What did you select for mode
Please use PPPoE mode and remove old router and connect deco directly to modem

See this video
https://youtu.be/TOFEVnjbBDc

assuming you are using TIME
just contact them and say you want to use your own router
they will configure it and then you can use your own router like with the standalone ont

I don't think any Asus routers have SFP ports

Yes, usually mesh systems are brand specific

There is an open standard, wifi alliance easymesh
but no clue if the fiberhome supports it while the tplink absolutely does not support it

you could connect a cable and use as Wired Access Point, if there is an option like that on the fiberhome
wireless repeater is not recommended as it heavily decreases speeds

Yes, it is called an Access Point
but nowdays most people have moved onto mesh systems
but if you just need a bit of wifi coverage an AP will do

or you could just use any old router you have laying around if they have that option ( do not use in router mode)

You need the high up bands like 38 and 48
most cheap generic routers do not support those

they do have some that supports those bands
https://www.tp-link.com/my/home-networking/...mr500/#overview

but some of the cheaper models dont

For Archer, it is a replacement router that will hopefully have better range/strength

AX73 is a good choice

Deco mesh is for larger homes, if your home is large then you place a unit on each floor
Ideally, the 2nd unit should be connected back to main unit via cable or on the more expensive models they have a dedicated wireless radio
Otherwise connecting wirelessly works but speeds get reduced a lot

For the setup, simply ask TM for the PPPoE Username and Password and input them into the router while selecting the Malaysia TM Unifi profile

I don't think auto will work
please try following this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb50X3PcPUU

For the Archer series, you have to use their "OneMesh" nodes like
https://www.tp-link.com/my/home-networking/...xtender/re605x/

However, it seems like in newer firmware updates they have also added support for the WiFi alliance standard "EasyMesh"

So do try to find repeaters that support one of those 2

Deco... Means basically replacing this AX73 and having one of the Deco nodes act as the router and the other to extend coverage, hence why it comes in a set of 2

I think software features will be reduced to the lowest that all of them support, I remember some posts here about connecting a less featured model resulted in some stuff disappearing from the deco app

Hi there just want to correct this

AsusWRT is the software that runs on Asus Routers, it is loosely based on Tomato firmware from long long ago but Asus has made many changes to it over the years

AsusWRT-Merlin is a custom modified version of it by RMerlin that adds features, fixes bugs, etc

AiMesh is Asus's branding for their mesh system, and they basically allow you to mesh any Asus AiMesh Compatible router together

i mean. the simple answer would be to unblock and see if it connects up
or, go to tv settings, note down the MAC Address, and see if you accidentally blocked it

1. Of course, it is setup to connect via cable and if you disconnect said cable it stops being connected.
2. maybe? I havent used a deco before but it will come with *serious* speed penalty if it is even an option

suggestion: avoid double nat by commiting to one system
use the Asus OR Deco ONLY, do not mix both brands into your setup

Unfortunately it seems like your Asus is too old for AiMesh, so getting another Deco as the main unit, replacing the Asus, and have the other 2 Decos connect wirelessly back to the main deco might be the best option

But again, wirelessly connecting it will always result in a penalty in speed because it has to both use the wifi to communicate back and also talk to your devices

So

Alcatel -> Deco 1 -> Deco 2 and 3

drop the maxis provided router and connected your own router (of which btw, AX5400 is NOT the model, that's just the speed rating) directly to the TM/Maxis provided Huawei/FiberHome/ZTE/Nokia/Alcatel-Lucent modem
connect it from the original LAN port of the modem, which should be LAN2 or LAN1, do not change it, to the WAN port of your tplink

login to Maxis router and go to setup and make note of the PPPoE Username and password, use inspect element to retrieve password, or, it is usually just your username with a 1 added to the back

Eg: your username is A12345@home.maxis.com.my, then your password is most likely A123451

now, go to your TP-Link's
Advanced -> Network -> Internet

select PPPoE
enter username and password here
optionally, you may change dns as well

then, go to IPTV/VLAN under the same Network section
tick to enable it, then select the Malaysia-Maxis1 profile
if that doesn't work, try Maxis2

(tplink webgui simulator doesn't update the ui to show me the changes so im not sure which one)

I myself prefer to use custom
if your original router was on LAN2, use Internet VLAN 621, VOIP VLAN 822
if you were on LAN1, use Internet VLAN 11, VOIP VLAN 14

then, under LAN section
if you do not intend to use the VOIP of the Maxis, just set all LAN ports to Internet and put your Maxis router into the box
if you wish to reuse the VOIP on the maxis router, set one of the ports, eg, LAN4, to VOIP, then connect a cable from it to the WAN port of your maxis router
login to maxis router and disable internet interface, and disable its wifi too

try manual VLAN 630

Probably don't even need to cross flash firmware as long as

"Special ISP requirement" box is available and also PPPoE

If there's no present then just select Custom VLAN and enter 500

Well, using a cable to connect them all would be the best if possible

the M9 is great as the main node as it's tri band

however, the M5 isnt so the 3rd one is probably going from m9 -> m5 (1) -> m5 (2)
because the m5 isn't tri band, there's quite the speed penalty of connecting back up wirelessly


Also consider removing the ISP provided router and connect the M9 directly to modem