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How To Use Your Own Router With Any ISP
If you have wanted to save yourself money while also increasing your router’s performance, you might have already considered a router upgrade.
19:49 10 April 2020
Here’s how to upgrade the router supplied by your ISP.
- Get a compatible router. The first move that you need to make is to get a new router. You will need to peruse a list of Compatible Routers to make sure that the one that you are using a router that will work with your internet. Routers are not always universal and will not necessary work with your ISP, so check that before you do anything else.
- Put Xfinity in Bridge Mode. If you have Comcast Xfinity, you will need to put the new router in Bridge Mode in order to use it. Use the following steps to achieve this:
- Go to the modem’s settings from a browser. It is often 192.168.1.1
- Type in your username and password. The default login information is admin/admin, but if you have changed it, use that instead.
- Select Gateway, then At a Glance.
- Select Enable under Bridge Mode. Click ok.
- Go to the modem’s settings from a browser. It is often 192.168.1.1
- Put AT&T Uverse in a DMZ network. AT&T likes to make it seem like you cannot use another router, but it’s not true. Rather than bridge mode, you have to use DMZ mode.
- Connect your new router to your AT&T router.
- Log into your Uverse router through your browser.
- Find the new router in the list of devices and select it.
- Change the setting to “Allow all applications (DMZ + mode)” and save.
- Under settings, find LAN then IP Address Allocation.
- Check that the address assignment is set to Public.
- Turn off both routers. Then, attach the AT&T router to the new router’s LAN port.
- Connect your new router to your AT&T router.
- Putting Spectrum in Bridge Mode. Spectrum is a little bit difference since Bridge Mode is only supported for VDSL and fibre.
- Connect the new router to the gateway’s Ethernet port. Make sure the router is on.
- In your browser, go to the gateway’s address. It should be 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
- Login using the default username and password.
- Turn off the following settings once inside:
- Wireless
- Routing
- DHCP
- Firewall
- Wireless
- Under the LAN settings, change NAT mode to Bridged mode and save it.
- Restart the router.
- Connect the new router to the gateway’s Ethernet port. Make sure the router is on.
Other ISPs
If none of these scenarios apply to you, then it is likely that you can simply use your own router with your ISP without any trouble. If your ISP requires you to use their gateway that has a built-in router, you will need to disable the router through the modem’s settings, allowing you to plug in your own router and move forward.
Some of the more lucky users out there might be able to use their own gateways and routers, not needing to approve anything with the ISP. If this is the case, then you will only need to be sure that your device is compatible with the ISP. Otherwise, it will just be a matter of plugging it in and configuring the settings to your own needs.
Modem vs Modem/Router Combo
In the case that you get to choose your own modem and router, you will need to decide between getting a combo unit or opting for a separate units. Both have their pros and cons. A combo unit will be cheaper and easier to set up and to update, but it will not have all of the options you get from having separate devices. It is up to you.
Regardless, never let an ISP tell you that you must use their router. There are always work-arounds.