pro access points in the garage, and it provides excellent coverage all over the garage, around 100 Mbps up/down or more everywhere, which is excellent with the old, metal, siding it has. One of my garage door openers has a 1080p camera on it. Before it worked but was very slow to load and sometimes had issues connecting. Now it loads quickly and has great signal strength. I'm very happy with the BE11000 Whole Home Mesh WiFi 7 System. The BE65-Outdoor is designed to be compatible with other network devices and WiFi systems as well. Deco App The app makes it easy to manage your network and see devices that are connected to it. It also lets you see which AP is connected to which AP in your Mesh network. By default they are set to select this automatically. You can turn "Auto" off for one or more APs, and select which AP it should connect to, putting you in control. I played with that a bit but found that it worked fine on Auto. Summary If you're looking for an easy to use WiFi Mesh access point to use outside, the BE65-Outdoor is a great solution. It was simple to add to my BE11000 WiFi 7 Mesh network, is easy to manage with the Deco app, and is working great!

I have been using and loving the Deco BE16000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System with Multi-Gig (3-Pack) router for about a year now and it’s been a very reliable and powerful system. With this TP-Link Deco Wi-Fi 7 Mesh system I get Wii-Fi downloads/uploads in the low 900 Mbps, pretty much anywhere in the house and around 500 Mbps in the driveway but slower speeds in the backyard and down to one line signal behind the shed and the corners of the property. I was even considering building a weatherproof enclosure and move one of my indoor Deco’s outdoors but luckily I didn’t have to do that and got the new Deco BE65 Outdoor BE11000 Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router. The setup is as simple as they come, just plug it in, install and run the Deco App for Android or iOS. I already had the App which is very well developed, intuitive, feature rich and offers tons of information such as daily usage and security reports, etc. There are also additional advanced security and parental control features that you can subscribe to at reasonable monthly/yearly rates. The BE65 unit is well designed to withstand the outdoor elements. The bottom rubber seal has a clever upside-down design with tight cutouts for the AC power cord and two Ethernet cables. I only tested it with AC power in the rain, but I plan to use the Power over Ethernet capability when I get a chance to dig a trench for the cable to a tree in my backyard. That would also provide the best performance as wired backhaul is the recommended setup. Either way, I now get around 500 Mbs downloads in the furthest corners of my yard. As about the physical build, it’s a smaller white cylinder than my quad-band BE16000’s but it feels heavier and has a very solid build quality. It’s probably because the power supply is built-in, not external. It also came with multiple mounting options, so you can attach it to a flat wall or a pole, or you could simply just put it on a flat surface, like a shelf in your shed. In conclusion this is exactly what I wanted for outdoors coverage and I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking to expand their Wi-Fi outdoors.

Now, when I mean WIFI everywhere, I mean everywhere near your home. No more dead spots and great speeds. I have been using the TP-link Deco BE16000, and it’s been working out great, but I did run into a bit of an issue with the WIFI signal reaching my outdoor cameras. Enter the TP-Link Deco BE65 with WIFI 7. The TP-Link Deco BE65 is an outdoor WIFI 7 mesh extender that can be used with any TP-Link Deco model to provide you with that extra coverage, 3,000 sq. ft to be exact, along with ridiculously fast speed with WIFI 7 speeds up to 11Gbps, depending on your service. This unit is meant to be used outdoors, so yes, it is IP65 water and dust proof, it’s a Tri-band unit,2 multi-gig POE ports, connects to 200 devices and my favorite, comes with a ridiculously long AC power supply cord. The setup process could not be any simpler. Plug the unit in, wait for the blinking light to turn blue. Open the Deco app, click the “+” symbol in the app. The app starts looking for the unit and in about 30 seconds the unit is pretty much ready to use. The app also guides on how and where to place the unit in terms of mounting the unit outdoors. The unit can be placed on the wall or pole with everything provided. I set up the unit in my garage and no longer have an issue with my outdoor camera signals. I will also be getting another unit for my backyard. Overall, I am very pleased with the TP-Link Deco BE65. It’s a super simple solution for better coverage and better WIFI speeds indoors and out.

