Separate Router Required?

Devices & Integrations
#1

I have two systems requiring hubs, ( Arlo Cameras and Liftmaster MyQ), that require an ethernet connection to my existing router.

I purchased the Smart Things 3 unit Mesh system, hoping to both upgrade my WiFi coverage to MESH, as well as modernize my home automation system, from my existing HomeSeer installation.

I was HOPING to also eliminate my current router. However given the hard connection requirements of the the two hubs mentioned above, it appears that this will NOT be possible.

It appears this is only a WIFI router, without any ethernet connections or capabilities.

Thanks, and I am glad to join this excellent community.

#2

It has ethernet in, obviously, because it has to connect to the modem. ( that’s why it comes with an ethernet cable.) But it doesn’t have Ethernet out.

What’s the brand and model of your modem?

#3

Cisco DPC 3208 cable modem.

Linksys EA9500 Ethernet/WiFi router

Apparently the SmartThings “router” is essentially WiFi only

#4

I don’t have a Samsung Connect, but from what I read, it’s not a router. It acts as a mesh wireless access point system. Wireless access points are different than routers in that they don’t have router functionality such as routing traffic and handing out IPs. AFAIK, you’ll still need a separate router.

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#5

Yes, I’m beginning to understand that.

I wish Samsung had not used the descriptor “Router” in the product literature.

Thank you for your reply.

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#6

I didn’t know such restrictions were possible.

Are you saying that you can’t put an Ethernet switch on one of the mesh devices and hang any hard wired Ethernet device from it?

I’d send it back and buy some other mesh router.

#7

This review shows Samsung Wi-Fi mesh devices with two Ethernet ports. Is this not the current version?

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/samsung-smartthings-wifi-mesh-router,review-5934.html

Update: sorry, I’ve resurrected an old thread. The Android app for Communities popped this up and I thought it was new.

#8

The OP may be referring to the SmartThings v3 Hub that was released in 2018.

The SmartThings Wifi, and its predecessor the Samsung Connect Home, both have Ethernet out which you can use to connect to a switch and expand the number of available ethernet ports.

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#9

OP referenced “Samsung 3 unit mesh system”

#10

OP posted 9 months ago. :wink:

My understanding at that time was that the SmartThings Connect Home subhubs (a since discontinued model) Could not be used as ethernet access points.

I may have been wrong about that, but it doesn’t seem worth resurrecting a 10 month old thread for.

To go back to the OP’s original question, both the Samsung Connect Home model and the Samsung SmartThings WiFi Mesh router with Plume are WiFi routers. The piece that they are missing is a modem. So unlike some gateway models, it’s not an all in one unit. It can create a Wi-Fi network, but not connect to the Internet. So you need a separate modem for that.

As to whether you can connect a network switch to one of the subhubs of the current model, I have no idea. LOL!

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#11

I eventually noticed that. Apologies for resurrecting this. The site popped this thread into the list of other relevant threads and I failed to notice the dates on posts

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