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ketcdm's avatar
ketcdm
Aspirant
Jul 21, 2021

RBR20 Router Connection

My ISP Gateway (ARRIS/ATT WIFI Gateway BGW201-700) is located in the back of the house where the fiber optic comes in to our single story 2000sf home ... but we have plaster walls and double-paned wi...
ketcdm's avatar
ketcdm
Aspirant
Jul 21, 2021

Thank you for your detailed response.  Yes, you have my situation and question stated correctly with the desired outcome of stronger whole-house wifi because of less wall interference between ORBI router and its Satellite. 

 

And yes I do want to avoid ending up with an ORBI wifi network name that is different from my Gateway network name. I have wired and wifi devices currently running off the ISP Gateway so if my ORBI wifi network is different then I would not be able to connect to those devices (like printers & network storage) when on ORBI wifi. 

 

So, that leads me to this setup question:  Passthrough or Access Point or ???

I was planning to use Passthrough mode on the ISP Gateway and then renaming the ORBI SSID to match the wired network name.  Is that the same as setting up an Access Point or is Passthrough different?  If different, do you have a recommended option?

 

 

CrimpOn's avatar
CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Jul 21, 2021
ketcdm wrote:

And yes I do want to avoid ending up with an ORBI wifi network name that is different from my Gateway network name. I have wired and wifi devices currently running off the ISP Gateway so if my ORBI wifi network is different then I would not be able to connect to those devices (like printers & network storage) when on ORBI wifi. 

 

So, that leads me to this setup question:  Passthrough or Access Point or ???

I was planning to use Passthrough mode on the ISP Gateway and then renaming the ORBI SSID to match the wired network name.  Is that the same as setting up an Access Point or is Passthrough different?  If different, do you have a recommended option?

Most people prefer to have only one set of WiFi radios in the house (to reduce interference), so the most common practice is to:

  • Disable the ISP Gateway WiFi
  • Use the ISP Gateway WiFi name (SSID) on the Orbi
  • This way, all WiFi devices will automatically connect to the Orbi (existing and new WiFi devices)

Passthrough vs. Access Point depends on how wired devices are connected.  Everything has to connect to the first router. If any devices are wired directly to the ISP Gateway, then it must remain the router and the Orbi should be an access point.

 

On the other hand, if the only thing actually wired directly to the ISP Gateway is that switch, then the Orbi can go between the Gateway and switch which results in everything being connected to the Orbi.  Gateway can be passthrough and Orbi router. i.e.

Gateway-->cable-->Orbi-->cable-->switch--devices.

 

To a large degree this depends on which router you prefer to mange. Does the ISP Gateway or the Orbi have features that you can about that the other does not?

  • ketcdm's avatar
    ketcdm
    Aspirant
    Jul 22, 2021

    Thank you CrimpOn ... great comments and details.  It seems either the Access Point or Passthrough options would work, but not sure which gives me best success for top priority … improving WiFI signal in front of house.

     

    Here’s the room/equipment layout:

    Living/Dining/Kitchen/Garage (front of house): weak or no signal when using an ISP WIFI extender which is what drove me to try Orbi mesh

    1. I use internet, including video meetings, and access network printers/storage when on PC in these rooms
    2. Garage has several smart devices which need WIFI to function

    Office (Back of house)

    1. Fiber optic enters house here and is location of ISP Gateway which has several wired office devices connected plus SwitchOffice with additional office devices wired to it plus cable to a switch located in TV room for its equipment

    TV Room (one room closer to front of house)

    1. SwitchTV has TV devices wired to it (TV, Satellite, Receiver, BD Player and SwitchOffice)
    2. SwitchTV is cabled from SwitchOffice by running cable under office door and around TV room to get to the TV equipment

    If I installed the RB20 in the TV room to take advantage of being closer to the front of house, the RB20 would connect to the network through SwitchTV as an Access Point?   Gateway =>cable =>Office devices + SwitchOffice (more office devices + SwitchTV)

     

    If I installed the RB20 in the Office because the features/functions of the Gateway may be more robust than the RB20, the RB20 would connect to network through the Gateway as a Passthrough? Gateway => RB20 => SwitchOffice (all office devices+SwitchTV)

     

    It appears I know enough to ask questions, but not enough to know which option is best for improving signal to front of house.

     

    Thanks again for your advice.