Google WiFi config to support location downstream of Cable modem/Router location

[mryanaz]

I have a 4-pack of Google Mesh WiFi modules.  I have an existing gigabit router from my ISP that is also my cable modem.  I have 2 hard-wired locations in my house that have gigabit switches to support multiple hard-wired devices to connect directly to the cable modem.  I want to have 2 of my Google Mesh WiFi to connect to the gigabit switches and 2 of the Mesh units to be WiFi connected.  The cable modem has the wireless access disabled but is supplying DHCP and DNS services.  

I want the benefits of Mesh WiFi with all 4 modules connected together.  I have not found docs to describe the config setting for this type of networking arrangement.  Do I use the WAN port for the hard-wired connection?  I do not see an AP mode to select and I want to be sure I am creating a mesh rather than a series of APs.  

Any and all insights would be appreciated.

[olavrb]

Mesh (802.11s) only works if the primary Nest Wifi acts as a router (NAT, DHCP, firewall).

So the best would be to put the modem/router in bridge mode, connect the main Nest Wifi puck to it, then connect a unmanaged switch to the main Nest Wifi LAN port, and from that switch connect other wired devices, like more Nest Wifi points.

Combining wired and wireless point should work, but is not recommended because 802.11s does not travel over ethernet. Which means any wireless point must connect back to the primary/ master, even if a wired secondary is closer to it.

[AdamB_8]

Hi, sorry to jump in that quick. I have a Google Nest wifi 1 router + 2AP setup from US, i bought a 2nd nest router from EU Germany to wirebackbone my network, i'm unable to add this 2nd router wirelessly and if i connect wired it not turns on wifi radio. If i setup this 2nd nest router as individual router wifi is okay so the antenna is okay. Any tip? Does matter different country origin of the routers/APs? Thanks in advance any help regarding this.

[olavrb]

Mixing units made for different regions/ countries is not supported and does not work due to differences in Wi-Fi regulations; frequencies and signal strength. Also mentioned here:

• https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9548301?hl=en

Only solution is to not mix regions, there ain't no workarounds or hacks that I know of at least.

[AdamB_8]

Thank you! Now that's the clear answer what i wanted to get! I'll try get a 2nd us nest router to match with the rest of the devices.

[AdamB_8]

Thanks, it worked, replaced my 2nd nest router to a US model to match coutry with the existing system than immediatley worked the 2nd router and now i have superfast wifi in my home office (which is the opposite side of my house where the 1st nest router sits).

[Jeff]

Hey AdamB_8,

I'm happy to see that you got things worked out. I also appreciate you letting us know what solved the issue. Before I mark this as resolved, is there anything else you might need? If so, just let me know.

Thanks,

Jeff

[AdamB_8]

Thanks, no problem. I have no other issues except one wish google nest support must be improved i mean the on call remote support persons, they need better diagnostics knowledge. Not just simple reboot it again please. They have connected to my network remotley and thats a shame they didn't see any suspicious thing like the countrycode missmatch, or just question me the origin of the units, they were unaware of this knowledge. But i'm happy that my problem addressed with the help what i got here. So thank you all.

[EmersonB]

Hello everyone,

@AdamB_8 chiming in to see if you still need assistance with this. I'm glad that the steps above work. Let us know if you have additional questions, otherwise we’ll be locking the thread after 24 hours.

@Jeff I appreciate your response.

Regards,
Emerson

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi everyone.

As we got our resolution here, I'm going to mark this thread as resolved. I'll be locking this thread if we won't hear back from you in 24 hrs. Should that happen, feel free to create a new one if you have more questions or have other concerns in the future.

Cheers,
Mel

[mryanaz]

Thanks for the quick reply.  I know I can move DHCP to the WiFi puck but not sure if I can set it to bridge mode.  Also recognize that only the primary WiFi puck can be hard wired; the rest need to be fully wireless.  

[olavrb]

It's possible to put Nest Wifi in bridge mode, but

• a) mesh won't work
• b) one can only have one bridged Nest Wifi router or Google Wifi per Google Home home. Makes it messy to manage.

Bridging Nest Wifi basically just makes it a dumb access point.

More info:

• https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/6240987?hl=en

[mryanaz]

Thanks for the answer.  That was my concern, creating a series of APs and not getting a mesh network.  I have a call into C-Link to make sure I properly set the C2100T to Transparent Bridging and move the DNS and DHCP tables to the primary WiFi Node.  C-Link runs VLANs so it is a bit messy.

[Kanonkurtan]

Hi. I just read your information about the Nest wifi router must be directly connected to my fibermodem. I have two houses about 30 meters apart. In one I have the fiber and a modem plus a very good router I like. However, I would like to have a separate network in my second house, and if it gets another IP range will not be a problem. Would it be possible to take a LAN cable from my old router and plug into the NEST router in house no 1 and place the Nest router in a window, and “relay” the signal to house number two? Will the setup be complicated?  No need to share anything else than internet in house no 2. Hope I could explain the setup… Johan 

[olavrb]

This would likely not work very well as Nest Wifi wireless is not directional. Also you'd have double NAT in this scenario, which also can cause problems.