It is 2025 so the ability to connect up to 200 devices is great when I recently realized that I alone have about 50 devices that need an internet connection to work properly. Small gaming devices, laptops, tv streaming devices, and more. At any given time 3 guys are in the home with a bunch of gaming devices so this will be helpful during the holidays. My pitfall was getting one Deco device instead of multiple so that I can take advantage of the AI learning mesh network. My understanding is that as I roam through the house that my devices and the Deco device will communicate with each other to optimize the best internet. Since I only have one it probably only detects my device as I approach to device. The install to the post was easy but be sure to invest in a longer ethernet cable so you can take advantage of the reach and capabilities of the router. Overall it is a great compliment to my home network and can't wait to being able to roam around outside without compromising my internet reach.

I have to say I've probably had way more than my fair share of wireless routers over the years, that and I am a network engineer by trade of 20 years, so suffice to say I know what I'm doing with these devices. That said, this device was far harder to set up than should have been. This move away from truly configurable devices to these cloud managed things that present very little directly configurable settings to the user is not helping anyone, and this seems to be a trend across the consumer wireless router industry (and across IT as a whole, but I'll leave that alone for now). Packaging: To start, the packaging is actually decent, it's nestled in a recycled cardboard package inside the telltale Deco blue box, comes with a 3 prong cord (outdoors after all, needs to be grounded), a network cable, and a few different methods to mount it to things (pole, wall, etc). All in all it's reasonable for what the device is. Setup: Here's where things get interesting. I've owned 3 different Deco systems in the past and at least 6 different TPLink WIFI routers of various kinds and this is really the first to cause me any real trouble. When adding it to my existing BE16000 network, it would not be seen, not for any reason. I tried manually connecting to it during the detection portion, I rebooted my phone, my existing deco network, reset it with the pinhole on the bottom (which by the way if you "long hold" on that, the light just eventually turns red and the device is unresponsive until you power cycle it, it does not complete a true reboot on a long hold of the reset button) nothing worked. If I was connected to it and went to the web page prior to completing setup it just referred me back to the deco app to complete setup (see earlier comments about cloud managed being useless). I opened a case with TPLink and they gave me a canned response that was literally word for word the exact thing the App told me when I couldn't add it to the network and was complete irrelevant to the issue at hand. I responded to them and have yet to hear back. So eventually I had the bright idea to plug it in as a separate and 'new' network, set it up as a standalone network, figuring that once it had internet access maybe it would download a firmware update and it would start working as a mesh unit to my existing setup. Well... that's partially true. It did complete the setup process as a standalone device, but after that it appeared to lose internet connectivity (despite having it during setup, explain that), and never regained it, even after multiple reboots. So I reset the device (again) with a paperclip and put it back into setup mode. I then returned to my original network and attempted to add it, which strangely enough worked. I think during the standalone setup it must have downloaded an update which corrected the issues. Use: I mean, it extends my Deco network outside, I'm pretty happy with that as my house has thick walls and I have very poor network reception outside, so this is a huge help. In general I have not been thrilled with the stability of the BE16000 series and considering this is just an additional node on my existing network, I guess we'll see if it is any more or less stable than my already existing units, but at least at first blush it appears fine, now that it is set up. Last words: Cloud related stuff is not the life saver that all these companies broadcast that it is. This device was difficult to set up for someone with decades of experience, so I can only imagine that a novice who expects a plug and play experience and does not receive one will just return it to the store and pick a different vendor or let their ISP supply the device so they dont have to set it up themselves. Recommended? At this stage, I cant really, setup difficulties, jumping through hoops, etc just to get it working... I guess if you're already running a Deco set and NEED an outdoor unit then it is probably worth it, just expect it not to be the plug and play experience they want you to think it will be.

Wireless mesh inside and out!!! Easy to setup. Added to the main system with no issues

I have property that I like to monitor with wireless cameras. The camera router does not have a strong enough signal to cover necessary outside distances. This router has extended my signal on my property so that I can utilize several cameras. It was easy to install, and I have a very strong signal to the outdoor cameras that are several feet away.

Setup easily with the app and connected right off with my existing TP-link Mesh system......

An excellent unit. The backhaul is fast. It integrated nicely with my other Deco APs. The weatherproofing is solid.

It works great and go great with my other to link mesh WiFi and completes my WiFi network. I would recommend and the help Best Buy gives me every time with correct information to help me make an good decision is priceless

Works amazing, client had issues getting Internet outside through the hurricane safe doors. This product has made for them to be fully functional outside.

