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Forum Discussion
Netgear Orbi 23 App and installation issues
Hi, I am no tech nerd, just a guy who wants faster internet. I bought the Orbi 23, but have difficulties installing the mesh system. I will try to explain my problems: 1. The Sagemcom modem/r...
Hi, thanks for replying.
1. No, the yellow (WAN) port of the Orbi is not connected to the LAN port on the modem. When I do that, I loose Internet (wifi connection). That's why I'm using the Ethernet ports.
2. I use one of the remaining three LAN ports on the modem for connecting with my house alarm.
3. I am connected to the Orbi network (by Ethernet). I am, however, uncertain whether the satellites work.
A follow up wil be greatly appreciated, CrimpOn!
The yellow (WAN) Orbi port is supposed to be connected to the modem. If more than one modem ethernet port is active, then I suspect it is not "out of router mode." Would you consider this:
- Put the modem back in its factory state. There's probably a "reset" hole on it somewhere like there is on the Orbi.
- Power off the Orbi
- Connect the Orbi yellow (WAN) port to the modem.
- Power on the Orbi
- The Orbi should come up with the same WiFi name (SSID) and password as it had before.
- There should be internet.
Thousands of Orbi customers connect the Orbi directly to their cable modem and "get on with life". It sounds like this should work for you as well.
HOWEVER, please be aware that having one "router" connected to another "router" creates what is called a "Double NAT" condition. The first router has a public IP address. All of the devices behind the router, e.g. everything connected to its four ethernet ports get a private IP address. The router does Network Address Translation (NAT) so that the devices can connect to the internet and receive responses. When the Orbi is one of those devices, the Orbi also does NAT for everything connected behind it. Everything behind the Orbi gets a different private address from the Orbi. This works fine UNTIL you want to do something like "forward a port" to a web server or something, to open a VPN so that you can access your computers when away, or some types of internet gaming. Then, having a Double NAT makes those things impossible.
I went over a year with a Double NAT and never even knew. The day I tried to create a VPN server, I came to this forum and learned why it wasn't working for me. I changed to a "plain modem" (no router, no WiFi. only a modem) and have been happy ever since.
Please give it a try.
Dear CrimpOn
I have basically followed your suggestions, starting with resetting the modem, turning on and off the Orbi, deleting and reinstalling the App. There has been a few hiccups on the way, but lo and behold: I now have high speed Internet using the correct ports.
What made the difference, I really don't know. Whether I have Double NAT issues, I don't know either. But for the moment, this works for me. Thank you so much for all your kind assistance.
Glad you got it working better.
Sounds like using the WAN port on the RBR with the modem is one problem fixed.
Sven1960 wrote:What made the difference, I really don't know. Whether I have Double NAT issues, I don't know either. But for the moment, this works for me. Thank you so much for all your kind assistance.
Oh, you definitely have a "Double NAT". My feeling is that many Orbi customers have one because they simply plugged the Orbi into their existing ISP router. Many of them did not even disable the WiFi on the ISP router. "Life is Good", until it isn't. If you read about Double NAT, there are very specific situations which simply cannot work with a Double NAT. As I said, my Orbi worked fine that way for over a year until I wanted to do something "unusual."
You are probably correct, as far as my double NAT. But for now, there is nothing unusual I want to do. At least I have disabled the wifi on the ISP router (my Sagemcom). If ever I want to do something unusual, I am aware of the double NAT challenge and can go through the rather complicated procedures of getting rid of the double NAT then. Thanks again.
Try one of the suggestions I mentioned about fixing double NAT and modems with built in routers. Will get you into a single NAT condition.
