Many mesh networks promise seamless coverage and self-healing capabilities, yet they remain notoriously difficult to troubleshoot. Network engineers must often handle unpredictable performance, backhaul congestion, and interference issues, which make stability a challenge.

EasyMesh was set out to fix some of the biggest issues with traditional mesh networks, like interoperability, vendor lock-in, and multi-node network optimisation. And while the standard lives up to this promise, it’s not to say that it doesn’t have its own deployment challenges. In this article, we’ll look at the most common issues you can come across during EasyMesh implementation. We’ll also mention the potential trade-offs involved in using the standard, and our recommended method of troubleshooting most common EasyMesh issues.

EasyMesh – promises vs reality

WiFi Alliance refers to its EasyMesh standard as a way for “quality WiFi without complication”. When deployed correctly, it promises the following:

• Future-proofing networks – thanks to supporting next-gen Wi-Fi 6E and 7 while ensuring adaptability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in large-scale deployments.
• Optimised coverage – it allows multiple access points to be placed strategically.
• Simplified setup – it enables seamless and secure device onboarding via QR codes using Wi-Fi Easy Connect.
• Smart network management – it uses Wi-Fi data elements for advanced diagnostics, helping service providers monitor and optimise performance.
• Quality of Service support and traffic management – it prioritises low-latency applications, guides devices to the best connection, and reduces interference.

EasyMesh is compatible with embedded systems and devices from multiple manufacturers, including ASUS, Xiaomi, Cudy, Tenda, Linksys, and TP-Link. On the one hand, this solves the biggest question early EasyMesh adopters had. Namely, whether major vendors would allow or restrict EasyMesh to protect their own, proprietary solutions. 

On the other, the number of compatible hardware types doesn’t always translate into their interoperability. 

Users report that devices from different manufacturers don’t always work seamlessly together. They also note that firmware updates across different devices can be inconsistent, potentially leading to problems with compatibility and wireless network stability.

We discuss these and other common EasyMesh troubleshooting problems below.

Most frequent EasyMesh implementation issues

Node failure

Firmware or software issues

Firmware bugs or glitches in a node can lead to malfunctions or unexpected disconnections from the mesh network.
For instance, one user identified an issue within the manageConnections() function in the easyMeshConnection.cpp file. Even after removing the time synchronisation code and keeping only the connection and node synchronisation logic, they continued to experience unexplained Wi-Fi disconnections, despite setting the timeout to 10 seconds. They attempted modifications to address clock resets and were still testing whether these changes would resolve the issue.

Configuration errors

Incorrect settings or misconfigurations during setup can prevent nodes from joining or maintaining connections within the mesh network.

Let’s take EasyMesh issues when using TP-Link. Two common scenarios occur:  

Scenario 1: Satellite devices aren’t detected or can’t be added to the main router

This can happen in either of the three situations:

• both devices don’t support EasyMesh
• they have outdated firmware
• EasyMesh is disabled on both devices. 

Additionally, problems can arise if the satellite device isn’t reset or set to satellite mode correctly. A weak Wi-Fi connection between the devices, or incorrect methods for adding the satellite, can also cause difficulties.

Scenario 2: Ethernet backhaul isn’t working

Another common scenario occurs when the Ethernet backhaul connection isn’t established, despite an Ethernet cable being connected. If the devices are supposed to support Ethernet backhaul by default, then the issue could be that the firmware is outdated. 

ISPs also recommend checking for faulty Ethernet cables, using a switch between the devices, and checking if incorrect ports aren’t preventing the connection from working properly.

Connectivity issues due to network overload

Excessive data traffic or an overloaded main router can lead to connectivity issues, causing nodes to drop out or become unresponsive.

For example, one user reported issues with their multi-router EasyMesh setup in a three-story building. They switched to two Archer C6 V4 routers for the first and ground floors, using one as the main router and the other as a satellite. 

However, they experienced Wi-Fi disconnects on various smartphones, with one specific phone (Samsung S24 Ultra) showing a “sign into network” error. They suspected the main router might have gotten overloaded and tried connecting it via LAN and WAN ports. Yet, this caused the routers to stop working together. 

Issues like these introduce confusion around debugging EasyMesh – the correct topology, configuration, and potential overloading of the main router.

EasyMesh compatibility issues

Using devices with incompatible firmware versions or from different manufacturers can result in nodes failing to integrate properly into the mesh network. Here’s a real-life example from a user who had been using an AX53 router with their ISP’s ZTE router in bridge mode without issues. After switching to a TP-Link X220 XPON router with EasyMesh, problems began. 

The AX53, set as a satellite router, kept resetting. While the X220 detected it in EasyMesh, the network wouldn’t establish. 

In Aginet, both routers appeared in a single network, but the AX53 broadcasted the default TP-Link SSID instead of the main router’s. The user couldn’t access its web UI to change it, and any SSID change before setup caused a reset.

Running two routers with double NAT caused speed issues, and some TP-Link Wi-Fi cameras were having trouble staying connected. As a temporary solution, the user set the AX53 in AP mode. Yet, in such a mode, it lacked features like QoS and device-specific data usage tracking.

