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Home Networking help

GhostSHP
By GhostSHP
in Networking
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I have a 1-gigabit fibre connection with an ISP-provided onu/router combo (Optilink 71110AC PR10 or similar). I want to have a clean look, so I am planning to get 3 R5 air from the tp-link for 3 different rooms. All 3 rooms have 1 ethernet cable, each running internally to a central location where the ISP box is situated. Which of the following will be better suited for me?

 

1. Use isp provided box in router mode and 3 R5 air in AP mode with an unmanaged switch in between (as ISP provided combo has only 2 LAN ports)

 

ISP Combo (Router mode with wifi disabled) -> unmanaged switch -> 3 R5 AIR (AP mode) -> 1 PC (from one of the AP)

 

2. Use the ISP combo in bridge mode and use one of the routers in router mode and the other 2 in AP mode. The issue is, in this case, I have to run an additional LAN cable from the router to the central location, where I will keep the switch, which will then connect to both the AP. as it is not possible to wire 3 R5 directly and also the R5 has 1 WAN and 1 LAN port.

 

Isp Combo (bridge mode) -> R5 router -> unmanaged switch -> 2 AP -> 1 PC (from one of the AP)

 

The first method is more convenient, but I am not sure about the hardware the ISP is providing as it may be old (I have the model number but did not get much information) and not secure (outdated firmware without a new release). Also, I have port forwarding enabled for accessing my pc remotely. I am planning to get a static IP from my ISP to avoid the CGNAT issue we face here in India. So, I'm not sure if the Optilink has the features and is secure enough.

 

Note: I do want a dedicated router/AP for each room, as the signal degrades badly when using a single router. The combo does not concur any additional rent. My PC will be wired to one of the AP hoping there is not much latency penalty.

 

Any help will be appreciated.

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Posted

My experience is usually isp provided is very low power however if you disable wifi and only use it to manage it that shouldn't be a problem however it may not provide full internet speed if there's lots of devices or expect full download speed.

 

Up to you really.

I'm jank tinkerer if it works then it works.

Regardless of compatibility 🐧🖖

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
On 12/9/2024 at 3:35 AM, GhostSHP said:

All 3 rooms have 1 ethernet cable, each running internally to a central location where the ISP box is situated

I suggest using either Ethernet to all rooms as is, and if more ports are needed, just an unmanaged switch for each room that needs it.

 

A central AP may be enough.  Also, there is a way at least on iPhone to use the data cable to a switch that allows usb ethernet, or possibly, a usb-to-Ethernet adapter.  This way, smartphones can also use wired networking, and charge at the same time.

 

I highly doubt each room needs wi-fi which might slow down performance with multiple APs all connected together.

: JRE #1914 Siddarth Kara

How bad is e-waste?  Listen to that Joe Rogan episode.

 

"Now you get what you want, but do you want more?
- Bob Marley, Rastaman Vibration album 1976

 

Windows 11 will just force business to "recycle" "obscolete" hardware.  Microsoft definitely isn't bothered by this at all, and seems to want hardware produced just a few years ago to be considered obsolete.  They have also not shown any interest nor has any other company in a similar financial position, to help increase tech recycling whatsoever.  Windows 12 might be cloud-based and be a monthly or yearly fee.

 

Software suggestions


Just get f.lux [Link removed due to forum rules] so your screen isn't bright white at night, a golden orange in place of stark 6500K bluish white.

released in 2008 and still being improved.

 

Dark Reader addon for webpages.  Pick any color you want for both background and text (background and foreground page elements).  Enable the preview mode on desktop for Firefox and Chrome addon, by clicking the dark reader addon settings, Choose dev tools amd click preview mode.

 

NoScript or EFF's privacy badger addons can block many scripts and websites that would load and track you, possibly halving page load time!

 

F-droid is a place to install open-source software for android, Antennapod, RethinkDNS, Fennec which is Firefox with about:config, lots of performance and other changes available, mozilla KB has a huge database of what most of the settings do.  Most software in the repository only requires Android 5 and 6!

 

I recommend firewall apps (blocks apps) and dns filters (redirect all dns requests on android, to your choice of dns, even if overridden).  RethinkDNS is my pick and I set it to use pi-hole, installed inside Ubuntu/Debian, which is inside Virtualbox, until I go to a website, nothing at all connects to any other server.  I also use NextDNS.io to do the same when away from home wi-fi or even cellular!  I can even tether from cellular to any device sharing via wi-fi, and block anything with dns set to NextDNS, regardless if the device allows changing dns.  This style of network filtration is being overridden by software updates on some devices, forcing a backup dns provuder, such as google dns, when built in dns requests are not connecting.  Without a complete firewall setup, dns redirection itself is no longer always effective.

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