📶 WiFi Setup Guide

This guide is designed for homeowners and small business owners who want to self-install a mesh WiFi system without professional help. You should be comfortable with:

• Plugging in hardware and following an app setup wizard
• Basic concepts like SSID, password, and 2.4GHz vs 5GHz bands
• Positioning devices around your home based on a floor plan

After uploading your floor plan, the planner generates a signal heatmap overlaid on your layout. Here's what the colours mean:

AP placement markers

Blue numbered circles (①②③) on the heatmap show where the AI recommends placing each mesh node. The primary node (①) should always connect to your ISP router/ONT via ethernet cable if possible — this gives the fastest backhaul for all other nodes.

Do's ✅

• Place at chest or table height (0.8–1.2 m) — not on the floor
• Central position within its zone — signal radiates in all directions
• Line of sight between nodes — each satellite node should "see" the next one through as few walls as possible
• Wire the primary node — plug it into your ONT/modem via ethernet for maximum backhaul speed
• Open shelves or tables are better than inside cabinets

Don'ts ❌

• Avoid corners — signal is wasted pointing into the corner, not into the room
• Away from microwaves, cordless phones — these cause interference on the 2.4 GHz band
• Not inside TV consoles or metal cabinets — metal blocks and reflects WiFi
• Not behind aquariums or near washing machines — water absorbs WiFi signals
• Avoid thick concrete columns or reinforced walls directly between nodes

General setup steps

1. 1Place the primary node next to your ONT/modem. Connect it with an ethernet cable (LAN port of ONT → WAN port of node).
2. 2Power it on. Wait for the LED to show a solid or slow-blinking status colour (check your manual — usually white or blue means ready).
3. 3Open the app → connect your phone to the temporary WiFi network broadcast by the node (e.g. "Deco_XXXX").
4. 4Follow the in-app wizard. It will configure your internet connection type (usually DHCP for Singapore fibre).
5. 5Set your SSID and password when prompted (see Section 5 for recommendations).
6. 6Once the primary node is working, power on each satellite node one at a time. The app will detect and add them automatically.
7. 7Position each satellite in its recommended location from your heatmap. Wait for it to show a solid "connected" LED before moving on to the next.

SSID (network name)

• Use a single unified SSID for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands (most mesh apps do this by default)
• Don't include personal info (address, full name) in your SSID
• Avoid special characters — some older devices can't handle them

Password

• Minimum 12 characters — mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
• Avoid dictionary words or names
• Example of a strong password: SingaporeRain@2024!

Security protocol

• Choose WPA3 if all your devices support it (2019+ phones, laptops)
• Choose WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode if you have older devices — this gives compatibility while still using WPA3 for newer devices
• Never use WEP or WPA (first gen) — these are easily cracked

Band steering (Smart Connect)

Most modern mesh systems have a feature called Smart Connect or Band Steering. When enabled, the system automatically connects each device to the best band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz or 6 GHz) based on signal strength and device capability. Keep this ON — it is managed automatically.

Channel selection

For most home setups, leave channels on Auto. The system will scan and select the least congested channel. If you experience interference in a dense apartment block, you can manually set:

• 2.4 GHz: Channel 1, 6, or 11 (these are the only non-overlapping channels)
• 5 GHz: Channels 36, 40, 44, or 48 (lower interference from neighbours)
• 6 GHz (WiFi 6E/7): Leave on Auto — the 6 GHz band is relatively uncongested

Transmit power

Set transmit power to High or Auto. Do not reduce it — lower power reduces range and can cause clients to connect to a far node when a closer one would serve them better.

A guest network is a separate WiFi network that isolates visitors and IoT devices from your main network. This is a security best practice.

1. 1In your mesh app, go to Settings → Guest Network (exact label varies by brand).
2. 2Enable the guest network and give it a different SSID (e.g. "HomeGuest" instead of "HomeNetwork").
3. 3Set a separate password — simpler than your main network password is fine for guests.
4. 4Enable "Client isolation" or "AP isolation" — this prevents guest devices from communicating with each other or your main devices.
5. 5Connect smart home devices (bulbs, plugs, TVs) to the guest network, not your main one.

After setup, walk around your home and verify the signal matches your heatmap. Use one of these free apps:

What to check

• Signal in every room should be −70 dBm or better (closer to 0 is stronger)
• Your phone should automatically roam to the nearest node — verify by checking which node it's connected to in your mesh app
• Run a speed test in the room farthest from your ONT — compare it to a test right next to the primary node
• If a room shows < −80 dBm or speed drops below 20 Mbps, consider repositioning the nearest satellite node

🔴 No internet after setup

• Check that the ethernet cable is plugged into the WAN port (not a LAN port) of the primary node
• Try rebooting your ONT (unplug power for 30 seconds), then reboot the primary mesh node
• Ensure your ISP connection type is set to DHCP (correct for most Singapore fibre broadband)

🟡 Satellite node won't connect to the mesh

• Move the satellite node closer to the primary node during initial pairing, then move to its final position
• Factory reset the satellite and re-add it via the app
• Check for firmware updates on the primary node — the satellite may need the same firmware version

🟡 Speeds are slow on wireless backhaul

• Use wired ethernet backhaul between nodes if possible — this is always faster than wireless
• Ensure nodes are within line-of-sight or no more than 1–2 walls apart
• WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 systems use the 6 GHz band for backhaul, which is much faster — consider upgrading if using older mesh

🟡 Devices connect to far node instead of near one

• Enable Roaming Assist or Smart Connect in your mesh app
• Some older devices are "sticky" — they hold onto a connection even when signal is weak. Manually disconnect and reconnect the device to force a re-association

🔴 Double NAT (two routers)

• If your ONT has a built-in router AND you've added a mesh system, you may have double NAT — this causes slow speeds and gaming issues
• Solution: Set your ONT's built-in router to Bridge Mode (contact your ISP — Singtel, StarHub, or M1 — for instructions)
• Alternatively, put the mesh system in Access Point (AP) mode if your ISP router handles DHCP well