router set up quesiton
 

Internet provider is Telus and they provided me with a T1200H router/modem/tv. Its basically a 3in1 device.
However, the wifi signal is crap on it- download speed at 4mbps. So i've picked up a Netgear Nighthawk AC1900. Great router. Now i get max download speed at 27mbps.

Question- Should i disable the Telus router? Do i really need to? I havent done it yet so im still able to see both routers, however, i just connect to the Netgear and just leave the Telus one alone.

Great router btw...

I would just disable the wifi on the telus router... I experience this crappy wifi with telus before switching to shaw.. thats a great router...

OR you just leave the telus wifi on and setup the Netgear as a repeater/AP

It depends on how big on your home and how much bandwidth you are getting.

If you house is small / if you want the most out of your router.. then turn your AIO into bridge mode and let the Netgear take over.

If you just plug it in as is, you are just using it as an Access Point (AP), ie not using the router component. But if you are in a small apartment / are not that tech inclined.. that that is the easiest way.

I'm in a bigger size house with decent amount of sqft to cover? What's my best option?
I've just "plugged" it in so far. But so far so good. Wouldn't mind optimizing it tho...

Here's a weird thing that happened..
I disabled the telus router and I stopped getting email and Facebook updates to my phone via wifi.
I'm still able to search online, but not getting any notifications through. Any ideas?

Try it from a Laptop? are you sure your phone is not going through data instead of Wifi?

I assumed you meant you turned on the Port bridging feature? Bridge Mode - Using Your Own Router - bhzof35755

and you have plugged your Netgear to the right port?

if ur running bridge mode on the telus router rmb to turn off the wifi on the telus router as well or else u'll be creating ur own wifi saturation. if ur netgear router is far enough where the wifi wont interfear with each other than u can leave the wifi turned on in the telus router.

For that run Netspot Free version is fine for most users.

Whether you turn off the WiFi on the Telus router is neither here nor there. It's your choice. Either way will work fine.

The question is similar to asking if an apartment dweller will get better WiFi if the suite next to him is vacant.

What is bridge mode? I basically just have the netgear plugged into the telus right now any everything has been working great. Both routers are right beside each other btw.

Bridge modes basically means turning the AIO device you have now into just a modem and your Netgear router is directly connected to the internet and let that handle routing of the internet traffic for you.

It is more nuanced then that. Telus router are underpowered, so under heavy load it will not be able to handle higher traffic like better routers can.

Telcomm companies have costs in mind for all these, if the free home routers get saturated, they don't need that much bandwidth if all hops are running at full efficiency.