What's Broken? Google Home or TP Link Deco

Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 09:38

My problems started with a JBL Speaker constantly telling me to connect to Google Home. I did and it worked for about a day and then lost connection again. The Interwebs tells me that there was a firmware update and many people are losing connection with their Google Home account. Sadly it's out of warranty, but a daily reboot seems to fix it.

I then upgraded my Chromecast to a Google TV with Chromecast. It worked for a few weeks but then I couldn't cast to it. Apparently it wasn't on the same Wifi network. I tried disabling 5ghz but had the same issue.

I disconnected my other Google Home devices (home mini, hub, jbl speaker) and reconnected them. They connected fine, but then Google Home said they weren't on the same wifi network and I was unable to edit any settings. They work, but I can't edit.

The interwebz has similar reports and the Google Home app in the appstore is plagued with similar comment. There is nothing concrete about the cause or solution though.

Finally, the wife's ancient Iphone6 needs joining and disconnecting the wifi. Is this related to the above or a separate issue altogether?!

I have no idea what's broken here… any ideas, tips, things to try?

Computing

Comments

  • avoidfullprice on 25/08/2021 - 09:51

    Don't own a Deco. I had issues with Chromecast with my router before. Turned out having "AP Isolation" enabled was the issue. YMMV

    Secondly, it could be problems using 2.4Ghz spectrum. Do you live in apartment or wifi crowded area?

    • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 10:04

      I tried enabling 2.4 ONLY and still had the issue. I need 2.4 for some devices on the network.
      House, not crowded. The Deco tool said low interference.

      • avoidfullprice on 25/08/2021 - 11:27

        What you have done there is not the same as AP isolation. It is a setting in the router which prevents devices on the same network not see each other.

        I hear you have 2.4Ghz devices, but turning off the 5Ghz network won't help solving your problem.

        Having your 2.4Ghz using 40Mhz bandwidth could result in compatibility issues.

  • ja72 on 25/08/2021 - 10:17

    Have you tried IP address reservation?

    • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 10:21

      All my devices are set in function ranges

  • mskeggs on 25/08/2021 - 10:47

    I have an issue with certain devices on a TP-link deco mesh network too.
    A Samsung A30 kept dropping and reconnecting very frequently, and an iPhone 7 had a similar issue.
    Over time, this caused other devices attached to the same access point to experience very slow performance, eventually almost zero.
    Rebooting the access point helped, so I am thinking it runs out of memory with all the connects/disconnects.

    A couple of things to try:
    - turn on notifications when devices join and leave the network so you can see which devices are having stability issues.
    - reboot the access point in the middle of the night on a timer to clear any memory issue

    I’m still trying to troubleshoot this myself, so interested in anything else you dig up.

    • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 10:53

      I just had an online chat with TPLink. Disable beamforming and fast roaming and reboot. - Same issue
      Created a 2.4ghz guest network with different SSID - Same issue

      After setup the Google device just says I am not on the same wifi network.

    • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 10:54

      Is it TPLink or Google?!

      • Chandler on 25/08/2021 - 13:13
        +1

        Given you're have issues with (what sounds like) all your wireless devices, and not limited to dealing with Google Home / Google devices, I'd say its the TP-Link.

    • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 10:55

      I do note that one some of the devices at the end of the setup its asks me to enable sharing for chromecast but that option doesn't exist on my phone.

    • EthicsGradient on 25/08/2021 - 11:17

      This sounds like a broader problem with TP-Link APs. I've got a similar problem with a WPA7510 combo access point and powerline unit - after a couple of days the unit just locks up completely and won't work until reset. I'm suspecting it may be tied to a rogue DHCP server that runs on TP-Link APs (there are a couple of very angry threads about this issue in the TP-Link community forums - I'm sitting on the sidelines and hoping a new firmware will resolve it).

  • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 11:08

    Bah, calling it a Google problem.

    This option does not exist on my mobile or the Google app. It looks like its setting up its own form of isolation.

    https://imgur.com/a/ZjrjvNj

    • avoidfullprice on 25/08/2021 - 11:30

      Because it is set by the router

      • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 11:34

        By my router doesn't have isolation for its main network… and i can ping the device from laptop. When I click goto settings, it has a similar but different option.

