Wow, finally a series that speaks my language! As someone who's always been a bit intimidated by the tech jargon, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Your step-by-step approach is exactly what I need to set up my home network without feeling lost. Looking forward to learning more and maximizing my setup. Keep up the great work!
Thank you. Great start. I've have a cable modem/router in the basement for years not understanding how this stuff works. Paying for 1 Gig Internet and lucky to get 50-100 mbps at various devices around the house. Ready to start 100% over with all new hardware. This video helps.
One problem I found with AT&T modems is that you cannot change the DNS on them. Everything goes through AT&T servers. If you are like me and value privacy, this is a big deal.
At&t should allow you to buy your own modem. Ask them for a list of devices that are compatible with their network. This will allow you to stay upto date. Most isps never upgrade devices until they stop working. By this time these devices will have many vulnerabilities that don't get patched. This will put you in charge of maintaining these devices.
@@BALAAABOYYYY222 If you are on fiber with AT&T they do not allow it. You can buy one but AT&T has a setup that will not allow 3rd party equipment to connect to their network…and they provide no support for 3rd party equipment.
This is helpful for me. I live in a secluded area and had no internet for 27 years until I got starlink recently. Now I'm trying to understand and learn how I can move toward some smart home functionality.
One thing to note, The AT&T box is a gateway (modem & router built in that's why it has 4 ports) Unless you have somesort of passthru / bridge setup you have a doubleNAT which can cause with the TP-Link unless you put them in access point mode.
I'm not disagreeing with you but I've set up double NAT lots of times with Decos without issue where there's no bridge mode on the ISP modem/router, I put the Deco into the ISP router DMZ and that seems to mitigate any problems. That said, I've never done it where outside access to a server is required and I always avoid it if there's another way.
Interesting. I don't seem to have any issues plugging mesh networks in the back on the cable modem. I currently have 3 separate mesh systems plugged in and they all SEEM to be working ok. However, that doesn't mean i'm doing it correctly. :) i'll take a look at the settings and see if i can enable a bridge mode.
@@SteveDOES running 3 different mesh networks in your home is generally a bad idea because of WiFi interference, are you doing it as a way of separating devices onto different subnets? A much better way to separate your devices onto different networks is to use networking equipment that supports VLANS
@@SteveDOES with att you'd want to look at doing a dmz and or IP passthrough. Also you'd only have your router plugged into the att box and nothing else
Starting from zero, this video was so informative! The whole thing is well produced and you explain everything clearly and I also like that you mention how you can get for example higher speeds but unless you're a power user you don't need it, made this feel a lot more approachable
It actually helps to reinforce knowledge someone might already have on building a home network. In case they might have forgotten something or teach someone how to do it. I had to explain to my mom, talk about a fun time there.
I have Giga fiber with AT&T and get free HBO Max all for 79.99 and more then happy with there speed. I also set-up my home network with wired cat 6 expanded thru-out my home. I am using a Ubiquiti Unifi pro. I am not a network novice but found you because I am trying to setup my pc to be able to share photos, files, and videos on with my wife’s pc as well as my iPad. This is my weak area of networking and hopefully watching your content will help me.
Sir, it can never be too simple. There are many of us that don't understand. Or need a refresher. These vids are so very helpful. Do one with a server. I was just given a small one and don't know how to connect it.
I’m about to set up a network with Ethernet cables from a switch coming off our router. My question is…Do I add additional switches in each room and have one main cable from the router to that room or run multiple cables to each room? If additional switches can be used are they the same as the original with fewer ports? Thank you for your help!
Thanks Steve. Very helpful information. Question: I have to use the isp provided modem/router, will my router's firewall keep the isp out of my network? That is to say, will the isp only be able to see my router, but go no further? Thanks again.
Thank you for this video, really helpful and I didn't know I needed to add protection first. I have a Netgear R7000 router which has a DHCP server setting turned on, so is that my security covered? Can I just add a switch and I am protected well enough from my Netgear router?
I currently have a 10GB backbone for my LAN and that trickles to 2.5GB and 1GB connections. But the heart of my network is my Firewalla Gold Plus Firewall/Router. It makes managing my network much easier such as port forwarding, VPN, and custom firewall rules, etc. just using a phone app. 😁👍
Overall the video was good, however that At&t box is a RG (Residential Gateway) which a Router, Wireless Access Point, and Switch built into one device. Some RG’s also have DSL and/or Cable modem build into them. At&t uses either DSL or a Fiber connection and not cable. FYI - your At&t RG already has firewall, dhcp and wireless access point built in. Please make sure you flat bridge your At&T RG by turn off the dhp server and wireless access point to avoid dhcp conflicts on your network and unnecessary wireless interference from having two wireless access point’s running at the same time.
Stuck like Chuck and Cox has been useless to help. Pano Gateway and I put in Bridge Mode, then added an ASUS ROG GT-Pro. Now PS4 hardwired to Gateway can't even do an internet test 😮 So until I figure put malfunction beyond buying my own stand alone modem, it'll have to be connected via wifi. Ugh!
@nanais007 When you put router into bridge mode it usually, depending on router, disables all but 1 of the lan ports. Put a device on port 1 login to router and put it back. If you want to add another router to extend your network just plug the second one in LAN-LAN and disable DHCP. If you want a second network, you want LAN-WAN, give it an ip outside of the dhcp of your main router and set the main router ip as its gateway. Then Set up dhcp for the other Subnet. The issue is you have to deal with port forward etc with the latter option and causes double nat ing. Personally unless you need a second network just go for the lan-lan and disable dhcp it causes less issues.
Thank you to everyone for checking out this video. Be sure to check out the rest of the Home Networking series using the playlist link below. Home Networking - The Basics (Playlist) ► bit.ly/3YmA7fD Look For More Of My Content Here - bit.ly/45yyC1U
I have at&t fiber available in my neighborhood. What cable do I need to install in my attic (from my outside connection to my modem) to somewhat futureproof my connection. Is cat 6 sufficient? Enjoy your videos and appreciate your time invested. Thanks.