You should either pull an ethernet cable between the buildings, or piggy back existing power cabling with powerline ethernet adapters, or coax cable with MoCA adapters. Or get some directional Wi-Fi equipment made for such scenarios. Ubiquiti UniFi got some relevant products here. More inspiration:

• https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/08/point-to-point-wi-fi-bridging-between-buildings-the-cheap-an...

[CptnStronghold]

Hi, so let me get this straight? 
I have a whole house of google nest mini's , google nest wifi (3), google nest router (3) (all part of a 6 point mesh) google nest hubs(4 and 1 max), google nest doorbell, google nest cams (2 for kids rooms). and ton of other devices connected to the google home. 

I am currently configuring a opnsense device because, as you all know, the google home wifi interface is the worst router interface mankind has faced. And the wired speed is to cry for.

How much of my google home will still work when I put the first router in bridge? 

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi CptnStronghold,

Thanks for letting us know ― let's get this sorted out.

A quick question: what Ethernet cable are you using, CAT5 or CAT6? 

You entire network should still work and your devices should not be disconnected if your just setting your ISP's modem into bridge mode.

Best,

Mel

[CptnStronghold]

hey Mel, 

cat6 and 2.5Gbps switches

i think you misunderstood. I no longer wish to work with the crappy interface and limited functionality of the Google nest router. I wish to manage my whole network through my opnsense router

however, i do need the mesh of my Google nest wifi and router devices, since o paid for them to be my wireless solution. also i need my Google home app too work and manage my whole smart house.

if I put my primary nest router in bridge as well, i will lose my mesh functionality at least, as i understood from this post.

what else will i lose, and how can i combine a decent router with opnsense together with the Google nest mesh and Google home without using any of the router functions in the Google nest devices? Or did you make me spend all that money for a product that only works (very poorly) in your own ecosystem?

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi CptnStronghold,

Thanks for clarifying that. The Google Nest Wifi mesh network (router and points) creates its own network separate from the modem or other internet-type devices like your OPNsense. If your Google Nest Wifi router is in bridge mode, your will lose some of Google Wifi and Google Nest Wifi functionality such as:

• You can’t set a priority device.
• DNS can’t be edited.
• WAN settings can’t be edited.
• Guest Wi-Fi isn’t available.
• Wi-Fi speed results in Network check, but the download and upload results still work.
• Philips Hue pairing and controls in the Google Home app

Additionally, bridge mode disables many of Google Nest Wifi and Google Wifi’s security protections. This is because the upstream router (the modem and router combo) is the one that performs DNS steering, packet inspection, executable patching, and other security functions.

Best,

Mel

[olavrb]

Sell your Nest Wifi pucks used if you can't return them, and get some prosumer Wi-Fi solution instead. Like TP-Link Omada or Ubiquiti Unifi. And/ or consider ethernet over coax (MoCA) or powerline, rather than wireless mesh or wireless bridge.

And do better research next time, there's a lot of topics and Google Support guides on how Nest Wifi does and does not work.

[CptnStronghold]

Hi, 

Thank you for the kind advice, the research at the time (debut of the Google Nest Wifi 3 years ago) led to Google Nest for the best home automation solution including the mesh because of the possibility to connect over 40 devices on 1 access point. 

You don't start your network with the intention of pimping it 3 years later. But a recent ransomware hack forces me to rethink my setup, including a hardware firewall like Opnsense that has a reverse proxy build in. This will allow me to route everything over secure domains and port 443 while doing intrusion detection and more.

Discovering then that I am stuck with an eco system that is closed off for improvement makes you wonder if the investment was worth it. Selling them now while there is economical instability and a lot of pressure on hardware supply is like the worst timing ever. So I'm trying to think outside the box. 

The options that I have in mind are: 

• Double NAT and keep wireless separated from the wired setup ... but it will give me problems like getting access to my printer or other wireless devices. 
• Trying to trick DHCP of Google Nest to use a very small range that affects no device and let the Opnsense take over that part. But I expect more issues because 2 routers will be fighting over the network. On the other hand, if a device chooses a gateway I would expect it to honor those services and ignore the ones from Google Nest
• Connecting the Google Nest Router WAN to a free port of the Opnsense and block all services that might conflict, like DHCP
• Flash the Goole Nest Wifi points with OpenWRT and keep 1 Google Nest Router to have the Google home functionality
• Maybe buying alternative mesh system might indeed be an (expensive) option ...
• ... 

I have no solid solution in mind and all of it will be trial and error ... but I do know that I want to keep using Google home since it is by far the best home automation system on this planet. I just wish they would have given the router part just as much attention as they did the home automation. And blocking off any form of customisation for the power user just feels very wrong for their reputation and price tag

[Jhonleanmel]

Hey folks,
 

@olavrb, thanks for the help here.
@CptnStronghold, we appreciate your interest. We're always looking for ways to improve and we'll take it as feedback.

I also suggest that you send feedback by following this link. Let me know if you have other questions or concerns, otherwise I’ll be locking this thread after 24 hours. 

Best,

Mel