Vendor compatibility issues – why are they a problem?

While we’ve mentioned that more hardware is now compatible with EasyMesh, it’s worth acknowledging that mesh software isn’t naturally compatible with the software in devices like phones or laptops. For some, this is a fundamental problem with mesh network architectures. 

Wi-Fi mesh networks depend on devices switching between nodes as needed, but many devices don’t automatically switch to a stronger signal unless they completely lose connection to the current node. This leads to interruptions in service and an overall lack of seamless connectivity.

As one mesh network user noticed, “there’s no reason a proprietary message from the mesh telling a device to switch nodes would be accepted by default. Nor is there a standard way for a device to detect when it needs to switch nodes.”

It’s also worth noting that mesh networks require efficient management of bandwidth and network load. This can be challenging if devices aren’t fully compatible with the network’s traffic priority settings and node switching rules. As a result, poor load balancing can lead to congestion and slow speeds.

Can self-healing mechanisms in EasyMesh cope with all of such issues?

The short answer is – to a certain extent.

One the one hand, EasyMesh comes with self-healing mechanisms. These are designed to automatically detect and resolve connectivity issues within the mesh network and help maintain a stable and seamless connection. Even if one or more nodes (routers) experience problems. 

The main self-healing functions include:

• Automatic reconnection – if a node fails or loses connection, the network will attempt to reconnect automatically by rerouting traffic through other available nodes.
• Dynamic path selection – if a router becomes congested or the signal weakens, the system will choose a different path or router for data transmission to ensure minimal disruption.
• Failover & load balancing – if one node becomes overloaded or fails, traffic is redistributed across other available nodes. This prevents a complete loss of connectivity.
• Node recovery – if a router experiences temporary failure, it will try to rejoin the network without requiring manual intervention.

However, they won’t be able to handle all scenarios fully. 

Let’s take the overloaded main router issue mentioned in the previous section.

Self-healing can help redistribute traffic across other routers. However, if the main router is not properly configured or is overloaded (e.g., due to incorrect topology or excessive devices), self-healing may fail to stabilise the network.

The same can be said about Wi-Fi disconnects and “sign into network” errors. If a satellite node is experiencing issues, self-healing mechanisms could reroute traffic to maintain connectivity. That said, if the main router is overloaded or misconfigured, self-healing may not work.

This would call for more advanced troubleshooting, adjusted to the individual ISP and mesh networks setup.

Mitigating common EasyMesh incompatibilities – checklist 

Here are some questions to ask yourself while diagnosing source of EasyMesh network issues:

• Have you ensured that all devices are EasyMesh-compatible? Confirm that all of the hardware supports the EasyMesh standard to prevent compatibility issues.
• Are you following the correct procedure to add satellite devices? Verify that you’re adding satellite routers or extenders using the appropriate methods (found in the device manuals).
• Have you reset satellite devices before reconfiguration? Sometimes, it can resolve connectivity issues during the EasyMesh setup process.
• Is your Ethernet backhaul setup functioning correctly? Make sure Ethernet cables are properly connected and functional, and that the backhaul configuration aligns with EasyMesh guidelines.
• Have you checked for firmware updates? This can help address known issues and improve network stability.
• Is your network topology correctly configured? Ensure that your network’s layout, including connections between the main router and satellite devices, follows recommended EasyMesh configurations to prevent instability.
• Are you experiencing interference from other devices? Consider potential sources, like other wireless networks or electronic devices.
• Have you adjusted the placement of your EasyMesh devices? This could improve signal strength and reduce connectivity issues.

Also, to prevent issues in the future, we recommend using an open-source system from IOPSYS. It’s built to overcome common EasyMesh challenges and help you build a more reliable, high-performance network.

Handling common EasyMesh compatibility issues with IOPSYS

IOPSYS’s open-source operating system, which we’ve proudly helped develop at Holisticon, effectively tackles the most common issues with EasyMesh integration.

The system lets network operators and telecom providers use EasyMesh to easily integrate chipsets from brands like Broadcom, MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Airoha. All without expensive system redesigns. This gives operators the flexibility to choose the best hardware for their needs while ensuring long-term adaptability. 

EasyMesh’s self-optimizing, scalable network ensures smoother Wi-Fi coverage across buildings, improving overall performance. This offers a better experience, without adding complexity for users.

Learn more about the IOPSYS open-source OS for IoT getaways, and how it could help solve your common EasyMesh challenges.

Proper EasyMesh implementation – the key to making the most of mesh network architecture

EasyMesh holds great potential to simplify mesh network deployments and improve Wi-Fi performance across multi-node environments. However, as with any standard, its success depends on proper implementation, careful hardware selection, and ongoing optimisation. Compatibility issues, misconfigurations, and vendor-specific quirks can quickly derail even the most promising setups. That’s why having the right tools, like the IOPSYS open-source OS, and a solid understanding of common pitfalls is essential. By addressing these challenges head-on, ISPs and network engineers can finally unlock the true value of EasyMesh – delivering consistent, seamless, and scalable wireless experiences to end users.

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