Thanks for the very detailed video, I'm just about to start up a proper home network and this has really pointed me in the right direction, I do have one question, I have to use my ISP all in one modem, router and 4 port switch, what I'm wanting to do is go into it and disable the wifi bands go out fro the ISP all in one into a wireless router then out from the aftermarket wireless router into a switch for my cabled devices it looks like you have done something similar
Great Video as I just bought a eero 6+ system! However I could not get my other LAN port from existing modem to work once the eero is connected via LAN port. I see that you not only connecting your wifi mesh via LAN on modem but also other stuffs has connected directly to the modem via LAN?. Just wondering once the modem is connected to a wifi mesh, does the rest of the LAN port still works? I was hoping to connect my pc directly to modem and then wifi mesh to modem at the same time if that works.
Use the second ethernet port on the Eero to plug in your LAN devices. Since there aren't many, look for a TP-Link or Netgear 5 or 8 port unmanaged Gigabit Ethernet Switch and connect that to the second ethernet port on the Eero, and then to the wired devices.
Great video tutorial! I have a question, however,i.e. I had purchased Deco X20, and set it up per instructions. I needed to disconnect the x-20, and place it in it’s preferred location. Now I am not able to have it connect and function as it is designed. Would you please advise. Thanks so much
Great Video! I also purchased TP Link X60 and TP Link Ethernet 16 Port Switch too hardwire in Hubs, Smart TV and many more devices. Can’t wait to see more videos!
Thanks for making video about how to set up. I just got new deco wifi device with 3 pot, so my question is can I connect my old Linskyi router to tp link deco. Thank you
Yes but you either won't use the ISP modem/router or you will only use the functions of it that you have to, it depends how your internet is delivered. The worse thing to do is to try to use all the functions of both at the same time.
Hi Reggie, My modem also has WiFi built in. When i talked to my AT&T tech he said that it was possible to plug a Mesh System in the back and just use the new WiFi name and ignore the AT&T WiFI name. I was also able to login to the AT&T modem settings and disable the onboard WiFi.
Love your videos. I lost your channel and have been looking for the past few days to find you again. I even bought a router you recommended last year and then I got very sick . I’m making my comeback.❤ thanks
Nice! I am a semi tech nerd who has come to the retirement phase of my life which means cable cutting, and streaming is in m y future. So all I really need is the basic and I think what I've seen here will do just that! I am sure there will be bumps along the way but nothing I can't overcome. Thanks for the information Steve! I hope I can drive some traffic your way!
I noticed you have additional connections running to your cable modem. How do you connect a second router to your cable router and configure it (a seperate home network not dependent on the primary router))? I want to try and experiment upgrading to a Ubiquity dream router while maintaining my existing WIFI router setup as I do considering I have more than 30 devices connected to my home network at any given moment and switching over in one day is not on the table.
For me it's just plug and play. I've had up to 3 different Wifi routers connected at once. Is that the "correct" way of doing it? Probably not, but it worked for me and my temporary testing.
Laying is out on a table like this really helps with the visual of what is taking place. I saw a Canadian fellow's tutorial on wiring a 3-way switch done the same way on a upright fake wall, so all the wiring was exposed giving an example of what is going on and how the wiring works. Very, very helpful from both of you!!!
My thoughts… hard wired internet to devices is typically always better than wireless. Wireless isn’t the end all superior device, it’s just easy and gets people excited. This is good to note to viewers. Hardwire whenever possible! At least for today’s tech anyway. It’s also more secure. Hard to hack when you have to plug in. Also, you describe “cable” modem. I think of cable as being coax, but a cable can be many different things. Cat wire, copper, fiber and others can be hard wired means of getting internet. Internet comes to our home in 2 ways, wireless or wired. These are obvious but I can give you a list of noobs that don’t understand any of this. Thanks for the video
my connection is 500mbs DL/250mbs UL over Fiber Optics, i live alone and run a lot of things in many rooms in my home so this series is something i am very interested in.
Great video! Would like to see a video on your thoughts on separation of IoT devices from main network. Basically putting your IoT devices on guest network/WiFi, pros and cons on doing this kind of setup.
Helpful video! A specific question for my set up…Im in Australia. I’ve got a modem with one UNID port receiving internet that I pay for. Outside of the modem there are 5 Ethernet ports as well as ports all over the apartment. My question is how can I know which Ethernet ports match up? Are the ports doing the same job as a switch would have done, in that they’re all connected together, or is it one for one?
if you live in a frontier area they provide the modem and installation for free and even give you a wifi router for 12 months for free, then you can buy one. $39 for 500 mbps both up and down, $69 for 1 gig I believe.
@@SteveDOES Looks like it's $44.99 now promo must have ended and includes Eero 6+ router for 12 months lease. install fee used to be free but now $50 still not bad. 1 gig still $69.99. $99.99 for 2 gig and $154 for 5gig.
I was hacked via Bluetooth deauth packets and this is so overwhelming lol. I've spent 2 weeks researching networking and upgraded my modem to a docsis 3.1 and Asus rt ax3000. I've setup everything but have been worried about connecting smart lights, Alexa dots, blink cameras etc. I was told to set up a guest Network for my iot devices but still don't trust my knowledge yet. I'm on a budget but will buy a switch or pfsense hardware.
Steve, My husband and I are both retired on a fixed income. WIFI and Cable are through roof, we just can't afford any longer. Are simply looking for internet & TV Streaming. We have ROKU, which allows us to have TH-cam TV, Prime etc. Nothing major here, but do not know where to begin and be secure. Would Love to have your feedback. Thanks, L. Stocking
You will need an internet provider of some sort. There's no way around this if you want to do video streaming. Your options greatly depend on where you live so you'll need to look around to see what internet providers are available in your area and what their plans are. You can also look into mobile internet like T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon's Wireless home internet or AT&T Internet Air. They are wirelesses internet services that use a 4G/5G signal (just like a cell phone) and can give you a wifi connection for your devices to connect to. Performance and reliability varies depending on location.
Hi Steve My house is wired with coax, is there such a thing as a coax switch that would save the clutter and expense of having 20 of those converters connected to a switch?
Finally! I only use wireless connection in my current house. But I am moving to a house with CAT 5 wiring. We had no idea what it was when we had to choose. This really helped. I’ve searched for info and it was so jargon heavy I had to give up after a couple of sentences.
