My Internet comes through fiber optic cable and I do not have/use a modem. My NightHawk A1900 was doing a fantastic job, but we have a large house and I wanted better coverage and decided to try the Orbi mesh system. Orbi + Sat & Outdoor Sat.I plugged the ethernet cable into the Orbi router and I thought everything was going to be OK because the satellites were found and the Orbi app let me continue with setting up my SSID and password. On the Orbi app it shows the Internet is off-line and I do not understand why. All the troubleshooting points towards the battery back up inside the modem, but I do not have/use a modem. I even went outside and disconnected/reconnected the batt backup for my tele/int and nothing changed 😩PLEASE HELP!!!

Yes, this is what mystifies me. There has to be "something" that converts from fiber to ethernet, and that "something" requires electrical power. Tracing things can be a chore. I know when they ran fiber to my son's house, the "fiber box" was on the side of the house toward the rear. Since his electronics were at the front, the installer went through the crawl space all the way to the front, drilled a hole, and brought the fiber up through the floor where it goes into the fiber modem. (Is that the right term, "fiber modem"?) It might help to know the name of the ISP. Maybe we can find reference on the internet of what devices they install?

Sometimes the "fiber nternet box" has learned the ethernet MAC address of the router and it waiting for it to reappear. Did you (a) turn off both the Orbi and fiber box, (b) turn the fiber box back on, and finally (c) turn the Orbi on?

Thank you for responding!We have a backup battery box outside, a cat 5 port in the wall and a Comtrend ES-7208 switch and router. I wish I could say that there was a fiber internet box or modem, but there just isn’t.I called my ISP to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and they confirmed all should be well!Many hours ago, I disconnected the backup batt and waited for 30 sec and reconnected it.I unplugged the switch and waited and reconnected.I was on a support call with netgear and did all of that again along with using a paper clip to reset the Orbi.I just plugged my nighthawk back up and it’s working fine.This is so frustrating!! I’m thinking of taking the Orbi to my parents’ house to try on their network. The only prob is that it’s the same ISP as mine and same equip.This Orbi system should b plug and play??I appreciate any other ideas you’ve got...😐

PER NETGEAR SUPPORT...You must have a modem in order to use the Orbi Router!I had to plug the Orbi into my Nighthawk router to use it as a modem!I can not believe this is the way it has to be, but I only hope that the network speed is better throughout my home...which is why I bought Orbi in the first place! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

It would help if you can find the model number of the nighthawk.AC1900 is a speed number, not a model number. For example, the Orbi RBR50 is "AC3000" because when they add up the maximum transmission speed of all the radios it sums to 3,000.

Orbi RBR50 plus Sat’s...I don’t have a Modem Please Help Setup

19 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Sep 23, 2019
Sometimes the "fiber nternet box" has learned the ethernet MAC address of the router and it waiting for it to reappear. Did you (a) turn off both the Orbi and fiber box, (b) turn the fiber box back on, and finally (c) turn the Orbi on?
- FrognJeep
  Aspirant
  Sep 23, 2019
  Thank you for responding!
  We have a backup battery box outside, a cat 5 port in the wall and a Comtrend ES-7208 switch and router. I wish I could say that there was a fiber internet box or modem, but there just isn’t.
  I called my ISP to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and they confirmed all should be well!
  Many hours ago, I disconnected the backup batt and waited for 30 sec and reconnected it.
  I unplugged the switch and waited and reconnected.
  I was on a support call with netgear and did all of that again along with using a paper clip to reset the Orbi.
  I just plugged my nighthawk back up and it’s working fine.
  This is so frustrating!! I’m thinking of taking the Orbi to my parents’ house to try on their network. The only prob is that it’s the same ISP as mine and same equip.
  This Orbi system should b plug and play??
  I appreciate any other ideas you’ve got...😐
  - FrognJeep
    Aspirant
    Sep 23, 2019
    PER NETGEAR SUPPORT...
    You must have a modem in order to use the Orbi Router!
    I had to plug the Orbi into my Nighthawk router to use it as a modem!
    I can not believe this is the way it has to be, but I only hope that the network speed is better throughout my home...which is why I bought Orbi in the first place! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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Orbi RBR50 plus Sat’s...I don’t have a Modem Please Help Setup