When my router died a few months ago, I fell back to using Comcast s cable modem router

[G+_William Burlingame]

When my router died a few months ago, I fell back to using Comcast’s cable modem/router.  I would like to upgrade my setup, but there are several options. I could buy my own modem/router, I could buy a modem and a separate router or I could continues to use the cable modem and add my own router.  I have quite a few IP devices, so I feed one of the router ports into an eight port switch.  One of those feeds into another switch.  It seems that could cause a bottle neck and I’ve tried to be judicious in what devices I have on each port.   I would prefer to use an eight port dual band WiFi router, but there doesn’t seem to be many of those available that are priced for the consumer.  Of course the downside of replacing Comcast's equipment is when somthing ins't working.  I'm not sure Comcast tech support would be helpful in solving problems if their equipment is not being used.

[G+_Todd Barnard]

Hi William, I have a WISP provider that gives me 5Gbps down and 2Gbps up.  this goes into my ASUS RT-AC3200.  Three of its ports are connected to 4 port switches, one to an 8 port switch, one to my NAS, one to a network Printer.

Two desktops, 2 docked laptops, 2 networked printers, 6 streaming boxes, 6 tablets, a dvr and 2 phones are all hitting my network at any given time. I've seen as many as 27 clients attached via the router. 

Because of my limited bandwidth, I can see some latency if I'm doing some heavy downloads, like twit podcasts. 

 

Otherwise, i've learned any latency is an indicator that my wisp is having issues!

 

Switches are Netgear and lately TP-Link that I'm loving.

 

I have set up some QOS priority for my wife to demo software via webex.

 

Thats it!

[G+_Steven Wang]

-If you plan to put your own router, you could bridge their modem-router into plain modem (and typically supported by the isp support if you call them). 

 

-performance wise, a couple of switches in series will have negligible reduced performance due to latency from it being separated by a network cable.  (assuming your not surpassing the speed of the port itself already, and is normal working cable).  For example, I just run one wire from my 8-port gigabit switch to the router, and everything else on the switch, including another 8-port POE switch for POE cams and Wireless AP's.  The router only needs to provide internet bandwidth and dhcp/dns services.

 

-modularize network into router + switch + AP's allows much better placement for wifi, and equipment choices.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Are you getting better then 1Gb down?   ( Todd Barnard you are getting 5Gbps  down over WISP? 5x better then most  fiber?) If not, I'd think no switch bottleneck.  But I would still use a sep modem and router.  And if you are worried about bottlenecks, Modem > router > 24port switch.  Nothing hanging on the router other then the switch and Wifi junk.

[G+_William Burlingame]

Before my router failed, I did have the cable modem/router set to bridge mode.  That change isn't difficult. I've logged into the Comcast modem/router many times. I do have some dedicated addresses assigned for some devices, such as security cameras.  It will be a lot of work to reconfigure regardless of the option chosen.   My advertised speed is 105 mb down and 20 mb up. I typically get ~180 mb down and ~20 mb up with several test sites, including the DSL Reports test. 

[G+_Todd Barnard]

Nope  :) That should have been 5 Mbps download, 2 Mbps upload...wishful thinking and lack of caffeine.

[G+_Steve Martin]

Here we get 150 down/12 up. I have the Motorola 6123 Modem, which cam highly recommended. I'd say get your own and stop paying rent to Comcast. 

 

I have a Cisco router behind it, but it's pretty bare bones at this point. I'm looking to upgrade in the not too distant future.

 

We had a Comcast router for awhile when we had one of their stupid triple pay deals. I took their router offline because we had no use for it and I couldn't switch it to Bridge mode, even after talking to Comcast support. At any rate, we dumped the service and got rid of the router anyway.

[G+_Gustavo Domínguez]

Try a Ubiquiti Networks EdgeRouter Lite, it is an extremely advanced router and it will not fail. It's under a hundred.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1049773-REG/ubiquiti_networks_erlite_3_edgerouter_lite_3port_router.html

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Not sure of the Ubiquiti routers, but I hate the configuration app on my AP.  Very little tweaking without dropping to a console.  The thing just pours out beacon frames at a ridiculous rate.  Been a great and reliable little AP though