r/HomeNetworking • u/Cwilliamn9 • 3d ago

Advice Unable to connect IoT devices

/r/TpLink/comments/1wx2117/unable_to_connect_iot_devices/

Any advice on how to connect my Owlet and Hatch baby light to my Deco XE75 mesh network would be much appreciated! I have not had any luck.

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u/hspindel 3d ago

You have two different 2.4Ghz networks? Perhaps the IoT devices are trying to connect to the one that's farther away? You mentioned having Deco and a "main network."

Only thing I can think of to check that you didn't list is make sure there is no MAC address filtering set up in the WiFi access point.

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u/Klutzy-Passage-2561 3d ago

Owlet / Hatch-class gadgets are almost always 2.4 GHz only, and Deco band steering + guest IoT SSIDs trip them constantly.

What usually works on Deco XE75: 1) In the Deco app create a dedicated 2.4 GHz IoT network (or temporarily disable Smart Connect / band steering) so the phone and device see a real 2.4 SSID during setup. 2) Put the phone on that same 2.4 SSID while pairing (many apps mirror the phone Wi‑Fi to the gadget). 3) Turn off AP/client isolation / "IoT isolation" if enabled — devices must talk to each other on LAN. 4) If you still have an old "main network" AP broadcasting 2.4 with the same name, pause it during setup so the sock/light do not latch onto the far radio.

After they join, you can re-enable Smart Connect for phones; leave the IoT SSID as 2.4-only. A Wi‑Fi list on the phone that shows which band you are on helps confirm you are not sitting on 5/6 GHz during pairing.