Connecting multiple routers together issue

Everything worked fine when I was with Plusnet i.e. I had the main router plus another old router in the garden office as an access point to provide wifi in the office, All connections to that office router and PCs in that office were, and still are, connected by LAN cables. All well and good. But...

I have changed to Vodafone full fibre because I needed to keep my landline number so this is now 'digital voice'. To keep digital voice it is mandatory to use the Vodafone router or as they call it 'hub'. Trouble is it's just not very good and the wifi signal is very poor. Poor that is compared to my old Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router.

I have tried interconnecting them Lan to Lan, Wan to Lan and Lan to Wan in various configurations that I thought may work but clearly they don't. I've disabled DHCP on both the Vodafone hub and the Nighthawk one at a time but still don't achieve success. I'll admit a knowledge shortfall! I have already assigned a new IP address to th Nighthawk to differentiate it from the Vodafone hub.

Ultimately, I'm trying to achieve the following: Use the Vodafone hub to facilitate digital voice, wifi from the Netgear Nighthawk in the house and wifi from the router in the office that is configured only to add local wifi coverage i.e. no additional Lan connections. Ideally with the same SSD and password. The Vodafone wifi will be turned off. Connection to the PCs in the office are at present by LAN and a switch connected to the in house router by a second Lan cable and it can stay that way.

If anyone can see how this can be achieved and what interconnections I need I would be extremely grateful. Obviously the IP addresses need to be set together with disabling DHCP where necessary. I have simply over confused myself now. Unless of course what I want cannot be achieved.

Thanks.

The Vodafone router should be configured normally with DHCP server enabled and the Wan port connected to the ONT.

The other two routers should have the DHP servers disabled and be set to fixed IP addresses outside the range of the Vodafone router's DHCP server 's range.

All three routers should be connected together using their Lan ports

I would set all three routers to use the same wifi SSID and password.

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

The Vodafone router should be configured normally with DHCP server enabled and the Wan port connected to the ONT.

The other two routers should have the DHP servers disabled and be set to fixed IP addresses outside the range of the Vodafone router's DHCP server 's range.

All three routers should be connected together using their Lan ports

I would set all three routers to use the same wifi SSID and password.

Thanks!

I have two cat5 cables running to the distant office where the wifi only access point router is located. One cable goes to my main PC only. The other to a multiport switch that has the router connected plus two other devices. The router does not have any of it's lan ports connected. Looking at those two lan cables, do you think it matters which of the two house routers they are connected to? Is it best that they both connect to the Vodafone hub or doesn't it matter?

Additionally, given that I'm turning the wifi broadcast off on the Vodafone hub I guess I don't need to change it's SSD or password as they won't be used. Does that sound correct?

For your Netgear R7000 I would suggest you use the AP mode - it disable DHCP and the routing function you don't need.

In settings choose Advance Tab (not basic) them I think down the left you get Advanced Settings then Router/AP/Bridge.

https://kb.netgear.com/23784/I-m-setting-up-my-NETGE...

If you use AP mode you should connect the incoming ethernet from your Voda hub.to the R7000 WAN port.In AP mode the R7000 LAN ports will still work just like a switch.

Yes - if you are turning the WiFi on the Voda hub off - no need to change the SSID.

It doesn't really matter if the 2 ethernet plug into the R7000 or Voda hub unless you are pushing a huge amount of data round your network (and even then it won't make much difference).

What are you using for the AP in the garden office? If it has an AP mode you could use that too - and do you really need the extra switch? If the WiFi AP in the office is an old router with LAN ports - can you not just plug the other 2 items in there and do away with the switch?

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

All three routers should be connected together using their Lan ports

This is key and easy to forget. I’d even put tape over the slave WAN port.

You can do away with the vodafone router altogetherand keep digital voice. All you need is a grandstream ATA (£20 off ebay), your PPPoE details from vf customer support for your router, the sip details from customer support, and a little time.

Sorry to say but I'm really struggling with this despite the helpful advice given.

The Netgear Nighthawk is actually a nightmare lol. Why can't I get in to change anything? I have a choice of two old routers to use in the office down the garden. One is a Asus and the other an older netgear DG834G. I can get to both of those by connecting to my PC as after resetting, I know their default addresses as they are written on the label. I can assign new IP addresses to them.

However, the Nighthawk requies that I access by loging onto www.routerlogin.net. There is no default IP address on the label and if I look using ipconfig there is no address assigned. It's blank. If I try via the routerlogin it says the login page cannot be accessed and the router is not on the network. Of course, to access the routerlogin I have to be online, which I can only do using my Vodafone hub. If I connect the Nighthawk using either Lan to Lan or Lan to Wan I still don't get in.

This is beyond frustrating! I'm hoping there is enough pity left to help me out further. Where am I going wrong? I could of course chuck out the Nighthawk but it's arguably the best router I have.

To get into the Nighthawk have you tried disconnecting everything else so you only have your incoming line, the Nighthawk and one computer wired in to the Nighthawk? You should be able to get in that way then start playing.

Are you using the Vodafone router for the wan connection and is its wan port connected to the ONT?

If so the router should have the DHCP server enabled for its LAN ports.

Other routers used as Wifi access ports should have one of their lan ports connected to a Vodafone router lan port. The should have the DHCP server for their lan ports disabled.

Another option would be to ask Vodafone for the Wan userid and password and then enter the details into the Netgear Nighthawk and perhaps use it for the Wan connection.

There is a Vodafone broadband forum here. There will be people there who are familiar with Vodafone related issues.