This is very troubling, and I'm not even sure where to start. I recently received an email message from my ISP which alerted me to an incoming update. I didn't worry too much since this is obviously not the first update they've ever pushed through.
However, after this update, I noticed that my guest connections and some other things had changed / disappeared. I logged on to my router, and I immediately noticed my custom password had been reset to the default. No problem, I entered it.
At this point, I saw that all of my options were greyed out. I could change the password, which I did, but nothing else. I immediately called my ISP.
I was told that I would have to use their app now, so as much as I dislike using proprietary phone apps, I conceded and installed the app through the Play store.
However, the agent was not entirely honest with me. I still can't bifurcate my 2.4g and 5g connections, nor can I add or remove any guest connections. I immediately enabled "privacy mode" via the app, which purportedly prevents information from being collected by something called "HomePass," and I "Delete[d] Guard events" whatever the hell that means, but this seems really troubling. I can no longer access my modem/router settings via the normal interface, but have to use an Android app?
There is only one other ISP in my area. They have much worse/slower service, but should I switch, or is this just the "new normal"? Does what I'm describing even make sense? I'm not a tech expert, but I feel like I've self-taught myself how to navigate these settings, and learned from others in online forums, but now ... an Android app?
I'd appreciate any advice. I'd even be willing to purchase my own modem/router instead of using the one from my ISP, if that fixes this mess.
Edit: So I need my own router, at least. I did some research, and these are the ones I can get locally that are within my budget:
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TP-Link Archer AC1900 Dual-Band Mu-Mimo Wi-Fi Router with Gigabit Port
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Linksys AC1200 Dual Band WiFi 5 Router
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TP-Link Archer AX1500 WiFi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router | up to 1.5 Gbps Speeds
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TP-Link Archer C54 | AC1200 MU-MIMO Dual-Band WiFi Router
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NETGEAR - Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Router, 1.9Gbps (R6900) I’VE BEEN WARNED AGAINST NETGEAR THOUGH IN OTHER FORUMS
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TP-Link | AX1800 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 1.8 Gbps Speeds
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TP-Link Archer AX3000 | 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 3 Gbps Speeds
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Linksys E7350 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Router
Am I right in thinking the TP-Link AX3000 is best?
Edit 2: At first, I bought the Netgear AC1900, which seemed like a great deal. Turns out it was unusable without creating a netgear account, so I returned it in exchange for the TP-Link Archer AX1500, and it appears to be working! I got everything set up pretty close to the way it was before, except even better.
Once I save money, I'll also invest in a different modem and return this one to my ISP.
This was a big wake-up call for me in terms of privacy. I never listened to people saying not to use your ISP's equipment because I always trusted my ISP (it's not one of the big name ones). Never trust a company. Lesson learned. I appreciate all the responses I got! This community is great!
Get. Rid. Of. Their. Router.
ISP provided networking routers are inherently garbage. They don't want users messing with that, because your average user doesn't even know what the fuck an ethernet cable is and will break everything by fucking around in it.
Run your own router and put theirs into modem only mode with routing and wifi disabled. If that's not an option ask their tech support if you can buy your own DOCSIS/fiber modem (or whatever hardware you use) and return their hardware. If they also don't allow that.... well, switch or just suck it and deal with it while the ISP rubs their nipples some more.
https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/j7kzcvmllm7.png
So I can't disable wireless mode. This too is greyed out, and it also doesn't let me disable wireless via the app. (When I try, it throws a popup that says "You must have at least one network."
So is my best bet to get my own modem with router built in, or could I still connect a router to this, but never use the wifi connection through their equipment? I don't have a lot of money, so I also want to be a bit mindful of cost.
When I try, it throws a popup that says "You must have at least one network."
Sounds like it might allow you to disable it after you plug your own router in. If not, customer service might be able to do it. Ask them to put it in modem only mode.
All the router modem combos I have used have basically disabled most of the features including wifi if it gets set in modem only mode
That is literally fucked. There are some scenario's where I can imagine an ISP wanting to force wireless on. a mesh network for their customers sounds like the most straightforward reason. if you cannot replace the router, faraday the shit out of it. put your own router behind the isp router and don't forget to change the MAC address of the router (isp will probably block any 3rd party router macs on the network. seen it before)
That shit would get thrown in a metal cage and treated as a radioactive DMZ network-wise if I was forced to use it
My ISP is the dumb pipe my internet comes from, it's bad enough that they inject bandwidth cap warnings into the raw HTML of webpages like some sort of adware virus, they can stay the fuck out of my local network
messing with html sounds very worrying to me. is that on https connections to any site they do not control? Do you have an isp application installed?
Only HTTP, they intercept any unencrypted page in flight and inject a giant banner at the top that won't go away until you acknowledge it, no local application required
This is 100% legal in the US, and in fact, some small regional ISPs actually made money injecting actual ads into webpages, literal spyware
that would immediately prompt me to use vpn for any connection. I'm sorry to hear that man.
The worst part that ISP's do these days is have all their hardware broadcast "guest" networks that you can't disable. They market it as a bonus since any of their own customers using their own apps can connect to any ISP-provided guest network anywhere to save mobile data, but it's actually just a massive uncontrollable security hole.
Fun thought. I'd try wrapping their wifi router in a faraday cage of chicken wire, test that the signal isn't going out with a nearby smartphone, then plug ethernet from their to my own wifi router.
I haven't tried it but if it chicken wire has enough metal in it, it should work, in principle. I don't get great reception in my chicken run wrapped in chicken wire, if that makes for a good sign.
Ah so similar to the metal screen that keeps microwaves from escaping a microwave oven.
I know people who raise chickens, so maybe I can hit then up for some wire
When I had Comcast, I had to call them and have them turn this stuff off for me, fwiw.
