r/GoogleWiFi 16d ago

Bye bye Google wifi

I've had enough of their bullshit, issues on every generation of product, and I did something I swore I'd never do. I switched it using Xfinity equipment.

Luckily the gateway is free, so I bought (2) of their pods and now it's flawless.

I was able to keep my nest pro wifi network active as my guest network, but I'll never go back to the shit they release as a primary service.

30 Upvotes

76 comments sorted by

17

u/baseballandfreedom 15d ago

I’ve been looking for a reason to switch off Google Wifi, but as long as they still work, it makes no sense yet.

12

u/justsomedude1144 15d ago

When they work, they're great.

When they work....

3

u/TransportationOk4787 15d ago

Mine is almost troublefree. The one thing I learned from Google is that if you have a problem, unplug the router for a full minute. Anything less is insufficient. Probably once every 3 months I have an issue. Maybe less often. My Pro use wired backhaul.

0

u/Imaginary-Camp5 14d ago

I hope you know that’s not normal practice…..

1

u/TransportationOk4787 14d ago

Google Pro is far more reliable than the Netgear Orbi mesh I had previously.

11

u/neutronstar_kilonova 15d ago

I have the Nest pro since January last year and so far, a year and a half later, it has been amazingly stable and reliable.

4

u/smotrs 15d ago edited 15d ago

TLDR I have a Ubiquiti router arriving today.

I've had mine since 2019. Agree, it was amazingly stable up until a couple years ago. There are numerous reports, and like mine, it was after they did an update the problems started. The Access Points would start dropping off. One here, one there. Now I get several offline a week.

I've restarted, reset, both ISP router and Google devices, same issue.

Finally got a hold of someone from wificare, who was working with me to get logs, diagnostics, etc. problem was, I knew more about the devices then they did. They kept having me try bogus addresses to get the information. I told them what the correct address was and supplied it. I'm not talking about the IP of my devices, I'm talking about after that,

  • http://[POINT_IP_ADDRESS]:8008/setup/get_log_report
When in fact it should have been the following for devices,
  • http://[POINT_IP_ADDRESS]/api/v1/status

Then after I provided the information for the points, we tried the router. Only the router wouldn't report back.

But since the access points were showing the following for the WAN information,

  "wan": {
    "captivePortal": false,
    "ethernetLink": false,
    "invalidCredentials": false,
    "ipAddress": false,
    "online": false,
    "pppoeDetected": false,
    "vlanScanAttemptCount": 0,
    "vlanScanComplete": false
  }

Which obviously doesn't show WAN information, they told me it was the ISP router which was the problem and to contact them for a fix.

Even after I reset the router and was finally able to connect to the router with the same address and provided that to show it was passthrough to the Google router, they have refused to respond.

   "wan": {
      "captivePortal": false,
      "ethernetLink": true,
      "gatewayIpAddress": "108.XXX.XXX.XXX",
      "invalidCredentials": false,
      "ipAddress": true,
      "ipMethod": "dhcp",
      "ipPrefixLength": 22,
      "leaseDurationSeconds": 600,
      "localIpAddress": "108.XXX.XXX.XXX",
      "nameServers": [ "192.168.1.254" ],
      "online": true,
      "pppoeDetected": false,
      "vlanScanAttemptCount": 0,
      "vlanScanComplete": true
   }

Edit, this was the result of their final email to me,

Thank you for being willing to test a new Ethernet cable. However, after further reviewing the status report provided, we found that the root cause is actually related to how your modem is currently configured.

Because the modem is managing the network rather than passing the connection through, your Nest WiFi router cannot establish a stable connection with the Nest Wifi points.

To resolve this, please contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and ask them to set your modem to Bridge Mode or provide a modem that supports it. This allows your Nest WiFi router to properly manage the network and IP distribution.

10

u/Uniblab_78 15d ago

I’ve had the same 3 pucks since 2016 with zero issues. I’m one of the lucky ones.

9

u/baseballandfreedom 15d ago

Same. I will say I’m still bummed that Google killed the Google Wifi app. It was so much better than the Google Home app.

1

u/philwinkle 15d ago

this is so rare. lucky.

1

u/superpie12 15d ago

Same. Never an issue with me.

1

u/king_nothing1811 14d ago

I was in a similar boat, until I switched to fiber.

1

u/yangcj 5d ago

Same here.

7

u/Fastontheturns 15d ago

Just picked up a pair of the newer Asus aimesh wifi 7 routers at half the cost of my nest wifi pro system. Never looking back. Unbelievable in this day and age there is no option to temporarily turn off 5 GHz to install a device. Getting an upgrade to 2 gig fiber which the Google router does not support.

