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Forum Discussion
RBR50 with AT&T Arris BGW210-700 - setup
I would be forever grateful if someone would please give me explicit instructions for setting up my Orbi (RBR50) with my new AT&T fiber router (Arris BGW-210-700) I have been all over trying to find ...
Thank you so much for that explanation - now it makes perfect sense and I understand why I am having issues with the WiFi. To answer your questions:
1. The AT&T service is also providing telephone service.
2. The Arris is connected to a fiber ONT
3. The only thing I have physically connected to the Arris is the Orbi modem but there are other devices that are connecting to the AT&T network and not the Orbi network. I'm not sure if your question was do I have anything physically connected. I have seen a screen showing devices that are connected and most are connecting to the Arris. I think this is what you explained with the double NAT - there are two networks.
Would it be true that if a device is connecting to the Arris, the signal wouldn't be as strong as if it is connecting to the Orbi - (which is why I have the Orbi)? I have two satellites yet since this new setup (AT&T fiber/Arris), I am getting slow internet in some parts of our house. So, turning off the WiFi on the Arris should help this and is easy but turning the Arris into simply a modem is the complicated part. I have been having issues with finding my printer.
I have a question about "Connecting devices to both the Arris and the Orbi can also cause weird issues, like not being able to "find" a printer or a network storage device. (That's another reason people try to get rid of "Double-NAT")." I don't understand this. I guess I don't understand how devices connect to a network. Is it true that those devices connected physically to the Orbi satellites like my garage door opener, Phillips Hue, and Solar, are connected to the Orbi network. Those devices like the Ring Doorbell and cameras that are looking for a network wirelessly, I can choose the network they connect to. Are they actually connecting to both networks somehow? Can I tell those devices that are connecting to the Arris network to forget that network and reconnect them to the Orbi which is giving me better range, turn off the WiFi on the Arris, and this may solve the problem?
Is all of this still secure?
I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try to figure out how to turn the Arris into a simple modem on my own and calling AT&T is a pretty awful experience. So, I guess a good question is: Can I have the Arris network just exist and tell all my devices to connect to the Orbi network, turn off the Arris WiFi, and this will solve the problem?
Thank you for your patience and help!
Laineybirdy wrote:1. The AT&T service is also providing telephone service.
2. The Arris is connected to a fiber ONT
3. The only thing I have physically connected to the Arris is the Orbi modem but there are other devices that are connecting to the AT&T network and not the Orbi network. I'm not sure if your question was do I have anything physically connected. I have seen a screen showing devices that are connected and most are connecting to the Arris. I think this is what you explained with the double NAT - there are two networks.
Using the Arris for telephone means it has to stay.
No devices physically wired to the Arris (everything on WiFi) means that "Double-NAT" issues are less likely. (However, if in the future you decide to implement VPN into the Orbi or have problems with internet gaming, it will be time to revisit the issue.)
So, to start with, I would define the Orbi with the same WiFi credentials as the Arris and turn off WiFi on the Arris. Everything connects to the Orbi, which connects to the Arris. My Orbi worked this way for over a year, and I suspect thousands of other Orbi's around the world do today.
One "benefit" of this arrangement is that should you have a problem with the Orbi, you can simply remove it, turn the WiFi back on the Arris, and everything will connect to it.
As far as WiFi coverage, WiFi radio power is defined by the FCC. One single Orbi WiFi router will have about the same coverage as one Arris WiFi router. That's why Orbi has satellites: to extend the coverage.
Thank you! Another question, You say to define the Orbi with the same WiFi credentials as the Arris. Do you mean to give it the same name (SSID) and password as the one I have for the Arris? I have reset my Orbi and gone back through the process of re-setting it up. I gave it the same name and password as the Arris but it is not connecting. I'm thinking maybe I didn't understand what you meant about "define the Orbi with the same WiFi credentials as the Arris."
Yes you can setup the Orbi for the same SSID name and PW. Just be sure you disable ALL wifi radios on the Arris modem.
Laineybirdy wrote:I gave it the same name and password as the Arris but it is not connecting. I'm thinking maybe I didn't understand what you meant about "define the Orbi with the same WiFi credentials as the Arris."
My point was that it is tedious to go around to every device in the house and change the WiFi connection. So, giving the Orbi the same WiFi means that when the Arris WiFi is turned off, every device will look around and find the Orbi with the same credentials. Less work for you.
Ok - I think I finally have it configured as you suggested and it seems to be working.
* I had to wait to turn off the WiFi radios on the Arris until I went through the process with the Orbi to set it up. Once it went through the setup and told me it couldn't find the network, I then turned off the two WiFi radios on the Arris and it worked.
Thank you both for all of your help - I truly appreciate it. I am exhausted!! :)
