Comcast uses a very good Cisco router, but it doesn't play well with the Nextiva VoIP service. (Changing to another VoIP service is not an option.) Due to a setting that cannot be changed in the Cisco router, the phones are repeatedly losing network connection and go through an automatic reboot. This happens several times a day. Nextiva recommended a few different routers, so I chose the Netgear WRN3500Lv2. The Cisco router was put in bridge mode and the Ethernet computers and phones are connected to the Netgear router. Everything is working fine and the phones are not losing the network.
Here's the problem. When using the Cisco router, the Internet download speeds on both the wired computers and the wireless devices was around 88Mbs and upload speeds were 5+Mbs. With the Netgear router, the wired download and upload speeds are remain the same. However, the wireless download speed is atrocious at 1.0 Mbs, while the upload speed remains 5+Mbs. I tried my laptop standing about 10 feet from the Netgear router and the download speed went up to 12Mbs. This is not acceptable because I use my laptop downstairs extensively during the evening and we stream movies to the TV through a dedicated wireless laptop.
Here's my question: I know double netting is frowned upon and Nextiva says doing so with the VoIP phones will cause major problems. Here is my proposed solution and I'd appreciate some of you experts chiming in with your thoughts.
- 1. Leave the Cisco router in bridge mode with a single cable going to the Netgear router;
2. Turn wireless off on the Netgear router and use it solely for the wired computers, the homeserver and VoIP phones via Ethernet cables;
3. Get a separate wireless router to use solely for the wireless laptops and other wireless devices like phones, tablets, etc. (This router would be connected to the Internet via the Cisco router through an Ethernet cable.)
If this will work, the only downside I can see is that the wireless laptops will not have access to the devices on the home network (Windows Home Server and network printers). Neither of these is a deal-breaker if the system will otherwise work and give back the fast download speeds. Obviously, the proposed new wireless router will need to have good performance specs. The Cisco router has both 2.4 MHz and 5 MHz routers and since the download speeds are fast with it everywhere in the house, I would look for something similar.
So computer/network experts, what do you think?
Chas.
Since most consumers don't do much more than unbox, plug it and start using their devices - rarely does the default wireless channel get changed - thus you and all your neighbors may be trying to use the same wireless channel.