Yes, the bridge mode remains active.
Yes, the bridge mode remains active.
Hey there! I know this might sound a bit confusing, but I’m here to help. Your setup has changed a lot since the new 100 Mbps connection was installed. The two TP-Link Deco M4s you got are pretty basic—no 5 GHz support, which is a big limitation. You mentioned trying bridge mode, which sounds like a good idea given your old router’s issues, but it seems the ISP restricted admin access, so you had to get creative to enable it. After switching to router mode, the speeds you’re seeing match what you expected from the AP setup. The difference between the two configurations is minimal, especially for download speeds. Whether you keep bridge mode on or switch back depends on your needs and comfort with the process. As for the speed drop, it’s not unusual if you’re still using older hardware or if interference is present. Let me know what you think once you’ve tried both options!
When you skip bridge mode and rely on your personal router, you're essentially sending traffic twice. This usually doesn't affect download speeds, but it causes issues when you need external connections. Because your router uses a private IP, port forwarding must be handled between both devices. If incoming connections aren't needed, either method works—using bridge mode on the ISP modem is the best choice. Your home's Wi-Fi performance remains stable even with the mesh system and the Deco M4s, though speeds can vary depending on your location and device placement. Keep the M4s near each other inside the house for optimal results.
You'll also need a strong hit to ping when you double NAT. Both routers should be capable of managing all connections. Consider using a Bridge with a NAT Router, or a NAT Router paired with a classical router via RIP or OSPF (business gear typically supports this for complex setups).
Both appear to have overlooked "Decos were configured as APs compared to the present bridged configuration." That means no double-NAT would occur. I’d stick with bridge mode, particularly if the Deco offers a more powerful SoC or CPU. You’ll gain complete control over router operations instead of being limited by a rigid setup. Under heavy usage (many connections instead of just a few fast ones), performance and latency should improve noticeably. At least in genuine bridge mode. If there’s any chance to upgrade even further, it might manage it more effectively. A router operating in bridge mode handles less processing, allowing it to support higher bandwidth, simply by forwarding traffic directly to your main router without NAT—provided it’s truly in real bridge mode and not just a DHCP-based workaround that could mimic bridge behavior.