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If I put "TP-Link" and "mesh" in a sentence, you'd likely think of the popular Deco family. And you're not wrong. That's the networking vendor's most recognizable brand name in the realm of home Wi-Fi systems.
However, unbeknownst to most, for years, the company had another lesser-known do-it-yourself alternative called "TP-Link OneMesh" available to its Archer standalone router lineup. The irony is that without having enough time to make a mark, this feature was replaced by "TP-Link EasyMesh" starting in late 2023.
The whole thing is a bit of a mess, and this post will explain the latter. (I already covered OneMesh in great detail.) At the gist of it, from the users' perspective, EasyMesh is essentially the same as OneMesh. But as a later-comer, it has more with a couple of significant improvements.
As I'm writing this, in late 2024, TP-Link EasyMesh has completely taken over OneMeshโor at least I'd assume so since there's no way to test every single piece of hardware to make sure. Most importantly, TP-Link's EasyMesh has the potential to be as robust as other DIY mesh approaches. Or has it?
Let's find out!
Dong's note: I first published this piece on November 6, 2023, and last updated it on August 17, 2024, with the latest information.
(TP-Link) EasyMesh: What’s the deal?
As the name suggests, TP-Link EasyMesh is part of the Wi-Fi EasyMesh movement started by the Wi-Fi Alliance to streamline how Wi-Fi works across vendors.
So, to understand what TP-Link EasyMesh is, we need to know Wi-Fi EasyMesh. But, as it stands, TP-Link has been the only hardware vendor so far that has significant representations of Wi-Fi EasyMesh. So, TP-Link EasyMesh vs. Wi-Fi EasyMesh is a bit of a chicken vs. egg mixing with catch-22 kind of thing. As they currently stand, you can call one for the other.
Wi-Fi EasyMesh in a nutshell
Wi-Fi EasyMesh is Wi-Fi Alliance's certification program, first announced in early 2020, that aims to simplify the building of mesh systems by creating universal mesh protocols. The idea is any Wi-Fi EasyMesh-certified hardware from any vendor will work with one another to form a seamless Wi-Fi mesh system. Per the organization, here are the highlights of EasyMesh:
- Increased network capacity: Supports more simultaneous services and higher realized throughput when operating in Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E
- Flexible design: Allows for best placement of multiple APs to provide extended coverage
- Easy setup: Delivers seamless, secure device onboarding and configuration using QR codes through Wi-Fi Easy Connect technology
- Network intelligence: Advanced diagnostics for Wi-Fi 6 capabilities through Wi-Fi Data Elements facilitate service provider support and respond to network conditions to maximize performance
- Effective service prioritization and Quality of Service (QoS) support: Capability to prioritize low latency applications when needed and guide devices to roam to the best connection and avoid interference
- Scalability: Enables the addition of Wi-Fi EasyMesh APs from multiple vendors
The new program's adoption has proven slow. By late mid-2023, only Netgear and TP-Link had joined the movement. The former uses it in its Nighthawk purpose-built mesh family, first represented by the MK63 and MK83โnone is a standalone router. TP-Link, on the other hand, started to transition its OneMeshโavailable in standalone routersโinto TP-Link EasyMesh in August 2022. (In real-world trials, the EasyMesh hardware of TP-Link and Netgear has never worked with each other, and chances are they never will.)
Understandably, both TP-Link and Netgear recommend their hardware, EasyMesh or not.
Generally, we need the hardware of at least two vendors working together to know Wi-Fi EasyMesh is universal. But then, things can get complicated in terms of liability or tech support. If a mixed Wi-Fi EasyMesh system is not working as expected, it's hard to know which hardware vendor is at fault, and consumers might be stuck between two networking companies that point fingers at each other.
But simplification is the key here. Generally, here's how Wi-Fi EasyMesh works:
- You pick an EasyMesh-compatible router and set it up as a single router. This router will decide the features and flavor of your networkโit's the primary unit of the system, a.k.a primary router or primary node.
