Proposal for Unifi Dream Machine 2G ISP
Proposal for Unifi Dream Machine 2G ISP
After trying various setups, including dismantling my rack and removing more wires than necessary, I understood that moving from a 2x1GbE modem to a Dream Machine Pro isn't feasible. My most affordable choice would be a new modem paired with an SPF+ RJ45 adapter.
No, the ISP does not provide a modem with a multigig port; it typically supplies standard ports for your connection needs.
It seems unlikely an ISP would offer more than gigabit speeds, yet they might supply a modem with several 1-gig ports requiring users to connect them manually.
I probably could have connected two 1g ports to my ideal setup, but I got caught thinking about a full 2.5g connection between the modem and router. After spending many hours tweaking configurations, it became hard to see a simpler fix. My old 2x1g modem was giving poor upload speeds even with a 1g link, so I explored LAG and tried Gemini. It led me into a deep rabbit hole. Eventually, after exiting that mess, I connected the Comcast modem and set it up through Comcast while my new device waited in the mail. I just needed a solution, not the flashiest one. Looking back, it seems balancing two WAN ports on the UDM-pro to the same modem is doable—probably not too complicated. Or maybe using a managed switch could have aggregated both links into one, saving time and cable changes. Honestly, nothing I own connects beyond 1g, so giving two 1g links would’ve been straightforward. Maybe my PC has a 2.5g port, I just didn’t realize it could work that way.
The UDM-Pro supports official Multi-Wan load balancing. In the "Internet" section of the settings (from my UCG-Fiber), I'm unsure if having both WANs from the same ISP affects functionality. If your ISP restricts multiple IP addresses, it might not work properly.
I’m considering this solution now. Instead of rushing into a generic adapter, I should have used an SFPA+ for the RJ45 port and connected it directly to the router. As I mentioned earlier, some adjustments with Gemini Fast were necessary, but the process turned into a lengthy search through settings and online resources. Eventually, I realized dedicated WAN ports are required for lag performance. At that stage, my thinking was off, and I spent hours trying fixes only to find out modems typically don’t provide IPv4 addresses—only IPv6. My friends suggested a modem, but it would have given me an IPv6 address, which I wasn’t familiar with. Trying to use Gemini Fast to troubleshoot the IPv4 issue kept looping without resolution. Ultimately, I opted for a UI modem because I didn’t know about cheaper alternatives at the time and it appeared on Comcast’s recommended page. Also, avoiding Comcast-branded gear was important after discussing it with a friend. That’s fine for most people, though.