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by voltagex_ 3621 days ago
The problem I've found is that a few of the ISP supplied devices no longer allow bridge mode, or you lose access to features ("free" city wifi).
2 comments

With adsl, I'd just discard the isp device and use a cheap modem-only device.

As I said docsis is often MAC address controlled, so if you can't get the admin password to unlock the devices (http://portforward.com has lots of isp configs/auth details) you could buy your own docsis modem/router that supports configurable MAC address and simply spoof the isp provided device.

For fibre based devices usually you just have a ONT with an Ethernet port, so no modem required just plug in your router.

If you can give more info on the specific last-mile tech you're dealing with, we can probably make some suggestions.

Fibre to the home. I think your ONT is my NTD. Box on my wall that I'm not really allowed to touch, then Ethernet straight to my router which handles PPPoE.
Well pretty much any router with a PPPoE client should work then.

What is the "free city wifi" thing you referred to that requires the isp provided router?

I suspect he means the schemes where you agree to run an AP other customers can use and in return you get to connect to their AP's while on the move.
I've never seen/used this type of thing before, but then again I've never found my need for mobile data that massive that regular 3g/4g wasn't a reasonable option.

Maybe thats just me though. My Thai phone provider gives me global roaming with unlimited data capped at ฿300 a day (about $10 a day). The last time my wife and I came back to Australia together, we had pre-paid Telstra sims. The time after when I came alone for work, I didn't bother, as the roaming cost worked out better than Telstra's shitty pricing, and I still got to use their network.

As for an actual solution, I doubt there is one an ideal solution in this case. Honestly, I would want to need access to a lot of other people's Wifi before I signed up for this type of deal - how sure are you this doesn't give the other Telstra members carte-blanche access to your local network, and how sure are you a judge will accept "but your honour, that could have been anyone downloading those pictures, I have Telstra Air".

I haven't had access to the Thomson gateway device for long enough to see how the traffic is segregated. If I do end up changing to Telstra I'll have a look, although I'm not sure I'd be allowed to solder up the serial-out on their device ;)

$10/day is $300+ a month - I pay $50/month for 7GB of data on Telstra's 3G/4G networks. I haven't actually needed to use Telstra Air because the middle of the city has free wifi by iiNet/Internode (RIP).

Yep - Telstra Air. But I'm not on that ISP yet
Which ones? Sometimes the configuration is confusing, but I haven't found one I can't disable yet (my Ariss/Moto SBG5580 doesn't have a simple 'bridge mode' toggle, I have to disable NAT/NAPT to put it into bridge mode).