TC7210-dNZ Vodafone router to replace with Netgear AC1200 advice

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › TC7210-dNZ Vodafone router to replace with Netgear AC1200 advice

Eva888

1779 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#270318 4-May-2020 10:06

I took the option of a Netgear AC1200, D6220 to replace my Vodafone Technicolor TC7210-dNZ because flybuys were expiring, hoping to improve WiFi to front of house as all cabling and router at the back. I can’t find Technicolor specs to compare the two, and am now worried that the Netgear is not going to be much better than what I have and not worth the trouble of changing.

My set up is router and Vodafone TV in back of house, and TV in front room with a Powerline adapter with Ethernet so I can get Netflix there as WiFi wouldn’t work even with a WiFi extender.

Do I go ahead and stumble through changing over. Am likely going to need some support to do this but will start another thread if I run into problems. Am not connected to Fibre. Thanks.

1 | 2

1779 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2476162 4-May-2020 10:13

And another box photo...

Lenovo

Lenovo computer and accessories deals (affiliate link).

Jase2985

12348 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2476168 4-May-2020 10:28

dont start a new thread if you have issues, just use this one.

what made you chose that router?

are you on cable or xdsl?

Eva888

1779 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2476266 4-May-2020 13:19

Chosen because it was in the fly buys site and my points were expiring and I thought it would be better than the free one that Vodafone gave us. Had two antennas sticking up as well which mine doesn’t, and price was around $200 in shops so figured it should be reasonable.

cyril7

8950 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2476268 4-May-2020 13:25

Hi, if you had Wifi issues you would have been better off purchasing a decent wireless solution, like a UniFi AC-lite and just keep using the supplied router.

Cyril

Eva888

1779 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2476408 4-May-2020 15:22

Thanks Cyril I have never heard of this so read all the comments in PBTech to understand what it does. It sounds perfect from what everyone says and I like it. However I have no idea where it’s meant to go. Does it connect to the router, or does it need to be wired in at the other end of the house. Does it need to be high? All relevant questions as house is Lockwood with high slanted ceilings and you can’t run new wiring. Also wondering if I will be able to install it myself or would need someone. Argh...and then I’ve still got a new router in a box.

Another question that would concern me is effects on health if any as I’ve had cancer and always a bit wary of too many electronics. I’m very interested in it as it would solve the problems of erratic WiFi in the front room where I presently use a Powerline.

Am on Cable.

mdf

3320 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2476416 4-May-2020 15:35

Are you on Vodafone (ex-Telstra) cable/HFC/fibreX? I think the Technicolor is a cable modem and router, so you will either need to keep the current one or have vodafone change it for one of the newer Cisco boxes.

cyril7

8950 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2476422 4-May-2020 15:45

Hi, ideally it goes up high, but that could be on top of a tall sideboard or dresser, it does not need to be screwed to the wall or ceiling, although that is again best but it could be placed flat on a surface (like the top of a dresser or sideboard), it could even be placed lower but best coverage of any wireless product is up high so it sees over the room clutter to the devices its connecting to.

Yes it plugs into the current router, and ideally you turn the wireless off in the current router. It comes with a power supply that feeds DC power up the data cable, so you can place it somewhere that does not have nearby power by simply using a longer data cable.

I too had cancer 10yrs ago, clean bill of health now, I am also a radio engineer by profession, whilst I understand your concerns the levels of power these things produce makes them in essence harmless, that said I would not be comfortable with one running under my pillow as I slept. But one that is a couple of meters or more from you is fine, we have had these and similar things (cell phones) around us for decades now, last I looked most folk still have one head and there is no studies that demonstrate any lift in the level of reported cancers that could be attributed to our increased co existence with these devices, but that is my opinion, yours may vary.

So the areas you are trying to cover with better wireless, is there an area further away from your current router that it is not covering well, how far is that and how many walls between.

One option, could be to just use the new router as an expansion of your current wireless coverage, but that would require a cable be run between the existing router and the location where you want the new one to cover.

