Summary
Every ISP (Internet Service Provider) gives you a router these days, often of varying quality. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a good one with all the required settings. But you’ll most likely get a locked-down model that’s middling at best. That’s why I always use my own router, and I recommend that you do, too. But plugging your new router into your existing network is a recipe for disaster — you can’t just hook it up and wait for magic to happen.
Trust me. I’ve fallen into that trap before. Almost instantly, I found that smart home devices couldn’t be reached and computers, game consoles, and everything else on the network started to complain. And complain loudly. Thankfully, I knew why, and soon, so will you. Thankfully, the fix is usually as easy as flicking a single switch in your router’s settings.
The battle of the Network Address Tables
Understanding double NAT
Having two routers on the same network can cause a few problems. First, you’ve added a second DHCP server to the mix, and you only want one on any single network. DHCP hands out IP addresses and tells devices which DNS servers to use — having two servers doing that job risks devices trying to use duplicate IP addresses or sending data to the wrong DNS servers.
Another issue is the fabled double NAT. NAT, or Network Address Translation, translates the many IP addresses of your devices into your single, external IP address. It’s how your devices communicate with online servers and, importantly, how those devices send data back.
But if you add another router, you also add another NAT. A double NAT can make it impossible for devices to connect to online services, or greatly hinder things like online gaming.
Other issues include multiple Wi-Fi networks when you only need one, plus weird data-routing problems from two firewalls and obfuscated address-translation layers.
In short, adding a second router to a network can bring that network to its knees, and fast.
Flipping the switch
It’s time for Bridge Mode
The good news is that none of this means you’re stuck using your ISP’s terrible router. You can still use your own, but you’ll need to put your existing router into bridge mode (often labeled “modem mode”) first.
Bridge mode turns off all routing, Wi-Fi antennas, and the firewall in the ISP’s router. It does this while leaving its modem enabled. In bridge mode, your old router acts as a pass-through for the internet, offloading all of the other features to your new router. All you have to do is plug that new router in, connect it to your modem via an Ethernet cable, and you’re good to go.
Not all routers offer bridge mode, but most do. You’ll find the option in the router’s settings, though its location depends on the router type. Google is your friend.
The middle ground
For when Bridge Mode isn’t an option
Unfortunately, there are still some ISP routers that simply do not offer a modem mode. This may be because your ISP chose a poor-quality router, or because it disabled the feature to ensure you use its router. There are a few reasons an ISP might do this. It’s easier for their support teams when it comes time to diagnose issues, for example.
Thankfully, you’re not out of options even if you can’t enable bridge mode or modem mode. You still have a couple of options.
The first option is to configure the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) on your ISP’s router. The DMZ lets you tell your ISP router to let specific devices bypass its firewall and routing tech. Make sure your new router is configured to use a static IP address, then enter that IP address into your ISP router’s DMZ. You can then turn off your ISP router’s Wi-Fi, disable its DHCP, and switch all your devices to the new router.
The other option is to leave your ISP router well enough alone but configure your new router to act as an AP, or access point. Switching the new router from router mode to access point mode turns off its own DHCP server and routing features while leaving its Wi-Fi radios active. This approach leaves all the heavy lifting to your ISP’s router.
One shall stand, one shall fall — Optimus Prime, 1984
One network, one router
Home networking and routers have come a long way in the last decade or two, but that can often leave people with a false sense of security. So many devices are plug-and-play these days, but adding a new router to the mix is definitely not one of them. You can absolutely choose to upgrade your ISP’s router to something better, but don’t expect them to get along right out of the gate.
Ditching your ISP’s router is a great idea, especially if it uses older Wi-Fi technology or lacks key features. It can make a huge difference to your home network. Just make sure you have everything in order and flip the right switches first.
TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router
- Brand
- TP-Link
- Wi-Fi Bands
- 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
- Ethernet Ports
- 5 The TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 is a powerful WiFi 7 router built for ultra-fast internet. It uses three wireless bands to deliver speeds up to 9.3 Gbps. With advanced technology, it cuts down lag and connects dozens of smart home devices easily. It is perfect for smooth 4K streaming and gaming.
- USB Ports
- 1