NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Ethernet Backhaul Best Practices
Two questions/clarifications
(1) RBR50 is in AP mode. The RBR50 is connected to the ISP router using the RBR50's yellow WAN port. Going to try ethernet backhaul but wanted to do my homework first. The on-line documentation says the RBR50 (in AP mode) should be connected to the ISP router via the LAN port NOT the yellow WAN port. I set-up Orbi using the WAN port and when I switched the RBR50 to AP mode I left the ethernet in the WAN port. Why does Orbi still work with the connection via the WAN port even though I should have moved the cable over to the LAN port on the RBR50?
(2) There is also a 1000 Mbps 16 port Netgear switch that is connected to the same ISP router that the RBR50 is also plugged into. Is the best ethernet backhaul performance (speed and/or reliablity) to connect (via ethernet) my two RBS50 satellites directly to the RBR50 or to the 16 port Netgear Switch? Is one method measurably superior to the other?
- A large switch with other devices is fine. I would just try the different combinations until you are happy. I concluded it was working fine only when the satellite showed up in the satellites list and said it was using a wired connection, even after a reboot.
22 Replies
Does the Ethernet Backhaul was with any switch or only specific switches? The image of the 2 satellites and 1 router connected to the switch looks like it is a Netgear 5-port switch? If unmanaged vs managed switches are the issue, I think the documentation should mention that also. I would not imagine that many consumers have managed switches in their home, so I'm curious what Netgear has found so far regarding the issues with using Ethernet Backhaul. Does anyone know if t Netgear Support is collect stats on the switches users have between the main router and satellite(s)?
http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK50/Orbi_UM_EN.pdf
pg 90 of the current user guide says the following:
"To set up the Orbi router as an AP after you set up your Internet connection:
Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Internet port of this router to a LAN port on your
existing router or gateway."
Now I'm even more confused. AP with ethernet WAN or LAN?
- It is poorly worded but they mean WAN port for AP mode. See the diagram from the first link I posted as that shows the WAN port connected.
Please provide a link to where it says to use the LAN point. The documentation I can find says use the WAN port (also look at the picture). See here: https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point
As it happens, the documentation is wrong anyway, especially when using ethernet backhaul. If you don't connect via the LAN point, it appears to work BUT is not communicating with the satellite properly. The satellite will be missing from the top of the devices list or say disconnected.
I have similar setup, with Orbi in AP mode and connected to ISP router via WAN port, and a switch connected to the ISP router and Orbi Satellite to the switch for backhaul is this setup incorrect?
- I and others found it will not communicate with the satellite when using Ethernet backhaul when connected like that. Do you see the satellite listed in the satellite section on the devices webpage?
