Hardwire Wifi points and other devices

The beauty of Google Wifi is that it works via mesh wireless technology, so Wifi points do not need to be physically wired together via ethernet. However, if you prefer to use ethernet, here are some configurations that should work well.

Note: Do not connect any devices (like a computer, switch, or another Wifi point) to a Wifi point during setup. Learn more.

Supported Google Wifi setups:

Using Google Wifi points and/or OnHub devices

 Note: In the following diagrams, "→" means to connect via wired ethernet.

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point

  1. Modem’s LAN port connects to Primary Wifi point’s WAN port via wired ethernet
  2. Primary Wifi point's LAN port to any mesh Wifi point's WAN or LAN port via wired ethernet

You can chain multiple Mesh Wifi points via wired ethernet.

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point → and so on...

Include a switch downstream of the Primary Wifi point

 Note: In the following diagrams, "→" means to connect via wired ethernet.

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point→ Switch → Mesh Wifi point

  1. Modem’s LAN port connects to Primary Wifi point’s WAN port via wired ethernet
  2. Primary Wifi point’s LAN port connects to switch’s WAN / uplink port via wired ethernet
  3. Switch’s LAN port connects to any Mesh Wifi point's WAN port via wired ethernet

Switches and Mesh Wifi points may be connected in any order (as long as they're downstream of the Primary Wifi point) and you may connect several of these devices via wired ethernet.

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point → Switch → Mesh Wifi point

                                                                              → Mesh Wifi point

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point → Switch → Mesh Wifi point

                                                            → Mesh Wifi point                   → Mesh Wifi point

Include a 3rd party router upstream of the Primary Wifi point
 Note: In the following diagram, "→" means to connect via wired ethernet.

(✓) Modem → 3rd party router → Primary Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point

  1. Modem’s LAN port connects to 3rd party router’s WAN port via wired ethernet
  2. 3rd party router’s LAN port connects to the Primary Wifi point's WAN port via wired ethernet
  3. Primary Wifi point's LAN port connects to any Mesh Wifi point's WAN port via wired ethernet (or via a switch as shown above)
With this configuration, you may run into Double NAT, which isn't necessarily a problem. But if it is causing problems, we recommend putting your 3rd party router in bridge mode and/or turning Wi-Fi off on your 3rd party router.

What NOT to do:

Wire Primary Wifi points and Mesh WiFi points into the same switch

 Note: In the following diagrams, "→" means to connect via wired ethernet.

(X) Modem → Switch → Primary Wifi point

                                       â†’ Mesh Wifi point

(X) Modem → 3rd party router → Switch → Primary Wifi point

                                                                         → Mesh Wifi point

  1. Modem’s LAN port connects to Switch’s WAN / uplink port via wired ethernet
  2. Switch’s LAN ports connect to both a Primary Wifi point and another Mesh Wifi point’s WAN ports point via wired ethernet

In this case, the Mesh Wifi point will not be on the same network subnet as the Primary Wifi point, which will likely prevent devices on your Wi-Fi network from seeing each other in many situations, and generate inaccurate data in the Google Wifi app. All Mesh Wifi points (and any other wired devices like printers) should be wired "downstream" of the Primary Wifi point in order for things to work properly.

In this example, the Primary Wifi point should either be plugged in between the Modem and the Switch, or else the Mesh Wifi point should be plugged in downstream of the Primary Wifi point instead.

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point→ Switch → Mesh Wifi point

(✓) Modem → Switch → Primary Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point

Wire Primary Wifi points and Mesh WiFi points into the same 3rd party router

 Note: In the following diagrams, "→" means to connect via wired ethernet.

(X) Modem → 3rd party router → Primary Wifi point

                                                       â†’ Mesh Wifi point

  1. Modem’s LAN port connects to 3rd party router’s WAN port via wired ethernet

  2. 3rd party router’s LAN ports connect to both a Primary Wifi point and another Mesh Wifi point’s WAN ports via wired ethernet

This is a similar concept as the switch example above. In this example, the the Mesh Wifi point should be plugged in downstream of the Primary Wifi point instead:

(✓) Modem → 3rd party router → Primary Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point

Wire a 3rd party router downstream of the Primary Wifi point

 Note: In the following diagrams, "→" means to connect via wired ethernet. 

(X) Modem → Primary Wifi point → 3rd party router → Mesh Wifi point

  1. Modem’s LAN port connects to Primary Wifi point’s WAN port via wired ethernet
  2. Primary Wifi point’s LAN port connects to 3rd party router’s WAN port via wired ethernet
  3. 3rd party router’s LAN port connects to Mesh Wifi point’s WAN port via wired ethernet

In this case, if the 3rd party router is not in bridge mode (i.e., acting only as a switch), the Mesh Wifi point may not be able to communicate with the Primary Wifi point, nor will any wired or wireless clients that are connected to that 3rd party router.

In this example, the 3rd party router should be removed from the system, replaced with a switch, or else set to bridge mode:

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point → Mesh Wifi point

(✓) Modem → Primary Wifi point→ Switch → Mesh Wifi point

 

 
 
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