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

[jarni]

Hello again everyone, does anyone know if it is possible to connect an old (only) USB printer to a mesh network? I do not have a USB  port on my modem. 
Can I do it with some sort of adapter or some other Tenda item?
Best regards   JAro

[Babayaga79]

Hi.
I need help with my configuration of MW6. I have the configuration as in image below, the Tenda are set in bridge mode, but I experience a terrible wi-fi speed and only 2,4ghz mode (Smart assistant is unavailable).
If I disconnect the secondary nodes from the power supply, leaving only the primary powered everything goes normal (right speed and 5ghz).
Since now I had only the primary node attached so I've never had any problems, but now I need do extend my wi-fi to the garden and I add the other nodes...

Please help me Sean, you're my only hope (cit.).

   

[Seán]

I think the only way this will work is by placing the primary node in-between the ISP router and the LAN switch, i.e. connect port 4 of the router to the WAN port of the primary node and the LAN port of the the Primary node to the switch.

All secondary nodes in the other rooms must connect back to the switch.

The other wall sockets connecting your TV, PS5, etc. can connect to either the ISP router or the switch.

I also suggest turning on the secondary nodes one at a time, ensuring it shows the <--> status in the Tenda App before powering on the next secondary node. This will help rule out any backhaul issue such as a faulty cable, wall socket, etc.

[Babayaga79]

I think the only way this will work is by placing the primary node in-between the ISP router and the LAN switch, i.e. connect port 4 of the router to the WAN port of the primary node and the LAN port of the the Primary node to the switch.

All secondary nodes in the other rooms must connect back to the switch.

The other wall sockets connecting your TV, PS5, etc. can connect to either the ISP router or the switch. 

I also suggest turning on the secondary nodes one at a time, ensuring it shows the <--> status in the Tenda App before powering on the next secondary node.  This will help rule out any backhaul issue such as a faulty cable, wall socket, etc.

Thank you!!!
I’ll give it a try.
Just to be sure: my config is in bridge mode, ok?

EDIT:
I've reset to factory all nodes, checked cables and wall sockets with a tester to avoid any problem with them, then I re-configured the primary and one secondary node to wired backhaul, and I think it's done (see images below).
The other secondary node is away from a wall socket so I connected it wireless, do you think it will cause problems to the net ?
               

[Seán]

Bridge mode is fine as this lets wired devices access wireless devices such printing to a Wi-Fi printer.

Ideally I recommend trying to connect all on wireless backhaul as a few users reported issues using a combination of wired and wireless backhaul. If the wireless node causes issues, check if you could run a flat Ethernet cable to the nearest wall socket. This type of cable can run underneath most carpets and doorways.

[Babayaga79]

I’ll change position of that node. Do I need to perform a reset of that node or just simply connect a cable?

[Seán]

You can simply connect the cable and disconnect and reconnect its power cable. It will detect the backhaul via the cable when it powers up.

[bart]

Hey everyone, I need help connecting my set of two MW6 nodes via cable. I followed instructions from a thread I found, but none of the methods provided lasting results. My setup is straightforward, I want to connect the devices in series as follows:

ISP Router -> Primary Node -> Secondary Node -> Switch -> PC/Laptop/other, while also ensuring wireless access along the way.

• WiFi on my router is disabled.
  
• The 1st Node shows an "Excellent" wired backhaul.
  
• Despite being connected via cable and far enough away that WiFi signals are weak, the 2nd Node keeps defaulting to wireless backhaul.
  

At one point, I managed to briefly establish a wired connection for the second node, but it soon switched back to WiFi automatically. The cables are fine—when connected directly to the router or primary node, I achieve gigabit speeds.

I’m out of ideas and would greatly appreciate any help, thank you.

[Seán]

Your setup appears to be exactly how I have mine here. Just to mention how I've connected the WAN/LAN and LAN ports:

1. ISP Router -> Primary Node WAN/LAN port
   
2. Primary Node LAN port -> Secondary Node LAN port
   
3. Secondary Node WAN/LAN port -> Switch
   
4. Switch -> Desktop PC
   

Check the network port of each node that the backhaul cable is plugged into to make sure there is no bent pin, lint, etc. in the network port.

[bart]

Thanks for the reply, I will give it a try. Will it be enough if I turn off the devices, reconnect the cables according to your config and then turn them back on? Or should I hard reset them one by one?

Also, do you use a Bridge mode?

[Seán]

I have mine configured in Bridge mode.