I need some help with my set up. I have set up my internet in my apartment just like you with already provided ethernet cables. But my internet speed is 300MBPs and I get around 90MBPs if I use the ethernet. But on wifi it's around 250 to 280. What can I do to improve my ethernet speed.
It sounds like one of the Ethernet ports or possibly the cable you’re using is limited to 100 Mbps. Typically speeds for older equipment is 100 Mbps, while newer equipment is gigabit providing speeds of 1000 Mbps.
I have a silly question, if there are also 'wifi extenders' from the internet provider comes with the morden, would you then choose to use your own mesh system or use the 'wifi extenders' from the same internet provider?
How about some guidance on adding a network drive? I have a USB-C connection on the back of my T-Mobile modem/router, can that be used to connect to a hard drive? Thanks for all the info you provide.
You'll have to read the documentation for your specific T-Mobile gateway device. Sometimes they have USB ports, but they're not enabled or only used for upgrading the firmware.
bro you did a phenominal job explaining this, Makes things very easy to show my parents and fiance who arent as tech savy and i'm not the best at explaining. You actually taught me a few things i didnt know about such as the wifi switch, & cat extenders.
Hi Steve.. we just purchased a Ubiquiti G5 bullet .. it doesn't record/save video. Do I need to purchase another gadget to save recordings? I thought this was suppose to be simple. Ethernet is set up as well as the camera. I can see live video but didn't save it😒Help!
With UniFi protect, you have to have a Unifi device that can record video, known as an NVR (Network Video Recorder). You will need either: UDM-Pro, Unifi NVR or CloudKey Gen2+. They're all expensive, but the cheapest one would be the CloudKey Gen2+ at $199.
Quick question.. does this mean you configure the att modem/router to not be visible in wifi as well? To make sure that devices only connect to the deco router and mesh networks? Thanks in advance!
One question, I've finally got round to wiring the whole house, but I read somewhere that it's best to use the LAN output to connect to the switch. I currently have a similar set up to you where I have a switch connected to the ethernet port at the back of my router plus other devices connected to the remaining 3 ports at the back of my router. Will this cause issues and is it really the best method or should every cable ideally go through the switch?
So , you've a main modem in which you've set up your internet connection, right ? You just added a mesh system to that. I wonder how the IP addresses work in this setup , Different IP for all mesh devices or a single IP ?
Are you sure you have 1000 DOWN and 1000 UP? Or is it just a gigabit connection and the actuall speeds for download and upload are different ((much) lower)?
That's a whole different can of worms... You'll need to check with your local government to see what permits you need to install towers. Then you need to buy an internet connection that you're able to share/resell to other people. You will really need to plan out your entire network, from what APs you will use, security, speed, management and so forth.
The most advanced networking I've done is building a fully air gapped network between my Retro gaming machines in my room and setup in my retro gaming space in the basement, slash setting up a usb 3 HDD as a network shared drive for file sharing and so I don't have to copy all my Game discs ISOs to each machine.
Very comprehensive video! It looks like you only created 1 WiFi Network, I'm guessing it was 2.4GHz, I wish you would have also shown how to add the second WiFi 5GHz Network as well since this is a multiband router.
Helpful video but some things confused me. The described system surely will have 2 different wi-fi addresses, one from the AT&T modem/router and one from the mesh system. Is that correct. Also you describe expanding the wired network by adding a switch to the mesh primary unit. What is the difference between doing this or just expanding, with a switch, the ports on modem which I notice aleady has things connected. Thanks David
Thank you for your easy explanation on the basics of a network system. One thing I wanted to ask you is about the ATT modem you get from them already has a password. How getting a router like the DECO will interfere with the router password. Would they conflict between ATT modem and DECO router?
You can have both hooked up at the same time and they will not conflict, the password is for the wireless wifi and if you connect a device wireless to the deco then u need that password same goes for the att wireless router. Myself have found it is better to buy your own modem and router, 1 they work better as stand alone units and you have way more control over each device then what they call the combo that has the modem and wireless router at one unit that you get from your internet provider. I hope this info helps you.
Great Video! I had hoped that you might also mention what the other ethernet cables coming from the cable router are going to? I totally understand the one going to your wifi router and then into your switch...but else are you connecting to the cable modem?
Can recognize, but cannot print. It will show offline. I see this is a common problem. Saw some articles that say you have to make some IP-gateway-DNS changes for it to work through a switch, but no real description of how to do it and definitely no video on this. @@JJFlores197
Hi, I'm a big fan of your videos but I couldn't find your cover on the power connection topic. I'm currently planning a new house and I want to know if all the mesh extensions in the rooms should be connected via a normal AC power source or via PoE only. I would love to know the pros and cons.
I am moving to a new house and currently own one "TP-Link Talon AD7200 Multi-Band Wi-Fi Router" as well as 3 "Linksys WHW0101 Velop Whole Home Mesh WiFi System". The house is quite big and was wondering if i connect the 3 Velops via ethernet cables to the TP link, will it be one connection across the whole house and nodes being used as extenders??? Is setting it up easy?? Sorry if question sounds dumb and thanks in advance guys
Can you do a video on how to use a second router to extend WiFi and act as an additional switch rather than get get of a router when I updated my primary router. Thank you!
What exactly is network storage good for? Im setting up a mesh wifi in my house rn, and ive seen a lot of people telling me to include it into the setup, but i dont think i understand what is its purpose and if its needed for the setup at all.
A network storage device basically allows you to store files on a network share. You can then access those files on any computer or device over your network. Think of it like having an external hard drive that you can store files onto, but instead of directly plugged into your PC, its on the network. You can also use a NAS to setup a media server which allows you to serve moves and TV shows to other devices in your network. Its similar to having your own personal netflix, but with content you source yourself. Or you can use a NAS (Network Attached Storage) for making backups of your computers or devices or backing up critical information. In reality a network storage system is largely unnecessary in most typical home networks. Its an extra expense, an extra thing to keep track off, an extra concept to learn about and then to implement it. Its great if you like to tinker and learn about network storage systems.
This is a great tutorial on setting up a home network. I don't know a lot about networks, but this helps clear the fog. I'm currently trying to set up a PLEX and general file sharing server. I have a Cisco C240 M4 server with 120TB but that's way overkill for my needs so instead I'm using a Lenovo SFF computer with a 6TB HDD and running Win10. Maybe in the future I'll add a simple RAID setup.
