Which is better?I’m currently using router mode. Will AP mode still allow me to use the LAN ports on the satellites to connect my PCs and consoles? I’ve tried AP mode before but the ports stopped working. I was wondering if I just did something wrong. My satellites are connected through wireless backhaul. Orbi is on .210 firmware. I have two RBS50 in .210 as well. I have an Arris Gateway from my ISP, and had to do a little work around to have it bridged (but I also had to turned off a security feature to get it to work and I want to turn back on). I don’t really have issues except a lot of buffering on YouTube on my iOS devices and sometimes lag/rubber banding during fast pace FPS games on console when there’s too many devices using up bandwidth or two consoles are online. Speeds are about 130 down/10 up. No issues with disconnects, just the lag is bothering me. Would I benefit from AP mode and have my Gateway do all the routing again? And like stated above, can I still use the ports on the satellites to connect my PCs & consoles? If yes, how do I do that?

Which is better? Hard to tell. It depends on the circumstances and what you want to do with the thing. For example, this may be important to you: Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR Support You certainly need a router on your network. You don't; say what the Arris Gateway is. I assume that it is a modem/router. If that is your router, the the Orbi is best put in AP mode. You refer to a "security feature". That could mean anything. Is it something that the Orbi also provides? Is it real? Or one of those sales pitches that hardware makers put on their boxes? The simplest way to check if AP mode would do anything about "lags" would be to conduct your own experiment.

The Arris Gateway is a modem/router I just can’t remember off the top of my head the model# and it does all the things that the Orbi does, and more. I can actually set which devices are take priority (low, med, high) like in normal NG routers. As for the security feature, the gateway was provided by my ISP, they didn’t go over anything about the gateway. Just installed it and that was it. I’m thinking somewhere in the lines of ddos protection or firewall that I turned off. Just I’d have to log back in just to check. I really want to just put Orbi to AP mode, but last I tried I couldn’t use the lan ports on the back of the satellites. Is that one of the things I lose putting it in AP mode?

dangitzin wrote:I really want to just put Orbi to AP mode, but last I tried I couldn’t use the lan ports on the back of the satellites. Is that one of the things I lose putting it in AP mode? No. I have an Orbi on AP mode. The LAN ports work just fine. I’m thinking somewhere in the lines of ddos protection or firewall that I turned off. Sound like the same as you get on the Orbi.

Modem Combo Units:This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. Couple of options,1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop

I’ve already configured my gateway to run bridge because I was getting double NAT. Thanks, but this wasn’t even near what I was asking.

Router vs AP mode | NETGEAR Communities

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michaelkenward
Guru
Apr 03, 2019
Which is better?

Hard to tell. It depends on the circumstances and what you want to do with the thing. For example, this may be important to you:

Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR Support

You certainly need a router on your network.

You don't; say what the Arris Gateway is. I assume that it is a modem/router. If that is your router, the the Orbi is best put in AP mode.

You refer to a "security feature". That could mean anything. Is it something that the Orbi also provides? Is it real? Or one of those sales pitches that hardware makers put on their boxes?

The simplest way to check if AP mode would do anything about "lags" would be to conduct your own experiment.
- dangitzin
  Aspirant
  Apr 03, 2019
  The Arris Gateway is a modem/router I just can’t remember off the top of my head the model# and it does all the things that the Orbi does, and more. I can actually set which devices are take priority (low, med, high) like in normal NG routers.
  
  As for the security feature, the gateway was provided by my ISP, they didn’t go over anything about the gateway. Just installed it and that was it. I’m thinking somewhere in the lines of ddos protection or firewall that I turned off. Just I’d have to log back in just to check.
  
  I really want to just put Orbi to AP mode, but last I tried I couldn’t use the lan ports on the back of the satellites. Is that one of the things I lose putting it in AP mode?
  - michaelkenward
    Guru
    Apr 03, 2019
    dangitzin wrote:
    
    I really want to just put Orbi to AP mode, but last I tried I couldn’t use the lan ports on the back of the satellites. Is that one of the things I lose putting it in AP mode?
    
    No. I have an Orbi on AP mode. The LAN ports work just fine.
    
    I’m thinking somewhere in the lines of ddos protection or firewall that I turned off.
    
    Sound like the same as you get on the Orbi.
FURRYe38
Guru
Apr 03, 2019
Modem Combo Units:
This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop
- dangitzin
  Aspirant
  Apr 03, 2019
  I’ve already configured my gateway to run bridge because I was getting double NAT.
  
  Thanks, but this wasn’t even near what I was asking.
  - michaelkenward
    Guru
    Apr 03, 2019
    dangitzin wrote:
    
    Thanks, but this wasn’t even near what I was asking.
    
    I confess that it was not clear to me exactly what you were asking.
    
    My advice was to "suck it and see" and not get too carried away with details.
    
    Have you tried that yet?
randomousity
Luminary
Apr 03, 2019
I don't think there's a single answer here; it really depends on your preferences. You need a router on your network, and, ideally, any other routing-capable devices running in AP/bridge mode. So, if you think the ISP-provided modem/router has better features, use that as the router, and put the Orbi in AP mode. As others have said, if you want to use the Armor or Circle features on the Orbi, that requires using the Orbi in router mode, and the modem/router in bridge mode. Same if you want to be able to use the Orbi app for management.

The LAN ports on the Orbi router and satellite should work regardless, in both router and AP mode. There used to be an issue with the satellite attempting to establish a backhaul connection over ethernet when it powers on if there were any devices plugged into a satllite LAN port. I think that's been resolved, but I'm not sure. if you want to use the Orbi in AP mode, you could always try putting it in AP mode, and disconnect all the ethernet cables from the LAN ports until the router and satellite are fully booted up and synced. Then, once they're stable, connect any wired devices you want. You could also update to the latest firmware (2.3.1.44) and see if that resolves the LAN-ports-not-working-in-AP-mode issue you previously experienced.

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Router vs AP mode