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Forum Discussion
BadgerDog
Dec 21, 2019Aspirant
Replacing Home Apple Extreme Router Network with RBK50 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi
I currently have a hardwired Cat 6 LAN and an Apple Network Extreme router located in our below ground level basement and connected to my Bell Canada DSL Internet Modem. The Apple router connects in...
FURRYe38
Dec 21, 2019Guru - Experienced User
Keep the current network running and disable the wifi on Apples router. Then configure the Orbi for AP mode. Connect it to the network as being your upgraded WiFi system. Keeping the apple router network as your main router for the system would be easiest solution.
You can use the same SSID and PW on the Orbi system as what your currently using.
- BadgerDogDec 23, 2019Aspirant
Followed your suggestion and set up the main Orbi as an AP plugged into Apple Extreme Router via a LAN port on both ends. I turned OFF all other wi-fi on the Apple Router and also the Bell Canada DSL 5 megabit modem.
Setup satellite Orbi on a different floor and it connected fine to main Orbi via 5Gz special backhaul link.
On the Orbi app, the network map shows main and satellite on-line and a green dot. There no top ring lights showing on the Orbi satellite unit itself, but there's a constant mauve (or purple?) light illuminating the top ring on the main Orbi downstairs? Perhaps the result of an AP setup as opposed to being plughged into the DSL modem?
The Orbi wi-fi network is operating fine and I'm able to use it from other devices and check its status both on the Orbi iPhone app and also from a Safari browser.
I decided to make the backhaul an Ethernet hard-wired LAN connection, so I plugged a LAN cable which leads back to the centralLInksys switch, into a spare connection on the back of the satellite Orbi.
I rebooted everything and now the satellite Orbi still has no light on the top ring, but on the iPhone Orbi network map it has a constant mauve (or purple?) dot instead of a green one, as it used to have when connected via the Orbi via 5Gz special backhaul link? It also shows as off-line on in the app when clicking on it. There's still a constant mauve (or purple?) light illuminating the top ring on the main Orbi downstairs and that status never changed.
I disconnected the satellite Orbi from the LAN cable and went back to the Orbi via 5Gz special backhaul link and everything started working fine again.
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I followed the Netgear instructions for an Ethernet-based backhaul connected to a LAN switch. Any ideas on how to get the AP working with this Ethernet configuration.
Thanks for your previous help.
- BadgerDogDec 29, 2019Aspirant
Anyone else able to help?
Thanks.....
- SW_Dec 29, 2019Prodigy
Given wireless backhaul is working, there could be a conflict between WAN/LAN ports on Apple/Orbi. You need to connect Orbi's yellow WAN port to Apple router LAN port, then connect a 2nd LAN cable from Orbi's LAN port to antoher LAN switch, which the Satellites are connected to. If this result in a loop between LAN/WAN, Orbi will not be happy.
If it were me, I would simplify the network topology, rip out all the Apple routers and replace them with Orbi/Satellite. This will break the WAN/LAN loop. Hope this make senses!