Question I need help with my home network setup ?

[msziegler83]

I need some recommendations on what to change. This is my current setup. My internet is "fiber" but not really. They advertise as fiber but it is converted to coax from the box outside. Inside the main network cabinet there is coax that is split. One side of the coax goes to a Arris modem/Wi-Fi router which is Wi-Fi 5 we'll call this Network A. The other side goes to an ISP provided modem/Wi-Fi router that is Wi-Fi 6 we'll call this Network B. They are currently setup under 2 different network names. I also have a Asus Wi-Fi router in my home office that is setup into bridge mode. The ASUS router is bridged to Network B. That is the only way to get internet to my pc without buying a Wi-Fi adapter card.

I have plans to eventually get a wired connection to my pc. My biggest issue at the moment is that I also have a server for PLEX in my office. My PC and the server are connected to the bridged ASUS router on Network B. Our Roku in the Livingroom is also connected to Network B. If I try to access PLEX from Network A it lags because technically it is having to transcode instead of local play. I need to keep the ASUS router in my office to use as a bridge. I also have smart home devices that are setup on Network A that only work on the 2.4ghz band.

The ISP modem/router is a smart router and gives me the best connection to my PC in this mode. I have tried to split the bands on the smart router but the connection is slower that way. I know this is not the best way to have this setup but it works for the moment. Any help would be much appreciated. Also I know some terminology in networking but not a lot so try to dumb it down a little lol. Some of you guys are wizards.

 

[lantis3]

List exact brand/model for all routers and their IP ranges. A picture is worth a thousand words.

A diagram in pencil/pen is OK. Use solid line for wired ethernet, dash line for wireless connection.

Post it to imgur.com

 

[bill001g]

Why have 2 routers/networks. Can you set the arris into bridge/modem mode.
Even if that is not a option could you not just put all your devices on what you call network B.

I am somewhat surprised you got it to even work accessing a server on network b from a machine on network a since you have to have port forwarding.

Even if you have just one network you might have issues when the server must be accessed via wifi. I suspect that might be why you keep your pc and the server near you pc so both can be ethernet ?

 

[msziegler83]

Separate your article into readable paragraphs.

List exact brand/model for all routers and their IP ranges. A picture is worth a thousand words.

A diagram in pencil/pen is OK. Use solid line for wired ethernet, dash line for wireless connection.

Post it to imgur.com

This is just a quick layout of my network(s). There are more things on it just not relevant to the issue.

https://imgur.com/a/GMH0ban

View: https://imgur.com/a/GMH0ban

 

[msziegler83]

Why have 2 routers/networks. Can you set the arris into bridge/modem mode.
Even if that is not a option could you not just put all your devices on what you call network B.

I am somewhat surprised you got it to even work accessing a server on network b from a machine on network a since you have to have port forwarding.

Even if you have just one network you might have issues when the server must be accessed via wifi. I suspect that might be why you keep your pc and the server near you pc so both can be ethernet ?

The only reason I had the 2 networks was to get internet into my office for my pc. I'll have to double check but I don't think I can set the Arris into bridge mode. I originally had the ASUS router that is in bridge mode connected to the Arris modem but the connection would drop randomly and I would have to do this 5-10 min restart of my PC, ASUS router, and Arris router which you can imagine creates a mess if other people are home.

I am also surprised that it worked. I think it only worked because of plex.

Having the server and my pc in my office was to have both on ethernet without having to spend the money to get Wi-Fi cards for both. I was going to put the server in the living room and have it wired directly to Network B but I have dogs and didn't want to have to deal with cleaning dog hair out every 2 weeks, at least until I get a better media cabinet to put it in.

 

[lantis3]

I also wonder how does this works?

Did you use cable service before and then switch to fiber service now so you own this Arris G34 gateway?

And then you split incoming signal with a splitter yourself and connect both cable modem gateways?

ISP will only give you one IPv4 and IPv6 for one modem gateway.

You have to choose which one as your main router and turn another one into an AP (basically a switch plus wireless connections) by not connecting its coaxial connection. You also need to disable the dhcp server on the one acting as AP.

 

[msziegler83]

I also wonder how does this works?

Did you use cable service before and then switch to fiber service now so you own this Arris G34 gateway?

And then you split incoming signal with a splitter yourself and connect both cable modem gateways?

ISP will only give you one IPv4 and IPv6 for one modem gateway.

The only reason I have the ARRIS gateway is because the ISP provided gateway was crap. The only way to access settings was through their website and the 6 months I had it I could never access it. I bought the Arris to be able to setup smart home things that had to use 2.4ghz. The ISP one have them merged.

I did split the coax coming into the house and then connected each gateway separately. Not sure why it works but I imagine it won't at some point so that's why I'm asking for a better solution.

 

[lantis3]

OK.

Then disconnect the coaxial cable from ISP provided modem gateway and disable its dhcp server.

Assign a static IP different from Arris. If Arris is 192.168.1.1 then assign 192.168.1.2 to ISP provided modem gateway. Connect the modem gateway to Arris with an ethernet cable.

 

[msziegler83]

OK.

Then disconnect the coaxial cable from ISP provided modem gateway and disable its dhcp server.

Assign a static IP different from Arris. If Arris is 192.168.1.1 then assign 192.168.1.2 to ISP provided modem gateway. Connect the modem gateway to Arris with an ethernet cable.

So basically that would be replacing the coax with the ethernet. Still giving me internet to my office pc via the bridged ASUS router but everything would be on the same network. I would still be able to connect to the ISP modem with other Wi-Fi devices if needed correct?

Would I need the change the SSID of the ISP modem or can it still stay the same as it is now?

 

[lantis3]

Yes. Everything should be on the same network and still able to access the internet.

You can set same or different SSID for different places. The only difference is your tablet or smartphone might cling to last wifi router if you are moving around if using same SSID. Just disable and re-enable the wifi and the mobile devices will switch to the router with stronger signal.

Wireless connection = invisible wire with a password, that's it. You can aslo remove unmanaged switch if you don't have as many devices.