My ISP has taken total control of my network

Get. Rid. Of. Their. Router.

ISP provided networking routers are inherently garbage. They don't want users messing with that, because your average user doesn't even know what the fuck an ethernet cable is and will break everything by fucking around in it.

Run your own router and put theirs into modem only mode with routing and wifi disabled. If that's not an option ask their tech support if you can buy your own DOCSIS/fiber modem (or whatever hardware you use) and return their hardware. If they also don't allow that.... well, switch or just suck it and deal with it while the ISP rubs their nipples some more.

Use that shit as a modem and get another device for your internals.

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Never use their router. Obviously for the issue you're having now, but also for financial reasons. They charge ridiculous fees for renting their shit routers when buying one for like $120 will be a significant upgrade over there's and will start saving money like 6 to 8 months in. Also it's not tied to the company, so you get to keep it.

Never use the ISP provided equipment on your network. Even if you must use their modem and router, have them turn of the wifi, and connect your router to their garbage using the WAN port to connect from their LAN port with nothing else connected. If they refuse to turn off their wifi and you can't do so through the admin, cover their crap in a Faraday cage to kill the signal. Always enter your own DNS settings on your router, never use their DNS. Make sure to use an encrypted DNS to avoid them hijacking it.

You should out the ISP by name. Fuck those guys

OP, people often mention openwrt, but you can also buy a FreshTomato compatible router and also try that. It's super user friendly, regularly updated, and has a significant amount of features you would likely never find on average routers, just like openwrt.

I really like using the VPN functionality and running an openVPN server and dynamic DNS setup so I can always connect my phones to a trusted VPN and backhaul my connection through home while I'm out and on a risky open connection.

As a Cybersecurity professional, I feel like it's got a lot of good things going for it that I really appreciate, and you can control it without the ISP being able to intrude on your network.

I run my wired connections through that and use the router for DHCP, and then also have a separate mesh system for my wireless. I can set up separate virtual networks as needed and have them separated/isolated altogether, or allow specifically how I want them to see each other, etc.

You can even set up entirely different networks by port on the back of the router. Cool stuff. Openwrt is good too, but most people don't know about FreshTomato I don't think, it spun off of Tomato several years ago when those devs quit updating it.

Never ceases to amaze me just how awful US ISPs are. Why do they get to behave like this? Are they local monopolies or something?

Not worth the hassle, replace the stupid router with an openwrt one

Name and shame, dude. Your post is great and we need some proper nouns.

That's unacceptable. I agree get a dumb modem from them and use your own Router/firewall/ access points

Talk to your ISP about getting a modem only, without a built-in router, then purchase a separate router of your own. All-in-one modem/router combos are generally kind of crap anyway, and one that your ISP can control directly is obviously a problem on top of that. I get why they'd do that: most users don't know a damn thing about how to properly set up their network, and being able to change settings without walking the users through it would simplify things. Still crap, but I get why.

Even if you have to buy your own modem, definitely go for a modem-only device and a separate router. Personally I go the extra length of having a modem, a separate wired-only router, and a separate wireless access point for wifi. Combo devices have a habit of not managing memory well and needing to be reset more often.

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I saw your edit are you able to get an asus router in your budget? Check Facebook and Craigslist. That's gonna be the best brand you can buy with the most features. I got a little usb drive hooked up and it has a built in encrypted torrent Downloader. Mine is pretty expensive but I'm sure you can find a used one.

I wouldnt say thats normal ... (at least here in germany).

Maybe consider using the isp device as modem only and use your own router?

Change iSP if you can, ans un any case you should use your own router running OpenWRT to have full control over your own network

Sounds like Comcast lol they suck. It sounds like you are using the router provided by your isp. Try getting your own equipment (router/modem).

Ask for bridge mode and install your own router. It’s the first and most important step towards privacy. Also sounds like you got plume devices. Only use them in Wi-Fi bridge mode. You retain some of heir functions and utilities but you’ll still be in control of your network.

It sounds like what you want is to either get a modem (either rented through the ISP or bought 3rd party, if your ISP supports it) and then ensure that this modem is in bridge mode without any sort of router features. That said, most places will just give you a dumb modem if you have no intention of using their router.

Then the other gear would be a router with the feature set you want. I personally am quite fond of my Mikrotik hap ac2 but the ac3 looks good too. I don't use the Mikrotik for the wifi either (I use unifi for that), but it's decent enough for a small space in a pinch.

Basically you would need to find out from your ISP if they allow you to bring your own gear -- modem and/or router, with the router being the more important of the two and get their help to either swap your existing device into a bridge or getting you something that can.