Can you run another switch from the first one? Example: can you run a extra 6 switch in a bedroom where the Ethernet line comes in from your network room?
I have enough ports on the router/modem provided by my ISP. However, now I plugged in multiple smart device (eufy doorbell, ikea smart hub, tado) i noticed that my wifi connection is less stable. Will it help if I plug all these in an unmanaged switch first and then go to my router/modem?
Yes, if you can try connecting those devices via ethernet. Wifi is convenient, but if you have too many devices, it can cause problems with the signal. You have to remember that wifi is a radio frequency. It can be affected by nearby wifi networks, distances between devices, obstacles in between objects, and wifi bands. A good amount of smart devices use 2.4 Ghz wifi which is saturated at this point. If you have other interference on that 2.4 ghz band, it will cause issues with connectivity.
I'm in the UK. My new home has CAT 5 wired throughout the house but is not connected up to anything apart from the wall sockets. The wiring terminates one floor up from the ground floor, and my service provider internet modem connection into the house is on the ground floor. What do I need to get and do to connect up everything without moving the modem?
Probably the easiest thing to do is to connect all the network cables to a network switch. You will then need to run an ethernet cable from your modem (assuming its a modem/router combo unit) all the way to your network switch.
Question. I just moved to a new place. Ive been wanting to get fiber internet but apparently its not available at my new location yet till maybe the end of this year perhaps. If I want to purchase my own modem, should I get one thats compatible with 500mbit only which is around the best i can get right now, or can I get a 1gig moden and use that for now with the 500mbit service and then use that same one if I switch over to fiber?
You'll need to buy a modem that is compatible with your internet provider. Some providers let you buy your own supported modem and others (like AT&T) will not let you use any modem other than the one that you are assigned. Modems usually are not compatible with other providers or internet connection types. So if you buy a cable modem, it can't be used with a fiber or DSL provider.
Hello, I like your video, basic step's. I have a friend who doesn't want internet in his home but still wants to use a Wi-Fi system only. Mostly for a home video system. I think it can be done with a simple Wi-Fi Router with a Base 250GB usb stick but that take a bit more thought with out internet. Do you have more information on the subject...
At 10:30. I have a smart hub connected to a 4 port POE switch which connected to 8 port POE and smart hub is not connected. But when I connected the smart hub to 8 port POE switch and it works. Would you please explain why? And any specific POE switch should i buy to replace 4 port POE to have the smart hub work?
When I get a new Router to replace my old one and set the same SSID and password as my original router will all my many WIFI devices automatically connect to it? Thanks.
Since I cut the cord in my house (no more cable)...I'm guessing it's the same process, but skip the modem part...just plug the Ethernet cable directly into the Router??
Not quite. If you have no internet service, you won't get internet. Simply plugging in a router won't get you internet. You will have a network, but none of your devices will be able to go online. You still need an active service account from an internet provider.
@@JJFlores197 LOL...my bad, yes...of course I have active Fios (forget to mentioned that). Anyways, I setup my TPLink AX21 router, along with 3 DECO S4 towers. So far so good.
Excellent, absolutely the best home network vids on TH-cam, very clear, easy to follow, and easy to understand direction and information. You're spot-on with giving names and meanings to everything. Your videos met me right where I am - ground zero! Many other well-intended folks start right out the gate rattling off names of equipment and processes that leave me behind since I don't have a long exhaustive terminology list established to begin working from. Thx, BK
Wow, finally a series that speaks my language! As someone who's always been a bit intimidated by the tech jargon, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Your step-by-step approach is exactly what I need to set up my home network without feeling lost. Looking forward to learning more and maximizing my setup. Keep up the great work!
Thank you. Great start. I've have a cable modem/router in the basement for years not understanding how this stuff works. Paying for 1 Gig Internet and lucky to get 50-100 mbps at various devices around the house. Ready to start 100% over with all new hardware. This video helps.
One problem I found with AT&T modems is that you cannot change the DNS on them. Everything goes through AT&T servers. If you are like me and value privacy, this is a big deal.
Can you elaborate on this?
Just buy your own modem… You can modify these settings with a 3rd party device.
Why complain about something when there is a solution to your concerns? I fucking hate my job.
At&t should allow you to buy your own modem. Ask them for a list of devices that are compatible with their network. This will allow you to stay upto date. Most isps never upgrade devices until they stop working. By this time these devices will have many vulnerabilities that don't get patched. This will put you in charge of maintaining these devices.
@@BALAAABOYYYY222 If you are on fiber with AT&T they do not allow it. You can buy one but AT&T has a setup that will not allow 3rd party equipment to connect to their network…and they provide no support for 3rd party equipment.
This is helpful for me. I live in a secluded area and had no internet for 27 years until I got starlink recently. Now I'm trying to understand and learn how I can move toward some smart home functionality.
Oh man People are not building complex networks in their homes buddy unless you are running a business. Thnx for showing off your saviness 😒
@@MsCellobassI’m not running a business and running a complex network system
One thing to note, The AT&T box is a gateway (modem & router built in that's why it has 4 ports) Unless you have somesort of passthru / bridge setup you have a doubleNAT which can cause with the TP-Link unless you put them in access point mode.
I'm not disagreeing with you but I've set up double NAT lots of times with Decos without issue where there's no bridge mode on the ISP modem/router, I put the Deco into the ISP router DMZ and that seems to mitigate any problems.
That said, I've never done it where outside access to a server is required and I always avoid it if there's another way.
Interesting. I don't seem to have any issues plugging mesh networks in the back on the cable modem. I currently have 3 separate mesh systems plugged in and they all SEEM to be working ok. However, that doesn't mean i'm doing it correctly. :) i'll take a look at the settings and see if i can enable a bridge mode.
@@SteveDOES running 3 different mesh networks in your home is generally a bad idea because of WiFi interference, are you doing it as a way of separating devices onto different subnets?
A much better way to separate your devices onto different networks is to use networking equipment that supports VLANS
@@SteveDOES with att you'd want to look at doing a dmz and or IP passthrough. Also you'd only have your router plugged into the att box and nothing else
@@futurecactus It's purely for testing. Ideally, i want to get down to 1 network using VLANs. :)
Starting from zero, this video was so informative! The whole thing is well produced and you explain everything clearly and I also like that you mention how you can get for example higher speeds but unless you're a power user you don't need it, made this feel a lot more approachable
That's all you need to do it yourself? No isp' s?
