Third party router and extrernal IP

[wireless]

Hi, all.

I recently got fibre to my house and decided to take the plunge and move (back) to Telus from Shaw. I'm going for the "full meal deal" meaning Optik, Internet and Home Phone.

Installation is happening next week but before then, I want to make sure that I can keep my network setup as close to my current setup as possible which means that I want to have my own router pulling an external IP address. I initially thought that enabling port 1 bridging would be the way to go but after reading a number of posts in this forum, I'm not so sure. I came across some posts that suggest that a better way to go would be to use a switch between the ONT and the routers. Is that true? It would certainly simplify things in that I would not have to screw around with either the T3200M (assuming that's what I get) and my own router's settings.

Given that a switch is the way to go, I'm actually wondering if a switch is even necessary. Pictures I've seen of the Alcatel ONT (now Nokia?) show 4 ethernet ports. Could I just connect my router to one that's not used by the T3200M?

Thanks!


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