- Jun 30, 2004
- 16,889
- 2,198
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It's time to replace my router. My router is a Netgear Nighthawk R7800 which I must have purchased at least 10 years ago. I was informed by e-mail from Netgear that they had terminated support with firmware (or other?) updates, suggesting I buy a new model. I did that around July, but reversed my order for simple reasons -- particularly that I tentatively decided to change internet providers such that the new ISP would supply their own router, but I reversed that decision. We started with Charter Communications back in 2002 and have continued through their changeover to Spectrum. We're subscribed to Spectrum internet, Basic TV and (landline) telephone. I do not intend to change now. We get a pretty good deal costing around $100/month.
In addition to the age of the router and termination of support, I just purchased a new LG television, and I've noticed with three or more TVs turned on in the household, there seem to be lags or dropouts. I also see that the latest routers provide a WAN port rated at between 2.5 Gb to 10 Gb.
I have always set up my router as a "gateway" using a TCP/IP address of 192.168.1.1 for a household subnet of 255.255.255.0.
All of my Ethernet wired PCs are set up to recognize that gateway address. With the proliferation of wireless, I've noticed that customers like my brother don't bother with the wired TCP/IP configuration and merely connect their laptops directly to the internet without implementing any sort of peer-to-peer file sharing. But I have three desktops with Ethernet wired connection, one TV with wired Ethernet. There are three tablets, three robotic cameras, two cellphones and three television sets using Wi-Fi connection to the router in the house.
Just this week, I had to resolve a failure of this or that computer failing in previously-configured access to folders and files on the other computers. I lost my Media PC and "file server" temporarily because a Windows Update borked my drivepool software configuration, but the fix turned out to be easy -- and I'd managed it before. This peer-to-peer connectivity and file-sharing is integral to my backup solutions and routine computer use. I cannot lose it; I don't want to spend days trouble-shooting to restore anything lost.
Originally, we only had Ethernet connections to the router -- twisted-pair with RJ-45. Connectivity from the router was extended through unmanaged gigabit Ethernet switches. This was all set up with the router as what was once shown as "Gateway" in earlier Windows versions, now identified as IPv4 DNS server -- as I said, with the router address of 192.168.1.1 and the subnet of 255 possible addresses with the 192.168.1.x subnet prefix. I am hoping to continue using the ethernet hardware and wiring for the wired devices -- as I said, three desktop PCs and a TV.
I haven't kept up with further developments, and this router was our replacement back in 2016 or 2017, following the same parameters and settings of the previous two routers -- with the same subnet and 192.168.1.1 router address.
Now I see a YouTube video about assigning a DNS address using Google or Cloudflare -- with addresses of 1.1.1.1 and/or 8.8.8.8. I have suspicions that this doesn't facilitate a "LAN" configuration with a local subnet like I'm currently using.
I'm confused and bewildered. If I buy a new router, I need to be able to restore the connectivity BETWEEN my wired desktops, wireless laptop and the other devices. Now I can see that the wireless devices can merely be changed to recognize a wireless network name and password. I can probably even change the name on the new router to the old network name and configure with the previous password. The robotic IP cameras might present a bigger problem.
I have a boarder in my house -- call her a "guest" -- she's my cousin. She has a cellphone, tablet and ROKU (wireless) TV.
I need guidance in setting up the new router and restoring all my household connectivity.
Who wants to help? Who can tell me what to do? I want to be able to make the conversion within a business day -- before my cousin returns home in the evening. If I get everything else -- or essential aspects like the desktops and a couple wireless devices -- working properly, then getting my cousin connected should be fairly easy. And all the remainder should follow.
Just for starters -- I have my eye on the Netgear Nighthawk RS140 -- part of a line of products released in 2023. It isn't the $600 flagship Nighthawk, but we don't get fiber-optic internet here: it's coax cable and not fiber-optic. I'm fairly sure I have the latest internet modem from Spectrum. Or -- perhaps not the "latest" as a DOCSYS 3.1 Model E31U2V1. It could be upgraded to Model EN or ES 2251, but not that much different.
