TP‑Link Deco BE85 / BE68 Review: Real‑World Wi‑Fi 7 for Homes

Quick summary

Deco BE85/BE68 is a strong Wi‑Fi 7 mesh for larger homes that want easy setup with solid speeds. Wired backhaul and mindful placement avoid avoidable drops.

BE85 offers more multi‑gig headroom and ports; BE68 lands as the value pick. Both benefit from careful node height and avoiding big TV cabinets and mirrors.

Setup notes

Prefer Ethernet backhaul for main nodes; MoCA works when pulling cable is hard
Try 160 MHz on 6 GHz only after verifying DFS and neighborhood conditions
Place nodes off the floor, away from large TVs and microwaves
Re‑survey after furniture and TV locations are final; small moves change results

Our test results in Westchester homes

In plaster‑and‑lath colonials, 6 GHz range is shorter. With BE85 wired as the primary and a second node wired or MoCA‑backhauled, near‑room Wi‑Fi easily clears gigabit on newer laptops; mid‑room holds steady when channel widths are conservative.

With wireless backhaul, we favored 80/160 MHz on 6 GHz to keep latency and uploads stable. Placing nodes higher and away from TV cabinets improved far‑room consistency more than pushing power or chasing 320 MHz peaks.

Scenario	Near	Mid	Far	Notes
BE85, wired backhaul	>1.4 Gbps	0.9–1.2 Gbps	0.6–0.9 Gbps	Most consistent; multi‑gig switch uplink helps
BE68, wired backhaul	>1.2 Gbps	0.8–1.1 Gbps	0.5–0.8 Gbps	Excellent value; tune channels for stability
BE85, wireless backhaul	>1.0 Gbps	0.6–0.9 Gbps	0.4–0.7 Gbps	Prefer 80/160 MHz; avoid DFS hits

Large homes and multi‑floor notes

On multi‑floor layouts, wiring the vertical riser pays off quickly. We place one node per floor near stairs or corridors, wire the riser with Cat6A or MoCA where available, and keep channels conservative for steady uploads across floors.

BE85 vs BE68 — which to choose?

Choose BE85 if you have multi‑gig internet and plan wired backhaul to multiple nodes
Choose BE68 for best price/performance when your internet is 1 Gb/s and you’ll wire at least the primary node
If you need controller‑level tuning or VLANs, consider UniFi U7 Pro instead

Channel width and DFS awareness

Wide channels are tempting, but they’re fragile in busy neighborhoods. We start at 80 MHz on 6 GHz and 40 MHz on 5 GHz, validate with room‑by‑room tests, then widen where conditions allow. Keep an eye on DFS activity; if you see drops or pauses, step down channel width and re‑test.

Favor stability first; widen channels after verifying
Use minimum RSSI to discourage sticky clients
Log quick before/after tests when changing widths

Backhaul options and switching

Ethernet remains the gold standard. When wiring is tough, MoCA over coax can deliver a consistent 1–2.5 Gb/s path for the second node. We size switches with PoE and 2.5G/10G uplinks where you have a NAS or multi‑gig WAN to avoid bottlenecks.

Checklist: before you buy and place

Confirm internet tier and where wiring is feasible
Plan wired backhaul or MoCA for at least the main branch
Place nodes high and clear of large metal/TV cabinets
Start with 80 MHz on 6 GHz; widen only after tests
Run near/mid/far room tests; adjust and label nodes

FAQs

BE85 vs BE68 — speed difference in practice?

BE85 offers more multi‑gig headroom and ports. In many homes on 1 Gb/s service, BE68 feels similar day‑to‑day, especially with wired backhaul and sensible channels.

Can I mix Ethernet and wireless backhaul?

Yes. Wire what you can (ideally the primary and one branch), then use a single wireless hop if needed. MoCA over coax is a solid alternative.

What channel width should I use?

Start at 80 MHz on 6 GHz and 40 MHz on 5 GHz. Widen after confirming your environment is clean and your devices benefit.

Do I need a multi‑gig switch?

If you have multi‑gig internet or a fast NAS/workstation, a switch with 2.5G/10G uplinks prevents the wired side from becoming the bottleneck.

Next steps

Want a quick plan that fits your rooms and wiring? We can survey, wire backhaul where it pays off, and place/tune nodes so speeds hold up where you actually use devices.

Request a Wi‑Fi mesh plan

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