😢😂😢😂😢😅😂😢😅😂😢
😢😂😢😂😢😅😂😢😅😂😢
Thanks!
Thank you SO much Ege! I'm happy you liked it!
@@SteveDOES you're welcome!
It actually helps to reinforce knowledge someone might already have on building a home network. In case they might have forgotten something or teach someone how to do it. I had to explain to my mom, talk about a fun time there.
I have Giga fiber with AT&T and get free HBO Max all for 79.99 and more then happy with there speed. I also set-up my home network with wired cat 6 expanded thru-out my home. I am using a Ubiquiti Unifi pro. I am not a network novice but found you because I am trying to setup my pc to be able to share photos, files, and videos on with my wife’s pc as well as my iPad. This is my weak area of networking and hopefully watching your content will help me.
I have an Xfinity modem/router one piece unit. Can I still hook up a mesh system. Thank you for your videos.
Sir, it can never be too simple. There are many of us that don't understand. Or need a refresher. These vids are so very helpful. Do one with a server. I was just given a small one and don't know how to connect it.
Very true. Hopefully you got that server running by now. It's an awesome project to get into!
I’m about to set up a network with Ethernet cables from a switch coming off our router. My question is…Do I add additional switches in each room and have one main cable from the router to that room or run multiple cables to each room? If additional switches can be used are they the same as the original with fewer ports? Thank you for your help!
Thank you. Is there a way to add my own network in a rental home? I can't run the cable through their walls.
Thanks Steve. Very helpful information. Question: I have to use the isp provided modem/router, will my router's firewall keep the isp out of my network? That is to say, will the isp only be able to see my router, but go no further? Thanks again.
Thank you for this video, really helpful and I didn't know I needed to add protection first.
I have a Netgear R7000 router which has a DHCP server setting turned on, so is that my security covered? Can I just add a switch and I am protected well enough from my Netgear router?
I currently have a 10GB backbone for my LAN and that trickles to 2.5GB and 1GB connections. But the heart of my network is my Firewalla Gold Plus Firewall/Router. It makes managing my network much easier such as port forwarding, VPN, and custom firewall rules, etc. just using a phone app. 😁👍
This video was so nice as a newbie, I’m always scared to ask for help or explanations, especially to workers, so thank you so so much!!
Very useful, clear and easy to understand, thank you!!!
Overall the video was good, however that At&t box is a RG (Residential Gateway) which a Router, Wireless Access Point, and Switch built into one device. Some RG’s also have DSL and/or Cable modem build into them. At&t uses either DSL or a Fiber connection and not cable. FYI - your At&t RG already has firewall, dhcp and wireless access point built in. Please make sure you flat bridge your At&T RG by turn off the dhp server and wireless access point to avoid dhcp conflicts on your network and unnecessary wireless interference from having two wireless access point’s running at the same time.
Damn
Stuck like Chuck and Cox has been useless to help. Pano Gateway and I put in Bridge Mode, then added an ASUS ROG GT-Pro. Now PS4 hardwired to Gateway can't even do an internet test 😮 So until I figure put malfunction beyond buying my own stand alone modem, it'll have to be connected via wifi. Ugh!
@nanais007 When you put router into bridge mode it usually, depending on router, disables all but 1 of the lan ports. Put a device on port 1 login to router and put it back. If you want to add another router to extend your network just plug the second one in LAN-LAN and disable DHCP. If you want a second network, you want LAN-WAN, give it an ip outside of the dhcp of your main router and set the main router ip as its gateway. Then Set up dhcp for the other Subnet.
The issue is you have to deal with port forward etc with the latter option and causes double nat ing. Personally unless you need a second network just go for the lan-lan and disable dhcp it causes less issues.
If you have a modem/router combo through att are you able to use it as just a modem and get your own router?
Yes
So glad this video was recommended to me. Great job
Glad you liked it.
can you do that with a 5g modem with a sim card in it, instead of the at and t modem?😀
pls answer i am very curious
@@Mrbear658 If your 5G modem has ethernet ports, sure.
@@JJFlores197 Thanks man
Liked the slow and through teaching..thank you for understanding and being patient with us beginning 👍🏃🏃
Thank you to everyone for checking out this video. Be sure to check out the rest of the Home Networking series using the playlist link below.
Home Networking - The Basics (Playlist) ► bit.ly/3YmA7fD
Look For More Of My Content Here - bit.ly/45yyC1U
Thank you! I was so lost before I came across your video.
I have at&t fiber available in my neighborhood. What cable do I need to install in my attic (from my outside connection to my modem) to somewhat futureproof my connection. Is cat 6 sufficient? Enjoy your videos and appreciate your time invested. Thanks.
Thanks for the very detailed video, I'm just about to start up a proper home network and this has really pointed me in the right direction, I do have one question, I have to use my ISP all in one modem, router and 4 port switch, what I'm wanting to do is go into it and disable the wifi bands go out fro the ISP all in one into a wireless router then out from the aftermarket wireless router into a switch for my cabled devices it looks like you have done something similar
Happy to hear that you like the video.
Yes, the setup you’ve explained is what I’m doing too.
Great Video as I just bought a eero 6+ system! However I could not get my other LAN port from existing modem to work once the eero is connected via LAN port. I see that you not only connecting your wifi mesh via LAN on modem but also other stuffs has connected directly to the modem via LAN?. Just wondering once the modem is connected to a wifi mesh, does the rest of the LAN port still works? I was hoping to connect my pc directly to modem and then wifi mesh to modem at the same time if that works.
Use the second ethernet port on the Eero to plug in your LAN devices. Since there aren't many, look for a TP-Link or Netgear 5 or 8 port unmanaged Gigabit Ethernet Switch and connect that to the second ethernet port on the Eero, and then to the wired devices.
Great video tutorial!
I have a question, however,i.e. I had purchased Deco X20, and set it up per instructions. I needed to disconnect the x-20, and place it in it’s preferred location. Now I am not able to have it connect and function as it is designed.
