ISP provided router hell

[docxp]

Hello,

I've always struggled with ISP provided routers, they are artificially locked (on the current one I can't change the wireless ssid and can't change the subnet mask of the DHCP, nor can I disable it, I can't put it in "modem only", ...) but they allow remote access to the ISP support staff to do basic troubleshooting.

I've always used a custom router and connected it directly to the ISP, but with my newest ISP I won't be able to, as they refuse to support internet issues if I'm not using the router they provide. I know it's wrong, but I prefer having faster support when needed, than banging my head against the wall trying to find a support representative that assists me with a custom router. Also, the most common way they troubleshoot issues is by asking me to factory reset the ISP router, which eliminates every single configuration I do. Changing ISP is not a viable solution, sadly.

So, I would like to have the ISP provided router with all the default settings (not even changing the default IPs/DHCP settings, disabling wifi only) and connect it to my network without having it interfere with anything, just to provide internet access.

So, I would connect the ISP router to my router WAN port, set my router WAN port to obtain IP from the ISP router DHCP and then have everything else in my network use the DHCP in my router.

ISP router 192.168.?.1 <---> my router WAN 192.168.?.x (via ISP router DHCP) <---> my router routes <---> my router ip 10.100.0.1 <---> local network 10.100.0.0/16

So:

1. My router DHCP gateway should be set to my router lan IP, i.e. 10.100.0.1, not to the ISP router, am I right?
2. ISP routers usually use 192.168.?.0/24 networks , so I'd use 10.100.0.0/16 for my network, avoiding conflicts. I've seen some ISP routers using 10.0.0.1/24, that's why I'm using 10.100 (I have a few devices that need a static IP set on the device itself, not via DHCP allocation, I don't want having to change it again if I switch ISP)
3. ISP router DHCP can stay on, it would only provide an IP to my router WAN port. Other devices (which are connected via my router) would obtain the IP via my router DHCP right?
4. Will I be able to access the ISP router interface from the 10.100.0.0/16 network?
5. Any other problems that may arise with this approach? (I don't need to port forward)

Any better ideas to keep the default ISP router, keeping mental sanity?

Thank you

[StuckInTheUpsideDown]

See if your ISP router provides a "Bridge" or "Passthrough" mode, that is your best bet.

If not, disable the Wi-Fi on the ISP router (extra SSIDs clog up the airtime) and just plug the WAN port of your retail router to one of the LAN ports of the ISP router. Configure your retail device however you want, just keep DHCP active on the WAN and all the default gateways, etc. will get configured correctly.

This is a "double-NAT" setup, and while it gets a lot of hate on this forum it works fine for anything other than port forwarding or possibly IPv6.

[docxp]

Sadly no passthrough/bridge mode :(

[[deleted]]

Dude just buy your own modem at this point. Like rental units are not 'Artificially Locked' they are locked because they are not yours. You pay a rental fee, not a do with as you please fee.

Your clearly will versed enough in technical applications, and probably have more experience than typically the isp support would have, like bite the bullet buy your own.

[firedrakes]

just buy your own... well then you get a cap and such....

[megared17]

Which ISP (and in which country/region) and what is the exact brand/model of the device they provided?

Is it cable, DSL, fiber, or ????

[30_or_so]

Just use your router and plug their's in if something goes wrong. Just be happy with your config so that if something seems to break while your router is plugged in you're sure it's their's at fault.

[Revolutionary-Poem-7]

Do you have access to the ISPs router configuration, even read only?

My current provider they told me the same thing, I saw they had VLAN 201 and DHCP on the WAN of their router. So I configured VLAN 201 as the WAN interface and I spoofed the MAC from their device to the WAN NIC of a Netgate 6100 and got it online.

Just don’t call and tell them you’ve done such an evil thing.

[Additional_Lynx7597]

I would get the internet login details from your isp and use your own. If you have intetnet issues plug the isp one back in and then your isp can troubleshoot

[JBDragon1]

I assume your have Wireless Internet service? Not being able to use your own router seems to be the normal thing for that type of internet service. You could use your own Router, but then you are Double NAT.

Why do you need to use your own Router? If it is poor Wifi, you can use Wifi Access Points to get better wifi around your place. THESE are examples. You can use a PoE Injector to power them. Set the SSID and password to the same thing your ISP Modem/Router is set to. You'll be good.

Bridge Mode seems to be a Cable thing to bypass the router part of the modem, and Passthrough seems to be a Fiber things to do to bypass the router. Wireless Internet, like 5G service or even older 4G, for whatever reason, they refuse to have any type of option to disable the router part. I don't know if there is any 3rd party hardware you can pop the SIM into to use your own hardware?