- When you want to extend its coverage, pick another EasyMesh-compatible broadcaster (router, access point, or extender) and link them up via WPS or otherwise. And that's it. The two now work together as a system, with the second unit being the satellite and the first router working as the primary unit of the mesh.
- Repeat #2 if you want to extend the network even more.
At the minimum level of a mesh system, when you change the Wi-Fi settings on the primary router, that will automatically be reflected on the satellite. Additionally, a client can move from one broadcaster to another seamlessly. All that makes Wi-Fi EasyMesh similar to the standard and old-school Wi-Fi Distribution System (WDS) that can link any supported broadcasters.
The rest of EasyMesh is generally behind other canned mesh or DIY mesh approaches. For example, typically, the primary router unit of a TP-Link Easy Mesh setup has little or no control over the satellite's features, settings, or ports, and you can't use an EasyMesh system in the AP mode, eitherโmore below.
That said, with EasyMesh, there's a priceโin performance, features, or settingsโto pay for the simplicity. Generally, you should expect to build a system using hardware from the same vendor, namely TP-Link, for the time being.
With that, let's continue with a bit more details of TP-Link's rendition of EasyMesh, which is based on its OneMesh.
EasyMesh vs. OneMesh: Similarities and differences
TP-Link EasyMesh and OneMesh are add-on mesh features of its Archer family, a brand of primarily standalone routers. To build either, you must start with a supported Archer routerโnot all Archer routers are mesh-capable, but most do. (The Archer AX50 is an example; it doesn't support OneMesh or EasyMesh). After that, you can add more supported broadcasters to form a system.
The table below summarizes the differences and similarities of the two mesh approaches.
| (TP-Link) EasyMesh | TP-Link OneMesh | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Availability | 2023 | 2019 |
| Wi-Fi Standard Support | Wi-Fi 6 and newer | Wi-Fi 6 and older |
| Compatible Devices | Select TP-Link Archer routers, Select TP-Link Range Extenders, Third-party EasyMesh-enabled hardware (maybe) | Select TP-Link Archer routers and Range Extenders |
| Mesh Protocol | Wi-Fi Alliance's EasyMesh Certification | TP-Link proprietary |
| Mesh Composition (primary unit + satellite) | Router + Router or Extender | Router + Extender |
| Maximum Mesh Points (hardware units) | 10 (the primary router included) | |
| Backhaul | Wireless or wired | Wireless |
| Dedicated Wireless Backhaul | No (each band of the satellite will work both as back- and front-haul by default) | |
| AP Mode (as a mesh system) | No (the system is broken when the primary router's role changes from "router" to "access point".) | |
| Current Hardware | TP-Link's EasyMesh Hardware list | TP-Link's OneMesh Hardware list |
| Status (by late mid-2024) | current | phased out |
The hardware list of the former generally encompasses that of the latter.
According to TP-Link, OneMesh will remain on existing hardware as a distinctive feature, existing alongside EasyMesh for a period. Eventually, EasyMesh will take over when OneMesh-enabled hardware is no longer relevant.
Specifically:
- Some existing OneMesh routers (mainly Wi-Fi 5 and older) will remain that way, while newer routers (all Wi-Fi 6 and later) will transition to EasyMesh via firmware updates.
- All existing OneMesh extenders can work as satellite units of an EasyMesh system. When updated, their OneMesh labels (in the web interface) will be changed to EasyMesh, but even then, they can still work with OneMesh routers.
- New Archer hardware (and extender) will support EasyMesh and no longer carry the OneMesh notion. (Or they don't have mesh capability at all.)
In terms of mesh functionality, TP-Link's EasyMesh encompasses what its OneMesh can do. If you're unfamiliar with OneMesh, the cabinet below will give you a quick rundown.
What you can expect from TP-Link OneMesh
OneMesh has the benefits of a canned (purpose-built) mesh system, such as TP-Link's Deco family, plus some extras from a DIY one, minus the fact it doesn't support wired backhauling. Here's what you can currently expect from this new mesh:
- Centralized management: You only need to manage the Wi-Fi settings on the router, and the changes will be synced across all OneMesh broadcasters. You can do this via the web interface or TP-Link's Tether mobile app.