Cyril

shk292

2692 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2476428 4-May-2020 15:52

A better solution would be a switch plus access point (possibly combined) to plug into the powerline adapter at front of house.

Eva888

1779 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2476431 4-May-2020 15:55

mdf:
Are you on Vodafone (ex-Telstra) cable/HFC/fibreX? I think the Technicolor is a cable modem and router, so you will either need to keep the current one or have vodafone change it for one of the newer Cisco boxes.

Sigh...every answer is making my new router more obsolete. Vodafone have run the cable through the old lines that have been here for years. I don’t have fibre yet even though it is in the street. The thick black cable is screwed into their router, not into an Ethernet port, which has now made me wonder if my new router could be used with it anyhow as not sure if it has such a port and don’t want to open the box.
Should have asked you lot first! And yes... I also have a cable modem.

cyril7

8950 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2476432 4-May-2020 15:56

Ah, yes Simon, forgot there was the powerline unit, infact why not use the Netgear as both the switch and AP running off the powerline link, assuming its not too flaky. Just need to turn the Netgear DHCP server off and ideally move its management IP to the main network.

This solution is one you can do without spending a penny more, and you use the Netgear to some use. Only reservation I have is how you best setup the SSIDs, ideally you have a single SSID on all radios.

Cyril

cyril7

8950 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2476435 4-May-2020 15:59

Hi, so Eva, my suggestion as above is to use the Netgear router, plug it into the power line carrier unit via one of the yellow lan ports in the remote area you are trying to get better coverage. But before you do that, you must turn the DHCP server in the Netgear off, this should be a rather simple task.

Cyril

Eva888

1779 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2476459 4-May-2020 16:16

Configuration... imagine a rectangle. The router is top of the rectangle on an outside wall which is family room with TV and open to a kitchen, leading to a hallway Down the middle with tools either side down to the other end of the rectangle which is the bedroom that has a TV with freeview connected to satellite and a Powerline with Ethernet cable to the TV. Walls are solid timber.

I don’t understand what a switch plus access point is but happy to consider anything that will give me internet in the bedroom. Plug in extenders didn’t work hardly at all, I had one in the hallway halfway down.

Who knew this would all become so complicated! Don’t even know if I can return the router either since it was bought with flyby points and daughter picked it up from Noel Leemings

cyril7

8950 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2476461 4-May-2020 16:20

Hi Eva, if you read my above two posts, an option, whilst not ideal will achieve what you are after is to use the new Netgear router in the bedroom, connected to the powerline extender via one of its yellow lan ports, you can plug the TV and any other wired device to the other yellow ports, and you will also get wifi off it, but you will need to disable the DHCP server in the Netgear, should be a rather smple task.

Cyril

Eva888

1779 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2476494 4-May-2020 16:38

cyril7:
Hi, so Eva, my suggestion as above is to use the Netgear router, plug it into the power line carrier unit via one of the yellow lan ports in the remote area you are trying to get better coverage. But before you do that, you must turn the DHCP server in the Netgear off, this should be a rather simple task.

Cyril

Will this give me better WiFi in the bedroom by using the Netgear router there? Am wondering then if it needs such an expensive one and if it’s not better to sell it and use and old spark one that’s hanging around in The basement.

The Powerline plug has only one Ethernet port, and then into the tv. Do I plug the Ethernet cable into the router.... best draw it...

Thanks all. This whole thing is going to be a mission for me, so I want the best outcome whatever gives me a result, even if I need to buy another thingie.

cyril7

8950 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2476508 4-May-2020 16:53

Hi yes your drawing is correct you can also add other wired devices via the yellow lan ports of the router.
And yes as the new router will be in the bedroom the wireless coverage will be immediately there. This solution still uses the voda router as the main router and wire3for the lounge, this is using the net gear as a lan extension

Nothing plus into the red Internet port of the net gear, just use the yellow lan ones

Cyril

1 | 2