@CMB88 

Hi,

As you say this seems overly complicated.

Can you ask your ISP why you can't just connect your BE800 to the XS1930-10 via Ethernet cable?  I can't see any benefit of connecting the two via fiber.

  @woozle 

Yes I can and that's what I'll do if there's no benefit.

What sent me down this path today was that I was hoping that instead of using the switch they provided, I could just use fiber cable & SFP+ module strung  in my house to directly connect to the SPF port on the BE800 (thus leaving me the switch to do with what I please).

But I spoke to the ISP today and they said that the module they gave me can only be used in the switch for their purposes to connect my fiber.

I'm new to Fiber, so I'm just trying to see what the best options are.  They gave me a nice switch and 2 TP-Link EX920s for free along withe BE800 I already own.

I just wish the switch could be put to better use?

Thanks again for your help!

EDIT:  Does that make sense to you?  Why can't they just set it up so the fiber cable coming in through the wall can directly connect to my router using a SFP module?

  @CMB88 

Are you able to log into the XS1930-10?

If yes, then you could go through all the menus and check what options they have configured on the switch. We can't rule out that they may have configured something on the switch that can't be replicated by the BE800.

If you haven't done so already, then perhaps just ask the ISP whether their Fiber Internet can be used without the switch they provided.
 

  @woozle 

No, I haven't even tried to log into it. Considering my fiber wont be hooked up for a day or two, I didn't even think of it.

After getting off the phone with my ISP ~45 minutes ago, I asked point blank if I could use the SFP+ module they provided to hook directly into my BE800 and was told, in a way I still don't understand, they need that module to connect to the switch to set up things on their "back end" that can provide me with the Fiber I am paying for.

I understand networking decently when it comes to cable modems & routers but Fiber is new to me. It sounded like this was their way of doing things and that's that.

The only remaining question is what to do with these 2 Free TP-Link EX920 wifi 6 routers that use the Aginet. I connected one via ethernet backhaul and it luckily it seems to work with EasyMesh. I just don't have that big of a house and don't want to crowd the area.

I've had the BE800 for 3 months now and I have to say... I'm a little disappointed on the Wifi side. I switched from Asus after 8+ years. While stiill using Xfinity 1.5Gbps -- 5ghz band is a little slower overall, 6ghz is sometimes faster but can vary drastically, and MLO is doing really well. I'm going to reserve judgement until the Fiber is connected and I have newer devices to test.

Regarding the first post you made in response to me: I take it there is absolutely no benfit(as far as quality of internet - latency, speed, etc) to run fiber over ethernet from the Switch to my BE800? If so, I'll just run ethernet.

  @woozle 

I tried to log in to the Zyxel using the xfinity internet that I still have while waiting for my Fiber to finish.  

No matter what I did I couldnt get access to the switch.  It asked for the MAC address & S/N - all which I have.  I entered it and It said it was already registered (which I'm assuming was done by my new ISP?).

Last questions and I'll let this go until my fiber is fully up and I can go from there:

1). There's no reason/benefit to use Fiber Cable over Ethernet when going from the switch to router, correct?

2). Should I try and use the free 2 TP-Link EX920 wi-fi 6 routers considering they work in EasyMesh while in Ethernet Backhaul?  I still can't configure them into AP's though.  Also, it's only a 2000 Sq. Ft. home so 3 routers/APs is pushing it.  Especially if there's the chance of crowding and actually making wi-fi worse.

3).  As far as BE800 any recommendations for settings?  The settings I posted below are similar to what I had on my previous ASUS routers (although they had more advanced options).  Like I said before the disappointing thing is I'm seeing less speeds than I did on those routers when it comes to 5ghz band(200-600mbps when it was previously 800-1000mpbs) & sometimes 6.  MLO has been very good though.

CMB88 wrote

  @woozle 

 

Regarding the first post you made in response to me: I take it there is absolutely no benfit(as far as quality of internet - latency, speed, etc) to run fiber over ethernet from the Switch to my BE800? If so, I'll just run ethernet.

  @CMB88 

Both, the XS1930-10 as well as the BE800 support 10G fiber and 10G Ethernet. Therefore the connection speed is the same.

And no matter if you use an Ethernet cable or an optical fiber cable the data signals have to be converted two times (once at the switch and once at the BE800), so there is nothing to gain in that regard too.

The main differentiator is that Ethernet is limited to a cable length of 100 meters, while with optical fiber much more can be possible, depending on the transceiver modules that are used. The one you have photographed above is good for 20 kilometers.

