Plan your access points and routers effectively.
Plan your access points and routers effectively.
Hi everyone, I’m thinking about changing how I connect my smart devices. I enjoy upgrading but prefer using what I already own to reduce e-waste. I currently have two old ISP gigabit AIO routers and modems that I can turn into hubs or access points. Also, I own two Asus AC2400 2 Galaxy note phones that could work as security cameras or for other projects you have in mind. My main challenge is that the strongest Wi-Fi comes from the Archer Ax6000, which seems nearing its maximum capacity because so many smart devices are using it. I was planning to move all my gadgets to the Asus router and keep the Ax6000 dedicated for gaming and streaming. Since the walls are made of brick or concrete, there’s a lot of unused Ethernet conduit—would rearranging things to make better use of that help? Another issue is that my Studio Gaming PC and Plex server are hard to find on the living room TV or PS5 because they go straight to the ISP modem, while the rest ends up on the Ax6000. I’d like everything in one place for smoother IoT and Google Assistant integration. If you have any suggestions, that would be great. Also, any smart setup ideas would be appreciated!
Usually, ISP gateway equipment isn't meant for regular AP operation. It wasn't built for that purpose. Unless you have a unique setup... That's surprising. IoT gadgets use minimal bandwidth initially. However, they often rely on the 2.4GHz frequency, which is easily disrupted by interference. This could seem ideal in theory, but now you're trying to connect all your IoT devices from various locations to the Asus AP. If the AP's 2.4GHz signal reaches them, it should work, but if not, consider using an Archer device. My suggestion is to set up a separate guest network on the 2.4GHz band and direct the IoT devices there. Make use of any available Ethernet connections—switch them directly into the network uplink when possible. Disable Wi-Fi if you don't need it. This approach avoids running two separate subnets on one LAN without proper routing. On a basic home network, this is usually unnecessary unless you're implementing more advanced configurations. If the Archer operates in its default router mode, think carefully about maintaining that setup. Most ISP devices today serve as gateway units (combining modem, router, switch, and AP functions). Placing another router between them causes double NAT issues. The solution is to either switch your ISP device into bridge mode while using the Archer in router mode (though you'll route all traffic through it) or convert the Archer to AP mode so it acts as a simple access point with wireless capabilities. In the latter case, the ISP device keeps DHCP and routing features.
Thank you for your feedback. I set up Ethernet to all available ports and adjusted the router to 2.4 GHz for IoT use. It worked smoothly everywhere. An older ISP device was converted into a switch without Wi-Fi, while another served as a bridge on the upper floor to provide both network access and an Ethernet switch for upstairs areas. Appreciate your input!