- Easy client monitoring: You can easily find out via the mobile app or the web interface to which hardware unitโthe router or the extenderโa client connects in real-time.
- Easy setup: Adding a OneMesh extender to an existing OneMesh router takes just a few minutes - more below.
- All features of the router: A OneMesh has all the features and settings of the router in the setupโthe router you pick will determine what features your network will get.
- Seamless hand-off: Wi-Fi devices will automatically roam from one broadcast to another as you move around within the system.
- Access point mode: A OneMesh system can work in Access Point mode, meaning you can use it with an existing router or gateway as part of a single network. In this mode, besides the seamless hand-off, you'll get no other features of the OneMesh system.
- Flexible hardware combos: You can start with one OneMesh routerโmost TP-Link Archers routers support OneMeshโand add up to nine OneMesh range extenders of the same or different hardware units. Ideally, in a wireless configuration, you should use no more than three extenders and place them around the routerโthe star topology. OneMesh works in a daisy-chain setup, but the performance will be slow due to severe signal loss.
- Affordability: Most OneMesh add-on extenders/access points are relatively inexpensive.
- Here to stay: TP-Link says OneMesh will be available in all product categories, including routers, extenders, access points, and Powerline adapters.
- True MAC address: Typically, extenders use virtual MAC addresses for connected clients. However, in a OneMesh setup, clients connected to the extender unit use their true physical addresses in my testing. Consequently, MAC-based features, such as access control, IP reservation, or web filtering, will work as intended. (This might vary from one extender to another.)
The main takeaway you can expect from a OneMesh system is that you keep all that you have from the current router, plus extra Wi-Fi coverage when adding a wireless extender on top, and both work as seamless Wi-Fi mesh.
And then, by 2024, TP-Link Easymesh has two new noteworthy items:
- It can turn a router into a satellite unitโsimilar to the case of Asus's AiMesh or Synology Mesh.
- The support for wired backhauling.
So, if you use a combo of an Archer router and an extender to build a TP-Link mesh system, it doesn't matter which you use, OneMesh or EasyMesh. Things remain the same. But if you intend to have wired backhauling or want to turn an old router into a satellite, TP-Link's EasyMesh is the answer.
More on TP-Link EasyMesh: All you need to know
I've tried many different TP-Link EasyMesh hardware combos in the past couple of years, and the experience proved that it's more of a situational solution than a planned one. In other words, it's useful, just in case. And it's best used in a wired backhaul configuration, which is generally the case for all mesh applications, anyway.
Backhauling in a mesh system
When you use multiple Wi-Fi broadcastersโin a mesh network or a combo of a router and an extenderโthere are two types of connections: fronthaul and backhaul.
Fronthaul is the Wi-Fi signals broadcast outward for clients or the local area network (LAN) ports for wired devices. It's what we generally expect from a Wi-Fi broadcaster.
Backhaul (a.k.a backbone,) on the other hand, is the link between one satellite Wi-Fi broadcaster and another, which can be the network's primary router, a switch, or another satellite unit.
This link works behind the scenes to keep the hardware units together as a system. It also determines the ceiling bandwidth (and speed) of all devices connected to the particular broadcaster. It's the backbone of the system.
At the satellite/extender unit, the connection used for the backhaulโa Wi-Fi link or a network portโis often called the uplink. Generally, a Wi-Fi broadcaster might use one of its bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz) or a network port for the uplink.
When a Wi-Fi band handles backhaul and fronthaul simultaneously, only half its bandwidth is available to either end. From the perspective of a connected client, that phenomenon is called signal loss.
A Wi-Fi connection between two direct parties occurs in a single band, using one fixed channel, at any given time. This principle applies to all existing Wi-Fi standards, up to Wi-Fi 6E.
When a Wi-Fi band functions solely for backhauling, it's called the dedicated backhaul. Often, that means no other band will do this job, though that depends on the hardware.
