[SOLVED] Problem between company provided modem and TP-Link router

[rusa99ec]

First of all, I'm not a networking dude but I kinda understand some concepts. This may be an easy problem but I really don't know what to try. My ISP provided me the classic modem/router/access point combo. Perhaps that thing is locked as hell so I cant login there, for additional info, its a Technicolor CGA0112. I decided to buy a TP-Link TL-WR940N for controlling wifi devices and maybe block some intruders. Everything fine but I have kinda a problem. If I select the operation mode "Access Point" on the TP-Link, everything is fine and all the devices get an IP adress from the main ISP provided modem which is cool cause all my devices can talk to each other etc. even if some are connected to the main modem or the TP-Link router, but I lose managing capabilities on the TP-Link, it basically does nothing but provides wifi access and that's it. Now if I change the operation mode to "Wireless Router", I can manage the TP-Link router (scheduling, blocking parental control etc.) but now I get IP adresses from the TP-Link router, and that means the devices connected to the TP-Link can't talk with devices connected to the main modem. I really want to keep this "Wireless router" mode since I can block unwanted devices or guests that are sucking too much bandwidth, but I want to all those devices get an IP from the main modem.

Need to clarify I can't make all the devices to only connect either to the main modem or the TP-Link router, since 2 PCs are connected via ethernet to the main modem due to home structure.

Thanks for taking your time reading this and many thanks if you can help me.

 

[bill001g]

Not sure you seem to understand the issue pretty well, most people do not know the difference between router and ap mode.

This is a fundamental issue with have a NAT between the 2 networks in your house.

Now very technically the device on the tplink router can connect to the devices on the main router BUT the devices on the main router can not intiate a connection to the device on the tplink router. Maybe confusing but this is related to which device attempt to open the session. Much like your device can open things on the internet but servers on the internet can not open session with your internal machines. You generally have to use the IP address directly to open thing though.

The normal recommendation of only running a single router don't work because the main router must be the only router to avoid this issue but it does not have the software feature you need.

So why does the tplink router need to be placed in the location it does. I assume to improve wifi coverage. My best idea would be to place the tplink in front of the ISP router and set that device to bridge/modem mode if you can. At least disable the wifi on the technicolor and plug everything into the tplink. So now you only have 1 router, to improve coverage buy another router to use as a AP.

Depends how fast a internet connection you have. The tplink box is older technology and only has 10/100 ethernet ports. Also you have to be careful even with very powerful router, many of the firewall and other traffic limiting features like parental controls put a large burden on the CPU. If you have say a 300mbps connection or larger you are going to have to use a actual pc to do the router/filter function and use AP to provide wifi services.

 

[rusa99ec]

So why does the tplink router need to be placed in the location it does. I assume to improve wifi coverage. My best idea would be to place the tplink in front of the ISP router and set that device to bridge/modem mode if you can. At least disable the wifi on the technicolor and plug everything into the tplink. So now you only have 1 router, to improve coverage buy another router to use as a AP.

Hi there, appreciate your time. The problem is that I can't really move my routers, since the main ISP modem its on the third floor of my house, in a terrace and I keep it there for wifi coverage in that area. Now I live in the first floor so the TP-Link router its connected trough a long cable over the wall to reach the third floor ISP modem. My PCs are connected trough ethernet for realible speeds trough an ethernet cable to the third floor ISP modem. And all the wifi devices on the first floor are connected to the TP-Link. Second floor isn't an option cause its only for rent. And basically its more simple and takes less cable to connect my PC to the third floor instead of connecting it to the TP-Link router on the first floor due to this house being so wide (plus concrete walls).

TL;DR: I cant really move the devices/routers/PCs.

So basically I'm done? The only kinda of a "solution" that I found it's to use the TP-Link app on my phone to change between "Access point" if I need to get content trough my local devices or "Wireless router" if I have an urge to block someone on wifi.

 

[SamirD]

If you need to block devices on wifi, simply lock down your wifi. You will need to keep your tplink in access point mode if you want to have a 'flat' network.