Advice on replacing ISP rented modem. reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning-Coconut-78 · 2023-12-01 00:05 I was wondering if anyone has knowledge/experience with my problem and can help me with a possible solution. My ISP SUUUUUUCKS (sparklight). My neighborhood is pretty old and squirrels have waged war on our overhead lines for a few decades. Anytime I have momentary service interruption from the isp to my modem, the modem "freaks out" and stops processing any traffic across my network. So if I am on PC1 moving files to my NAS when this service interruption occurs, the files fail. I have complained about this to them multiple times before and after having the modem replaced and they have explained that this is an unavoidable problem with their hardware. Both modems were Hitron CODA devices, the current one [is this](https://us.hitrontech.com/products/service- providers/coda-5719-cable-modem-router/). So I have 2 questions for this community. 1: Is this a problem with just their hardware or is it a limitation in current consumer grade modems that I am doomed to experience even if I replace the modem? 2: If this is a problem that I can solve with a new modem that I own, what would you guys suggest I look for? There is a list of modems that [sparklight supports](https://support.sparklight.com/hc/en- us/articles/115009158227-Supported-Modems-Residential-Only), and I would ideally like to get a netgear seeing as I have 2 netgear routers in my house running in bridge mode to my coda modem. But I am worried about spending $300 and come to find out this is a limitation in the consumer market. I have one other complication on top of this, just to make things more interesting. My dad is 300 years old and he INSISTS that we continue to maintain a phone landline... So this new modem needs to support telephone service as well. ​ https://preview.redd.it/aqnnb3kerk3c1.png?width=935&format=png&auto=we bp&s=5f4a35f034bf1ec6e5d2281dd96e589ebe5d26e0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- art_of_snark · 2023-12-01 00:13 if you can’t give up the POTS service, you can at least put the rented modem in bridge mode and run your own gear on the LAN side. Vendor opinions vary - I personally would use Unifi and/or OPNsense. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning-Coconut-78 · 2023-12-01 00:22 That's a good plan B. I have some fleeting experience with Unifi from work too so that is an option. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bityard · 2023-12-01 03:44 You have definitely wandered into the wrong sub, my friend. But anyway, 1. You won't know unless you replace the modem with a known-good one and monitor for awhile. 2. The cheapest one your ISP will officially support ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ddproxy · 2023-12-01 19:23 Could sneak an IP phone in with a Unifi set-up, but it won't be exactly the same. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- karpetboard · 2023-12-01 20:04 I have sparklight 1G. I just replaced the Hitron With a Surfboard 8200 and it upped my speed significantly. From ~300 to ~750. I have a mikrotik router behind. You can put your Hitron in Bridge mode if you have a router. Pass the routing responsibility to a new device. That's what I did forever and it worked great. Not sure about the phone line shiz. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- karpetboard · 2023-12-01 20:05 Have you had a tech out to check the cable dBM? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning-Coconut-78 · 2023-12-01 20:28 Yea, they replaced the line from the pole to the house and the line from my box to my modem. Issue persists as it is upstream from my pole. I combination of squirrels and outdated hardware in my neighborhood. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- karpetboard · 2023-12-01 20:31 Man I have had good luck with them. I know an area around me where people complain that it sucks really bad. Best of luck ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GrumpyCat79 · 2023-12-01 23:19 > Is this a problem with just their hardware or is it a limitation in current consumer grade modems that I am doomed to experience even if I replace the modem? It's not a consumer grade thing. The LAN side of your network should continue to work when the internet is down. Some service will fail as they depend on some cloud connectivity, but a file transfer between 2 machines shouldn't fail. I would personally avoid using the router part of their modem/router combo and put it in bridge mode. You can use your own router between your network and their modem, that way they can't sneak into your network. Buying your own modem is also a valid option, but I would avoid any modem/router combo personally and still have a seperate router do the job. Your questions are more related to r/HomeNetworking than here, but I am wondering why you use 2 other router in bridge mode: do you use them as Wirelesss Access Points or do you use them just as switches? You are currently adding a lot of non-essential complexity by having those 2 additional router. I'd replace them with the correct gear also ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning-Coconut-78 · 2023-12-03 05:55 Thank you for pointing me to a sub that would be more relevant. I use them as access points around the house. The property is too big for even 2 routers. I end up with dead zones. I just happened to have extra routers that I've come into possession over time so figure why not use em. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GrumpyCat79 · 2023-12-03 16:35 What you use them for is called "Access Points" then, if it's to extend the wifi network coverage. Assuming the routers support the Access Point mode and are configured correctly, that's fine, but I would personally use Access Points with a controller that allow for seamless roaming (your device will see just one big network and switch between the access points without you even noticing) TP Link and Ubiquiti both makes affordable ones. A network should have only one router, otherwise you end up double- nated and communication betwren devices can be challenging All in all I would start by having a good router after your modem, which should help you when your ISP is down ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning-Coconut-78 · 2023-12-03 19:14 I appreciate your insight and I like the idea of placing a router behind my ISP modem that my other "access points" (which aren't solely Wi-Fi, there are some TV's, consoles, and computers on Ethernet in them) connect to. I didn't realize it would be possible for me to place the modern in bridge mode upstream from the device that provides DHCP assignment. Sure, I lose the opportunity to rid us of rental fees to my ISP. But that's the price we pay for landline phone service I guess... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GrumpyCat79 · 2023-12-03 20:42 \> my other "access points" (which aren't solely Wi-Fi, there are some TV's, consoles, and computers on Ethernet in them) As long as all other service are disabled (DHCP, DNS, NAT, etc), a router can work fine as an Access Point with a switch. While you can set both with the same SSID (wifi network name) and it should work, devices won't use "seamless roaming" and may jump between both AP when they are near the middle between the two, causing weird interruptions. Prosumer or business grade AP would allow for that seamless roaming, but it might not be a feature you need or want to pay for. \> Sure, I lose the opportunity to rid us of rental fees to my ISP None of the modems in their "support list" seems to support voice/landline, so I'm not entirely sure what the possibilities are there, sadly. I don't know how much their rental fee is VS buying the modem/router from them, it may be worth it or not. It seems to be one of the newer cable modem, so they might not change/upgrade their network soon, but if you think you might change ISP or expect fiber to be installed soon, it might be best to keep renting it ​ My ISP doesn't allow for our own equipment since they have their newer modem/router (I have 1.5Gbps fiber service) so I just put their router in bridge mode and have my own personal router handle the PPPOE connection. It works fine without any issue, even if I'd prefer getting ride of their crap modem completely XD ---------------------------------------------------------------------- raymonvdm · 2023-12-08 22:54 Just create a switched network with local DHCP and DNS so the local network keeps working when the ISP modem reboots. This way you're pc never loses connection to the NAS