Would you please advise.
Thanks so much
Great Video! I also purchased TP Link X60 and TP Link Ethernet 16 Port Switch too hardwire in Hubs, Smart TV and many more devices. Can’t wait to see more videos!
Thanks for making video about how to set up. I just got new deco wifi device with 3 pot, so my question is can I connect my old Linskyi router to tp link deco. Thank you
Can you use a mesh network if you already have a modem/wifi device that came from your ISP?
Yes but you either won't use the ISP modem/router or you will only use the functions of it that you have to, it depends how your internet is delivered.
The worse thing to do is to try to use all the functions of both at the same time.
Hi Reggie, My modem also has WiFi built in. When i talked to my AT&T tech he said that it was possible to plug a Mesh System in the back and just use the new WiFi name and ignore the AT&T WiFI name. I was also able to login to the AT&T modem settings and disable the onboard WiFi.
@@SteveDOES Thanks. This is very helpful information. Appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge.
Thank you so much. This really helped clear a lot of stuff I didn't understand. I am working towards my Network+.
Love your videos. I lost your channel and have been looking for the past few days to find you again. I even bought a router you recommended last year and then I got very sick . I’m making my comeback.❤ thanks
Happy you found me again and glad to hear that you’re feeling better.
God bless . Thx very much for your well wishes. ❤
Nice! I am a semi tech nerd who has come to the retirement phase of my life which means cable cutting, and streaming is in m y future. So all I really need is the basic and I think what I've seen here will do just that! I am sure there will be bumps along the way but nothing I can't overcome. Thanks for the information Steve! I hope I can drive some traffic your way!
I noticed you have additional connections running to your cable modem. How do you connect a second router to your cable router and configure it (a seperate home network not dependent on the primary router))? I want to try and experiment upgrading to a Ubiquity dream router while maintaining my existing WIFI router setup as I do considering I have more than 30 devices connected to my home network at any given moment and switching over in one day is not on the table.
For me it's just plug and play. I've had up to 3 different Wifi routers connected at once. Is that the "correct" way of doing it? Probably not, but it worked for me and my temporary testing.
Thank you!!!! An actual beginner’s video I can follow along with
Laying is out on a table like this really helps with the visual of what is taking place. I saw a Canadian fellow's tutorial on wiring a 3-way switch done the same way on a upright fake wall, so all the wiring was exposed giving an example of what is going on and how the wiring works.
Very, very helpful from both of you!!!
My thoughts… hard wired internet to devices is typically always better than wireless. Wireless isn’t the end all superior device, it’s just easy and gets people excited. This is good to note to viewers. Hardwire whenever possible! At least for today’s tech anyway. It’s also more secure. Hard to hack when you have to plug in. Also, you describe “cable” modem. I think of cable as being coax, but a cable can be many different things. Cat wire, copper, fiber and others can be hard wired means of getting internet. Internet comes to our home in 2 ways, wireless or wired. These are obvious but I can give you a list of noobs that don’t understand any of this. Thanks for the video
Do I need to change anything on at&t modem level after setting up mesh network so that there isn’t any double NATting?
my connection is 500mbs DL/250mbs UL over Fiber Optics, i live alone and run a lot of things in many rooms in my home so this series is something i am very interested in.
Good stuff Steve, I learned a lot today even though I was in IT and system administration for an architect firm for 21 years.
AMAZING video, exactly what I was looking for and i appreciate you stripping it all down and explaining it the way you did!
Great video! Would like to see a video on your thoughts on separation of IoT devices from main network. Basically putting your IoT devices on guest network/WiFi, pros and cons on doing this kind of setup.
All pros.
You're referencing Network Segmentation which is an advanced topic for the typical home user.
Helpful video! A specific question for my set up…Im in Australia. I’ve got a modem with one UNID port receiving internet that I pay for. Outside of the modem there are 5 Ethernet ports as well as ports all over the apartment. My question is how can I know which Ethernet ports match up? Are the ports doing the same job as a switch would have done, in that they’re all connected together, or is it one for one?
This is one of the best video have seen, on how to extend your home network range, and how to set up an home network to avoid vulnerability.
if you live in a frontier area they provide the modem and installation for free and even give you a wifi router for 12 months for free, then you can buy one. $39 for 500 mbps both up and down, $69 for 1 gig I believe.
$39 for 500 Mbps it really good.
@@SteveDOES Looks like it's $44.99 now promo must have ended and includes Eero 6+ router for 12 months lease. install fee used to be free but now $50 still not bad. 1 gig still $69.99. $99.99 for 2 gig and $154 for 5gig.
I was hacked via Bluetooth deauth packets and this is so overwhelming lol. I've spent 2 weeks researching networking and upgraded my modem to a docsis 3.1 and Asus rt ax3000. I've setup everything but have been worried about connecting smart lights, Alexa dots, blink cameras etc. I was told to set up a guest Network for my iot devices but still don't trust my knowledge yet. I'm on a budget but will buy a switch or pfsense hardware.
Steve, My husband and I are both retired on a fixed income. WIFI and Cable are through roof, we just can't afford any longer. Are simply looking for internet & TV Streaming. We have ROKU, which allows us to have TH-cam TV, Prime etc.
Nothing major here, but do not know where to begin and be secure. Would Love to have your feedback.
Thanks, L. Stocking
You will need an internet provider of some sort. There's no way around this if you want to do video streaming. Your options greatly depend on where you live so you'll need to look around to see what internet providers are available in your area and what their plans are. You can also look into mobile internet like T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon's Wireless home internet or AT&T Internet Air. They are wirelesses internet services that use a 4G/5G signal (just like a cell phone) and can give you a wifi connection for your devices to connect to. Performance and reliability varies depending on location.
Hi Steve
My house is wired with coax, is there such a thing as a coax switch that would save the clutter and expense of having 20 of those converters connected to a switch?
Great video. Can mesh reach a detached garage 65 ft away?
Finally! I only use wireless connection in my current house. But I am moving to a house with CAT 5 wiring. We had no idea what it was when we had to choose. This really helped. I’ve searched for info and it was so jargon heavy I had to give up after a couple of sentences.
