Mesh Advice/Explanation

[sparkyhx]

Having been an early adopter and advocate of Mesh systems, I was talking with a neighbour yesterday after I have had a mare putting my network TV etc electrics back together in a new built in cupboard rather than perched on an ikea bookcase.
Switch + POE Switch, Router, Hive, Alexa, Sonos, NAS, TV, Sound Bar and Sub, Steam Deck, In all, 14 ethernet wires and, 15 plug sockets.

When I got my mesh, my ISP router had no way of being put into Bridge Mode, so I couldn't use any of the options (e.g. google at the time) that effectively replaced the router.

My neighbour asked for some advice as he knows sod all, so I started reading to confirm my undertsanding and got myself in a right mess.

• Although I've not seen it, He has a Virgin Router - which on investigation, looks like it can go into Bridge mode if needed
• there is a question mark over whether he has VOIP, which Bridge Mode doesn't like, but further reading indicates Virgin do not do Voip, so non issue.
• the double NAT problem - His son plays online games and they have a network printer - so I'm guessing Bridge Mode is near compulsory if any of the 'router' capable mesh systems are used?
• Alternatively it looks like the Wifi Mesh systems can be put into AP mode to also avoid the double NAT (although not to sure about that)

so as far as I see it, to get his mesh set up -

• I assume he has to put his router into Bridge Mode
• OR his mesh into AP Mode - is that correct
• OR like me buy a non router capable mesh
• Turn off his routers Wifi

Reading around Amazon eero mesh (as that is one of the options) they seem to talk about putting the 'mesh' into Bridge Mode, is this just another way of saying put them into AP mode? they really have confused me

e.g.
https://support.eero.com/hc/en-us/articles/2076210...

The above says put the mesh eero's into bridging mode to keep existing ISP Router OR actively do Double NAT..........but then goes onto recommending you put the ISP router into Bridging Mode..........so which one is it guys?

https://support.eero.com/hc/en-us/articles/2082769...

Whereas the above article talks about putting Eeros in bridging mode but that its not recommended........make your mind up guys!


So am I right with my original thoughts, router into bridging, switch off the wifi? and Robert's your fathers brother?

[outnumbered]

You don't want two routers (usually), so either:

Put VM router into "modem mode" (assuming this is a cable broadband installation) and use a Mesh system that will act as the internet gateway as well.

Turn off WiFi on the VM router and use a non-routing Mesh system.

[Mr E]

outnumbered said:

Put VM router into "modem mode" (assuming this is a cable broadband installation) and use a Mesh system that will act as the internet gateway as well.

Do this

[spants]

I am on Trooli, who at first, would not let you use your own router.
I found a way of grabbing the credentials and built an OPNsense firewall/router instead.

I wanted to use a proper mesh network, one that hands off correctly to devices moving around, and settled for the BT Whole Home disks (the white ones).

These will just act as access points and pass dns queries so that everything is on the same network. They also have an ethernet port which connects to a remote ethernet hub for non wifi devices.

I tried updating it to faster newer models (trend/etc) but the handoff problems and dropping signals wasnt good!