Vodafone UK Open Reach Customer unable to get started with nest WiFi 6E mesh

[TK421]

Hi,

I'm looking for help to get up and running, while making the most of my new router. I'm a Vodafone UK customer with a standard AC WiFi router and Open Reach modem. I've retrieved my PPoE details but can't figure out how I can directly connect my Google router to the modem. Is it necessary to have the Vodafone router in the loop? I've tried setting up the Google router by WAN port to LAN on Vodafone router  (which works), but I'm not sure if there's a penalty with this set up. Any advice would be appreciated. 

Many thanks!

[aperezdeleon]

Hi there TK421!

Thank you for posting in our community.

In your situation, your current Vodafone router isn't strictly necessary. Your Nest Wifi can work with a direct connection to your Openreach modem. However, any setup involving both routers has pros and cons.

Using your current setup with two routers providing a signal may result in weaker Wi-Fi performance since your Nest Wifi is extending the network provided by another router. You may also experience Double NAT, which could affect some of your devices' ability to connect to the internet.

For optimal Wi-Fi coverage, connect your Nest Wifi directly to your modem. This setup also allows you to utilize the full functionality of your router, including the features accessible through the Google Home app.

For a two-router setup, connect them both directly to the modem. However, to avoid issues with double NAT you'll need to put one of the routers in bridge mode.

If you don't plan to use your Vodafone Router's Wi-Fi functionality, you can disable it to avoid potential conflicts.

Let me know how it goes.

Regards,
Angel.

[TK421]

Thanks for your reply. I've managed to get the ppoe details working on the router (it's a bit buggy, but works). So now I have the router connected to the open reach modem directly with a CAT6 ethernet cable. 

However, I'm now finding that my download speeds appear limited (228 Mbps down / 114 Mbps up). This is the result from the network speed test in google home. I'm paying for 1Gbps speeds from vodaphone, and I'm wondering if this router is now a bottle neck, as the test results are consistently around those values, and I've tested over the course of a few weeks.

Any advice on my setup to ensure I'm getting the best out of these products would be much appreciated. Thank you

[aperezdeleon]

Hi there TK421,

Let's start by testing your wired internet speed to see if it's causing the slowdown.
 

1. Run a direct speed test by connecting your computer directly to the modem using an ethernet cable.
2. Perform another speed test by connecting your computer to the router via ethernet cable.

Doing so will help us identify any bottlenecks and pinpoint the culprit.  Ensure your Wi-Fi points connect to the main unit through the LAN port, not the WAN port.

Depending on the speed test results, we can determine the best course of action.

Please keep me posted.

Regards,
Angel.