I need some help with my set up. I have set up my internet in my apartment just like you with already provided ethernet cables. But my internet speed is 300MBPs and I get around 90MBPs if I use the ethernet. But on wifi it's around 250 to 280. What can I do to improve my ethernet speed.
It sounds like one of the Ethernet ports or possibly the cable you’re using is limited to 100 Mbps. Typically speeds for older equipment is 100 Mbps, while newer equipment is gigabit providing speeds of 1000 Mbps.
I have a silly question, if there are also 'wifi extenders' from the internet provider comes with the morden, would you then choose to use your own mesh system or use the 'wifi extenders' from the same internet provider?
How about some guidance on adding a network drive? I have a USB-C connection on the back of my T-Mobile modem/router, can that be used to connect to a hard drive?
Thanks for all the info you provide.
You'll have to read the documentation for your specific T-Mobile gateway device. Sometimes they have USB ports, but they're not enabled or only used for upgrading the firmware.
bro you did a phenominal job explaining this, Makes things very easy to show my parents and fiance who arent as tech savy and i'm not the best at explaining. You actually taught me a few things i didnt know about such as the wifi switch, & cat extenders.
Do you have any retrofit videos on old home how to wire doorbells and how to increase the speed
Where did you get the White Enclosure from?
Hi Steve.. we just purchased a Ubiquiti G5 bullet .. it doesn't record/save video. Do I need to purchase another gadget to save recordings? I thought this was suppose to be simple. Ethernet is set up as well as the camera. I can see live video but didn't save it😒Help!
With UniFi protect, you have to have a Unifi device that can record video, known as an NVR (Network Video Recorder). You will need either: UDM-Pro, Unifi NVR or CloudKey Gen2+. They're all expensive, but the cheapest one would be the CloudKey Gen2+ at $199.
Thank you so much!! I will opt for the cheaper one😊
Quick question.. does this mean you configure the att modem/router to not be visible in wifi as well? To make sure that devices only connect to the deco router and mesh networks?
Thanks in advance!
Yes i've gone into the setting and turned off the ATT Wi-Fi and also did an IP Passthrough so that just the Deco was managing IPs.
@@SteveDOES do you have a video on how to do an IP passthrough?
Great video, I pulled cat 5e through to different locations in my house yesterday. This helps with me building an understanding of a home network.
Amazing breakdown for beginners! Long shot, but what is the rack unit you are using in the closet with the modem and 16 port switch?
Good Start. Having trouble with computers sharing files. Hopefully you have something on this as well.
One question, I've finally got round to wiring the whole house, but I read somewhere that it's best to use the LAN output to connect to the switch. I currently have a similar set up to you where I have a switch connected to the ethernet port at the back of my router plus other devices connected to the remaining 3 ports at the back of my router. Will this cause issues and is it really the best method or should every cable ideally go through the switch?
So , you've a main modem in which you've set up your internet connection, right ? You just added a mesh system to that. I wonder how the IP addresses work in this setup , Different IP for all mesh devices or a single IP ?
Are you sure you have 1000 DOWN and 1000 UP?
Or is it just a gigabit connection and the actuall speeds for download and upload are different ((much) lower)?
ATT technician here, our fiber network is symmetrical 1000 down + 1000 up. We now offer 5000 down and 5000 up with our BGW320 gateway
I want to find out if you have information of installing community towers and provide wifi internet?
That's a whole different can of worms... You'll need to check with your local government to see what permits you need to install towers. Then you need to buy an internet connection that you're able to share/resell to other people. You will really need to plan out your entire network, from what APs you will use, security, speed, management and so forth.
@@JJFlores197 Thank you so much.
The most advanced networking I've done is building a fully air gapped network between my Retro gaming machines in my room and setup in my retro gaming space in the basement, slash setting up a usb 3 HDD as a network shared drive for file sharing and so I don't have to copy all my Game discs ISOs to each machine.
Thank you this is very helpful, especially a single like me that had no idea about wifi. Thank you 🙏 I can’t wait to set up my wifi 😊👏🏼
Very comprehensive video! It looks like you only created 1 WiFi Network, I'm guessing it was 2.4GHz, I wish you would have also shown how to add the second WiFi 5GHz Network as well since this is a multiband router.
Helpful video but some things confused me. The described system surely will have 2 different wi-fi addresses, one from the AT&T modem/router and one from the mesh system. Is that correct. Also you describe expanding the wired network by adding a switch to the mesh primary unit. What is the difference between doing this or just expanding, with a switch, the ports on modem which I notice aleady has things connected. Thanks David
People don’t have brand new houses with new ports installed. So with older houses, cables will be everywhere?
Setting up a mesh wi-fi system would be the best way to avoid cables while still getting good wi-fi coverage.
Thank you for your easy explanation on the basics of a network system. One thing I wanted to ask you is about the ATT modem you get from them already has a password. How getting a router like the DECO will interfere with the router password. Would they conflict between ATT modem and DECO router?
You can have both hooked up at the same time and they will not conflict, the password is for the wireless wifi and if you connect a device wireless to the deco then u need that password same goes for the att wireless router. Myself have found it is better to buy your own modem and router, 1 they work better as stand alone units and you have way more control over each device then what they call the combo that has the modem and wireless router at one unit that you get from your internet provider. I hope this info helps you.
Great Video! I had hoped that you might also mention what the other ethernet cables coming from the cable router are going to? I totally understand the one going to your wifi router and then into your switch...but else are you connecting to the cable modem?
Hi John, one cable is going to my Vivint security camera system and the other is going to my old Google Wi-Fi router that i use for testing.
with a new construction house where would you run the cat6 wires from the switch? to all tv locations, anywhere else?
Very clear 👏❤️💯
My question is, how do you get the printer to work through an unmanaged switch?
What do you mean? You just plug the printer into the switch and it should work.
Can recognize, but cannot print. It will show offline. I see this is a common problem. Saw some articles that say you have to make some IP-gateway-DNS changes for it to work through a switch, but no real description of how to do it and definitely no video on this.
@@JJFlores197
@@jackg45 And just to confirm, is the network switch connected to the router?
Excellent video explanation. Glad I found it and please continue with more. Thank you.
Hi, I'm a big fan of your videos but I couldn't find your cover on the power connection topic.
I'm currently planning a new house and I want to know if all the mesh extensions in the rooms should be connected via a normal AC power source or via PoE only.
