How to set up Tenda Nova mesh for wired backhaul - MW5, MW6, etc.

[tom-f-]

From my testing here, when a node connects by wired backhaul to another node, it only uses the wired backhaul.  For example, if I start a file transfer with a wired backhaul node and unplug the backhaul Ethernet cable, the connection drops even though the node is within wireless range of the other.  This means with Powerline adapters, it will limited by the speed of the Powerline adapters.

I wouldn't blame your home wiring as I never had any luck with Powerline adapters performing even 10% of the claimed speed.  The Netgear 1200VA pair I have peaked around 100Mbps at best and intermittently dropped the connection altogether, no matter which combination of sockets I tried.  Basically, I would not use Powerline adapters as a wired backhaul. 

One other cabling option that might work would be a flat Ethernet cable, which is as thin as telephone wire, but a little wider.  These cables are widely available such as on Amazon and carry the full gigabit connection.  Unlike regular Ethernet cable, you can run it under carpets, tack along skirting, under doorways, etc.

When the MW6 nodes connect by wireless backhaul, they share the same 5GHz Wi-Fi bandwidth, basically cutting the 5GHz bandwidth in half at the secondary node.  Devices connected to the primary node Wi-Fi get the full speed, so it's only devices that connect to a secondary node that get the reduced speed.  With 2.4GHz Wi-Fi from secondary nodes, this data is carried over the 5GHz Wi-Fi back to the primary node.  Depending on the wireless backhaul signal quality, the 2.4GHz connection the secondary node may perform faster. 

Unfortunately, Tenda does not provide the ability to rename the 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSIDs separately, so it's difficult to lock devices to a specific band.  For example, most Android phones automatically switch back and forth between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band depending on the signal strength.

Hi Seán,

Can you confirm the below network layout would work for our Tenda Nova MW3 Mesh System. The nodes are slightly too far away from each other to maintain a reliable wireless connection therefore I would to hard wire the two secondary nodes.

https://snipboard.io/Wqo6HJ.jpg

I have tried hard wiring them once, but to no avail. I was racking my brain trying to figure out why, then I read this forum - turns out it's because I was effectively connecting the secondary Nodes directly to the LAN ports of the ISP router (Sky Hub). Again, can you confirm this layout as I've drawn will work - and if it doesn't work, what system can I buy to achieve this?

I'm also struggling to work out wether to plug the ethernet cables that go to the secondary Nodes into the WAN/LAN or LAN port? Please advise.

Many thanks. Tom.