In a mesh system, only traditional Tri-band hardwareโthose with an additional 5GHz bandโcan have a dedicated backhaul band without ostracizing clients of the same band.
Generally, it's best to use network cables for backhaulingโwired backhauling, which is an advantage of mesh hardware with network ports. In this case, a satellite broadcaster can use its entire Wi-Fi bandwidth for front-hauling.
In networking, network cables are always much better than wireless in speed and reliability.
Simple and standard setup process
In any case, EasyMesh is simple to set up. To have a system, you first set up the primary router to your likingโit's a standard process for any router with a web user interface.
After that, within its interface, go to the EasyMesh menu item and click on Add Satellite Devices, and the rest is self-explanatory. In some cases, especially if you use an older extender with the old OneMesh firmware as the satellite, you only need to use WPS to sync up the satellite unit, and within a few minutes, the mesh system is ready.
In other cases, such as when you want to use another router as the satellite, the interface will give detailed instructions on extra steps.
Signal loss is the norm in a wireless setup
TP-Link's EasyMesh has changed quite a lot in the past couple of years. By late 2024, generally, the satellite automatically had one of its bands as the backhaul link, and, in my experience, at times, it might have used the super-slow 2.4GHz band. But most of the time, the fastest band is used, and if you have Wi-Fi 7 with similarly-specced hardware, chances are the MLO link takes care of the backhaul role. And that's a good thing.
Still, signal loss is the norm in the wireless setup. That's because whichever link is used for the backhaul will have only, at most, 50% of its bandwidth for the front haul. For example, in my latest trial with the Archer GE800 (router) and Archer BE230 (satellite) in a wireless setup, the fastest sustained connection I got from the latter maxed out at around 700Mbps.
That said, TP-Link's EasyMesh follows the same rules in hardware arrangement as any mesh system.
Little control of the satellite’s hardware, no AP mode
Like the case of OneMesh, in a TP-Link EasyMesh setup, the primary router has little control over a satellite unit. In fact, the only thing it can control is the Wi-Fi network, where the settings, such as SSID(s) names and passwords, will automatically apply to the rest of the mesh's members. In fact, the only non-Wi-Fi setting that was synced between the two was the night mode LED setting, which is helpful enough but still problematic if you want to have the lighting on at one unit and off at the other.
Generally, TP-Link EasyMesh doesn't allow for managing the satellite unit's network or USB ports. In a fully wireless setup, there's no way to control which band works as the backhaul, either. Additionally, you can't access the satellite's web interface via its IP address.
In the early version of EasyMesh, users can access the site's web interface via its IP address. In late 2024, it seems that's no longer the case, further making managing the satellite's features and settings a no-go.
Last but not least, as mentioned above, there's no access point (AP) mode for an EasyMesh system. Specifically:
- When working as an access point, the router no longer has the option to build a mesh. And
- If you change the operating mode of a TP-Link router working as the primary unit of an EasyMesh system from "Router Mode" to "Access Point Mode", you'll break the mesh. The router now works as a standalone access point, and when you change it back, you'll need to set up EasyMesh from scratch.
This lack of the AP mode means you can't use EasyMesh as the extension of an existing router without having to deal with a double NAT. All other canned and DIY mesh approachesโexcept for the Google Nest familyโsupport this useful AP mode. Clearly, this can be changed via future firmware updates, though unlikely.
TP-Link EasyMesh: Typical performance, mediocre hand-off
If you use EasyMesh in the router + extender combo, the performance is likely the same as that of OneMesh. However, if you use the router + router combo, things can be quite different.
I tested the Archer GT800 + Archer BE3600 combo for over a week, and here were my observations:
- As mentioned, in a wireless setup, the performance at the satellite unit (Archer BE3600) was generally half of what it can do as a router. To put in a number, I got around 700Mbps of sustained speed at best.
- In a wired backhauling setup, the satellite can deliver the same speed as when it works as a single broadcaster. So, the sustained speed was in the Gig+ range as long as I used a 2.5Gbps port for the uplink.