I would love to know the pros and cons.
I am moving to a new house and currently own one "TP-Link Talon AD7200 Multi-Band Wi-Fi Router" as well as 3 "Linksys
WHW0101 Velop Whole Home Mesh WiFi System".
The house is quite big and was wondering if i connect the 3
Velops via ethernet cables to the TP link, will it be one connection across the whole house and nodes being used as extenders??? Is setting it up easy??
Sorry if question sounds dumb and thanks in advance guys
Can you do a video on how to use a second router to extend WiFi and act as an additional switch rather than get get of a router when I updated my primary router. Thank you!
What exactly is network storage good for? Im setting up a mesh wifi in my house rn, and ive seen a lot of people telling me to include it into the setup, but i dont think i understand what is its purpose and if its needed for the setup at all.
A network storage device basically allows you to store files on a network share. You can then access those files on any computer or device over your network. Think of it like having an external hard drive that you can store files onto, but instead of directly plugged into your PC, its on the network. You can also use a NAS to setup a media server which allows you to serve moves and TV shows to other devices in your network. Its similar to having your own personal netflix, but with content you source yourself. Or you can use a NAS (Network Attached Storage) for making backups of your computers or devices or backing up critical information.
In reality a network storage system is largely unnecessary in most typical home networks. Its an extra expense, an extra thing to keep track off, an extra concept to learn about and then to implement it. Its great if you like to tinker and learn about network storage systems.
This is a great tutorial on setting up a home network. I don't know a lot about networks, but this helps clear the fog. I'm currently trying to set up a PLEX and general file sharing server. I have a Cisco C240 M4 server with 120TB but that's way overkill for my needs so instead I'm using a Lenovo SFF computer with a 6TB HDD and running Win10. Maybe in the future I'll add a simple RAID setup.
Thanks, this was a great video!
Can you run another switch from the first one?
Example: can you run a extra 6 switch in a bedroom where the Ethernet line comes in from your network room?
Yes, you can. That’s what I’m doing in my office now.
@@SteveDOES great thanks
Can you connect the Mesh to a router? Or does it have to be connected straight to the modem
wow this is so clear and easy to understand thank you.
Great Video. Thanks
Question: is possible to explain a static ip address ( that’s a permanent address)
Thanks
I have enough ports on the router/modem provided by my ISP. However, now I plugged in multiple smart device (eufy doorbell, ikea smart hub, tado) i noticed that my wifi connection is less stable. Will it help if I plug all these in an unmanaged switch first and then go to my router/modem?
Yes, if you can try connecting those devices via ethernet. Wifi is convenient, but if you have too many devices, it can cause problems with the signal. You have to remember that wifi is a radio frequency. It can be affected by nearby wifi networks, distances between devices, obstacles in between objects, and wifi bands. A good amount of smart devices use 2.4 Ghz wifi which is saturated at this point. If you have other interference on that 2.4 ghz band, it will cause issues with connectivity.
Thanks for the suggestion. It's unfortunately not possible to connect them to ethernet. @@JJFlores197
I'm in the UK. My new home has CAT 5 wired throughout the house but is not connected up to anything apart from the wall sockets. The wiring terminates one floor up from the ground floor, and my service provider internet modem connection into the house is on the ground floor. What do I need to get and do to connect up everything without moving the modem?
Probably the easiest thing to do is to connect all the network cables to a network switch. You will then need to run an ethernet cable from your modem (assuming its a modem/router combo unit) all the way to your network switch.
Hello Steve great video . one quick question you omitted . how you bypass ATT modem and use your deco system instead? did you use Ip passthrough?
Question. I just moved to a new place. Ive been wanting to get fiber internet but apparently its not available at my new location yet till maybe the end of this year perhaps. If I want to purchase my own modem, should I get one thats compatible with 500mbit only which is around the best i can get right now, or can I get a 1gig moden and use that for now with the 500mbit service and then use that same one if I switch over to fiber?
You'll need to buy a modem that is compatible with your internet provider. Some providers let you buy your own supported modem and others (like AT&T) will not let you use any modem other than the one that you are assigned. Modems usually are not compatible with other providers or internet connection types. So if you buy a cable modem, it can't be used with a fiber or DSL provider.
@JJFlores197 Thank you. I'm still new to the world of modems, routers, etc. so this info really helps
Hello,
I like your video, basic step's.
I have a friend who doesn't want internet in his home but still wants to use a Wi-Fi system only.
Mostly for a home video system.
I think it can be done with a simple Wi-Fi Router with a Base 250GB usb stick but that take a bit more thought with out internet.
Do you have more information on the subject...
At 10:30.
I have a smart hub connected to a 4 port POE switch which connected to 8 port POE and smart hub is not connected. But when I connected the smart hub to 8 port POE switch and it works. Would you please explain why? And any specific POE switch should i buy to replace 4 port POE to have the smart hub work?
When I get a new Router to replace my old one and set the same SSID and password as my original router will all my many WIFI devices automatically connect to it? Thanks.
yes
Since I cut the cord in my house (no more cable)...I'm guessing it's the same process, but skip the modem part...just plug the Ethernet cable directly into the Router??
Not quite. If you have no internet service, you won't get internet. Simply plugging in a router won't get you internet. You will have a network, but none of your devices will be able to go online. You still need an active service account from an internet provider.
@@JJFlores197 LOL...my bad, yes...of course I have active Fios (forget to mentioned that). Anyways, I setup my TPLink AX21 router, along with 3 DECO S4 towers. So far so good.
I accidently came across your channel... Wow. I love your presentation. Very informative.
Nice video ..again ..will help a lot of people ..
Hope so
Excellent, absolutely the best home network vids on TH-cam, very clear, easy to follow, and easy to understand direction and information. You're spot-on with giving names and meanings to everything. Your videos met me right where I am - ground zero! Many other well-intended folks start right out the gate rattling off names of equipment and processes that leave me behind since I don't have a long exhaustive terminology list established to begin working from.
Thx, BK
You make complicated concepts and deliver them simplistically. Love how to gain speed and connectivity without spending dumb to get results .
Ooo a glowing review based out of ignorance.
Next..
Very well explained. Thank you. I'll be checking out more videos