New 3rd Party Router - To Improve WiFi

[mae-3]

@rozel 

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/2728/ 

Follow these instructions for TP-Link tick the VLAN option and enter 101 as you need a pure bridge from VDSL to ethernet.

[rozel]

@jamesn123 @mae-3 

Yes I tinkered about with the Modem's settings and managed to get an internet connection but no this was with Dynamic IP selected.  But with this selected, there's no way to enable Bridge mode.  So a few more setting changes later I came on here to post some screenshots when I read how to use the TP Link as a pure modem.  So I printed off the instructions, came off here to go into the modem but then there was no way I could reconnect back into the Modem.  Looking like I need to do a reset and then start over. 

Working painstakingly through the setup steps after inserting information in one screen, depending on that screen will depend what options you then have on the next one.  It isn't user friendly at all.  So selecting Dynamic IP has messed things up but why I don't seem able to get back into the modem again is beyond me - I've tried for the last hour.

But I'm 99.9% certain that the issues I'm having with the Asuss' is down to how this modem is set up.

So once reset, assuming I can get back in again, I'll go back to how I had things, ie; select "Other", enable Bridge Mode and turn off the WiFi.   Then I'll follow the guide, assuming I can, because the instructions are actually for a Archer VR300 and not specifically my modem.  Before I do reset and start over, I shall reboot my PC, and the Modem.

I knew all this was going to be hard but not really so hard and I've not got to how ultimately I connect Sky Q + 4 Mini Boxes lol!  But that is for another time.  I don't think I shall be back on here again this evening and will have another go tomorrow.  But thanks for sticking with me, without you, I'd be totally lost (more than I am now haha!)

[jamesn123]

@rozel 

You wont be able to access the modem via the Asus router you'll have to plug directly into the TP-Link modem and then give your laptop a static IP on its IP range since DHCP will be off now 😊

[rozel]

Thanks again @jamesn123 but I'm not accessing the modem via the Asus kit, I actually turn them off.  I

access the modem via my PC.  When using Sky's Router (Hub) I pull the cable that goes  from the Mk4 socket on the wall to  the purple socket and plug it into the purple socket on the modem.  I then pull the ethernet cable from the Sky Router (Hub) and connect to the modem, which I then turn on.  I then go into tplinkmodem.net to get into the modem's settings.  But since messing the last time, this no longer works.  If I mess with my PC's settings, then I'll loose Internet to our household and I'm in no position yet to do that.  FYI all my devices including my PC have static ip addresses.  Finally when I want to fettle the Zens, I remove the ethernet cable from the modem and plug it into the Asus Router, with the other one connected with another ethernet cable from the Router to the Node.

[jamesn123]

@rozel 

If your PC has a static IP for your Sky hubs network that will explain why you cant access the TP-Link modem anymore. As part of the setup you switch DHCP off on the TP-Link so from that point on you'd need to set a static IP on the PC to match the TP-Links default range

[rozel]

@jamesn123 

Ahh, I see.  Yes I did switch off DHCP so that explains things. So how can I easily communicate with the modem now then please, without messing with Sky's Internet settings?

[jamesn123]

Just plug the modem in without connecting it to your Sky hub or phone line then connect an ethernet cable from that to your laptop/PC. Then on your laptop/pc configure an IP thats in the range of the modem, i think its 192.168.1.xxx but dont quote me on that you may have to check the sticker on the modem. 

Doing the above will let you configure the modems settings without disrupting your Sky broadband

[rozel]

Ahh, so I don't need the grey cable from the Mk4 socket on the wall that goes to the Sky Router going into the Modem, whilst fettling it - just after it is setup as a Modem Bridge?  Is that correct?  My PC has a fixed ip address with Sky as 192.168.0.23 - all my devices have fixed ip addresses as. 198.168.0.xxx.  My current Gateway is 192.168.0.1

[jamesn123]

@rozel 

Yeah no need for the DSL cable until your ready to test and hope it works!

You'll need to change your PCs fixed IP then as being on the 192.168.0.xxx network wont let you access the TP-Link modem which I believe is 192.168.1.xxx

[rozel]

Thanks again @jamesn123 - my fixed ip addresses have all been set in the Sky Hub's settings accessed by typing 198.168.0.1 in a web browser in my PC.  So just to be sure is it easy to change my PC's ip address at least temporarily in Windows 10?  Then when I want it back in Sky's network, I can revert back?  Remember the Sky Hub is completely disconnected when I access the Modem at the moment.  Ultimately when all is sorted I'll fix the ip's as they are now in the Zen's router - will that be possible?  I will also change the 2.4Ghz band's SSID and one of the two 5Ghz bands to the same ones I'm presently using to make things easier reconnection-wise when all is up and running

[jamesn123]

@rozel 

If you've fixed the IPs in the Sky hub then you just need to change the network adapter in Windows 10 to use a fixed address in the 192.168.1.xxx space. Once you've finished configuring the TP-Link modem simply just set your network adapter back to automatic and reconnect it to the Sky hub and it'll pick that static IP back up from the Sky hub. 

Eventually when you move to using the Asus router you'll have to manually input all your statics again on it since you cant transfer them from Sky hub to the Asus Zen. 

[rozel]

Nice one @jamesn123 

OK I'll try and sort tomorrow.  Finally for now, will I be able to use my current ip addresses given they seem to be in a different range?

[jamesn123]

@rozel 

Not sure what you mean

[rozel]

@jamesn123 I mean all my current device ip addresses re in the range 192.168.0.xxx but isn't this range different in the TP link modem or does it not matter?

[jamesn123]

Yes the TP-Link modem's range is different but you only need to change the IP on the device you are using to configure it. Once thats done you'll default to the range of whatever the Asus Zen router is