Hi guys,

We have True internet and they installed the Technicolor TC7200. It works okay, but is sure an old design. The manufacturer never even supported the USB port. There are some things I would like to do with my home network now and I am not sure the best way to do it.

First, I would like to embed my VPN into the router so that all my devices automatically use VPN without needing a client on the device.

Second, I want to build/install a NAS/Media Server and put it on my network.

Want to have USB ports to plug in items to back up on the net.

Time Machine backups (NAS feature).

My question is pretty simple, I guess. Should I leave the True modem/router in place and just add another router to the network using a port on the TC7200?

Should I buy and replace the True unit with one I buy locally, hopefully a better, more recent model (DD-WRT capable)?

If I do replace it, what is the procedure for getting True network to recognize/authorize it?

Or am I just stuck with using what True gave us?

Thank you

Michael

tl;dr Can I replace my True Cable modem/router with something better?

You won't be able to buy/replace the True provided cable modem as its married to the True system. True wouldn't allow it to interface with their system even if you could find a cable modem at a store (highly unlikely). True does this to maintain configuration control and reliability of their cable system. Completely different if on ADSL plan where you could buy you own ADSL modem...ADSL modems are not married to the system.

Use a second router - replacing it is not an option - and you should be able to achieve what you want to do.

Use a second router - replacing it is not an option - and you should be able to achieve what you want to do.

Correct.

Set up static routing between them.

Do not NAT on both your interior router and the True box. Just NAT on one or the other (you're probably better off doing it on the box you control, if you can in fact disable the NAT on the True box. If you can't disable it on the True box, do not NAT on the box you control).

True totally hobble the functionality on their cable devices, just order a modem if at all possible, skip the wifi and routers and provide your own if at all possible.

That True Cable modem is rubbish - cannot assign IP addresses, cannot choose alternative DNS servers and who knows what else...

Fortunately my Synology NAS can auto connect to a VPN on startup and avoid other hobbled issues - and I don't use the True cable modem as the wifi router either...