Reconnect base station to HomeKit after upgrading to TP link Deco mesh WiFi

[Zcartwright]

Hi there, 

I recently installed a mesh WiFi system and now I’ve lost the HomeKit connectivity. I’ve removed the device from HomeKit and trying to add again via the Arlo app. When select the HomeKit option it just comes up with the ‘Discovering your device. Please wait’ message and just hangs there. I’ve tried rebooting, unplugging and powering up again but they don’t work.  I am able to use the arlo app and view cameras etc without issue in the Arlo app.
The base station is connected to the mesh router via an Ethernet port switch. 
I see from other messages a token reset request may help similar problems. 
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[ShayneS]

I have reset your HomeKit token, Please reboot your Base Station or Smart Hub and try again.

Thank you

[Zcartwright]

Thanks. I’ve rebooted and it didn’t make any difference. I’ve also tried to remove and then add back the base station and cameras to the app  but it made no difference. I’ve also reinstalled the app. I still get that screen. Any ideas? Thank you 

[ShayneS]

I reset them again, can you make sure you are on the same wifi network, reboot the device and test again. You can also log out of the app OR remove and reinstall it. 

[Zcartwright]

Hi Shayne 

That doesn’t seem to have made any difference. Is it anything to do with the mesh network and its settings at all? 
Thanks

[Zcartwright]

Further update.

if I turn the mesh off and the old router back on the app can find the base station. 
what settings do I need to change on my mesh system to allow me to see the base station? Sorry I’m not massively technical so may need a steer on what settings may need to be applied. 
thank you. 

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

Further update.

if I turn the mesh off and the old router back on the app can find the base station. 
what settings do I need to change on my mesh system to allow me to see the base station? Sorry I’m not massively technical so may need a steer on what settings may need to be applied. 
thank you. 

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Is the base station's ethernet connected directly to the Deco system?

Do you have an Apple Home hub?  If so, how is it connected to your network?

[Zcartwright]

The base station is connected to the  old router (where the internet comes into the house, which in turn is connected to the Deco mesh(which I’m also using as WiFi  router now, I’ve switched the WiFi off on the old router). 
I also have a Ethernet Switch that splits the internet coming out of Deco around the house. 
I have an Apple TV that I assume acts as the hub. That is connected by an Ethernet cable to the Ethernet switch. So they are all indirectly connected via Ethernet cables. 
should have connect both to the back of old router?

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

The base station is connected to the  old router (where the internet comes into the house, which in turn is connected to the Deco mesh(which I’m also using as WiFi  router now, I’ve switched the WiFi off on the old router). 

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It's likely that you set up the mesh as a router (instead of setting it up as an access point).  That is consistent with your symptoms. Try connecting the base to the ethernet switch.

You can check whether you are using the Deco as a router or not by looking in the app:

• https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1842/

[Zcartwright]

Thanks. I’ve changed the settings on the Decos and it’s made no difference. It only seems to work when the mesh units are turned off. No idea why. Must be a setting on the units. I’ve tried to connect standing right next to old router but didn’t work. 

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

Thanks. I’ve changed the settings on the Decos and it’s made no difference. It only seems to work when the mesh units are turned off. No idea why. Must be a setting on the units. I’ve tried to connect standing right next to old router but didn’t work. 

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If you have no Apple hub, then Apple Homekit requires that the phone be connected to the same network as the base station. 

If you do have a device that serves as the Apple hub, then Apple requires that the base station be connected to the same network as the Apple hub.

"Same network" means connected to the same router.

If the Deco is now set up as an AP, then this ought to be working ok, since there is only one router.  But you could also try moving the base station connection to the ethernet switch, and see if that makes any difference.

How is the Apple TV connected to your network?

[Zcartwright]

Thanks. Everything is either directly or indirectly wired to the router via an Ethernet cable. 
the Apple TV is plugged into a deco socket which in turn is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable. 
I’m  assuming as it’s all connects to the router it should work so I’m struggling to understand what the problem is. 

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

Thanks. Everything is either directly or indirectly wired to the router via an Ethernet cable. 
the Apple TV is plugged into a deco socket which in turn is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable. 

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 I am suggesting that the base be connected on a path through the deco and not directly to the router.  Have you tried that?

[Zcartwright]

Thanks. I tried connecting to a couple of different Decos and no joy. 
the additional problem was due to their location I couldn’t then connect to all the cameras so had to move it back to main router location which is centrally located. 
the only thing that works is if Decos are off. No idea why. Is it worth contacting the deco guys to see if they have any ideas?

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

the only thing that works is if Decos are off. No idea why. Is it worth contacting the deco guys to see if they have any ideas?

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No harm in trying to reach out to them.

Did you successfully switch the Decos to AP mode?  Did you also reboot the mesh after you did that?

[Zcartwright]

Thanks, I’ll see if they are helpful. 
I did change the mode to AP and they rebooted automatically after I made that setting change. 

[Zcartwright]

TP link support aren’t massively helpful. 

[Zcartwright]

Have turned the decos off and connected everything direct to router and I still can find the base station when I try to set up HomeKit. Does the token thing need to be reset again? Is there anyway of checking the base station remotely to see if there is any issues?

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

Have turned the decos off and connected everything direct to router and I still can find the base station when I try to set up HomeKit. Does the token thing need to be reset again? 

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Can you complete the setup with the Decos off?

If you can, then what happens when you turn them back on?

[Zcartwright]

Sorry, Typo. I can’t connect to base station with decos off now. 

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

Sorry, Typo. I can’t connect to base station with decos off now. 

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Can't connect at all?  Or just can't use homekit?

[Zcartwright]

Cameras etc work fine in app. Just can’t connect to HomeKit. It doesn’t find the base station when I try to set it up in app. 

[StephenB]

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@Zcartwright wrote:

Cameras etc work fine in app. Just can’t connect to HomeKit. It doesn’t find the base station when I try to set it up in app. 

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Then you probably just need a token reset.  I'm tagging the mods to call attention to that - @BrookeN , @JamesC , @ShayneS 

[ShayneS · Accepted solution]

@Zcartwright 

I reset the token again. 

[Zcartwright]

Thank you for sticking with me. That seems to have worked. I connected to HomeKit with the Decos off then turned them on again and the connection remained. 
thank you for your help.