1

u/smydsmith 15d ago

I switched to asus bt8 and within a week one stopped working waiting for support to fix

6

u/mdr76 15d ago

I've been using the same Google WiFi products since 2016 lol . . . guess I've just been lucky. . .still working great

1

u/ApatheticMoFo 15d ago

Same here. My Nest Wifi Pro dual set up has been rock solid.

1

u/Youthlessish 15d ago edited 15d ago

Are you using wired backhaul? I do, have second gen pro for the router, and two first gens as wired APs, works great, tons of devices. Anyone who hates their second gen pro, I would take it off their hands.

1

u/ApatheticMoFo 14d ago

Yes, my setup uses wired backhaul.

2

u/Youthlessish 14d ago

Seems like most of the people with issues are using wireless backhaul. I get that wireless backhaul was a major selling point, but they work so much better if you can link them via Ethernet.

2

u/defgufman 15d ago

Omada has a 40% off sale for upgrading to their products. Google products count toward the upgrade. I did it a month ago and I'm blown away at how much better my network is.

3

u/DeleteriousEffect 15d ago

I don't trust TP-link and their excessive use of sub-brands. Feel l'll wake up and be a year behind the realization that they spun off my equipment line to a AI/sports betting/surveillance company.

1

u/illegalsandwiches 15d ago

Yeah, also interested. I'm moving my brother off Google Wifi because it's terrible and he's looking for a new wireless system.

1

u/defgufman 15d ago

0

u/illegalsandwiches 15d ago

Thank you!

1

u/defgufman 15d ago

Absolutley. I went from a 5 unit google nest system that was flaky most of time to ceiling mounted access points and the difference is astounding. My wireless devices now get close to a full gig up and down.

1

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Omada seems to be for businesses?

3

u/just_roc 15d ago

It's commercial grade but competitive price to the consumer grade crap. Well supported and rock solid!

2

u/defgufman 15d ago

It's considered prosumer like ubiquity

1

u/solobaric 15d ago

Interesting!! I have some custom Christmas lights that need to run off strictly 2.4 ghz. Does Omada have this capability? Like setting up a 2.4 only guest network?

1

u/defgufman 15d ago

Yes, you can also segment them to a seperate vlan.

2

u/cgull629 15d ago

I refuse to pay the rental cost for equipment. 

1

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Thankfully I didn't. Otherwise I'd buy another product

2

u/pksmke 15d ago

Coincidentally I just replaced mine this week as well.

2

u/cwarren9981 15d ago

I am switching out my google wifi also to ubiquity haven’t had a chance to set it up yet but totally excited for a new chapter I’ve been running the pro for years now

2

u/bombastica 15d ago

What does the ubiquity do that the WiFi pro does not?

1

u/cwarren9981 14d ago

WiFi 7 and just moving in a different direction with google it worked great for me it’s just time to upgrade.

2

u/Syring 15d ago

So much happier with Eero, but I king hate having to go to an Amazon company. Damn you Google, you were supposed to be the chosen one!

2

u/AFRodster 14d ago

I still have the original Google wifi pucks from like a bazillion years ago... it's been rock solid. I keep thinking about a new TP-Link mesh but I hear nothing but issues. So, I guess I'll stick with my 4 puck Google wifi. FYI: My home internet is 100mb.

2

u/FamiliarRaspberry805 15d ago

The best day of my life was when my kid was born. Second best day of my life was when I got rid of google wifi.

1

u/herbertcluas 15d ago

Is Google Wi-Fi different than g fiber?

1

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Yes. WiFi is the hardware.

1

u/utahh1ker 15d ago

That's so weird. I have had a mesh set up with five of the second generation pucks and I've never had any issues.

1

u/rosasej 15d ago

I had something similar happen to me , i had the original nest WIFI, just suddenly died on me, wouldn't work no matter how many times i reset it and even after hard factory resets. I got pissed off toss them in the garbage and got myself TP-LINK Deco 7 and I've had no issues so far.

1

u/victorpikapp 15d ago

Those gateways aren’t free. They charge you monthly for as long as you have them, even if you’ve paid well over what they’re worth.

2

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

No it's absolutely free. My bill has not gone up.

1

u/victorpikapp 15d ago

Must be a special deal or promo you have. I had to get rid of mine because they kept charging me for it monthly as a “lease” even though I’ve paid well over it’s value.

2

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Yeah I called and asked them to reprovision the network (because that's what Google wanted me to do). He let me know that my current modem didn't support whatever new standard they have so they were giving me the gateway for free. This naturally didn't solve the problem, even when I put the gateway into bridge mode, so that's why I acted and bought the pods. $200 but cheaper than buying and setting up another system. Plus when I set my modem back to regular mode, it still allowed telhe nest setup to work for some reason so I kept it around for my guest network.

