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Forum Discussion
Orbi RBK53 and Comcast XB3 Set-Up -- It's Finally Working but is It Correct?
Yesterday I replaced my aging Apple Airport Base Station (and Time Capsule) with an Orbi RBK53 (router and two satellites) from Costco. My ISP is Comcast via an XB3. Powering up and placing the Orbis went as expected with both satellites glowing “blue.” However, the rest of the install was challenging. After failing to get Wi-Fi Internet access to the Orbi system, I followed on-line advice and enabled the XB3’s Bridge Mode. Once enabled, I could not access the Internet EVEN when cabling the XB3 from it’s Port No. 1 directly to an iMac. Nothing I tried would restore Internet access so I backtracked and disabled Bridge Mode on the XB3. After a reboot of the XB3, Internet access was restored via direct cabling. And, after many trips back and forth between my hard-wired iMac and the XB3, suddenly — and magically — the Orbi system began working as well. I successfully was accessing the Internet both via hard wire and wi-fi. Happily, compared to my old Airport system, wi-fi access seems much faster throughout the house. So, I have two questions:
1. All seems to be functioning well with the XB3 Bridge Mode disabled AND its Wi-Fi feature still enabled, along with the Orbi. Given yesterday’s ordeal, I am reticent to screw around with a system that seems to be working despite not precisely as various on-line posters have recommended. (For example, I’ve not tried AP (Access Point) as many on-line suggest.) In Network Preferences, both the Orbi AND the XB3 show up and seem to be living in harmony. Should I quit while I’m ahead?
(By the way, I cable from the XB3's Port 1 to a Netgear “Prosafe 16 Port Gigabit Switch GS116 which feeds various Ethernet ports around the house. All ports currently are working. I mention this, though, in case that switch somehow contributed to my set-up problems as previously described.)
2. While Wi-Fi via the Orbi seems stronger throughout the house, I’d like to re-check that the satellites are optimally placed. Is this simply a matter of going to each one, unplugging it, replugging and watching the colored light on top? There doesn’t seem to be any other way of determining signal strength via my Orbi iPhone X app.
24 Replies
After you set bridge mode on the ISP modem, did you factory reset the Orbi router and walk thru the set up wizard and let it get the router connected to the ISP modem in bridge mode?
You can keep the modem in router mode and use the Orbi router in router mode, however you should use the modems DMZ for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the ISP modem.
Checking your switch, it maybe a managed switch, you'll need to confirm this with NG support. If it is, please check for IGMP protocols and disable this. One user mentioned that he disabled this on his managed switch and the Orbi system started working correctly on his managed switch.
I have a 5000sq ft home two story and main router is at one end of the house upstairs and the 1 satellite is placed at the opposite end about 40ft in between. Great coverage, range and performance. Beginning range should be 30feet in between to begin with between router and satellite(s).
Furry -- Thanks very much for the reply! No, I did not reset the Orbi nor did I use the set-up wizard. I don't recall seeing either of these suggestions in the many on-line posts addressing similar set-up problems. The term "modem DMZ" is brand new to me so I'll need to sort that out how to do that. (The Netgear GS116 is an "unmanaged" switch and always has been passively trouble-free.) Whew! As I've often said over the years, the most challening aspect (to me) of home computing always has been the care and feeding of wi-fi networking. My series of Apple Airports and Expresses were reasonably well behaved but even they were naughty from time-to-time. I always was able to get them all singing on the same page but sometime it wasn't easy. Networking, to me, is a lot like black magic. It works, then it doesn't, then mysteriously, it works again. Plus, I figure the variety of modems in the marketplace complicates things for gear like the Orbi. Do you have an opinon on my second question:, i.e. Am I safe to power down, then power up each of the two satellites and watch the color bands for "blue" to make sure they're effectively positioned? As mentioned earlier, before encountering my Internet woes, both registered "blue" where I put them early during the install. Probably a dumb questions but I'd hate to experiment only to find that I have to go though the whole set-up process again. Believe me, yesterday was no fun and I'd like to avoid getting into the weed again. My spouse does not appreciate interruptions to her Internet service. Period.
Ok, well you'll be fine. The reason for mentioning DMZ is that when you have two routers on the same line and network, the 1st one is already doing router mangagement and translation of traffic. Putting another router behind the 1st one can cause additional problems as it's also try to do routing and translation of traffic on a private WAN address when it's actually now getting a Private LAN address. So in this configuration, we call this a double NAT condition. Using a DMZ on the 1st router for the 2nd router helps in this case.
Ya, I know, I try to do router and networking maintenance during late evening or night time when others have gone to bed.
Networking maybe black magic to you, however it's and exact science though. You learn by doing as well.
Get brave again, try bridging the modem then walk thru the set up wizard on the Orbi router. It should work to get the router connected with a bridged modem.
Enjoy. :smileywink:
Like a bad penny, I'm back BUT last question - I promise. I've put my Orbin into "AP" Mode and wi-fi is working swiftly. However, both "Comcast" and the "Orbi" show up in the list of available wi-fi options and it doesn't seem to matter which I choose. Both work. Nowhere in the Netgear instruction on how to enable AP mode is this addressed. Does it matter which I choose?
Turn off the Comcast wifi.