If you turn off the Tenda nodes, turn on the primary node, wait until the LED goes sold green, then turn on the second node.

[bart]

I just tested this approach, unfortunately the 2nd Node automatically set to wireless backhaul 
I have everything configured as you suggested:

ISP Router -> WAN/LAN of Primary Node
LAN of Primary Node -> LAN of 2nd Node

Internet mode set to Bridge.
And 2nd Node shows „Fair connection quality”.

Any other idea? 

[theboyler]

Hi there - I set up my Tenda MW6 system as per the instructions, so secondary nodes have the ethernet cable going in the correct port. The problem we have is when we move from room to room with the wifi. I can be in my office on wired ethernet, then disconnect and move downstairs with my laptop, and when I open the MacBook up, although it shows a connection to the wifi network, there's no external connection via wifi. The only thing I can do is turn the wifi on and off, which seems to rejig things. That said, if the MacBook is closed again, and then is opened up in exactly the same location in the house, the same thing happens and only gets saved by turning it on and off.

The primary is set to manage DHCP, QoS is off, no guest network, Fast roaming is on, automatic obtaining of DNS info on.

The only thing I can think of changing is to make the Virgin box handle the DHCP process, and move the Tenda into Bridge mode - do you think this will solve it, and if I do, given this network map, will it create any second-order probs?

   

[Seán]

To date I have not tried using wired backhaual with the Tenda operating as a gateway, so am not sure why the DHCP is acting up when moving from one location to another. As the Tenda has very limited configuration such as the inability to configure the DHCP range and no MAC IP binding, it woud be worthwhile econfiguring it to bridge mode. The Fast roaming feature is still available in bridge mode.

[dusk2dawn]

I would like to discuss with you guys mw6 users.

1. In this mw6 guide I found that there is an option to split ssid 2.4ghz & 5ghz.
   
It also had "e-Link" menu.
   
Do you have these options?

2. I can't manage my mw6 in the cloud, I can't find the bind button anymore.
Did you guys still have this bind button?
   

3. Which firmware your MW6 use?
Some of my mw6 using V1.0.0.33(557) or V1.0.0.36(1293).

[bart]

I just tested this approach, unfortunately the 2nd Node automatically set to wireless backhaul 
I have everything configured as you suggested:

ISP Router -> WAN/LAN of Primary Node
LAN of Primary Node -> LAN of 2nd Node

Internet mode set to Bridge.
And 2nd Node shows „Fair connection quality”.

Any other idea? 

Update: I borrowed one cube from my parents' house, who also have the similar config (although they have 3 cubes set, mine is only 2), and guess what... it worked. Apparently, the other cube connected directly to the primary node, exactly the same way I was trying before, works with the wired backhaul without an issue. So now I wonder what might be the issue? Is it because it is 2 pack instead of 3? Should I send it back / request the refund? How to prove that it is an issue with the cube itself and not my environment?
Oh, and btw, I set my internet mode to bridge and connected the 2nd node via the WAN port.

[Seán]

So now I wonder what might be the issue? Is it because it is 2 pack instead of 3? Should I send it back / request the refund? How to prove that it is an issue with the cube itself and not my environment?

I suggest getting it exchanged with the shop that you purchased it, particularly if you bought it from Amazon or very recently.  You can mention that the Ethernet port on one cube keeps dropping out and that that you tried Ethernet cables, no need to mention about your environment  It's unlikely they will do any testing with the unit other than a visual check that it has not have impact marks, damaged leads, etc.

If you are within Ireland / UK, another option would be to keep an eye out for a used MW6 on CeX.  A single MW6 typically sells for around £15 on CeX UK.

1. In this mw6 guide I found that there is an option to split ssid 2.4ghz & 5ghz.

It also had "e-Link" menu.

Do you have these options?

I checked my Tenda App, but it doesn't have this split option in its wireless settings menu.  No e-Link option either.

2. I can't manage my mw6 in the cloud, I can't find the bind button anymore.
Did you guys still have this bind button?

With the App on my phone, the Manage section is on the main screen, i.e. I touch the '<' arrow at  the top-left and can then touch the log-in button at the bottom:

       

3. Which firmware your MW6 use?

Mine has V1.0.0.29 (5834).

[dusk2dawn]

I checked my Tenda App, but it doesn't have this split option in its wireless settings menu.  No e-Link option either.

I found that mw6 in that guide probably Chinese version. I read in Tenda website, nova mw6 in China support WPA3 and have more options.