This mesh node extends wifi across my whole yard with high speeds

Routers and range extenders today are a dime a dozen where it is difficult to distinguish what you really need. TP-Link has definitely set out to check all the boxes here though as they have covered the entire gamut of use cases with this product! First right out of the box the premium build quality is evident in its robust design, particularly with the IP65 weather resistance, ensuring it can withstand dust and water, making it genuinely suitable for all-season outdoor use. However, it also has that refined look that would combine well with any upscale interior decor you may have. The mounting was especially convenient as it includes a bracket that can be mounted for a variety of use cases. Performance is right on par with the build quality as it again hits everything you could need from a performance standpoint. Its standout feature from a performance standpoint is undoubtedly the Wi-Fi 7 support, which puts out speeds up to 11 Gbps across all three bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz). When streaming in 4K everything was extremely smooth and then while gaming I was completely lag-free. Also the inclusion of two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports is a big plus since it allows for high-speed wired connections or if you're integrating it into an existing network. Then the power over ethernet support is also a convenient feature, simplifying installation by allowing both data and power to be delivered through a single cable. What makes this unit particularly versatile is its dual functionality. It can operate as a standalone router, providing a complete Wi-Fi network as the primary internet connection if you're running directly from a modem. Alternatively, it excels as a mesh unit. It seamlessly integrated with my other TP-Link Deco router setup as I had a current dead spot in my indoor pool area and this fit the bill perfectly, especially with the waterproof component. Overall, this router offers Wi-Fi 7 performance, robust outdoor durability, and flexible deployment as either a standalone router or a component of a mesh network. Its strong feature set, including weather resistance, multi-gigabit Ethernet, and power over ethernet makes it a perfect choice either as a standalone router or for extending your current network and thus I would highly recommend it!

