"Putting the new modem into bridge mode so you can run your own network kills off the wireless set top boxes"
No it does not kill wireless Xi6 boxes. Running that way now.
@Eddiepet wrote:
Thanks Bplayer. I found that warning not to connect anything to ETH2 (after plugging my own router into ETH1) in Step 2 on the detailed advice on the second post in this thread regarding Bridge Mode which another user in this thread referred me to. Is some of the advice on here not as good as other advice?
Solved: Using the Ignite TV Modem/Gateway in Bridge Mode - Rogers Community
If you enable Bridge Mode on the Ignite gateway, then the Ethernet ports will have a direct, un-firewalled connection to the Internet. In this configuration, your router should be plugged into ETH1 and you should not have any devices or switches plugged into ETH2. Any devices on your home network should connect through your router.
If Bridge Mode is disabled, which is the default configuration, then you can use both Ethernet ports on the Ignite gateway and you can either connect devices directly or through an Ethernet switch.
Note that the ETH2 port also has the following special configuration option:
Associate Ethernet Port 2 to HOME SECURITY Network: 🔲
Note: Associating Ethernet Port 2 to HOME SECURITY network will remove the port from your home network.
If this option is enabled, then you cannot use ETH2 for general device connectivity as this port will not be on the same logical network segment as ETH1 and WiFi networks.
@Eddiepet wrote:
Thanks RE-G- That's much more enlightening. I appreciate the extra explanation. What's your opinion....am I going to get screwed by trying to run my own router without bridging? Seems this XB6 service is always just one surprise after another as I dig into it.
If you need support for a guest network, the easiest way to accomplish this is to purchase an inexpensive Wi-Fi Access Point and use that to provide your guests with Internet connectivity. A router that supports "AP mode" will suffice. In that configuration you won't need to worry about any double-NAT issues, and revoking access or disabling the guest network when they leave is as easy as unplugging a power cord. Use the Ignite gateway for connecting your own devices, and there is no need to enable Bridge Mode on the XB6. One limitation of this solution is that you will not be able to "fence off" systems and devices on your home network from your guests.
@-G- OK, thanks for that limitation. I think that with the answers I've got so far, I've distilled the network topography to the following four options....before I call up and ask to switch over, am I missing any other options? Maybe others will find the diagrams I built below worthwhile....I did. Each comes with its own limitations and shortfalls, but I think cascading from #1 down will find me a solution before I get to #4. Any issues?
- Status quo, no Ignite
- Simple Hitron to Ignite gateway substitution without bridging
- Hitron to Ignite gateway substitution with bridging
- Home network on Ignite, private password on personal guest network.
@Eddiepet When you enable Bridge Mode on the XB6, it disables WiFi for the internal network, so the Ignite set-top boxes would not be able to connect to the XB6 over WiFi and Option 3 would not function as diagrammed. However, it is possible to connect the set-top boxes to your own router's Wi-Fi.
FYI, here's how my current configuration works: I have a router (running OpenWrt) and am using business-grade APs for Wi-Fi. On that AP, I can set up multiple SSIDs on the 2.4 and 5GHz bands.
On my XB6, I initially set WiFi up and connect the Ignite set-top boxes. While I have the opportunity to do so, I set WiFi channels in such a way that they minimize interference with channels that would be used in my immediate area. That's a fully-supported configuration that I can fall back to whenever I require support from Rogers.
In my day-to-day configuration, I replicate that Rogers SSID on my own AP and run the XB6 bridged. I also have other SSIDs set up on my APs. When I put the XB6 into bridge mode, Wi-Fi gets disabled and the set-top boxes lose connectivity; I then enable the "Rogers SSID" on my APs, reboot the set-top boxes, and after they restart they simply connect to my AP.
If I should ever need support from Rogers, I disable the "Rogers SSID" on my APs, disable Bridge Mode on the XB6, reboot my set-top boxes, and I'm back to a Rogers-supported configuration; one that looks like Option 2 in your diagram.
@jj59 wrote:
I thought even if you put it into bridge mode the XB6 still leaves it’s wifi on; or at least some “secret” wifi signals still on which can conflict with your primary wifi router??
Yes, Wi-Fi is still enabled and some hidden networks are still active on the XB6, even when it is in Bridge Mode. However, interference is not a huge problem. There should not be any traffic on those hidden networks, just beacon frames. However, if channel selection is set to "Auto", the XB6 will pick the best channels that it can find and this will cause neighbouring Wi-Fi routers and APs to avoid auto-selecting that channel. Good, usable Wi-Fi spectrum is scarce and this kinda takes away that prime spectrum.
I find that one of these two channel selection strategies usually work well:
Option 1: I use a Wi-Fi scanner to find a 2.4 GHz channel that is neither the strongest (i.e. being used by my neighbour) nor the weakest (i.e. a prime candidate for auto-selection) and manually set that on the XB6. I also set a 5 GHz DFS channel that would also not be a "first choice" for auto-selection by a neighbouring AP. I then manually set the best available Wi-Fi channels in my APs.
Option 2: Pick the best (least used) Wi-Fi channels in the 2.4 and 5GHz bands and set them manually in both the XB6 and my Wi-Fi gear. There's hardly any traffic coming from the XB6 so it does not cause any interference. With multiple APs using a channel, it minimizes the chance that any neighbour will manually set or auto-select it in their Wi-Fi gear.
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