You're just starting out with networking and need some guidance!
You're just starting out with networking and need some guidance!
Hi, first I want to say that I am new to networking so I'm sorry if this is a dumb question. So I liver in an extremely small town in the US where the best internet I can get is 50 down 10up.....at least that is what I pay for. Over LAN the speeds are fine but my house does not have ethernet jacks and I can't install any because I rent. With my wifi, it is very inconsistent whereas some times I will get 20 down and 10 up over wifi with a Belkin Wifi Extender and other times I get .75down and 10up with nothing running on my network (thank you glasswire). My ISP says that it is due to the range and ignore me when I tell them I am doing the speed test from the same room, not on the other side of the home. I believe that the issue lies with the Wireless functions of the equipment since it is old. It is a Comtrend VR-3033 Wireless Modem/Router combo. So I went online and I want to give Google Wifi a try due to its simplicity but I hit a snag. Since my ISP still runs ADSL2+ and not Cable I can not find a single ADSL2+ modem online that is new and not through a sketch website. So I have a few questions here: 1. Is it possible for me to use my current Comtrend modem/router combo as just a modem and connect Google Wifi to it? 2. Can you think of any reason this issue with the upload staying at its cap everywhere in the house but the download drops by more than 50% 3+ feet away? 3. What would you recommend I do to get faster and more reliable wifi? Thanks for your help guys!
I’d examine the noise level around you. There are Wi-Fi analyzer tools and apps available for phones or Windows systems that display Wi-Fi band diagrams and highlight the most crowded ones. Moving to a less busy band can boost performance—provided the Wi-Fi source is functioning correctly first. If you’re tied to this modem/router, it seems Google Wi-Fi includes Ethernet ports at the base. These likely work in a mesh network; connecting one directly to the router should let the others use that connection and expand coverage. If you proceed, turn off Wi-Fi in the router since it’s probably unnecessary.
Google Wi-Fi includes an Ethernet port and another for WAN, while your router only has a LAN port. Connecting the Wi-Fi to the LAN port and using it as a WAN port might not work. You may need to adjust your router settings to enable the WAN connection. Regarding bandwidth, your router offers two modes: 20MHz and 40MHz Mixed Mode. Check the network analyzer app for more details. The Wi-Fi channels in your area are typically 1-3, which could affect signal strength. Since you're using the same ISP with identical devices, it's likely the channel assignment is the issue.
You'd link the WAN port to a LAN port on your router. The indicator at the bottom usually features a small globe representing the globe. The remaining port likely serves as a pass-through. You need to log into your router, find the wireless configuration, and look for an option to turn off Wi-Fi. If you can't disable it, it might mean you'll always rely on your old Wi-Fi for internet access.
Yes, connecting LAN to WAN is possible, but it depends on your setup. The video likely emphasized using Ethernet for the connection and keeping only the primary router linked to WAN, which is a common practice. Yes, you should change the IP settings so both devices aren’t set to the default 192.168.1.1.
When discussing routers, the main distinction between LANs and WANs lies in what you connect to them. For internet access, you typically use the designated WAN port if available. If you're connecting clients, a LAN port is appropriate. In many enterprises, there isn't a fixed LAN and WAN setup—you decide what you need. Sometimes routers are used as switches or Wi-Fi access points, in which case the WAN port can be used but configured in bridged mode. This hides the router's role, giving clients IP addresses from the main router. Connecting two LANs together isn't recommended as it can lead to major DHCP problems and cause network devices to lose internet access if they receive IPs from a router not connected to the WAN.
So let me make sure that I am following along here properly. So if I just go out and buy a google wifi set ran an ethernet cable from the LAN on my existing router to the WAN on the google wifi and disable wireless on the existing modem/router combo it should just work? (besides having to go in and change the name and the password to match my current network setup so existing devices connect to the new router.) But I won't have to go in and change the new routers ip from 192.168.1.1 (if that is the default). if they share that IP I will not run into issues? I could just config the new router on wifi and keep my existing one connected via ethernet and modify the original router from the ethernet pc. correct?
It's not always clear-cut, but it should generally function that way. I hadn't realized the Google Wifi acts as a router itself. If you only need basic internet access, it'll work fine. However, for future tasks like port forwarding or hosting games, connecting through the Google router might cause problems later. Everything should still operate normally in the short term.
It would add some complexity. The setup isn’t perfect either. You’d want to set up your modem/router in bridged mode. Link your Google router there. You might need to contact your ISP to get the connection active. Then connect that LAN port to a network switch for all your wired devices. This would bring everything onto a single network. Port forwarding would be straightforward (if your ISP permits it). The mesh Wi-Fi would ensure coverage throughout the house.