Router vs access point
Router vs access point
Check if you must start with Deco before the modem or if you can switch them afterward. Find out whether the decos operate in router or access point mode. With 10Gbps arrival, you plan to run the mesh system at full speed every device, but most setups only have one high-speed port and one 1Gb port. The 10Gb modem from your ISP will use just one 10Gb port, so you can connect a single 10G cable from the switch. Speed differences between modes aren’t uncommon. Firewall management is best handled by the modem rather than the decos—decos are sufficient for basic needs.
I think you're referring to an ISP's modem or router, not just a standalone modem. You can link it to a switch and connect the Wi-Fi APs to that switch. Alternatively, use one router after the modem. Set the device to operate in AP mode to prevent double-NAT. The ISP's equipment should serve as the central router, offering DHCP and firewall services. Although Wi-Fi 6 can reach up to 9.6 Gbps in theory, you're unlikely to achieve that in real-world mesh setups. I assume you mean nodes. A Wi-Fi mesh node can either transmit or receive; each hop requires the signal to pass through before reaching your device, which halves your bandwidth. Ideally, all connections should stay wired so they bypass the modem/router entirely.
When connecting cables from the switch to each device separately, you typically require no more than 2.5Gbit, provided the links are multi-gig ready. This can help you save costs compared to a 10Gbit switch. Using 10Gbit would be unnecessary since most connections will only reach Gigabit speeds at best, around 1.4–1.6Gbit. I’ve only seen that range achieved with a WiFi 6e AP paired with an Intel AX210 client operating at 160Mhz. Most devices will fall between 500–900Mbit, depending on their Wi-Fi chipset and your proximity to the node. If the node supports WiFi 6e, you might double this number, as speeds could reach 1.4Gbit to one client on 5GHz and similar on 6GHz, assuming two clients are set up that way. For a single client, 2.5Gbit to the node won’t become a bottleneck, and even with both 5GHz and 6GHz links on the same device, you probably wouldn’t experience saturation under ideal conditions. The advantage of 10Gbit lies mainly in wired connections, allowing multiple clients to download simultaneously without interference.
directly connect to the modem and use second mode for all AP settings. Switching method can vary—either via a switch or with a daisy chain. There seems to be a distinction between AP and router modes, so consider that when choosing equipment. For devices like the Xe75 Pro, look for models with dual or 2.5Gb ports that support daisy chaining from the modem without a switch if needed. Also explore options for a deco Xe75 Pro at the lowest price with one 2.5Gb port. I’m considering a cheapest setup with Cat8 UGreen cable for 2.5Gb or 10Gb ports, and I’ll use the S23 Ultra which supports 6E minimum 2Gb download speeds. Future-proofing is important, but 2.5Gb is ideal for Wi-Fi and 10Gb is best for wired connections. For my PC, I plan to install a 10Gb PCIe Express card, taking advantage of the free 16x slot on the motherboard.