Tenda AC1200 Whole Home Mesh WiFi System User Manual

Tenda AC1200 Whole Home Mesh WiFi System

Product Information

The product being referred to in the user manual is Tenda Nova, a mesh Wi-Fi system. It is designed to provide seamless and reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home or office.

Key Features

• Mesh network technology for extended Wi-Fi coverage
• Support for IEEE standard 802.11 specifications
• Auto System Maintenance feature to optimize internet speed
• Ability to connect multiple units (nodes) to create a mesh network
• Tenda Wi-Fi app for easy installation and management

Product Usage Instructions

Troubleshooting Common Problems

• If you encounter any common problems, refer to the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section in the user manual.
• If the FAQ does not solve your problem, you can contact Tenda’s customer service team by sending an email to support.us@tenda.cn.

Internet Speed Issues

• If your internet speed is not up to the advertised speed, it may be due to factors such as your internet service provider and network configuration.
• The maximum wireless signal rates are derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Experienced speeds may vary.
• Contact your internet service provider for further assistance.

Internet Speed Drops after Use

• If you experience a drop in internet speed after a period of use, try turning on the Auto System Maintenance feature.
• In the Tenda Wi-Fi app, go to More > System Setting > Auto System Maintenance.
• This feature helps optimize the performance of your network.

Phone Disconnects from WiFi Automatically

• If your phone frequently disconnects from Wi-Fi and switches to the mobile network, it may be due to the phone system detecting a lower Wi-Fi speed.
• To disable this automatic switch, go to the Wi-Fi settings on your phone and turn off the option to switch to the mobile network.

Adding Nodes to an Existing Mesh Network

If you need to add nodes to an existing mesh network or if one unit is not connecting to the others, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the reset button of the child node for about 8 seconds.
2. Scan the code on the Tenda Wi-Fi app.
3. Re-add the node by following the instructions provided in the app.

Setting up Tenda Nova for Internet Access

To set up Tenda Nova for internet access, follow these steps:

1. Download the Tenda Wi-Fi app on your mobile phone. For iOS, search for Tenda Wi-Fi in the App Store or use WeChat to scan the QR code in the installation guide. For Android, search for Tenda Wi-Fi in Google Play or use WeChat or a web browser to scan the QR code in the installation guide.
2. Connect your broadband line to the WAN/LAN port of any Nova unit.
3. Power on the Nova unit.
4. Connect your mobile phone to the Nova unit’s wireless network using the wireless network name (SSID) and password specified on the bottom label of the Nova unit.
5. Run the Tenda Wi-Fi app and tap Setup when the setup wizard appears.
6. Follow the instructions provided by the app to enter information according to your internet connection type (PPPoE, dynamic IP, or static IP).
7. Complete the settings and your Nova unit will be connected to the internet.

The FAQ applies to the resolution of common problems, if it does not solve your problem， Please feel free to contact our customer service team ( you can send an email to support.us@tenda.cn )

Instructions

The coverage falls short of what is advertised

1. Coverage estimates are based on normal use conditions. Actual range and performance can vary, including due to factors such as interference, device usage, building materials, thickness of wall and obstructions. Throughput and coverage estimates are a configuration reference, not a performance guarantee.
2. If there are some network dead spots, there is an option to purchase a few more Mesh to add to the network system as sub-nodes. 【Please note WiFi 5 Series (MW Series) can only be combined with WiFi 5 Series products. WiFi 6 Series (MX Series) can only be combined with WiFi 6 Series products. A mesh network system can be composed of up to 10 nova units. Considering network stability, we recommend a maximum of 8 Nova units.】

The internet speed is not up to the advertised speed

• Internet connection speeds depend on your internet service provider.
• Maximum wireless signal rates are derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications.
• Experienced speeds may vary based on network configuration.

Internet speed drops after a period of use

• Try turning on the Auto System Maintenance feature. (Web UI: More-System Setting-Auto System Maintenance.
• Tenda WiFi APP: Settings-Auto System Maintenance)

Item does not work / defective, how to solve it?

• Mesh network topology is a network that connects a group of devices.
• In a full mesh topology, every single node is directly connected.
• The way they are connected is via wireless.
• Electric appliances such as microwave ovens, induction cookers, desk lamps, stereos, and cameras are the most likely to affect the transmission of wireless network signals or even reduce the speed of the network.
• Their powerful electromagnetic waves will cause significant interference to the signal, resulting in blocked transmission.
• We recommend placing the node in a place where you can bypass the source of interference, and then plug in the power and observe the status of the indicator light.

The phone frequently disconnects from WiFi automatically

• When the phone system detects that the WiFi speed is not as good as using the mobile network, it will automatically switch to the mobile network status.
• You can turn this off in the WiFi settings of your phone.

How to add nodes to an existing mesh network again?

• One of the units will not connect to the others, how to solve it? Press and hold the reset button of the child node for about 8 seconds, then scan the code on the Tenda Wi-Fi APP and re-add the node.

Two nodes cannot connect to the main node, what should I do？

E.g: You buy one suit nova with three nodes, the main node works fine, but the other two
nodes cannot connect to the main node.
Solution

1. We suggest the distance between two nodes no more than two walls, if the position is not properly, please adjust the place and angle of nova.
2. Power off and restart two nodes, wait 1-2 mins, and then check whether it can connect to the main node on APP, or check the light of the third node (solid blue or not)
3. If two nodes cannot connect to the main node, please find a tool to hold on to the reset button for the 20s, when the lights turn to solid white then you can release it.
4. Then lights turn to blinking blue, open the app, and check whether it will pop a window that a new Nova unit is joining the current network system. Tap “Allow”.

