Poor Signal on AOT-4221SR; Attempting to Replace with ZTE F670L or Extend Using TP-LINK W8968

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humble

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Location
Location 1
ISP
Airtel
I got connection from AirTel 3 months back and got model AOT-4221SR which comes without the anternna. Off late the WiFi signal is very poor even in next room, complained to AirTel, they split into 2.4 and 5 GHz, same issue, they merged it again, that also didn't solve the issue.

I was using Airfiber earlier and got ZTE F670L modem from them, I thought of re-purposing as it has antenna and signal strength is moderately good compared to the AOT-4221SR. Typically they they allow modems (Cable modem) only with specific MAC address, not sure how AirTel does, but with the same id/pwd configuration, ZTE is not working. I tried PPPoE bridge mode (AOT-4221SR has the option in the Network configuration), but not reliable, it works sometimes but no consistently.

Then I had old ADSL modem TP-Link W-8968, tried to make it as Extender/Repeater with PPoE as well as IP Bridge mode (don't know what this IP does really). Same issue, works sometimes, but the signal is much better than the stock AOT-4221SR.

I raised the complain with AirTel and asked them to replace the AOT-4221SR with ZTE, but they refused, threatened with canceling the service. Meanwhile my neighbour got AirTel connection with modem HG660-GM-A, the signal quality seems to be fantastic, I can get the one bar signal downstairs. Asking Airtel to replace the current modem with this one.

I think they are trying to push the mesh service, so give this good for nothing modem just for 10-15 feet coverage, pay (99 per month per device with 1000 deposit) for extended which is another good for nothing box but smaller in size.

Option 1 - Get a good modem with antenna and see if it gives good coverage.
Option 2 - Bridge / Extend with wired mode
Option 3 - Bridge / Extend in wireless mode
Option 4 - Go for mesh

But what is surprising is, why I can't just connect to LAN Port of this AOT-4221SR modem and connect to WAN of any regular router and extend the signal? Why should I go for bridge mode?

Please suggest a better way to re-purpose what I already have and extend the converage to other rooms.

Thanks
 
Bridge mode eliminates double NAT. Depending upon your usage you may not have any issue with that.

Most routers have extender mode i.e. it just repeats the main router signal and if you can connect it with LAN to main router, your issue will be resolved.
 
But when I do bridge, either it doesn't allow to connect more than one connection through WiFi or become unstable and starts dropping WiFi or the when you try to visit the websites don't open up.
 
How are you doing bridge with airtel support?

Just connect your TP-Link or whatever extra router you have. Connect its WAN to your airtel LAN. Access non-airtel router admin and switch it to extender mode. Prefer to name external router ssid and password same as airtel router wifi.

Optional- Once it starts working you can switch airtel router wifi off.
 
Better get a good Wi-Fi router and connect it to the AOT-4221SR using ethernet cable. This will extend the coverage area of the network. Do a proper IP config in the Wi-Fi router.
 
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H660gm-a was also pathetic for me. I was provided that with 40 mbps connection and it was overheating and sometimes even google search lagging, also QOS was a mess in it, like downloading anything on that ont choked the network for anyone else. Then I got sercomm AOT4221SR which initially worked fine but started having range problems and wifi disconnections. Now I'm using archer c6 on bridge mode with sercomm and things are way better than before.
 
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Will explore extending through wired or bridge mode.

Yesterday I did another thing where I try to repurpose my older ZTE F670L which has antenna and giving good signal to other rooms. I was able to unlock using Python ZTE tools by following this thread

I copied my Sercom modem Serial Number, MAC, etc., even copied the ACS connection settings (Not sure what it is, but some kind of telemetry tracking I guess). When I checked through diagonostics, it is giving PADO Timeout and not connecting. It shows that the ONT connection is there but not able connect and give the status O5 (as per Sercomm) and allow me to connect to internet.

I am sure existing year long customers would be still using these and working, Do I need to do anything to make it connect or Airtel is having some mechanism by which they prevent these kind of modem switches to let people keep buying new modems and mesh?

If anybody successfully tried to re-purpose ZTE F670L, please let me know. I will also explore other avenues to extend the connection.

Next thing was re-purposing WR710N v1 (US version), still I wasn't able to connect and make it work, either I am completely doing it wrong or Airtel is preventing these kind of user owned wireless extenders somehow, most likely it should be on my side as @gotoh_san reported able to extend with archer c6 where when I try, the connection become very unstable and sercomm modem become very slow. I tried to change the firmware to OpenWrt and made some attempt, still no luck.
 
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