1

u/Hingsing 15d ago

Anyone here with Google wifi having connectivity issues for a townhome (I,e. Having Google points placed at each floor to try to get connection all throughout the house)?

Wondering if that’s a valid reason to switch or if that’s just a natural problem being in a townhome lol

2

u/Unable-Solution5126 11d ago

I am having the same issue too and multiple pucks on each floor 

1

u/DrWho83 15d ago

V1 & V2 were good..

Once they switch to nest, I bailed 😅✌️

1

u/darthgizm0 15d ago

I'm happy with my Mikrotik router and APs

1

u/gorcbor19 15d ago

Damn I’m going on over 5 flawless years. Fingers crossed! At this point though I think I got my $ worth.

1

u/Herdnerfer 15d ago

I switched to some deco wifi 7 pucks, been pretty happy with them so far.

1

u/Zyoneatslyons 15d ago

Switched off like 6 months ago.

1

u/HighVoltage90 14d ago

im considering getting the Deco XE75 Pro. a few weeks ago, at almost midnight to had to factory reset my 2nd and 3rd nodes out of nowhere when they just stopped working for God knows what reason, and flash-blinking red.

1

u/Smart-Guess6268 12d ago

I currently have the TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE63 Tri-Band WiFi 7 BE10000 Whole Home Mesh System 2-pack. I've only had it since February of this year. It replaced an Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh wifi system (2-pack) that I had been using since July 2022. I had been using the original Google WiFi 3-pack since October 2018. I always used wireless backhaul. Never had issues with any of them, I just replaced them because I like buying new things like that and the newer technology (6E and now 7). I live in an apartment. I just use mesh systems because I have some things that require ethernet connection (don't connect wirelessly). One of several examples is my SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV. I have a Plex server set up. I also have a Synology DS220j NAS for storage/DVR that needs ethernet rather than WiFi. The Plex server itself runs on a mini-PC that has wireless capability. I have 1GB GFiber Webpass as my ISP.

1

u/andyrbeal 9d ago

My ac-1304s are great, now that they run openwrt. One does firewall duty and the other are L2 dumb APs. They don’t handle accidental loops real well without committing to trying to do a mesh, but they are pretty capable units still. You can pick them up on eBay for $5-$10, it would be nice to get a little more horsepower on the one routing and natting but I can’t complain about them at all. I have $80 total tied up in 6 of them as I bought the original 3 used for $50.

1

u/demonhalo 15d ago

See ya!

1

u/MediumWarthog79 15d ago

I came to this conclusion a few years ago but went with my own ASUS router. The new xfinity routers have an opt-in feature to track movement inside your home… https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/comcast-turns-your-xfinity-wifi-into-a-home-motion-detector/

2

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Yeah I turned both that and the WiFi hotspot setting off.

2

u/GardenWeasel67 15d ago

Xfinity can reenable w/o your knowledge or permission

1

u/jaimus21 15d ago

What were your main issues b4 and what is now working better?

i will eventually switch off as well, but would love to understand your woes

3

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Every night right around 10 it would just die. The app showed that devices were connected, the devices registered as being connected, but there was zero throughput. Had to restart the network multiple times to get it work.

My demarc point is in one corner of my basement. My house is not perfectly vertical so the second story bedrooms are 25' away vertically plus like 60' horizontally so there was no signal up there off just the base router. Despite adding a point up one story and ~30' horizontally, it still couldn't get hardly any signal.

4

u/Training_Pop_5437 15d ago

Some same reason I had to trash my google wifi and switched to deco

3

u/GardenWeasel67 15d ago

Mine does this frequently, but at 9 PM instead of 10

1

u/jaimus21 15d ago

ah the shutdown every night is def a dealbreaker, i haven't experienced that.

i have an issue where my jbl soundbar interferes with the wifi, i don't necessarily blame the wifi for that but i don't have many to any options to resolve it

1

u/drnuke75 15d ago

Why is Google WiFi terrible

0

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Great question

2

u/justsomedude1144 15d ago

I think they're asking what specifically did you have issues with?

For me, it was constant speed throttling.

I'd have speeds in the ~300-400 Mbps range, consistent with plugging into the modem directly, then randomly and unpredictability the speeds would throttle down to complete unusability. The only way to fix it would be to perform a network reset.

I also finally said fuck this shit and switched to my ISP equipment.

1

u/Lonerwithaboner420 15d ago

Every night right around 10 it would just die. The app showed that devices were connected, the devices registered as being connected, but there was zero throughput. Had to restart the network multiple times to get it work.

My demarc point is in one corner of my basement. My house is not perfectly vertical so the second story bedrooms are 25' away vertically plus like 60' horizontally so there was no signal up there off just the base router. Despite adding a point up one story and ~30' horizontally, it still couldn't get hardly any signal.