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Failure Connecting a wired segment to my Google Wifi pucks (not Nest)

TimInOCAL
Community Member

We've relocated into a much larger, 2 story home (5100 Sq Ft).  I've updated my kit from 3 pucks to 6 pucks.  After getting all five of the mesh repeaters talking and located throughout the home, things stabilized and were working well after around 3 days.

Last night, I "hoped" that things were stable enough, so I connected my Office puck to my wired unmanaged Netgear 16 port switch.  Things were looking good and then the puck went orange and refused to connect to the router.  Upon disconnecting the Ethernet cable and unplugging and plugging it back in, the puck refuses to connect further until I perform a reset and re-add it to the mesh.  Then, as soon as I reconnect the switch, back to flashing orange.

I've disconnected all wired systems from the Netgear switch and it still happens.

I've made sure that the puck in question is not being blocked by moving it to an empty wall in my office and even placing it on top of my bookshelf.

6 times through this loop now and I'm stuck.

Can a Wifi mesh not handle a wired connection on the edge?

2Gb Google Fiber
6 Google Wifi pucks
Netgear 16 port 1GbE unmanaged switch

Ideas?

Tim in Huntsville

1 Recommended Answer

TL;DR -
6 pucks work great in a very large home
Connecting a switch to one of the mesh/bridged pucks' LAN port works properly
My issue was a switch problem.

After a lot of testing, I discovered that there was a bent Tx pin in one of the switch ports.  It didn't cause problems with my existing network because I had a cable plugged into the port that went to my workbench and was not connected to a system.  With the cable plugged in, the pin was not grounding.  When I was setting things up with the puck connection, I removed all connected devices from the switch - which let the pin ground.

I straightened that pin and things are now working as expected.

View Recommended Answer in original post

17 REPLIES 17

olavrb
Platinum Product Expert
Platinum Product Expert

What exact switch are we talking here?

Side note: 5 is the max amount of Nest Wifi pucks recommended for a wireless only mesh network due to the overhead. See:

If possible you should consider going wired backhaul only.


I don't work for Google.

TimInOCAL
Community Member

The backhaul is what I am trying to achieve.  I was told by Google sales that the 2nd 3-pack would work fine - 1 is the router/direct connect, and the other 5 make up the access points.  I have no performance issues with the configuration when I'm only on Wifi.

Here's what I'm trying to do

  • Google Fiber MODEM <-HW-> 1st puck's WAN port
  • Pucks 2-5 at various locations in the house
  • Puck 6 in my office

At this point, everything's working well.

Then, just as described in that first backhaul link doc above, I connect the LAN port of the 6th puck to the Netgear GS116NA switch.  All is well until I power up the switch - even with no other devices connected to the switch.

olavrb
Platinum Product Expert
Platinum Product Expert

What do you mean by "Google Fiber MODEM <-HW"?

  • HW = hardwired?

It should be modem / ISP equipment in bridge mode WAN port to primary/ main/ master Nest Wifi WAN port. Then from main Nest Wifi LAN port to the unmanaged switch. Then directly from the unmanaged switch to the WAN port of the 5 other pucks. Avoid daisy chaining Nest Wifis if possible. Avoid mixing wired and wireless Nest Wifi points, this can cause issues because mesh (802.11s) does not travel by ethernet, which can cause loops or other strange behavior.

Modem -> Main Nest Wifi -> Switch -> All other wired devices.


I don't work for Google.

TimInOCAL
Community Member

If I had that kind of wiring in the home, I wouldn't need the pucks 🙂.

So, to my original question - Can the Google Wifi pucks do what I'm trying to do?

olavrb
Platinum Product Expert
Platinum Product Expert

I don't understand your exact ask or problem here, so I can't answer your question.

General advise, again:

  • 6 pucks in wireless mesh is more than the max recommended 5.
  • Don't mix wired and wireless pucks, either all wired or all wireless.

Other things to consider:

  • Nest Wifi router has higher speed, more range and more powerfull hardware than Google Wifi and Nest Wifi add-on point.

Edit: If the question is whether a wireless secondary Nest Wifi router or Google Wifi (puck with ethernet ports) can handle wired devices, the answer is yes. I run this myself, have done so for years with two Nest Wifi routers in wireless mesh. Test different cables? Test a device directly connected to the puck, without the switch?


I don't work for Google.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi TimInOCAL,

I just wanted to jump in real fast to see if you saw olavrb's reply and to see if you still needed some help on this or if you were able to get it sorted out. If you are still needing some help, just let us know and we'll be happy to continue helping.