Unstable signal, unstable speed, how to solve it?
Mesh network topology, is a network that connects a group of devices. In a full mesh topology, every single node is directly connected. The way they are connected is via wireless. Electric appliances such as microwave ovens, induction cookers, desk lamps, stereos, and cameras are the most likely to affect the transmission of wireless network signals or even reduce the speed of the network. Their powerful electromagnetic waves will cause significant interference to the signal, resulting in blocked transmission. We recommend placing the node in a place where you can bypass the source of interference, and then plug in the power and observe the status of the indicator light.

How to set Nova to access the Internet
The Nova suite contains 3 units, which can be put in proper places according to the installation guide or the onscreen instructions of the Tenda Wi-Fi app to address your need for Wi-Fi coverage. The Nova unit can only be installed and managed using the Tenda Wi-Fi app, so you need to download the app before installation. If Nova is new to you, the following steps will guide you to complete the settings quickly.

Step1 Download ‘’Tenda WiFi ‘’APP

• Connect your mobile phone to an existing Wi-Fi network or mobile network to download the Tenda Wi-Fi app.
• iOS system: You can search for Tenda Wi-Fi in the App Store, or use WeChat to scan the QR code in the installation guide.
• Android system: You can search for Tenda Wi-Fi in Google Play, or use WeChat or a web browser to scan the QR code in the installation guide.

Step2 Connect the First Nova

• Connect your broadband line to the (WAN/LAN) port of any Nova unit.
• Power on the Nova unit.
• Connect your mobile phone to the Nova unit’s wireless network using the wireless network name (SSID) and password specified on the bottom label of the Nova unit.
• Note: You cannot set the Nova unit until it is connected to its wireless network. After connecting to the network, your mobile phone cannot access the Internet for the moment.

Step3 Set the First Nova

• Run the Tenda Wi-Fi app. The setup wizard appears. Tap “Setup”.
• The app automatically detects your internet connection type. Enter information according to the internet connection type and tap “Next”. The nova unit is connected to the Internet and the app proceeds to the next step.
• If your Internet connection type is PPPoE. Enter your PPPoE username and password and tap “Next”. See the following figure.
• If your internet connection type is dynamic IP, tap “Next”. See the following figure.
• If your internet connection type is static IP, enter your IP address and other information your ISP provides, and tap “Next”. See the following figure.
• Set the wireless network name and password of the Nova unit and tap “OK”.
• Note: If change the wireless network name and password and tap “OK”, your mobile phone is disconnected from the Nova Wi-Fi network. You need to reconnect to the new wireless network you configured.
• When the LED of the first nova unit turns solid blue, the nova unit is connected to the Internet.

Step4 Set the other Novas
After the first Nova unit is configured, the app will explain how to set up the other Nova units. Tap “OK” to view the specific steps:

1. Put the second Nova unit in a proper place and tap “Next”.
2. Power on the second Nova unit and tap “Next”.
3. Wait about 1 minute and check the connection status of the second Nova unit based on its LED color. Blue means that its connection is fine. If the LED lights are any other colour, adjust their orientation or move it closer to the first Nova unit.
4. Set up the third nova unit in the way you set up the second one: Put the third nova unit in a proper place and power it on. Wait about 1 minute and check its LED to ensure a fine connection. After the network is established successfully, the app displays 3 online nova units. See the following figure.

Unable to connect to smart home devices

1. Most smart homes can only connect to the 2.4GHz band, not to the 5GHz band, please make sure your smart home device is connected to the 2.4GHz.
2. Smart home devices that only support Zigbee, Z-Wave and Bluetooth protocols are not compatible with WiFi (806.11) protocol and cannot connect to WiFi.

Some devices cannot connect to WiFi, but others can.

1. Some devices have a lower version and cannot connect to WiFi when WPA3 network encryption is enabled, try changing the network security protocol to WPA2 or upgrading the device version.
2. Parental controls are on and the device is blocked. Please remove the device from the blacklist or turn off the feature in the background.

Poor upload speeds unless, in bridge mode, this then reduces functionality, how to solve it?

• It is recommended to upgrade the firmware version.

How many Nova units can be used together to establish a network?

• A mesh network system can be composed of up to 10 nova units. Considering network stability, we recommend a maximum of 6 Nova units.

Can Nova automatically establish a network with other Brands’ mesh devices?

• No. The Easy Mesh Protocol only supports the interconnection of products of the same brand.

Cannot detect your connection type when you set it up for the first time, what should I do？

Scenario Describe
My family broadband connection type is DHCP, when I connect one Nova to the cable modem, Nova cannot detect the DHCP connection type, and the light keeps solid red, what should I do?

Solutions

• Power off and power on the modem and Nova both, and then connect Nova to the modem with an Ethernet cable, when the light turns blue, the phone connects to the Nova Wi-Fi signal and reconfigures Nova through the Tenda Wi-Fi APP;
• If you powered off and restarted both modem and nova, but cannot detect the DHCP connection type still, please follow the below steps:
• If there is an old wireless router in your home, please connect a wireless router to the cable modem, power off and restart the modem to enable the wireless router can access the internet.
• Connect the wan port ( ) of Nova to the LAN port of the old wireless router and configure.

Tenda Wi-Fi APP to make Nova can access the internet

• Open Tenda Wi-Fi APP, Click “Settings”—–“Firmware Upgrade”, and check whether there is a new firmware version for upgrading, if have, please upgrade it to the latest firmware version.
• After the upgrade is completed, connect Nova to the cable modem again, power off the modem and restart, open the Tenda Wi-Fi APP and reconfigure, it will detect the connection type and access the internet.

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