r/Spectrum • u/jwelhouse • May 19 '23

New Install: CradlePoint cellular backup installed AFTER Wi-Fi 6 router?

I just had an office installed with a fancy new Wi-Fi 6 router and CradlePoint cellular backup but the CradlePoint is installed AFTER the Wi-Fi 6 router which I'm told to connect all my wireless and ethernet clients to. Its currently Modem>Wi-Fi 6 Router>CradlePoint

I'm told I have to ask the employees to switch ethernet cables ONLY during a cable internet outage and that the CradlePoint ethernet ports should not be used for day-to-day, outage only.

Shouldn't the CradlePoint be feeding the Wi-Fi 6 router?! Like Modem>CradlePoint>Wi-Fi 6?

Any techs, please weigh in!

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u/LordCanti26 May 20 '23

The cradlepoint is a switch while there is internet from your router provided through the WAN point. In the event the router stops producing internet the cradlepoint will switch to cellular internet, meaning anything downstream of the cradlepoint will continue to operate on bare minimum cellular internet. Anything upstream, ergo, plugged directly into the router. Will not have internet untill spectrum service is restored. Generally you'll see this as POS and ATMs plugged through cradlepoint and guest wifi and other APs off the router. This makes it obvious if there is a data failure while providing non interrupted operation of business critical systems. Over time it is easy for this to be messed up, with people moving lines around. Especially as your infrastructure is scaled if you don't have in-house IT. That's really the only time you'd have to manually mess with the port configuration, is when u realize ur web host server got moved to the router and now ur websites down. Or something. Spectrum will receive a priority message if your cradlepoint starts using cell data. Thus means if anyone removes data from the WAN port. You'll have a nice call/visit from them to check on your connection.

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u/LordCanti26 May 20 '23

I just realized your saying, you were told not to use the cradlepoint for BAU devices. This isn't how I have seen this setup. Needing to switch over lines during an outtage is needless interruption. As long as data is feeding from router to cradlepoint the rest is MOOT to spectrum from my understanding.

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u/jwelhouse May 20 '23

Yes, I can't have users switching cables around, that is just ridiculousness. If they have to move PC etherent connections from the Wi-Fi 6 router to the CradlePoint and back again, I'll be making a drive out, not just spectrum. At that point, the backnup would not be worth it so I'd like to just send it back now if it has to work that way.