Configuring a PHN Portal Device with TP-Link Deco Router

Modified on Sat, 22 Nov at 5:58 PM

Configuring a PHN Portal Device with TP-Link Deco Router

The PHN Portal is a network device that creates a captive portal experience for your guest Wi-Fi network. When paired with a TP-Link Deco router, the Portal allows you to collect guest information and provide a customized sign-in experience for visitors connecting to your network.

Benefits of the PHN Portal

Guest Data Collection: Capture guest email addresses to build your direct booking database
Personalized Sign-In Experience: Create a branded portal page that matches your property
Automatic Device Recognition: Phones and tablets prompt for sign-in, while other devices connect seamlessly
Real-time Monitoring: Track portal status and guest connections through the PHN Dashboard

What You'll Need

Before you begin: Ensure you have the following items ready:

PHN Portal device
Included network cable (Ethernet cable)
Included power adapter
TP-Link Deco router with available Ethernet port
Mobile device with the Deco app installed
Access to your PHN Dashboard

Screenshot placeholder: PHN Portal device and connection diagram

Step-by-Step Setup Instructions

Part 1: Physical Connection

1. Connect the PHN Portal to Your Router

Take the included network cable (Ethernet cable)
Plug one end into the back of your Deco router
Plug the other end into the PHN Portal device

2. Power On the Portal Device

Connect the included power adapter to the PHN Portal
Plug the power adapter into a wall outlet

3. Wait for Connection Confirmation

Watch the LED indicator on the PHN Portal device
Wait approximately 1 minute for the light to turn green
A green light indicates the Portal is successfully connected to the PHN server

Note: If the light does not turn green after 2 minutes, verify that your Deco router is powered on and that the network cable is securely connected at both ends.

Part 2: PHN Dashboard Verification

1. Check Portal Device Status

Open your PHN Dashboard in a web browser
Navigate to Devices from the left menu
Locate your Portal device in the list
Verify that the status shows as online and bypassed

2. Assign Portal to a Location

In the Devices list, check that your Portal device is assigned to a Location
If not assigned, click on the three-dots menu for the Portal device and select the appropriate Location from the dropdown

Part 3: Deco App Configuration

1. Access Advanced Settings

Open the Deco app on your mobile device
Tap More on the bottom navigation bar
Select Advanced

2. Create an Address Reservation

Select Address Reservation
Tap Add or the plus icon (+)
Select Select from Client

3. Select the Portal Device

Find and tap the device with a name that starts with "portal-"
For example: "portal-2ccf675d13d3"
Tap Save

4. Copy the Portal's IP Address

Tap on the address reservation you just created to open it
Locate the IP address shown for the Portal device
It will look similar to: 192.168.68.53
Select and copy the complete IP address

Important: Keep this IP address copied to your clipboard—you'll need it in the next step.

5. Configure DNS Settings

Go back to the main menu
Tap More on the bottom navigation bar
Select Advanced
Select DHCP Server
Tap in the Primary DNS field
Paste in the IP address you copied from the previous step
Tap Save

6. Reboot Your Deco System

Go back to the main menu
Tap More on the bottom navigation bar
Select System
Select Reboot Deco
Confirm the reboot when prompted
Wait for your Deco system to reboot completely (typically 2-3 minutes)

7. Verify Additional Settings

Important Configuration Requirements:

Guest Network Must Be Disabled:

Navigate to More > Guest Network
Ensure the Guest Network is set to Off
The Guest Network has limited configuration options and cannot support the captive portal

IPv6 Must Be Disabled:

Navigate to More > Advanced > IPv6
Verify that IPv6 shows as Disabled
If enabled, select Internet Settings and disable it

Screenshot placeholder: Deco app showing Address Reservation and DHCP Server screens

Testing Your Portal Configuration

1. Disable the Portal Bypass

Open your PHN Dashboard in a web browser
Navigate to Devices from the left menu
Click on your Portal device to view its settings
Toggle Bypass off

2. Test with a Mobile Device

Disconnect your phone from the Wi-Fi network (if currently connected)
Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings
Select your Deco network and join
A sign-in page should appear automatically within a few seconds

3. Verify Portal Page Content

The sign-in page that appears should match the preview shown in your PHN Dashboard
Navigate to Location > Portal settings to view the expected layout
Complete the sign-in process to verify that information is being collected correctly

4. Understand Device Behavior

Devices that will prompt for sign-in: Phones, tablets, laptops
Devices that will connect without sign-in: Baby monitors, game consoles, smart TVs, IoT devices

Note: Some devices may cache network settings. If you don't see the portal page, try forgetting the network on your device and reconnecting.

Troubleshooting Tips

Issue	Solution
Portal LED Not Turning Green	Verify network cable is securely connected to both the Portal device and Deco router. Check that your internet connection is working properly.
Portal Not Showing in Deco App	Wait 2-3 minutes after connecting the Portal for it to appear in the client list. Try refreshing the Deco app or restarting it.
Sign-In Page Not Appearing	Confirm that the Address Reservation and DNS settings are correctly configured in the Deco app. Verify the Portal device shows as online in PHN Dashboard. Ensure Bypass is turned off.
Portal Shows Offline in Dashboard	Check that the Portal LED is green. Verify your internet connection is active. Try power cycling the Portal device.
Wrong Sign-In Page Appearing	Verify the Portal device is assigned to the correct Location in the PHN Dashboard. Check your Location > Portal settings to ensure the correct layout is active.
Unable to Copy IP Address	Write down the IP address manually if copying is not working. Ensure you've saved the reservation before navigating to DHCP Server settings.
Guest Network Enabled	The Guest Network feature must be disabled for the portal to work properly. Navigate to More > Guest Network and turn it off.
IPv6 Is Enabled	IPv6 must be disabled for proper portal operation. Navigate to More > Advanced > IPv6 and verify it is disabled.

Need Additional Help?

If you encounter any issues during setup or have questions about the PHN Portal configuration, please contact our support team (info@tenonedesign.com) with details about your specific situation and network setup.