It's a modem+router+switch+AP that technically does everything you need, but does all of it badly - really just getting in my way. E.g. it obviously has a builtin DHCP server, but it won't let me set custom DNS. I want to use custom DNS, to block at least some of the ads/tracking on all of the devices on my network; so I have to disable that DHCP and use my own. But the modem resets that setting back to enabled every reboot! (Took me a while first time around to notice there's two DHCP servers on the network, argh). So I've disabled the internal AP, brought my own, and I'm connecting the rest of the network through a managed switch that blocks DHCP to the router.

So I've got one device that tries to do the job of four... but instead I need three devices to do the job of one. I try not to think about it.

Yeah I just have hardware I like running openwrt behind the modem doing all three jobs, with Tailscale Funnel doing the job of port forwarding so I basically never need to interact with the provided modem's interface. Because you're right, it sucks.

I used to do double NAT but the thought wouldn't let me sleep at night ;)

I'd flash custom firmware at that point. Be aware that i suck at networking however. Is there a compatibility/hardware-related issue?

The problem is the builtin cable modem. I don't have the parameters/credentials, I have next to zero experience wrangling DOCSIS, and frankly I just don't want to bother. Switching to fiber soon enough anyway.

This is typical of ISPs in France: you get a crappy device that does router + switch + wifi but none of them are done right.

There is a whole community around replacing these devices with other devices (owned by the users) but ISPs make it difficult despite a European law that forces them to allow this.

I used to have an Orange box that was hanging on a regular basis when there was too much traffic. Had to reboot it nightly.

I know have a high-end box from another provider that is OK, but I still do my own DHCP.

>I [now] have a high-end box from another provider that is OK, but I still do my own DHCP.

Freebox Delta?

Yes. It is really not bad. I used to be in the "replace your box" camp (I replaced the shitty Orange box) but with the Delta I use it as expected. Not to mention that it can run VMs so I put Pihole there too (in addition to my home server).

It also forced me to quickly learn IPv6 :)

It’s been a long time since I’ve used my ISP’s supplied modem/router. The only hardware from my ISP that I’m using now is their GPON SFP module, which is installed in the NIC of my router machine.