Thanks,
Jeff

TimInOCAL
Community Member

Hi Jeff,

It did not resolve it and the 5 vs. 6 pucks debate goes against what I was told when I looked into upgrading my 3 pucks for my larger home.

Since then, I've now reduced the puck count to 5 (which required a network reset to remove the 6th puck - WHY???).  But, even with 5 pucks, as soon as I connect my office puck to the Netgear switch, the puck drops the connection.

Back to my original question - is this not supported with the non-Nest Wifi mesh pucks?

Jhonleanmel
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey folks,

 

@Jeff and @olavrb, thanks for the helpful responses.

@TimInOCAL, I'm sorry you're still having issues with your Google Wifi points.

 

A few questions: is your entire Google Wifi network offline, or just a specific access point? Is your NetGear switch connected to the main point or to your modem? Also, did you set them up while connected to the switch?

 

The Google Nest Wifi and Google Wifi are cross compatible. This means you can set them up altogether in one mesh network.

 

Best,

Mel

One more time -

  • Google Fiber 2Gb MODEM via CAT7 cable to the WAN port
  • First Puck hardwired to that MODEM
  • Five remaining Pucks placed appropriately through the hose on both floors to get full coverage
  • Left things alone for 3 days to let the Google magic do its thing and balance the mesh
  • On the Puck named "Upstairs Office", I then hardired the Netgear GS116NA to the "Upstairs Office" LAN port using a 2 meter CAT7 cable
  • I powered on the Netgear Switch and the "Upstairs Office" buck went off line (blinking orange)
  • The remainder of the pucks are all still working and WiFi is strong (except in my office now).

 

Next, based on the 5 pucks vs. 6 pucks discrepancy -

  • I removed my patio puck and worked through the headaches of resetting the entire mesh to remove it from the system (why can't we just delete a puck?)
  • I then performed full resets on the 4 remaining pucks and made sure that they were communicating properly
  • I gave them 2 days to balance
  • I then reconnected the CAT7 cable from the Netgear GS116NA switch to the LAN port of the "Upstairs Office" puck
  • I powered on  the Netgear GS116NA switch and the "Upstairs Office" puck once more lost connectivity (Blinking Orange)

This has nothing to do with Nest versus WiFi as I only have 2 WiFi 3 packs.

All I'm asking is - SHOULD this configuration even work?  If not, I can still return my WiFi pucks to Target and buy a different solution.

Maybe let me rephrase this as 2 questions:

1: Can I successfully use 6 WiFi pucks (two 3 packs combined) to provide coverage for an almost 6,000 square foot house?

2: With that configuration working, can I attach an unmanaged switch to one of the mesh pucks to provide hardwired connectivity to physical systems in a single room?

Jhonleanmel
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi TimInOCAL,

 

Thanks for the added details. You should be able to have your network online using your current topology/configuration. We need to isolate the issue. Could you try to connect one of the other points in place of your Upstairs Office point? This is for us to know if the issue happens only when connected to your NetGear switch.

 

Let us know how it goes.

 

Best,

Mel

Thanks for verifying my understanding of the topology.  I will be able to try that this evening and I'll update the status.

Tim

I had a break in meetings, so was able to try another puck.  Apparently, there is something regarding that specific Netgear switch as the alternate puck did the same thing that the "Upstairs Office" puck did.  I then plugged directly into my primary office server and it connects as expected with the alternate puck staying solid.  I will try this with the "Upstairs Office" puck next.

Jhonleanmel
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi TimInOCAL,

Thanks for letting us know. Take your time, I'll be waiting for your update.

Best,
Mel

TL;DR -
6 pucks work great in a very large home
Connecting a switch to one of the mesh/bridged pucks' LAN port works properly
My issue was a switch problem.

After a lot of testing, I discovered that there was a bent Tx pin in one of the switch ports.  It didn't cause problems with my existing network because I had a cable plugged into the port that went to my workbench and was not connected to a system.  With the cable plugged in, the pin was not grounding.  When I was setting things up with the puck connection, I removed all connected devices from the switch - which let the pin ground.

I straightened that pin and things are now working as expected.

Jhonleanmel
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi TimInOCAL,

Awesome — glad to hear that and thanks for getting back to us. It looks like we can consider this one complete, so I will lock the thread shortly unless I can help out with anything else. 

Cheers, 
Mel

Princesss
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi there,

 

Since this has been resolved, we'll consider this as complete and will lock this thread in 24 hours. Feel free to start a new thread if you need assistance with your Google Wifi and we'd be glad to assist you further.

 

Best,

Princess