  @woozle 

thank you so much !  I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out.  I'll just run Ethernet if they are unwilling to hook it up without a switch.  
 

By them running it the way they are (fiber-module-switch-module-Ethernet-router) does that inherently slow the process/ speed down?  As opposed to going straight from Modem to SPF Module on router?

If you get free time to answer any of my other questions I'd appreciate it but if not, no worries, you've done enough.

thanks again,

CMB

CMB88 wrote

  @woozle 

 

By them running it the way they are (fiber-module-switch-module-Ethernet-router) does that inherently slow the process/ speed down?  As opposed to going straight from Modem to SPF Module on router?

 

  @CMB88 

The speed itself will not be affected, but of course every device through which the data has to pass will add a delay. However, the delay (latency) added by such an expensive switch should be so tiny that it has no impact at all.

Try a search on Google for "latency of 10G switch". Apparently the numbers are in the single digit to double digit microseconds range. (Note that the results for Internet latency tests or the ping command are normally shown in milliseconds. A microsecond is one thousandth of a millisecond)
 

CMB88 wrote

 

2). Should I try and use the free 2 TP-Link EX920 wi-fi 6 routers considering they work in EasyMesh while in Ethernet Backhaul?  I still can't configure them into AP's though.  Also, it's only a 2000 Sq. Ft. home so 3 routers/APs is pushing it.  Especially if there's the chance of crowding and actually making wi-fi worse.

  

  @CMB88 

I don't own any of those TP-Link routers that are specifically designed for distribution by ISPs. There are some differences to TP-Link's retail routers.
TP-Link's retail routers will work like APs after they've been added as EasyMesh Satellite nodes (called "Agents" on ISP routers) to an EasyMesh Main router and hence the whole EasyMesh network will be in the same subnet.
 

CMB88 wrote

 

3).  As far as BE800 any recommendations for settings?  The settings I posted below are similar to what I had on my previous ASUS routers (although they had more advanced options).  Like I said before the disappointing thing is I'm seeing less speeds than I did on those routers when it comes to 5ghz band(200-600mbps when it was previously 800-1000mpbs) & sometimes 6.  MLO has been very good though.

   

If your BE800 is an "EU" model, then you can try if you get better results in the 5 GHz band when you choose a channel in the 100 (DFS) to 128 (DFS) range. Note that you will have to wait 10 minutes for the 5 GHz signal to come back after you have switched to a channel in that range. (that's an EU regulation)

woozle wrote

I don't own any of those TP-Link routers that are specifically designed for distribution by ISPs. There are some differences to TP-Link's retail routers.
TP-Link's retail routers will work like APs after they've been added as EasyMesh Satellite nodes (called "Agents" on ISP routers) to an EasyMesh Main router and hence the whole EasyMesh network will be in the same subnet.

The only way I've gotten them to work as satellites(nodes/agents) is to either let them be in original factory condition or to factory reset them before doing a wired backhaul OR let them be discovered wirelessly.  While in EasyMesh mode, they also only 'enhance'(?) the 2.4/5GHz bands from the main router, but for some reason, they do broadcast their own 6GHz SSID. This might be the only real benefit I've noticed from these - some improved 6GHz.

Other than that, I'm not 100% sure it's working as it’s supposed to.  On the Tether app and web GUI, they are listed under EasyMesh, but I'm not sure if they are working as designed.  Not to mention it's a terrible security risk because once you've gotten them accepted as EasyMesh satellites, you cannot log into the satellites or the main router to change the password, upgrade the firmware, or any other settings.  It all has to stay at factory settings to work. 

I've about given up on trying to make these work in a more secure and efficient way.

woozle wrote

If your BE800 is an "EU" model, then you can try if you get better results in the 5 GHz band when you choose a channel in the 100 (DFS) to 128 (DFS) range. Note that you will have to wait 10 minutes for the 5 GHz signal to come back after you have switched to a channel in that range. (that's an EU regulation)

I'm in the U.S.  The best 5GHz channel for my old ASUS AX86U router was 161, and that sometimes provides good results with this router as well but with only a width of 80MHz.  I've tried quite a few channels in the DFS range, but it seems every day is hit or miss.  So far, I've used a few Wi-Fi analyzers, and now I'm just going with trial and error.   And sometimes 'Auto' actually gets it right :)

My 2.5Gbps fiber SHOULD be up and ready to go either tomorrow or Wednesday... and that's when the real test starts.  I hope the BE800 ends up providing a good amount of improvement for a lot of my devices.

Thanks for all your help and any advice going forward is greatly appreciated!