Supposedly the modem provides up to 1 Gbps. The EN2251 is supposedly rated at 2.5 Gbps to support speeds over 1 Gbps.
In addition to the age of the router and termination of support, I just purchased a new LG television, and I've noticed with three or more TVs turned on in the household, there seem to be lags or dropouts. I also see that the latest routers provide a WAN port rated at between 2.5 Gb to 10 Gb.
I have always set up my router as a "gateway" using a TCP/IP address of 192.168.1.1 for a household subnet of 255.255.255.0.
All of my Ethernet wired PCs are set up to recognize that gateway address. With the proliferation of wireless, I've noticed that customers like my brother don't bother with the wired TCP/IP configuration and merely connect their laptops directly to the internet without implementing any sort of peer-to-peer file sharing. But I have three desktops with Ethernet wired connection, one TV with wired Ethernet. There are three tablets, three robotic cameras, two cellphones and three television sets using Wi-Fi connection to the router in the house.
Just this week, I had to resolve a failure of this or that computer failing in previously-configured access to folders and files on the other computers. I lost my Media PC and "file server" temporarily because a Windows Update borked my drivepool software configuration, but the fix turned out to be easy -- and I'd managed it before. This peer-to-peer connectivity and file-sharing is integral to my backup solutions and routine computer use. I cannot lose it; I don't want to spend days trouble-shooting to restore anything lost.
Originally, we only had Ethernet connections to the router -- twisted-pair with RJ-45. Connectivity from the router was extended through unmanaged gigabit Ethernet switches. This was all set up with the router as what was once shown as "Gateway" in earlier Windows versions, now identified as IPv4 DNS server -- as I said, with the router address of 192.168.1.1 and the subnet of 255 possible addresses with the 192.168.1.x subnet prefix. I am hoping to continue using the ethernet hardware and wiring for the wired devices -- as I said, three desktop PCs and a TV.
I haven't kept up with further developments, and this router was our replacement back in 2016 or 2017, following the same parameters and settings of the previous two routers -- with the same subnet and 192.168.1.1 router address.
Now I see a YouTube video about assigning a DNS address using Google or Cloudflare -- with addresses of 1.1.1.1 and/or 8.8.8.8. I have suspicions that this doesn't facilitate a "LAN" configuration with a local subnet like I'm currently using.
I'm confused and bewildered. If I buy a new router, I need to be able to restore the connectivity BETWEEN my wired desktops, wireless laptop and the other devices. Now I can see that the wireless devices can merely be changed to recognize a wireless network name and password. I can probably even change the name on the new router to the old network name and configure with the previous password. The robotic IP cameras might present a bigger problem.
I have a boarder in my house -- call her a "guest" -- she's my cousin. She has a cellphone, tablet and ROKU (wireless) TV.
I need guidance in setting up the new router and restoring all my household connectivity.
Who wants to help? Who can tell me what to do? I want to be able to make the conversion within a business day -- before my cousin returns home in the evening. If I get everything else -- or essential aspects like the desktops and a couple wireless devices -- working properly, then getting my cousin connected should be fairly easy. And all the remainder should follow.
Just for starters -- I have my eye on the Netgear Nighthawk RS140 -- part of a line of products released in 2023. It isn't the $600 flagship Nighthawk, but we don't get fiber-optic internet here: it's coax cable and not fiber-optic. I'm fairly sure I have the latest internet modem from Spectrum. Or -- perhaps not the "latest" as a DOCSYS 3.1 Model E31U2V1. It could be upgraded to Model EN or ES 2251, but not that much different.
Supposedly the modem provides up to 1 Gbps. The EN2251 is supposedly rated at 2.5 Gbps to support speeds over 1 Gbps.
Last edited:
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