Switching to Stuff Fibre but concern about existing mesh network setup

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Switching to Stuff Fibre but concern about existing mesh network setup

super12345

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#280803 11-Jan-2021 17:56

Hi I am currently with 2 degrees and am considering switching to Stuff Fibre. My current home setup has three Fritzbox 7490 connected as mesh network. I want to retain the setup because each Fritzbox is also ethernet connected to different devices in different rooms.

With the new Stuff Fibre, it is going to come with ASUS RT-AC59U, does anyone know whether it is easy or difficult to reconfigure it? thanks.

freitasm

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#2633799 11-Jan-2021 18:22

You can just keep using the existing FritzBox 7490 setup (if you are not getting rid of them). Just change the settings to match the new ISP (PPPOE login if needed, VLAN if needed) and you should be good to go.

You could plug the new router, make sure broadband is working, then plug the FritzBox 7490 router back.

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gabba

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#2633808 11-Jan-2021 18:49

As per freatasm's comment there should be no issues. I have an ex 2 degrees 7490 Fritz box, and a 7560 that I purchased from them in mesh and it works perfectly - better though if they are ethernet connected!

I don't recall having to put in any login information. VLAN-ID should be 10.

The Asus router sits on my shelf as a bookend, ready to go back should I leave Stuff Fibre.

Cheers

super12345

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#2634015 12-Jan-2021 08:03

Thanks for the reply! I am intending to reuse all fritzboxes throughout the house, and just use the asus router for fibre connection. I think I am familiar enough with how to configure fritzbox but not too sure with the asus system.

So my plan is to use asus for fibre connection and LAN DHCP, I will switch off the wireless capability of the asus router. I will then limit the IP addresses dynamic range so that I can give static ip addresses to the fritzboxes (so that I can just type the ip address every time I want to use the web interface of the fritzboxes). One fritzbox is the mesh master, while the other two becomes the repeaters. Should be straight forward I hope. Thanks.

cyril7

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#2634030 12-Jan-2021 08:43

Hi, why on earth would you want to add an Asus to the mix, it makes no sense, the Fritz solution is all you need and way superiour.

Cyril

michaelmurfy

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#2634031 12-Jan-2021 08:43

Believe it or not - the Fritz!Box is the more capable router. Just use that and keep the Asus boxed away off your network.

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cyril7

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#2634039 12-Jan-2021 08:48

The Asus will perform well as a door stop to help keep the air moving through the house on hot summer nights.

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freitasm

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#2634058 12-Jan-2021 09:01

super12345:

Thanks for the reply! I am intending to reuse all fritzboxes throughout the house, and just use the asus router for fibre connection. I think I am familiar enough with how to configure fritzbox but not too sure with the asus system.

So my plan is to use asus for fibre connection and LAN DHCP, I will switch off the wireless capability of the asus router. I will then limit the IP addresses dynamic range so that I can give static ip addresses to the fritzboxes (so that I can just type the ip address every time I want to use the web interface of the fritzboxes). One fritzbox is the mesh master, while the other two becomes the repeaters. Should be straight forward I hope. Thanks.

Plug the ASUS router to make sure the connection is working. After this, remove it. Plug the FritzBox and change the connection authentication as needed. You will be a lot happier.

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super12345

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#2634128 12-Jan-2021 11:20

Thanks for all the replies.

The reason to include the asus router is because of the house setup. When the house was built 10 years ago, the fibre termination is at the end of the garage. There are ethernet cables running from the garage to different rooms. In other words, the room has just one ethernet port connected to the garage. So the router connecting to the fibre needs to reside there. Currently i have a fritzbox in the garage connected to the ONT, and the LAN ports of this fritz are connected to ethernet ports. I then have another 2 fritzboxes in the rooms for mesh network and physically connected to tvs, media boxes etc. The wireless signal at the far end of the house (the house is long and narrow) is still quite poor.

So the idea is to chuck the asus router in the garage, replacing the fritzbox. The fritzbox can then be used as another mesh repeater.

The fritzboxes have been marvellous! No issue at all. I have phone numbers with 2talk configured and so I want to retain the current setup without reconfiguring everything...

freitasm

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#2634130 12-Jan-2021 11:26

You can't use the FritzBox as a "mesh repeater" with the ASUS. You would have to factory reset each FritzBox and manually change each for WiFi settings as required, as well as making it not the gateway router. In all a messy job that could go wrong.

The FritzBox coverage is quite good so I wonder if you could reposition at least one of the mesh - yes I see you mention devices being connected via ethernet but could it be possible?

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cyril7

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#2634134 12-Jan-2021 11:28

Hi, so what you will be doing it double nat'ing, not ideal, what plan are you on 950/450 (ie full GigE plan) or just 100/20, if the latter you could use a pair of these to line split and place the main Fritz router in the Lounge (or other appropriate central location) and run the lan back the garage to a small un managed switch to distrubute to other rooms including to support wired backhaul to the slave Fritz.

If you are on a GigE plan then you can make better use of that capacity by using a pair of small managed switches to vlan the WAN to the main router in the lounge and return the LAN as mentioned above.

Cyril

super12345

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#2634144 12-Jan-2021 11:44

@cyril7 Too much work! 😅 I will be the enemy of the house if internet is down too long. Kids and wife will be bugging me non-stop! So I am just looking at a short-term easy fix solution

@freitasm I think you are right. This is going to become a nightmare job... Unfortunately the fritzboxes in the house cannot be repositioned as they are physically connected to devices. One way is to position it higher on the wall but it will look ugly. Wife is going to complain.

One of the reasons switching to another provider is because my 2 degree contract is up, and they are charging a lot more. I am on the 950/450 plan, the new charge is going to be $100 per month. One option is to get my wife to sign up to 2 degree as a new customer so that I get another Fritzbox to play with...

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freitasm

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#2634145 12-Jan-2021 11:45

Doing as @cyril7 suggested maybe a small inconvenience now but will save a lot in the future.

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yitz

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#2634169 12-Jan-2021 12:12

super12345: One option is to get my wife to sign up to 2 degree as a new customer so that I get another Fritzbox to play with...

Haha do it...

super12345

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#2634904 13-Jan-2021 16:17

Hi guys, just a quick update:

I contacted 2degree to notify them that I am going to switch. I ended up being offered similar pricing (a bit more per month) to Stuff Fibre, and I am going to get a leased Fritz7590. So I am going to just configure the new Fritz to the mesh without altering anything else. Lazy solution.

Thanks for all the good advices!

michaelmurfy

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#2634910 13-Jan-2021 16:34

That's the key - just contact 2degrees when your contract is up. They've been good to me every time I've done that.