TP-Link’s BE-65 Outdoor is the outdoor version of the BE-65 Pro, bringing tri-band WiFi 7 and IP65 rating together. What does TP-link bring to the table beyond some rubber seals? Let’s dig in. Out of the box, you’ll find the BE65 fairly unassuming at first. There is a 10ft power cable and an oddly short 6ft Ethernet cable. On first inspection of the unit, you’ll find no external ports. Instead on the bottom of this thermos shaped object, is a rotatable rubber clad cover. This rotates to reveal the bottom of the device cavity, where dual 2.5Gb ports, and AC power connects are. A flexible rubber gasket has grooves for 3 cables: one for each Ethernet port and one for the power cable. Once a cable is routed, the bottom screws back on with a quarter turn locking everything in place. This is essentially the basis of the IP65 rating, keeping the rather sensitive ports well protected from the elements. This is the essence of the BE65 Outdoor. Its secured enclosure allows mounting in the elements. This is a great type of device for anyone trying to bring WiFi to a larger yard, or property that would otherwise tail off. Mounting WiFi outdoors is almost always better than in home due to the reflective nature of WiFi signals. The closer your WiFi router is to walls, objects, and anything that reflects radio waves, the more noise, and issues the WiFi signaling has to deal with. Putting it away from all this means that beam forming, and other more advanced tech to operate at peak performance. Of course some of this is academic, as my outdoor installation wasn’t quite ready when I wrote this review, but no doubt this device can handle the target weather. For those attempting to power this device in more remote areas, I would highly recommend PoE. The native support for standard PoE with this device means that you can run a Cat 5E or 6 cable, and with either a PoE switch, or in my case a recycled UniFi PoE injector, you can power the router without a power cable. This means you can run a simple low voltage wire, wherever you need, and both provide a high speed back haul, and power from a single cable. The 2.5Gb Ethernet does work as intended, easily maxing out my 1.2Gb internet connection and allowing me to hit over 150MB/s transfer to my NAS. Keep in mind this is also NATing in router mode (as I’m testing this unit double NAT’ed while I’m waiting for another BE65 to complete my mesh network). This unit does support being used in AP only mode, which would probably increase the performance even higher. Speaking of AP mode, the TPLink Deco app is fairly easy to use. I’ve used several other manufacturers mesh apps to various ends. Some push too far into traditional router depth, while others keep to too easy mode. I found the Deco app to be closer to the easy mode, but also offer some depth of configuration. MLO settings, and AFC 6Ghz are exposed, and the app is good about prompting for potential issues or optimizations. That said it took 4 tries to get AFC to establish a 6GHz channel. For those of you that don’t know, AFC is Automatic Frequency Coordination, and is required for outdoor 6Ghz operations (as some of the bands can be in licensed use in your area). The app offers 4 main sections: Internet, Security, Parental Controls, and More. More is where you will find the majority of normal settings and tweaks you’d expect. WiFi networks, guest networks, IoT networks, and VPN settings are found here. Parental controls are nifty, with individual user profiles tied to devices. These profiles allow you to specify things like ‘bedtime’ where the internet is blocked for that profile in a time range. It offers ‘At Home’, which is free and based on the capabilities of the device, and ‘On the go’ which promises to deliver centralized management of internet and screen time usage no matter where a device is connected. It does this through TPLink’s KidShield app, which is free in beta. I believe this will be a VPN style connection that can be managed from TPLink’s cloud. The Parental Controls that are build in the ‘At home’ mode are pretty basic, with the more advanced (like screen time control) hiding behind a paywall. Overall these are helpful features, but nothing you won’t find from competitors. Security provides a scan of potential security issues. Most of the settings here are applications of VLAN tagging (at least that’s based on what I’m seeing in descriptions). Network Isolation keeps devices from talking together on the network; allowing things like IoT devices to do their jobs without having access to the rest of your network. There is a list of ‘Cameras’ which allow you to specify devices that shouldn’t have access to the network, but should be accessible (preventing those cameras from ‘leaking’ on the Internet). WiFi mac blocking is also found here, along with a security report that provides basic things, like analysis of WiFi password strength. The device also supports both VPN clients and hosting a VPN server. Each of these use cases are valid, with VPN clients allowing you to route all your internet traffic to a VPN host, avoiding your ISP’s snooping eyes. The VPN Client supports big names like NordVPN, Surfshark, IPVanish and PureVPN. It also supports industry standards like WireGuard, OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec. The VPN Server can host using WireGuard, OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec. I didn’t have a VPN to test with, but the L2TP/IPSec seemed to work as a server just fine. Using AP Mode disables much of these features - focusing on raw bandwidth through the device as an access point. Switching is pretty easy, and I found that in AP mode, performance was similar. Speaking of performance, the 6GHz band, with line of site was providing 900Mbs easily enough. I was able to peak out SMB transfers at around 120MB/s (similar 900Mbs). Moving a few walls and rooms over I was seeing 400-600Mbps. The 5Ghz network was similar in that it provided 600Mbps line of sight, and around 300-400Mbps 30ft away with a couple walls. Overall these aren’t bad speeds for 2x2 MIMO. I did not try to use MLO, because that kill compatibility with older devices. Internet wired at 2.5Gb was able to hit my 1.25Gbps fiber up and down. Overall, I found the BE65 outdoor to be ready for its mission. The inclusion of PoE here at this price point is amazing. Running a single cable to a remote station like this is a great bit of flexibility you don't’ always see in consumer grade devices. The app, while limited, was still quite solid and hit on all the high points. While I wish the parental controls, and the security could be a bit more transparent and not tied to extra services, the basics here do hit most people’s needs. I’m excited to continue to build out my mesh network with outdoor units!

TP link has a lot pf feature limitation. I was hoping I could do a Wifi to Wifi repeater mode but i suppose the hardware doesn't have the power to do that, so the web ui had no option to do so. For the price is not justified. You can get an industrial grade extender with more features for same or less.

I just added the TP-Link Deco BE65 Outdoor BE11000 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 Router to my home network: I was looking for better Wi-Fi coverage on my back deck area. Im a fan of working outside in nice weather and do it every chance I get, but I need a reliable to make calls in MS Teams and keep productive, I needed something that just worked. Performance and Reliability Outdoors: I installed the Deco BE65 Outdoor unit and my outdoor connection is now dramatically better. Equipped with IP65 weatherproof rating, the device can work well under the harsh outdoor conditions to keep working 'under the weather’. The router provides tri-band Wi-Fi speeds covering 2,800 sq. ft., plenty big to surround my deck and backyard. Integration and Experience: It was a cinch to connect the Outdoor Deco BE65, thanks to the Deco app. The app walked me through installation and gave me the mounting versatility I desired — wall, pole or tabletop — to fit my outdoor space needs. (I chose wall) After adding to my previous Deco mesh, no matter where I am or how large my home is, TP-Link’s Deco P9 always ensures that I’m working without any interruption and at same speed (which is a very important thing when there are video calls and online collaboration). Further Functions, Features and Security: This router also supports Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and concurrently sends and receives data on multiple bands, increasing your throughput and reducing your latency. This feature is very useful when multiple devices are connected, guaranteeing smooth and high quality connections. Furthermore, TP Link’s HomeShield feature ensures that your network is safe at all times, complete with real-time IOT protection and parental controls. Conclusion: If you need to expand your Wi-Fi connection to an outdoor space, the TP-Link Deco Outdoor BE11000 remains a good option. It is a high-speed performance and weather-resistant solution for connectivity.

