Connecting Pods via Ethernet

[RogersTony]

For Ignite WiFi Pods to perform at their best, they need a strong connection to your Ignite WiFi Gateway modem. We recently enabled the ability for you to connect Pods to your Gateway using Ethernet cables instead of wirelessly over WiFi.

This will help optimize the connection between the pod and the gateway by avoiding potential WiFi signal interference, enhance Pod performance, plus free up WiFi bandwidth for devices without an Ethernet option.

After you’ve added your pod to your home network using the Ignite HomeConnect app, simply use Ethernet cables to connect an Ethernet port on your pod to an active Ethernet jack in your home. This can be helpful especially if you have an Ethernet jack in a WiFi problem area in your home where a pod would not be able to connect wirelessly to the Gateway.

Ethernet jacks in your home are activated by connecting them to one of the gigabit Ethernet ports (ports 1-3) on the back of your Ignite WiFi Gateway modem. Port 4, which is indicated by a red line, supports connectivity for various devices but does not support connectivity to pods. If you choose to disconnect the pod later, it will simply switch back to using WiFi to connect to the Gateway and trigger a refresh of WiFi optimization. You can also connect devices such as gaming consoles to an Ethernet port on a pod, but do not connect pods to each other using Ethernet.

Although CAT5e is sufficient for most applications, it is recommended that Gigabit subscribers use CAT 6 or CAT 7 Ethernet cables to maximize connection speeds over longer runs. Please keep in mind that Rogers Technicians are not able to supply general wiring or fishing of Ethernet cables within homes.

Benefits of Connecting Pods via Ethernet to the Gateway

• Optimized connection reliability and speed between the Gateway and the Pod
• Resulting in improved Pod performance extending WiFi coverage for hard-to-reach areas
• More WiFi bandwidth for devices that do not have a wired option and must connect wirelessly

We hope you enjoy this great option.

RogersTony

[TL2023]

I am hoping that connecting my pod with an ethernet cable will solve my connectivity problem in my basement. Question: Is it necessary to first bring the pod on-line wirelessly before I plug the ethernet cable in for this to work? I am having a really hard time getting pods to come on line wirelessly despite all of the troubleshooting I have done from the various Rogers resources I have accessed.  Why can't this simply be plug and play?

Any support here is sincerely appreciated.

[RogersTony]

Hello, @TL2023 

Please see my reply to your blog comment in the recent thread that you created: Pod Offline Despite Green Light

[tbcuthbert]

Is ethernet connected pods available in BC for Shaw customers of Rogers yet? on XB7s and XB8s?
if not when?

 We have older home with wire mesh in some interior walls. I have been hoping for this for past year.

Thanks.

[RogersTony]

Hello, @tbcuthbert 

Welcome to the Rogers Community Forums!

We do not have an update on if/when ethernet backhaul on the Pods will be supported. Once we do have more details to share we will keep the community updated.

Thank you for posting your inquiry to the community.

RogersTony

[tbcuthbert]

Hi Tony,

I am a little confused. Above in your initial post,  it looks like you reference the ethernet from pod to gateway?
"We recently enabled the ability for you to connect Pods to your Gateway using Ethernet cables instead of wirelessly over WiFi."

Thanks,
Bruce

[RogersMoin]

Hello, @tbcuthbert.

Apologies for the confusion; it was misunderstood as backhaul. Since you have been waiting since last year, the feature of connecting the pods through an Ethernet cable is not available for Shaw Ignite Internet.

Have you recently tried connecting a pod through an Ethernet cable? If it is unsuccessful, we will update you when this feature gets enabled.

I appreciate your understanding!

Cheers,
RogersMoin

[tbcuthbert]

The wording of your reply unfortunately, still confuses me.

to confirm, connecting a pod to Gateway with ethernet cable, is not available in Victoria BC. Is that correct?

[RogersMaude]

Good day @tbcuthbert,

Thanks for your reply! That is correct; apologies for any inconveniences this may cause.

Let us know if you have any other questions. Cheers!

RogersMaude

[tbcuthbert]

Actually connecting pods via ethernet does work.

[ouija]

Wired connections to the wifi pod(s) only seems to work until this awful equipment suddenly switches the connection within the pods from "ethernet" to "wifi" randomly, which then results in DHCP conflicts within the home network, and completely kills the internet connection.

There seems to be no reason to this -- I'll unplug the wifi pods, re-connect to ethernet, plug back in, they'll report that they are connected via "ethernet", and then suddenly out of nowhere (sometimes within a few minutes, sometimes within a few days, sometimes with a few weeks), they randomly switch back to a "wifi" connection (even though they are still plugged in to ethernet and haven't been physically touched/moved/unplugged/anything), and brings down the entire network.

Not worth the hassle.   I'm beyond frustrated as a customer, given the fact that I recently signed up for the "Pro 2 Gigabit" Internet plan, yet there is nothing pro about this terribly hindered equipment. 

Why even offer a 2Gbps internet plan if your equipment can't handle it? These pods are trash and don't even support speeds beyond 35Mbps when connected via wifi, and this router barely functions as one, due to this horribly conceived HomeConnect App --- I've never had a harder time setting up port forwarding in my life.

Now I have to invest in a $400+ router just to be able to actually use the service I'm paying for, otherwise, I'm just overpaying for speeds I'll never be able to utilize if I stick with this awful equipment.    Ridiculous and frankly embarrassing. 

[RogersCorey]

Good morning @ouija!

The pods are only meant to extend the coverage of your WiFi service as they are limited in their speed capacity due to their nature. 

Have you tried replacing the Ethernet cords you're using to ensure there isn't a problem with the cord itself?

If getting full speeds everywhere in your home is highly important to you, the best way to achieve that is to install Ethernet jacks throughout the home so you can directly connect your equipment in any room.

Regards,

RogersCorey