I think you need to step back a bit from all the terminology for a second, and just follow the setup steps.
1 - Set the Hub to modem mode and switch it off.
2 - Connect the Tenda with a Cat 6 cable to the Hub.
3 - Make sure the Tenda is in DHCP mode and leave it switched on.
4 - Switch on the Hub 3 and wait for everything to initialise.
The Tenda should get a WAN IP after 5 - 10 minutes.
You can connect your switch to the Tenda, and all other cabled equipment can be plugged into the switch.
Set the Tenda SSID's and passwords to be the exact same as you had on the Hub 3. This will allow all your kit to connect over Wifi.
As for Bridge mode, it's just as it says, a "bridge" between two networks. The Hub 3 when in modem mode is actually in "bridge" mode. It is bridging the "gap" between your Tenda and the VM network.
By the way, you may need to reboot your IoT kit after doing all this configuration, to allow the Tenda to hand out DHCP leases to them.
Thanks for that clarification. Your point about the jargon is well taken.
However, on the point of SSID names when you say "Set the Tenda SSID's and passwords to be the exact same as you had on the Hub 3. This will allow all your kit to connect over Wifi", you may recall that I cannot physically access some of smart devices, especially cameras. From past experience of changing networks, these cameras can only be reconnected by physically pressing a button on them and scanning a QR code to join the new network. There is no way of avoiding this. So since I can't access them, I MUST keep the current Tenda SSID name AS IS, if ALL my devices are to reconnect seamlessly after this procedure.
But I also just realised that if the Hub3 is going to be in Modem mode from now on, does this process actually require me to give the Hub3 an SSID name at all? Do modems need to be assigned a name anyway? Obviously, as it is a router now, it does have a name, and the Tenda has a separate name which all my devices are connected to. So if under the new setup, the Tenda is going to be acting as my 'router', then don't I just need to create one single SSID name for everything? If so, this name would have to be the same name as the Tenda is using now. Presumably I'd have to set this name in the Tenda settings.....or Hub3 settings??
Incidentally, whereas the Hub3 allows you to split the 2.4 and 5GHz bands in settings, I can not see any option for doing this anywhere in the Tenda app settings. Is this likely to change under the new setup where the Hub3 is the Modem, and the Tenda is effectively acting as the router? I'm not entirely clear what I need to do to ensure that all my devices will reconnect to the 2.4GHz band.
I have also read that once in Modem mode, you cannot access its settings through 192.168.0.1. In Modem mode, it's 192.168.100.1. Is this correct? I'll need to be able to get back into my settings and change things back as they were in the event that I manage to spectacularly screw everything up !
It looks as if the MW6 has a single SSID and cannot be changed. If your devices are working with this then, yes leave the Tenda as is. Modem mod will not change your SSID or password.
You are also correct about 192.168.100.1 for the IP address in modem mode. If you do get really stuck a pinhole reset will put the Hub 3 back to factory settings.
Please excuse my dim-wittedness. But these mesh systems almost aways come with a default SSID and password printed under each unit. After the initial setup using these credentials, users are advised to immediately change the password and SSID name to something more memorable if they prefer....as I did. So I don't quite understand "It looks as if the MW6 has a single SSID and cannot be changed". If it can be changed once, can't it be changed again to something else within the app settings? Or is this renaming exercise a one-time-only thing? Or are you addressing the dual band separartion question? If the latter, then does that mean that I will not be able to connect to the 5GHZ band with my phone laptop which can utilise this band, whereas most smart devices can only connect to 2.4GHz band? The MW6 is listed as a dual band mesh system. This would be a major compromise if I cannot access the 5GHZ band. Anyone have any thoughts on this please?
Also, does "If your devices are working with this then, yes leave the Tenda as is" mean: leave the Tenda's SSID name & password "as is", or keep it in DHCP mode "as is"? And finally, I'm guessing "Modem mod will not change your SSID or password" is referring to the Hub3, not the Tenda, right?
Thanks for clarifying the IP address login issue.
On the subject of VM hubs, I am considering possibly moving on to a Hub5 at some point. Others have suggested that when a Hub5 is in operating in Modem mode and is connected to a mesh system, the ethernet cable from the node needs to connect specifically to port 4 on a Hub5, whereas it can connect to any port on a Hub3, which is how I have it. I did not pay any attention to which port I connected my first node to!! Any merit to this?
Thanks
The MW6 has a single SSID for both Wifi bands, it cannot be split. This is from the Tenda specs, so one SSID and password (of your choosing) for both bands, you cannot split them.
So, leave your Tenda as it is now, with the exception of you need to set it to DHCP and use the Hub in modem mode.
As stated already, you can use any port on the Hubs. Historically it was port 4 nearest the power cable, but that no longer applies. With the Hub 5, port 4 is a 2.5Gb port for users on the 1Gb contract.
