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Ap mode or router orbi rbk50
So I unboxed the system plugged it into my wired network and set it up. Software updated to the latest version. As far as I can tell everything works fine. After viewing this forum I find out the la...
I have an extensive ethernet network using my Comcast Arris TG1682G Gateway but wifi sucks. I bought the RBK50 to replace my wifi. I read where I need to disable wifi in the gateway and also put in bridge mode, but I'm not clear whether I should put the RBK50 in AP mode or not.
If the Arris takes a public IP on the WAN interface and is acting as your router, serving up LAN IP addresses via DHCP, then you should set Orbi into AP mode. This is usually the simplest to setup.
If you already have an extensive Ethernet network that's working, you can leave all existing equipment as it is (except you should disable WiFi on the Arris), and just plug Orbi into the LAN somewhere, and set it up for AP mode.
Thanks for the comments. Following are some additional questions:
1. Assuming that a Comcast gateway (modem/router combination) is set up as you described in the first paragraph, I would assume the gateway should not be in bridge mode. Is that correct?
2. Also, does IP passthrough have anything to do with operating in AP mode? If so, how is that done?
3. My understanding is that setting the gateway to non-bridge mode can be accomplished by connecting a laptop directly to the gateway. Is that correct, or would I have to contact Comcast support? I'm thinking that Comcast would have to reset the system, but I'm so confused at this point, that I have no idea.
1. It depends on what other equipment you have. If you have antoher router on your network, the Arris could be in bridged mode. If the Arris is the only box, then it cannot be in bridge mode.
2. IP passthrough is sometimes used when a real bridged mode is not available. This will pass the WAN IP through to a secondary router.
3. Usually the end-user can switch between modes by connecting a laptop. This can be confusing unless you've done it before because the modem might appear to stop responding. Sometimes bridged mode is disabled and requires a call to your ISP to enable.
Also keep in mind that if you have extensive wiring in place now, and you setup the Arris in bridged mode, you will need to move all your wiring to terminate on the Orbi router ports, not in the Arris ports.
My suggestion was this: Forget about bridge mode. Set everything back to how you had it before Orbi, plug Orbi into the LAN, configure Orbi for AP mode, turn off Arris WiFi, and you are done. You don't need to change any wiring either. All you need to do is wire the Yellow Internet port on Orbi to some point on your existing LAN. Much easier.
st_shaw wrote:1. It depends on what other equipment you have. If you have antoher router on your network, the Arris could be in bridged mode. If the Arris is the only box, then it cannot be in bridge mode.
2. IP passthrough is sometimes used when a real bridged mode is not available. This will pass the WAN IP through to a secondary router.
3. Usually the end-user can switch between modes by connecting a laptop. This can be confusing unless you've done it before because the modem might appear to stop responding. Sometimes bridged mode is disabled and requires a call to your ISP to enable.
Also keep in mind that if you have extensive wiring in place now, and you setup the Arris in bridged mode, you will need to move all your wiring to terminate on the Orbi router ports, not in the Arris ports.
My suggestion was this: Forget about bridge mode. Set everything back to how you had it before Orbi, plug Orbi into the LAN, configure Orbi for AP mode, turn off Arris WiFi, and you are done. You don't need to change any wiring either. All you need to do is wire the Yellow Internet port on Orbi to some point on your existing LAN. Much easier.
Hmm. I like that. Do I still use the Orbi Ethernet port for my connection to my Arris?
After some thought, I am going to bridge the Arris and follow the instructions and make an ethernet connection from Port 1 on the Arris to the Ethernet port on the RBK50. Then I will connect my 8-port gigabit switch to an RBK50 Lan port.
My understanding is that with this setup, the Orbi becomes my router, replacing the Arris. Hopefully, the Arris will continue to support Xfinity Voice and Xfinity Home, which the Orbi can't do.
Whether all this works will only be known when I try it. My wi-fi is so bad, I will do ANYTHING to make it better.
seurat0109 wrote:Thanks for the comments. Following are some additional questions:
1. Assuming that a Comcast gateway (modem/router combination) is set up as you described in the first paragraph, I would assume the gateway should not be in bridge mode. Is that correct?
2. Also, does IP passthrough have anything to do with operating in AP mode? If so, how is that done?
3. My understanding is that setting the gateway to non-bridge mode can be accomplished by connecting a laptop directly to the gateway. Is that correct, or would I have to contact Comcast support? I'm thinking that Comcast would have to reset the system, but I'm so confused at this point, that I have no idea.
Regarding bridge mode, I am able to log into my Arris and change it to Bridge Mode if I need to. No need for help from Comcast.
Robert,
Yes you can do that but you will lose the ability to reach the gateway over wifi if you put it in bridge mode. If you subsequently want to change back from bridge mode you will have to access the gateway via a hard connection or contact your ISP.
Wayne
st_shaw wrote:If the Arris takes a public IP on the WAN interface and is acting as your router, serving up LAN IP addresses via DHCP, then you should set Orbi into AP mode. This is usually the simplest to setup.
If you already have an extensive Ethernet network that's working, you can leave all existing equipment as it is (except you should disable WiFi on the Arris), and just plug Orbi into the LAN somewhere, and set it up for AP mode.
My takeaway is that I should leave my ethernet connected to my Arris, I should not use Bridge mode on the Arris, I should disable Arris wi-fi, and I should put the Orbi in AP Mode.
Is there any issue with double-nat with this configuration?