Personally I would drop them out of principle. I don't feel like supporting assclowns. Its the same reason I started using Linux, Lemmy, Qwant, etc.

You could also look into OpenWrt and maybe get your device an open firmware. For a more advanced setup you can look into OPNsense, but you will probably need additional devices for WLAN, DECT, etc.

I have been running a TP-Link Archer C4000 for several years now. Super solid, great price, no complaints. For me the tri-band capability is more important than Wifi-AX, which isn't very useful unless you need incredibly fast network speed or if you have a ton of devices (which all need to be supporting AX).

I don't know if anyone has murmurings this yet, but if you leave a landline that is through your ISP, and connected to the router, you may not be able to use your own router. Spectrum doors not let you, and despite all the research I did before, I did not find that out until after I purchased my own. You can ask them to split the line and use the old router with the phone, and your new router for internet, but there are potential issues with degradation of service involved, as well as the more mundane problems of running into ISP support who are not interested in understanding what you want, and getting the line actually, physically split.

I never use their device for anything other then a transceiver/bridge. I would just get my own gateway and place it inside theirs. Do get one that has updates. Replacing theirs is not a bad idea too.

Wow, never heard of anything like it though it feels plausible that your ISP would be able to do this. I'm not an expert on this in any way though, just a self-taught, self-hoster. My first thought was getting yourself another router as well, though I'm not 100% sure if this would work. I dimly remember that I had to change my ISP's router to "modem-mode" or something when I did this years back. And if your ISP doesn't allows this ...

Depending on where you live you might just let your ISP give you a modem and you can choose the router yourself. ISPs use the TR-069 protocol which allows them to manage and administrate the router they gave you. This is probably what they did when they made the changes you mentioned. It even allows them to analyze your whole home network. Thanks to this they can spy on you if they want to. So my advice is to just get a modem from them and choose your own router because then they can't spy on you. My advice is to use OPNsense, it's open source.

Edit: Bridge mode + your own router so they can't spy on your home network would also do the trick.

@LinkOpensChest_wav

Welcome to xFinity Xfi or whatever they call their crap.

Get your own router (that saves you 10$ a month and sparesy from this crap)

Or if you can't replace their modem, then get your own and use theirs in bridge mode

To add to others' advice to get your own router and use the modem only to connect to the internet (WAN), consider getting a router on which you can install OpenWRT. This will give you much more confidence that only you control your network.

Btw, for the proprietary apps try Shelter/Insular and TrackerControl.

I've had bad luck with all the name brand router wifi combos. I've tried several high end models, from tplink to linksys to net gear. I've finally built a pfsense box as a router/firewall (qotom mini pc) and I've switched to ubiquity ap6 in my house. Finally something that works well for me.

Granted it depends on what you're comfortable with and what you use your devices for. I'm using vlans and vpns and different interfaces for various different things so I need the extra functionality pfsense offers.

Which ISP is doing this?

I recently had a similar situation and ended up buying an Arris CM8200A modem and a TP-Link AX1500 router. I'm pretty happy with both. If you have any devices that can utilize the increased speed, I'd say the AX3000 will be worth it. You might also want a faster modem if our internet connection is faster than gigabit.

I work for a German ISP (which happens to have a big mobile phone daughter in the US) and the thought of an ISP being able to do this without anything one can do against it is bonkers to me. I was just reminded from the comments here that you folks over there usually do not have aftermarket routers with modems built in. I mean, I'm using my employers router of course since it was way cheaper than any alternative but the thing will not lock me out of any settings because if it did that, ppl would just stop using it.

Are you talking about your Modem/router that came from the company?

This is pretty normal in the US if you’re using the ISP provided router

Yeah, never use your ISP's Router.

If any are available to you, I'd look into a good Asus router and flashing Merlin on it, open source and has a lot of great features and usability, as well great privacy. Also pretty good specs and performance, their routers usually support Wi-Fi 6, etc.

Yeah I always own my own modem and router, just go that way. Check your isp for which modems are compatible with the service and check the latest reviews for a good router.

You MAY be able to use that existing router/modem as just a modem by putting it in Bridge Mode or equivalent which disables any routing and WiFi and into just a modem.

Do any of you have a recommendation for a fiber modem? I always used my own for cable but am trying fiber optic. I am in a similar situation as OP, but was just going to connect my old router to their fiber modem/router and try to turn off their router function.

And for that matter, a router brand to stick with? I have had good luck with Netgear but am seeing advice against it. I mainly just want a good QOS to prioritize video chats and casual gaming.

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