Is there a way to connect WPS using a cable instead of wireless?
Is there a way to connect WPS using a cable instead of wireless?
Hi! Your setup involves a TP-Link router with its wireless radio turned off, acting as a switch. You're trying to connect an old device using WPS, but you're aware it's less secure. Since the Deco M4 mesh router isn't connected to Wi-Fi and doesn't have a WPS button, pressing the TP-Link switch won't directly affect the Deco's connection. However, you can still use WPS on the Deco by accessing its settings to enable it if needed.
If the TP-Link router's wireless radio is turned off, using the WPS button on the router shouldn't have any effect. WPS helps automatically connect a compatible wireless client to a compatible router, modem, or WiFi access point when it functions. You may need to turn on wireless in the TP-Link, physically connect the old device to the router via hardwiring (unless you haven't shared its details), or link the old device to the broadcast from the Deco M4—though this might not work if the device is very outdated.
The WPS feature doesn’t function when wireless is turned off. When you activate it, your device transmits a signal over the air using wireless radio, broadcasting details about the network for a short period. Other devices can detect this broadcast and establish a connection. Without wireless enabled, the transmission fails entirely.
You can still use both setups without issues. Enabling wireless on TP-Link won’t force you to reroute your network; it just lets you connect via Wi-Fi while maintaining your existing configuration.
You can operate both routers simultaneously. Anything linked to the TP-Link will automatically use double NAT. This works well when you just require internet access for the older device; double NAT becomes an issue only when you need to expose ports for services like a game server.
I thought it might be a classic Nintendo item. Not at all—I won’t tell you to avoid using it. In fact, I know several folks with vintage handhelds who are eager to link them to Wi-Fi for different reasons. Most of them keep an outdated router on hand just for this purpose because setting up a modern Wi-Fi network is essentially the simplest way to get these older devices connected.