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Any Experiences with the TP-Link Deco App?

By Al puzzuoli, 25 July, 2021

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi all,
Hello,
Does anyone here have a TP-Link Deco Mesh system? If so, how is the accessibility of their management app?
Thanks.

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Comments

I have one

By Justin

1 year 8 months ago

To call the accessibility a dumpster fire would be an offense to dumpster fires everywhere, go a different direction. I'm told the Amazon mesh system has a pretty accessible app.

Thanks. Good to know. Sad


By Al puzzuoli

1 year 8 months ago

Thanks. Good to know. Sad but unfortunately not surprised.

Using any of the TP Link apps.

By M. T Hagan

1 year 8 months ago

The Deco app is as noted barely acceptable for a visually impaired user. It is usable, and the product is usually affordable for someone on disability, but you’re better off going with a TP Link product like the Archer line that uses the Tether app by TP Link. The Archer line is a few bucks more, 40 or so, but has better ethernet speeds on the WAN port and a more (though not perfect) accessable app. The problem with a lot of the DECO lines for me wasn’t just the app, it was the WAN port speed being limited to 100 MBPS limit. Sure, for most of what a blind person uses it for 100 is fine, video flows well from most streaming, audio flows fine, but /if/ you have a sighted person in the house that loves video gaming or if you’re a household with more than one person in it, you should begin to worry. An article recently read stated that on average you should allocate bandwidth at 10 MB download/1MB upload per member on the network, but keep in mind the “member” is a device, not necessarily a person. So, if you really want a good product mostly affordable for blind folks, TP Link is a fair start, provided you start around 100.00 USD, and avoid the DECO mesh products that are low end.

Now, The problem with the DECO app has been mentioned to TP Link, and I have received curt if somewhat dismissive replies regarding the problem. TP Link’s app has many buttons and options that simply are not seen by VO, and thus even hitting the back button in the app is problematic. Further buttons and menus, drop downs, and the like are just not coded right for VO users. If you move to the Tether app though, a lot of those problems are actually resolved, though its worth noting the Tether app doesn’t function well for DECO routers. I tried. Even the Tether app though has problems with noting over VO whether a button is activated, as in a enabled or disabled checkbox. You can set up an Archer router though. The problem isn’t just the app though, its the TP Link labels on all ther buttons, as the web enterface also has simular problems with VO or even with some windows screenreaders. But, Linksys, amazon, microsoft, a lot of higher end routers are just out of budget for a lot of people. If you want Wi-Fi 6, or mesh, you’re going to have to figure out cost vs headache medicine consumption. TP LINK is ‘usable” but it rated a 4/10 for me in Tether, and 2/10 for DECO.

Hi to all.

By Jelal Bairamoglou

1 year 8 months ago

I have the router: Fritz! Box 7530
It is too accessible by its web interface with screen readers on all operating systems, "The IOS application is too accessible"
I've tried too many router, Fritz Box is the best router I've tried so far supports Voice IP phones and many other features.

Looking at a high end Mesh.

By Al puzzuoli

1 year 8 months ago

I'm probably looking at a higher end Mesh system. I've read mixed reviews of the Amazon Eero in terms of performance; but I've heard good things about the accessibility of their app.
At this point, I'm leaning toard either a UniFi Dream Machine or something in the Netgear Orbi line.

Hello

By Jelal Bairamoglou

1 year 8 months ago

In reply to Looking at a high end Mesh. by Al puzzuoli

In Fritzbox you can connect a hard disk and see it with all the devices you have.
Note No complicated settings need to connect a hard disk, all you need to activate the USB 3 protocol to quickly transfer data.

I love Unifi but you probably shouldn't buy it.

By Jared

1 year 8 months ago

As of February I was able to set up a Unifi Dream machine, a Unifi Beacon HD access point, and a Unifi AC-LR access point connected through Ethernet with there iOS app. The coverage it gives me is great and totally overkill. I was also able to add one of there switches to my home network and configure it through the iOS app.
The downsides are several and may or may not matter to you.
1. The Beacon HD has a weird plug design and doesn't fit all outlets. I have to jam it into my outlet and it still doesn't feel stable although it stays connected. The Beacon HD comes with an outlet cover you can replace your plug with but I didn't bother.
2. The web interface is difficult to use. You can see a demo of it at
https://demo.ui.com/manage/site/office/dashboard
3. It's not possible to reorder firewall rules with screen readers as far as I can tell. This is part of the web interface. Using VLANS I set up a personal network for my computers and smart phone, a second network for IOT devices mostly isolated from my personal network and a third network for my work computer completely isolated from the other two networks. This probably took me an hour to do because I had to create about 10 rules in the correct order. I messed it up a couple of times and had to start from scratch.
If you are technical and want to tinker then by all means go for the dream machine. If you just want something that works why not just get an Eero? If your watching tv and browsing are you really going to notice the difference between 150MPBS or 300MBPS? If you really want high speed byte the bullet and hire an electrician to run ethernet drops. Ethernet and fancy networking equipment doesn't really make any difference in my computer usage and ability to work remotely. I like tech toys though so I got the Unifi Dream Machine. If you have more questions feel free to contact me, I love discussing network since I'm an interested amateur.

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