What is a major disadvantage of a mesh network?
A major disadvantage is feature loss when the mesh runs in Access Point mode behind an existing router. TP-Link's Deco documentation confirms that in AP mode, gateway features such as antivirus, parental controls, QoS, port forwarding and VPN disappear from the app.
Mesh Wi-Fi systems are usually sold on their strengths: several units working together, fast roaming between them, and blanket coverage across a home. The drawbacks get less attention, but one of them is documented by the manufacturer itself, and it can catch buyers out after the boxes are already unboxed.
[1]The headline drawback: features vanish in Access Point mode
TP-Link's support documentation for its Deco mesh systems explains that after setup the units work in Router mode by default, acting as the gateway device. That is where the richer features live: Antivirus, Parental Controls, QoS, a DHCP server, port forwarding, DDNS, UPnP, VPN server and client, static routing, device isolation, address reservation and IPTV or VLAN support are all available in Router mode.
[1]The catch comes when there is already a router in front of the main mesh unit. In that situation the mesh has to be switched to Access Point mode, and TP-Link states plainly that the gateway features disappear from the Deco app in that configuration. The feature table in the same FAQ shows the same pattern: Monthly Report, Connection Alerts, Antivirus, Parental Control, QoS, HomeShield, DHCP server, port forwarding, VPN and several other functions are marked as supported in Router mode but not in AP mode.
[1]A concrete comparison to make the trade-off clear
Picture two households. The first has a basic modem-only internet connection, so the mesh plugs straight in and runs in Router mode. They keep the full feature set: content filtering for the kids, QoS to prioritise video calls, and a VPN server for remote access to their own files. The second household already has a combined modem-router from their internet provider and does not want to replace it. They put the mesh behind it in Access Point mode and suddenly those features are gone, unless the existing router happens to offer equivalents of its own. Same hardware, same price paid, very different capability depending on where the mesh sits in the chain.
[1]Why this matters before you buy
This is a planning disadvantage as much as a technical one. If you know in advance that you will keep an existing router in front of the mesh, check what that existing router provides before assuming the mesh will handle everything. TP-Link also notes that different Deco models may differ in features, and that some models gained functions through later firmware updates, so the exact feature list for a specific unit needs checking against its own support page rather than assuming a general rule.
[1]There is a secondary, related drawback worth naming: complexity of comparison. Mesh systems, standalone routers and access points overlap in marketing language, and the only reliable way to compare them is by exact model. A comparison site can help here; Networking Compared lists dated retailer offers in GBP across routers, switches and Wi-Fi hardware, and advises matching the full model code and hardware revision, checking port speeds and power budgets, and confirming modem, controller and subscription needs before buying.
[2]Where the evidence stops
It is worth being honest about limits. TP-Link's documentation covers Deco systems specifically, so the Router-versus-AP feature split is confirmed for those products, not for every mesh brand on the market. Other commonly cited mesh drawbacks, such as added latency per hop or higher cost per unit, are not quantified here, so treat those as things to verify per model rather than settled facts.
[1]A practical next step: before choosing a mesh system, decide whether it will replace your existing router or sit behind it. If it will sit behind it, write down which features you actually rely on, then check the manufacturer's support page for that exact model and hardware revision to confirm those features survive in Access Point mode.
[1][2]Sources and dates
- https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/2399/ · accessed 2026-10-18
- https://networkingcompared.com/ · accessed 2026-10-18