Google WIFI with FTTB

[catherinemives8]

Hello!

We’ve just swapped to TPG FTTB wifi, and are having problems getting our Google mesh wifi to connect properly.

We’ve reset out Google wifi and set it up as we had previously with Belong. However, for some reason this time there’s a significant decrease in speeds on the Google wifi compared with connecting direct to the modem/router, and it is no longer extending our wifi upstairs as it had previously.

Has anyone experienced a similar issue? Any tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated (in as much detail as possible please) thanks!

[david64]

Hi @catherinemives8 . What model modem/router do you have? 

What particular Google model is it?

What speed test results do you get when directly connected to modem/router?

Is that with ethernet computer or wifi?

When you connect to Google device, is that ethernet or wifi?

If wifi, what is the wifi connection speed shown on the device, in the connection properties?

What speed test results in this case?

Regarding lack of signal upstairs, can you detect the Google wifi networks at all or are they completely gone?

Is the modem/router wifi turned off or do you use it as well?

[catherinemives8]

Hi David, thank you for all the questions!

We have a tp-link VX420-G2h model modem/router with VoIP (but we do not have a phone connected), it is version 2.0. Google nest wifi we bought early this year, so I assume it is the latest. 

At present, we have tried turning off wifi on the modem router and solely using the google nest router, when connected to the router downstairs (via wifi) we are now getting high speeds (up to 100mbps download and 30 upload). However, the google router is still struggling to connect to our upstairs points. When we unplug and re plug everything it works fine though (upstairs we could get up to 60mbps download and around 20 upload), but it inevitably stops working after a day or two. Prior to turning the wifi off on the modem/router, when this would occur, we couldn't see the upstairs wifi, now we can still see it and connect but the speed drops to insanely slow (can't even actually run a speedtest). 

My next step might be to turn the modem into bridge mode? Please let me know if you have any more advice!

[david64]

@catherinemives8 . Need to check that VX and FTTB connection are working properly. Get it all going ok. Then connect directly to VX, ethernet better or wifi, and run TPG speed test. Do it during day and evening to get best idea of speed. Don't do anything else while test runs. Check the VX DSL stats to check the connection to FTTB equipment. 

When the slowdown occurs, run another speed test directly on VX.

If the VX test is slow, problem is with VX or FTTB connection.

[catherinemives8]

The speeds on the modem/router itself are fine, its getting it to work with the google that seems to be the issue, the google router we don't have a problem with, but issues projecting to the other google points over sustained periods of time (which wasn't a problem prior to swapping to TPG)

[david64]

@catherinemives8 . Since the Google router connects to the modem/router using ethernet, that doesn't affect the performance of the Google wifi network. You need to be careful if you leave the modem/router wifi on since it could interfere with the Google wifi.

Google router should be set to access point mode, DHCP disabled.

Following is to isolate where problem occurs.

If a slowdown occurs on the Google wifi network but a computer connected directly to the modem/router still has proper speed, it's not a router or network problem.

The Google router has a LAN port so you could connect a computer there and do speed test. If that speed test is ok, it's not a Google router problem.

When connecting to the Google remotes, your wifi device shows signal strength and wifi speed. When slowdown occurs, does the signal strength drop? The wifi connection speed to the remote will also drop.

There are some tests you can do without needing the NBN network connected. They can be done on a Windows laptop connected at: modem/router, Google router, wifi to Google remote.

Do the tests during normal operation, then when slowdown occurs. Do tests with no other activity.

ping -n 20 192.168.1.1

Response time to router should be about 1 ms at modem/router and Google router; bit more at Google remote.

ping -n 20 -l 65000 192.168.1.1

Uses data length of 65,000 bytes. Response time at modem/router and Google router might be 6 ms.

You can connect the Google router in turn to the Belong router, then the VX420, without connecting to the NBN network and do the above tests for comparison.

Since you don't use the VOIP phone, you could put the VX into bridge mode. The Google router would then work in wireless router mode.

[catherinemives8]

Hi David, thanks for your response. 

Yes, we have the wifi disabled on the modem/router. Unforunately we don't have any windows computers. However, I am able to see that the signal strength doesn't drop at any of the google nest wifi points when the slow down occurs. 

I was just on the phone with TPG and they said I needed to make sure the connection is DHCP or dynamic IP

for the google nest router, but you're saying the google router needs to be set to access point mode with DHCP disabled? Are you able to explain why this is the case? Just trying to get my head around it all! 

With regards to the speed tests, direct to the modem/router and direct to the google router are both fine. Its purely the google nest wifi points upstairs that have the issue.

With bridge mode, do you know how to do this? I have been trying with no success thus far...

[david64]

@catherinemives8 . The following has instructions on putting the VR1600 into bridge mode but might be similar for VX420. VOIP won't work in bridge mode. Bridging might be easier.

Basically, delete existing VLAN 2 connection and create a new VLAN 2 in bridge mode.

https://community.tpg.com.au/t5/Modems-and-Devices/Archer-vr1600v-bridge-mode-Totally-confused/m-p/1...

You won't be able to access the VX420 until you do factory reset and config. Wifi and LAN ports won't work except the LAN connection to Google.

Set up Google router with PPPoE and username and password. All its functions will be usable.

A Mac computer has similar commands.