Why I Don’t Use the ISP-Provided Modem and Router

Networking
Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025
TL;DR: An engineering perspective on why I avoid ISP-provided networking equipment in favor of dedicated, user-controlled infrastructure.

The Short Answer

I don’t use the modem and router provided by my ISP because I want control, visibility, predictability, and privacy.

ISP-provided equipment is designed to be convenient and remotely manageable. My network is designed to be intentional.

The Hidden Cost of “Managed” Hardware

Most ISP gateways are not just routers — they are telemetry endpoints.

When you use ISP-managed hardware, you implicitly agree to a model where your internal network is partially observable and controllable by an external party.

That tradeoff is rarely explained clearly.

1. Network Metadata Is Actively Advertised Upstream

Many ISP-provided routers report detailed metadata back to the provider, including:

  • Network topology and subnet structure
  • Connected client counts
  • Device fingerprints and hostnames
  • Traffic classification and usage patterns
  • Wi-Fi capabilities and radio behavior

This is not hypothetical — it is how ISPs:

  • Diagnose issues remotely
  • Push configuration changes
  • Offer “smart” features
  • Enforce policy decisions

Why I Don’t Want That

Even if the data is anonymized or “used responsibly,” it still means:

  • My internal network structure is no longer private
  • Device inventory exists outside my control
  • Changes can be made without my consent
  • I cannot fully audit what is collected or retained

From an engineering perspective, this violates a simple rule:

If you didn’t design the telemetry, you don’t control the data.

2. Your Router Becomes Someone Else’s Asset

With ISP gear:

  • Firmware updates are mandatory
  • Features appear and disappear without warning
  • Remote access is non-optional
  • Debug modes can be enabled externally

You don’t own the router — you host it.

This creates an asymmetry where:

  • The ISP controls the platform
  • You assume the risk
  • You get minimal insight into changes

That’s not a trust model I’m comfortable with.

3. ISP Routers Broadcast Open SSIDs in Your Home

Many ISPs use customer routers to advertise provider-owned open or semi-open Wi-Fi networks.

These SSIDs:

  • Are not yours
  • Cannot always be disabled
  • Operate on the same radios as your network
  • Exist solely for the ISP’s benefit

To be clear, this is usually not a direct security issue — traffic is logically separated.

But it is a radio-frequency problem.

4. RF Pollution Is Still a Performance Problem

Every SSID consumes:

  • Airtime
  • Beacon frames
  • Probe responses
  • Management overhead

Even if no client ever connects, the radio still spends time advertising the network.

The consequences:

  • Increased channel contention
  • Reduced effective throughput
  • Higher latency under load
  • Less predictable wireless performance

And here’s the real issue:

No ISP will quantify how much airtime their SSIDs consume — or how it affects your network.

You are left with:

  • No visibility
  • No tuning knobs
  • No accountability

In dense RF environments, this matters more than most people realize.

5. Performance Is More Than Speed Tests

ISP routers are optimized for:

  • Passing basic throughput benchmarks
  • Supporting a small number of devices
  • Minimizing support calls

They are not optimized for:

  • High client density
  • Concurrent connections
  • Low-latency workloads
  • VLAN-heavy routing
  • VPN usage
  • RF efficiency

A speed test can look perfect while the network behaves poorly under real load.

6. Firewalling Without Intent

ISP firewalls typically expose security as:

  • “Enable firewall”
  • “High / Medium / Low”
  • Basic port forwarding

What’s missing:

  • Directional trust models
  • Per-network rules
  • Zone-based policies
  • Meaningful logging

Security becomes a checkbox, not an architecture.

7. Observability Is Non-Negotiable

When something misbehaves on the network, I want to know:

  • Which device
  • Talking to where
  • Over which protocol
  • From which network
  • At what volume

Most ISP routers simply don’t provide this level of insight — and some actively obscure it.

If I can’t observe traffic, I can’t reason about risk.

What I Use Instead

Instead of ISP-provided equipment, I use:

  • A standalone modem or ONT
  • A dedicated router with:
    • VLAN support
    • Zone-based firewalling
    • VPN capabilities
    • Traffic visibility
    • Controlled telemetry
  • Purpose-built access points

The ISP provides connectivity only.

Everything beyond that demarcation point is infrastructure I control.

Security, Privacy, and Performance Are Linked

This isn’t about distrusting ISPs or assuming malicious intent.

It’s about acknowledging that:

  • ISPs optimize for scale and supportability
  • I optimize for clarity and control

When you eliminate opaque systems:

  • Security improves
  • Performance becomes predictable
  • Troubleshooting becomes rational
  • Privacy stops being an afterthought

Final Thoughts

ISP-provided routers are convenient — and that convenience comes at a cost.

They:

  • Export metadata you didn’t choose to share
  • Broadcast networks you didn’t ask for
  • Consume RF resources you can’t measure
  • Abstract away decisions you should understand

For anyone who treats their home network as real infrastructure, replacing ISP gear isn’t just an upgrade.

It’s reclaiming ownership.