- No matter what setup I used, the seamless hand-off was always a hit or miss. Specifically, it was more often than not that clients would not automatically move from one router to the satellite or vice versa. I generally needed to manually disconnect the device and re-connect it to make sure it used the closest broadcaster.
Addtionally, the setup didn't pass my 3-day stress test. During this time, my test devices got disconnected from the system more than once.
It's worth noting that, like all DIY mesh systems, the experience changes depending on the hardware combo, and generally, things work better if you use the same hardware throughout. However, it's safe to say that in a mixed hardware setup, TP-Link EasyMesh is a lot less reliable than other canned or DIY mesh systems.
That said, if you decide to use TP-Link EasyMesh, count on it only when you need to extend the coverage just a bit more via an extender or if you can link the hardware unit using network cables.
TP-Link EasyMesh's Rating
Pros
Lots hardware options
Relatively easy to set up and use
Responsive web interface with optional Tether mobile app
Cons
Minimum control of the satellite
Seamless hand-off reliability could be better in certain hardware combo
No AP mode as a mesh system
Conclusion
TP-Link EasyMesh works and can be a handy option if you want to quickly extend your router's coverage just a bit more in that far corner. However, if you think you can get a few supported routers to form a system, the lack of options to manage the backhaul link or the satellite units can be an issue. In any case, consider that only if you can use network cables to link the hardware units.
Things might change as EasyMesh evolves. Until then, it's safer to go with a purpose-built system, including TP-Link's Deco lineup, or you can pick one of the much more robust DIY approaches mentioned below.
Top 5 best DIY mesh approaches
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| Name | Ubiquiti UniFi Mesh's Rating | Asus AiMesh's Rating | TP-Link Omada-based DIY PoE Mesh's Rating | EnGenius FIT DIY PoE Mesh's Rating | Synology Wi-Fi Mesh System's Rating |
| Price | - | - | - | - | - |
| Rating | |||||
| Description | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Buy this product |
Think quite a few more HW are available now. Might be worth some update: https://www.wi-fi.org/product-finder-results?sort_by=certified&sort_order=desc&capabilities=141
Also I’ve seen it supposed to support <wifi6 as well, or did I missunderstand the specs.
“Can users dedicate one of the Wi-Fi bands as the backhaul”
As of now, no, they can’t, that’s why the old TP-Link WDS bridging system or Asus AIMesh are still faster.
With WDS what I do is only bridge, say, the 2,4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band of the satellite router can give me around 350 Mbs on the floor above – I’m using 2 AC2300s with 3 streams and 600+1670 Mbs speeds. AC2300 has that monster of the Broadcom CPU, dual core, 1,8 GHz and it costed me 60 bucks, both used. As of now I think it’s the best setting these kinda money could buy. I recently added a third AC2300 iny garage, same strategy and same speeds.
With low cost AC1900 routers speeds were around 300 Mbsz still excellent.
The BE900 may have reached a hardware (# of) I/O limit and TP-Link chose not to support MLO and replaced it with one of the myriad of connections on the backโฆ
Next year, TP-Link will conveniently forget BE800, BE900 and BE550 and release newer models having Wired Backhaul. Thatโs how things roll at TP-Link.
– from a sad BE900 user which doesnโt have MLO for Wifi7.
Itโs tricky as models have different version #s, and each version number may have different firmwares, with different capabilities. I think the safest is to wait until you see the wanted feature in a firmware update, then try to buy the specific hardware version it applies, to guarantee you get that โfeatureโ.
You’re on point, Jesse.
Is it safe to say you can mix an EasyMesh router with EasyMesh router and/or extender, but you can not have a OneMesh router, (functioning as router), connect to EasyMesh router/extender?
Yes you can with EasyMesh extender, Jesse, as mentioned in the post. OneMesh never supports routers as satellites.
Dong,
This sounds like a “Mesh Mess” to me. ๐
Hence the headline. ๐
I would have loved to see these compared to SRM. I love my Synology routers.
Synology mesh is much better in firmware, but it has way fewer hardware options.