How Should a Cradlepoint Be Setup with Comcast Gateway

Comcast resells an Internet connectivity solution offered by Cradlepoint. The Cradlepoint router uses cellular radio (4G and 5G) to provide a backup route for Internet traffic as a fail over.

If it’s even unboxed, I often find the Cradlepoint installed by the Comcast technician in the following way.

In this scenario, the Cradlepoint receives an Ethernet hand-off from the Comcast Gateway. But that hand-off isn’t a WAN port — it’s a local, standard Ethernet port. So, at first glance, you might presume that the Comcast Gateway is dual-honed (that it has two WAN ports: one for the coax out and one for the Ethernet hand-off to the Cradlepoint) and there’s a load-balancing logic in the Comcast Gateway so that (when the Internet goes down) the WAN port switches to the Cradlepoint.

However, this isn’t true. It’s a regular Ethernet hand-off; the Comcast Gateway isn’t dual-honed.

Therefore, if the Comcast ISP connection drops, even though the Cradlepoint is on, connected, and receiving a signal, it’s not offering anything to your network. The Comcast Gateway drops, and the clients connected behind your Ethernet Switch can’t route. I’ve found plenty of folks paying for this service for years and yet it adds no value.

The correct topology looks like this.

The Comcast Gateway hands-off one Ethernet cable to the WAN port of the Cradlepoint; your Ethernet Switch and/or PC’s are behind the Cradlepoint.

In this configuration, the Cradlepoint is testing for connectivity against its WAN port. If the Comcast Gateway goes down, the load balancing logic of the Cradlepoint starts routing Ethernet packets against the radio (over wireless). All’s good, and the users don’t even notice the difference.

Now, this configuration creates some LAN IP schema challenges.

Typically, the network would have DHCP’d against the Comcast Gateway’s local DHCP service, handing out addresses like 10.1.10.x, and any statics you might have (say, for a multifunction copier) are configured to that address schema.

Moving the LAN behind the Cradlepoint disrupts those configurations. LAN PC’s now DHCP against the Cradlepoint, which hands out a different schema, like 192.168.165.x. Machines that use standard IP stacks with no statics receive the DHCP assignment and begin routing; devices configured statically need to be changed to the new schema.

But what if you wanted to modify the LAN settings on the Cradlepoint? Like, to setup a new DHCP scope or add static reservations? Sorry, the Cradlepoint can’t be administered by a local administrator nor by Comcast; Comcast tier 1 business support will actually tell you to contact Cradlepoint. So your options in this configuration are limited. So, ideally, we’d insert a dual-honed router of our own so we can better control the LAN.

In this configuration, we’ve inserted a consumer dual-honed router: there are two WAN ports. WAN 1 is cross-connected by an Ethernet cable to the Comcast Gateway; WAN 2 is cross-connected by an Ethernet cable to the Cradlepoint’s Ethernet port.

Load-balancing logic in the Consumer Router allows us to say, if WAN 1 fails, fail-over to WAN 2. WAN 2 is the Cradlepoint, connected by cellular, and it routes the LAN packets to the Internet across the Cradlepoint.

You’ll notice that I didn’t connect the WAN port of the Cradlepoint to the Comcast Gateway. It’s unnecessary: the load-balancing feature of the Consumer Router is pinging both WAN 1 and WAN 2 to decide when to fail-over.

In this configuration, you can control the LAN’s settings (DHCP scopes, reservations, IP schema, or any other typical LAN features you want to implement) from the Consumer Router. The Cradlepoint is just a WAN2 transit point used for fail-over.

Ideally, this is the configuration we’d like to see, where we gain the Cradlepoint’s advantages but are not subject to its administrative limitations.

R

Building Resilience with Disaster Recovery Tech

When Disaster Strikes, Will Your Business Be Ready?

It’s when, not if, kids.

Small businesses often operate on tight budgets, making expensive disaster recovery plans seem out of reach. However, affordable and effective solutions are available to ensure your business can bounce back after unexpected events like system failures, cyberattacks, or natural disasters.

Backups

Cloud-based backup solutions are a game-changer for small businesses. Services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox offer scalable options to safeguard your critical data. Automated backups ensure your files are always protected without requiring constant manual oversight.

Virtualization

Virtualization technology is another affordable tool to consider. Virtual machines (VMs) can replicate your IT infrastructure, allowing you to restore operations quickly in case of hardware failure. Pair this with a solid business continuity plan (BCP) to outline step-by-step actions your team should take during a crisis.

Communication Hosts

Don’t overlook communication tools. Hosted phone systems reduce risk, and affordable platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or even group text solutions ensure your team stays connected and informed, no matter where they are.

Preparing a DRP

Finally, testing your Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is crucial. A plan is only as good as its execution, so run regular drills to identify and fix any gaps before a real disaster strikes.

Investing in disaster recovery tech is not just a safety net; it’s a competitive advantage. Small businesses that can weather storms earn customer trust, improve operational efficiency, and stay ahead in the game.

Don’t procrastinate! Disaster can strike at any time. Let’s get this done!

R

The Pros and Cons of DIY IT Solutions

When it comes to managing IT challenges, many small business owners face a tough decision: go the DIY route or hire professionals. Both approaches have merits, but they also come with unique risks. Let’s break it down so you can make the best decision for your business.

The DIY Route: Benefits

DIY solutions can save money upfront and offer more control. If you're tech-savvy and the issue is minor — like setting up a printer or updating software — it might make sense to handle it yourself. Plus, there’s satisfaction in solving a problem without outside help.

The DIY Route: Pitfalls

Unfortunately, DIY IT often means spending valuable time troubleshooting issues instead of running your business. Without expertise, you might miss critical security vulnerabilities or implement solutions that fail to scale as your business grows. What starts as a cost-saving measure can quickly turn into a costly disaster.

Hiring Professionals: Benefits

Professional IT support ensures you get the right solutions the first time. Experts can troubleshoot efficiently, safeguard your systems from cyber threats, and recommend scalable technology to meet future needs. Plus, it frees you up to focus on what you do best — growing your business.

Hiring Professionals: Drawbacks

Of course, hiring professionals involves upfront costs, which might feel daunting for small businesses. But consider this: investing in expertise often saves money in the long run by avoiding costly mistakes and downtime.

I like to think of it with things like painting. Let’s say I painted my living room. I imagine myself on the couch, constantly annoyed at some missed patch, an errant bleed-over onto the ceiling, or a discolored mark. It’s an annoyance, to be sure, but I invested some time and money in doing the paint job only to have it done sub-par. And the risk to my room may be minimal, but imagine the risk to my business if I got a security setting wrong on a router, or, if I didn’t know how to properly dispose of technical equipment? More than an annoyance, I might be liable. That’s an entirely different can of worms.

Final Thoughts

Hiring professionals — no matter what the profession — ensures accountability, risk management, and efficiency of time and labor. If the stakes are low, DIY might be fine. But for complex, business-critical issues, hiring a pro is a smart move.

Your time and peace of mind are worth it!

R