With the App on my phone, the Manage section is on the main screen, i.e. I touch the '<' arrow at  the top-left and can then touch the log-in button at the bottom:

I've tried it. After login/register there are no button/no way to bind nova to that email. So when I confirm using 4G, there is no nova to be managed.

[kon_70]

   
Hello guys,


First of all, you are all great, all the info you guys give is awesome. I have one of those MW6, and I’m having some troubles with a secondary unit connected by cable, can’t make it work properly. I have three units, the primary and two secondary, and I would like to connect one by WiFi, and the other one by cable because it is in a room far from the other units, I have a wall socket in that room. But I can’t find the proper way to connect it all to make it work, I hope you guys can help me. I’ll attach a picture( the one with the red dot is where I want to connect it by cable.

[wonus]

After using a Tenda Nova MW6 mesh kit for a few months, it is like a night vs day improvement over using my former ISP router.  Unlike my terrible experience with Wi-Fi repeaters, the Tenda nodes have been very stable using wireless backhaul.  This means if there's a Wi-Fi blackspot without Ethernet connectivity, an extra node will solve that.  

The Tenda Nova nodes support wired Ethernet backhaul, which allows the secondary nodes to extend the Wi-Fi without consuming wireless bandwidth back to the primary mode.  This is particularly useful where the nodes are separated by thick walls or down a long corridor where the Wi-Fi of the primary node does not reach. 

Preparing for wired backhaul

1. To start with, connect the main node's blue Internet socket to the Internet (e.g. LAN port on the router).  Leave the other nodes unplugged for the moment.
   
2. Set up the main node, e.g. provide the Internet settings (if not using an existing router) and give it a Wi-Fi name and password. 
   
3. Place all the secondary nodes in the same room as the primary node and connect their power cables.  Don't attach anything to their network sockets.
   
4. If the secondary nodes were included in the same kit as the primary node (part of a 2 or 3 pack), leave them switched on for a few minutes to automatically pair with the primary node.
   
5. For any nodes bought separately, go into the Tenda App -> Settings -> Add nova, then follow the steps to add the separate nodes to the mesh.
   
6. Ensure all the secondary nodes have a solid green LED before continuing. 
   
7. Unplug the secondary nodes, then place them in the desired locations and follow either method below. 
   

Setting up the wired backhaul - Method 1

Run an Ethernet cable from the 'LAN' socket of the primary node to the blue Internet socket of the secondary node:



Repeat this process for any additional nodes, like this:



Switch on the secondary nodes.  The LED will flash after a moment, but should turn solid green after a few seconds.  If it turns yellow or another colour, it has reverted to wireless backhaul, i.e. Ethernet cable problem.

Setting up the wired backhaul - Method 2

Update: Thanks to DaveUK83 for providing a better method of wiring the secondary nodes that provides faster Wi-Fi performance.   This section has been revised on the 5th April '21 - The secondary nodes now connect to the switch via the LAN port.  

Although I have not tested this method, this should also work and would allow using the one network socket as both wired backhaul for the Wi-Fi and connecting an existing wired device, such as a PC or games console.  

1. Run an Ethernet cable from the 'LAN' socket of the primary node to a separate network switch, e.g. port #1. 
   
2. Run Ethernet cables from ports #2, #3, etc. to the LAN sockets of the secondary nodes. 
   
3. The WAN sockets of each secondary node can be left empty or to provide wired Internet connectivity to a desktop PC, TV set top box, etc.
   

If using an ISP router with multiple LAN ports, ensure all secondary mesh nodes are attached to the separate switch:



When using an ISP router like this, I suggest configuring the Tenda Mesh network to Bridge mode so that the Wi-Fi devices can access any printer, NAS, etc. attached to the ISP router.  To do this, go into the Tenda App -> Settings -> Internet Settings -> Connection Type, then touch the Bridge option. 

Wired backhaul methods that do not work!

My first few attempts of setting up wired backhaul were unsuccessful, mainly due to trying to attach the secondary nodes to the router or to a network switch attached to that router.

For example, the following wiring does not work:



Basically, do not connect any network port of a secondary mesh node to the LAN port of the ISP router or any network switch attached to the ISP router.

hello dear sean, thanks always for your spontaneous help for the community first of all!
I wanted to ask you, if I follow the second scheme, can I connect the secondary meshes both via lan and via wifi putting everything in bridge mode? because I have 6 of which 3 are reachable via cable but the others are not.
Thanks!