So, I got this because I really wanted to extend my TP-Link EasyMesh system outside. I get wifi outside, but it can be a bit temperamental and spotty. Having a mesh node outside seemed like it could solve all my problems. However, just because it's TPLink, and because it's a "Mesh" system, DOES NOT mean it will work with your existing TP-Link Mesh system. It's actually a bit frustrating and confusing. This also defaults to Router mode, meaning it expects to be connected directly to a modem, and all other devices connect to this for internet access. I don't know who wants their outdoor access point to be a router, but TP-Link seems to think that is a need, so that's how this defaults. Once you set it up, you can change it to Access Point mode. But AP mode is not the same as mesh, which is even more frustrating. A device in Access Point mode acts with it's own wifi settings (SSID, password, etc...) and does not communicate with other APs or Mesh modes. That means a separate SSID and wifi signal, and connection needs to be managed at each client (phone, laptop, doorbell, etc...) device, as opposed seamlessly by the mesh network. Those frustrations aside, it has two ethernet ports, and a 120v power port (meaning it has an integrated power supply, e.g. no power brick to worry about). It also supports Power-over-Ethernet, so if you have a router or switch that supports that, getting power to this is super easy. Otherwise, you can get a PoE injector, so you only need to run one low-voltage wire to this AP. The connectors seem to be well-sealed through a gasket at the bottom (remember to pull up the rubber plug to run the wires through!), so intrusion of weather shouldn't be a concern. Mounting is also easy, as this has a mount that can be strapped or screwed to a pole, and then this just slides on. It doesn't "lock" into place, still feels secure for most installations. It's speed and reliability seem very good, and definitely nothing to complain about. But, this makes a better access point than as a member to ANY mesh system. Hopefully TP-Link can issue a firmware update to make this compatible to at least EasyMesh, but until then, this has little compatibility with existing mesh systems.

The TP-Link Deco BE65 Outdoor BE11000 Tri-Band Mesh system is a well thought out and put together system with its IP65 rating. Start up and connection was one of the easiest I have come across. Although I do not have a current TP-Link mesh system I have this set up as a separate outdoor network which has worked well, but is not seamless in my case. If you own a TP-Link system it would make much more sense. I am getting consistent speeds of 944 download and 557 upload through my fiber ISP, enough for every task outside. I will really enjoy the POe once I get that set up since I have wired access outside. I will have the freedom to locate this away from an outlet as long as I have a cat cable, which I do. The app is very user friendly and has a ton of great features, the parental controls are great. It will very easily connect to other TP-Link branded items from the app and will even look for them. I have connected several other wi-fi items with no problems. It is also home compatible with the major players. One thing I didn't consider is the operational temperatures which are (32 °F~104 °F), this will give some consideration where I put this as it can easily get that hot in Michigan in the summer in direct sunlight, not to mention the cold but I doubt I will be out on my porch in January streaming music. Mounting options are wall and pole with the provided hardware. This seems flexible enough for me to find a suitable spot. I also like the fact you can turn off all the system lights so it doesn't stick out and ruin my feng shui...LOL I also like the MLO and I am trying the free Homeshield trial, possibly another good thing to come out of this purchase. There are not many items to utilize the 6 Ghz band yet, but with all new tech, there is a waiting period for things to catch up. I live in suburbia so there are wi-fi networks galore, in my association there are 40+ that I can connect to. Interference has been an issue so the 4K-QAM, which is supposed to improve bandwidth usage and resist interference will be very useful. If you can afford the entire TP-Link set up, it is a great mesh system.