        • avoidfullprice on 25/08/2021 - 12:28

          Got a spare router to swap out?

          • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 12:30

            @avoidfullprice: I don't… But everyone worked fine until 3-4 weeks ago. Frustrating.

            • avoidfullprice on 25/08/2021 - 12:40

              @Kaz0551: Or turn off 2.4GHz for a moment to see if the problem persists?

              Maybe the problem is with your 2.4Ghz devices? Did you connect any new "smart" devices 3-4 weeks ago?

              • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 13:10

                @avoidfullprice: I didn't.

                I believe there was a Google home update around that time…

                I've tried just using 5 gigahertz and 2.4… on main and guest networks.

                • avoidfullprice on 25/08/2021 - 13:25

                  @Kaz0551: Well in most of your responses, all I am seeing is you kept the 2.4Ghz on, and the problems there.

                  Just saying

                  • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 14:02

                    @avoidfullprice: I've tried "just using 5 gigahertz" …. on main and guest networks.

                    Just saying.

                    I do appreciate the the advice and ideas though.

  • westzod on 25/08/2021 - 14:16

    You can try changing the wifi channel from Auto to manual 1-13 i believe. I don't have a deco but I had a similar issue with my chromecast and hub as it was also affecting my ring doorbell.

    • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 18:54

      You can't set a wifi channel in the deco. It's all auto :(

  • Rockgod70 on 25/08/2021 - 15:46
    +1

    I have TPLink Deco mesh system and all my Google devices work fine.

  • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 19:04

    Solved. It was my lg handset.

    Used a tablet and no issue during setup… Sigh

  • Kaz0551 on 25/08/2021 - 19:49

    FFS now tablet says they aren't on the same network despite working minutes beforehand. I am going bald.

    • 0 0 0 on 26/08/2021 - 08:17

      I had a similar issue with my Samsung Smartthings wifi and still get it occasionally with my Google home devices. It's both a Google and network issue. My speaker groups fail to work frequently and I contacted Plume who make the router software and they did some back-end change which fixed it for a while. I think it's because the devices can't talk to each other perhaps using UDP or multicast when meshed to different hubs

  • tz001 on 26/08/2021 - 08:12

    Common denominator is your router/AP, look there first. Also check for other devices that may be interfering (I had a TV cause me grief about 18 months ago.)
    Buy a cheap old wireless router to test and compare with if you can. Actually I've got an old Netgear you can have for a beer + postage. PM me.

  • Rockgod70 on 26/08/2021 - 08:21

    Just to add, I can't get Philips Hue devices to work with the Deco mesh. I also have an inkbird wifi thermometre that will not connect to the mesh but works fine when connected to a hotspot on the phone. Seems the Deco mesh has 'some' issues.

  • Ramrunner on 26/08/2021 - 12:44
    +1

    Although I'm not a fan of WiFi as it's the hardest thing to diagnose when I'm on-site (especially when customers don't tell me about the Devils's Spawn boosters/repeaters they have hidden around the place making things worse), I HAVE found a great combination myself, and all other customers that have adopted the hardware also have no more issues.

    HOWEVER it's not ideal for renters. I haven't found the perfect (tested) answer for people in that situation yet - sorry.

    For flawless WiFi/internet I choose a couple of Ubiquiti access points connected to a Dream Machine (or PRO).

    Or at least a Cloud Key if you can.

    Apart from ONE experience with an 802.11b Aria Fitbit Scale (which WAS resolved in the end by tweaking settings) - absolutely flawless. It just works. And keeps working - I haven't had to reboot even once.

    Again, this is MY experience and it's not something I've always done for myself and my customers, but I switched to Ubiquiti gear a year or so ago (tried a lot of others before and dealt with a lot of others through clients), but since then it's really the first time I've experienced perfect connectivity and no more calls from customers.

    I have to recommend it if it suits your situation.

    Regards,
    Ed.

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