Setting up mesh network with BGW320-505

The best way is the one that meets your needs.  You can use IP Passthrough  and maintain all of the capabilities of the Deco or you can set the Deco up in AP Mode and they just become wireless access points on the same network as the BGW320.

Here's a good discussion of some of the pros/cons on a Deco system.

As far as your questions in the other thread, wifi6 capabilities aren't affected and there's no issue with SSID changes.

Thank you for the links that provide tremendously useful information on setting up the tp- link satellites as a router. I am new to this technology. When I first received TP Links mesh satellites, all I did was connect an Ethernet cable from satellite to  BGW320-505 then follow prompts associated with TP Link app… and ended up with 2 networks… and access points.

 Question? Before I make changes, to ATT BGW320-505 for Passthrough, should I delete the TP Link network, and begin from scratch, with each satellite?

• Question? When I turn off the firewall on BGW320-505, how will the TP Link router be protected? Is it the, subscription based HomeSheild Pro, within their app?

I would recommend doing a factory reset on the BGW320 by holding down the reset button for >15 secs.  Same for the Deco, which takes a 1 sec push of the reset button.

Now you're starting fresh with no previous settings to complicate things.

If you disable the BGW's firewall the TP-Link still has its own firewall in place, protecting the devices connected to it.  The HomeShield software adds more features than the hardware firewall, hard to say if it's worth it.  As always, this sort of thing can come with side effects as we see with the AT&T offering......blocked legit websites, performance issues, etc.  Looks like some are unhappy that the HomeShield product sends a ton of telemetry about your activity back to TP-Link.  I'm not sure how much of that isn't really related to the job it has to do, however.

If you plan on hooking anything to the BGW besides the TP-Link, then leave the BGW firewall in place.