Last week I replaced a Netgear RAXE300 router with a Netgear RS700S router. The RAXE300 could only support a 1G LAN and I needed at least a 2.5G to support my effective >1.4G internet service. Aside from a quick trip into the RS700S modem settings, for the most part, it was not much more than an uncomplicated unplug then plug and play exercise. The 'old' RAXE300 is an excellent modem and gave excellent Wi-Fi coverage in my home and the new RS700S does even better. Also, it easily supports the >1.4 G consistently available internet speed available from the Comcast provided 1.2 G service. Everything now works perfectly and, surprisingly, it even solved two long term nagging problems I was never able to resolve. Both problems, to my very pleasant surprise, just completely disappeared after installing the RS700S and I am very curious to have some insight into why.
First: I have three Comcast TV set top boxes, all Ethernet hardwired, via a five-port unmanaged 1G switch at each TV. With the previous RAXE300, the STBs refused to play nice or sometimes even connect if they were fed from the RAXE300 switch but would operate without issue if fed from the Comcast XB8-T modem switch. That prevented me from placing the Comcast modem in bridge mode, but I did have its Wi-Fi turned off. All three boxes are now connected directly to the new RS700S switch and work perfectly (and the Comcast modem is finally in bridge mode). I would be very curious to have some insight to why this problem just evaporated with the new RS700S. This is only curiosity as nothing is now broken so I am not going to fix anything.
Second: My desktop computer has a 10G port. There is a ~50' cat 5e run pulled from the router switch to my desktop. Previously I had a Netgear GS305 1G unmanaged switch at my desktop feeding my desktop, a NAS, and a Canon MF733 printer. However, even though the switch appeared transparent to my desktop and the NAS, the Canon MF733 printer Ethernet port appeared totally dead. The Canon Ethernet port is rated 10/100/1000 (same as the five port switch) so I had no reason to suspect a switch problem and just assumed the Canon Ethernet port was dead. After installing the new router, I replaced the 1G switch with a new Netgear MS305 2.5G switch. Now the Canon printer Ethernet port works perfectly and very fast (compared to the previous Wi-Fi connection). Again, why does it work now and not previously, even though previously everything was appropriately rated?
There is certainly a high level of curiosity here but, probably more important, I want to learn, wrt future adventures into the world of networking, what was I was missing or doing wrong before I installed the new RS700S. I only get involved with this subject when I am installing something new or upgrading, so each time is a new learning experience.
BTW, the existing cat 5e cables, all home runs to the router, appear to easily and reliably support the Comcast 1.4 G internet speed. I was planning on pulling new cables but there now is no reason to do so and I doubt in my foreseeable future I will have any need to go faster.
First: I have three Comcast TV set top boxes, all Ethernet hardwired, via a five-port unmanaged 1G switch at each TV. With the previous RAXE300, the STBs refused to play nice or sometimes even connect if they were fed from the RAXE300 switch but would operate without issue if fed from the Comcast XB8-T modem switch. That prevented me from placing the Comcast modem in bridge mode, but I did have its Wi-Fi turned off. All three boxes are now connected directly to the new RS700S switch and work perfectly (and the Comcast modem is finally in bridge mode). I would be very curious to have some insight to why this problem just evaporated with the new RS700S. This is only curiosity as nothing is now broken so I am not going to fix anything.
Second: My desktop computer has a 10G port. There is a ~50' cat 5e run pulled from the router switch to my desktop. Previously I had a Netgear GS305 1G unmanaged switch at my desktop feeding my desktop, a NAS, and a Canon MF733 printer. However, even though the switch appeared transparent to my desktop and the NAS, the Canon MF733 printer Ethernet port appeared totally dead. The Canon Ethernet port is rated 10/100/1000 (same as the five port switch) so I had no reason to suspect a switch problem and just assumed the Canon Ethernet port was dead. After installing the new router, I replaced the 1G switch with a new Netgear MS305 2.5G switch. Now the Canon printer Ethernet port works perfectly and very fast (compared to the previous Wi-Fi connection). Again, why does it work now and not previously, even though previously everything was appropriately rated?
There is certainly a high level of curiosity here but, probably more important, I want to learn, wrt future adventures into the world of networking, what was I was missing or doing wrong before I installed the new RS700S. I only get involved with this subject when I am installing something new or upgrading, so each time is a new learning experience.
BTW, the existing cat 5e cables, all home runs to the router, appear to easily and reliably support the Comcast 1.4 G internet speed. I was planning on pulling new cables but there now is no reason to do so and I doubt in my foreseeable future I will have any need to go faster.
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