I've owned a TP-Link that frequently lost all my settings. I've owned two Netgears and they've been great. I've owned two Linksyses and they've been great. That's just my experience.
I couldn't even access the Netgear settings without creating a Netgear account, so I returned it. My friend who has a Netgear said this didn't used to be the case, but I could not bypass that requirement.
my ISP didn't gave me the captive portal password and I'm afraid to reset it now because they've manually entered the WAN IP 😩
If I gave you a list of the names of routers that are available to buy in my town and that are within my budget, do you think you would be so kind as to recommend one for me? There are so many and I really don't know where to start
I promise I wouldn't hold you accountable for my decision :P
Those "lists" are likely non-exhaustive. Virtually any combo will work given it works with the internet-protocol your ISP offers. My team prefers TP-Link routers for their update times, but ASUS/Netgear are both solid options as well.
I use a $250 VPN router because of my team's interest in the dark web. I find it more helpful to put the entire network behind a wall than w/ each individual device. Imho?.. $250 was overkill for how much I pay my ISP for speeds. But this bad-boy is very future proof. https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-gx90/
Future-proof with at least a router (> WiFi 6) AND a modem. The combo-style ones are almost all bad (ymmv).
Many, many ISPs will lock internet to ONLY the mac-address of the modem/router, so make sure you change the address in settings. For instance, if a company ships you a router, the MAC of that router will be the only one that can connect from your address.
For TP-Link: 192.168.0.1 -> "Internet" Settings -> "MAC Clone" (Set the MAC address of your router. Use the default address unless your ISP allows internet access from only a specific MAC address)
Edit: Feel free to post any "options" from your ISP and what speeds/price they offer :)! If you're only paying for <100Mb/s, a $250 router will be stupidly-overkill.
Edit2: TP-Link AX3000 WiFi 6 Router is my vote because it also has VPN capabilities if you need that in the future.
Never use their router. Obviously for the issue you're having now, but also for financial reasons. They charge ridiculous fees for renting their shit routers when buying one for like $120 will be a significant upgrade over there's and will start saving money like 6 to 8 months in. Also it's not tied to the company, so you get to keep it.
That's unacceptable. I agree get a dumb modem from them and use your own Router/firewall/ access points
Not worth the hassle, replace the stupid router with an openwrt one
I got a MikroTik router and never looked back. That thing is amazing.
Edit: typo
I was about to comment that I don't know how to do that, but it looks like openwrt actually has its own forums.
Still not ready to do this on the spot, but this is another thing worth educating myself about, thanks
I’d absolutely recommend using your own modem and router. I do it and the additional control over your network is more than enough reason to make the switch. Plus, using your own modem, and router usually pays for itself in two years, so there are financial benefits as well.
You will need to make sure you get the right modem for your ISP. You can usually verify which one you need on their website.
I just got off the chat with an agent who told me as much. If I provide my own modem/router, I will not have to use the app. I can change it via the normal way.
I've heard that Netgear isn't good anymore, but I saw Arris SBG8300 on the list. I'm going to check prices and features before I decide for sure, but even though I'm poor, I'm not so poor that I'm just going to accept this. This is utter bullshit, and I'm considering switching ISP, even though the alternatives are slower and not as stable.
Sadly that’s how it works if you rent their eq. Your bill should drop if you drop their rental. Usually around 10 dollars for a rental most places.
Depending on your needs, you could get an older Netgear model (just check that it still gets firmware updates)
Personally I would drop them out of principle. I don't feel like supporting assclowns. Its the same reason I started using Linux, Lemmy, Qwant, etc.
I feel the same way. I'm really upset about this. It's just ... there's not a lot of choice. I could be going out of the frying pan and into the fire, but it's at least worth looking into.
It sounds like what you want is to either get a modem (either rented through the ISP or bought 3rd party, if your ISP supports it) and then ensure that this modem is in bridge mode without any sort of router features. That said, most places will just give you a dumb modem if you have no intention of using their router.
Then the other gear would be a router with the feature set you want. I personally am quite fond of my Mikrotik hap ac2 but the ac3 looks good too. I don't use the Mikrotik for the wifi either (I use unifi for that), but it's decent enough for a small space in a pinch.
Basically you would need to find out from your ISP if they allow you to bring your own gear -- modem and/or router, with the router being the more important of the two and get their help to either swap your existing device into a bridge or getting you something that can.
To add to others' advice to get your own router and use the modem only to connect to the internet (WAN), consider getting a router on which you can install OpenWRT. This will give you much more confidence that only you control your network.
Sounds like Comcast lol they suck. It sounds like you are using the router provided by your isp. Try getting your own equipment (router/modem).
I really want to tell you, but since I live in South Dakota, it's way too easy to dox me. If I lived in a more populated area, I wouldn't be as overcautious.
Thats cool. I only wanted to know if it was one of the larger ISPs. Figured exposing that would be less doxing than your home state.
It's not one of the very large, known companies. It's one that only serves an area in the upper Midwest.
Sounds like Midco to me. From what I've heard, they live up to their name and are extremely mid as an ISP.
I've had bad luck with all the name brand router wifi combos. I've tried several high end models, from tplink to linksys to net gear. I've finally built a pfsense box as a router/firewall (qotom mini pc) and I've switched to ubiquity ap6 in my house. Finally something that works well for me.
Granted it depends on what you're comfortable with and what you use your devices for. I'm using vlans and vpns and different interfaces for various different things so I need the extra functionality pfsense offers.
Ask for bridge mode and install your own router. It’s the first and most important step towards privacy. Also sounds like you got plume devices. Only use them in Wi-Fi bridge mode. You retain some of heir functions and utilities but you’ll still be in control of your network.
