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ironghat's avatar
ironghat
Aspirant
Apr 01, 2020

Unable to swap ISP companies

I have been using the RBR50 + Frontier (Verizon) FIOS for the past year or so without any issues. My entire house (TV, Security, Home Automation etc.) runs and absolutely requires the Internet to function, so I decided to get a second line from Spectrum as a backup.

 

I have verified that my Spectrum line works - if I plug the ethernet cable from the Spectrum modem directly to my laptop, I have Internet on my laptop (WiFi is off and verified my public IP is my Spectrum IP).

 

However, if I plug the same ethernet cable to RBR50 (i.e. swap the ethernet cable on the RBR50 from Frontier to Spectrum), the RBR50 is unable to obtain IP address and Internet does not work (solid pink ring on the RBR50). The process I tried was:

  1. Power off the RBR50
  2. Swap ethernet cables
  3. Power on the RBR50

If I follow the same process above and swap back to Frontier, it works.

 

Seems like the RBR50 is "bound" to Frontier - is there a setting I should be changing when I swap providers?

5 Replies

  • Factory reset and setup from scratch... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMw4ePACgc4
    https://www.howtogeek.com/434350/how-to-factory-reset-a-router/

     

    Power OFF the ISP modem for 30 seconds the back ON when you reset the RBR. 

    Walk thru the setup wizard with a wired PC connected to the back of the RBR with a web browser connected to 192.168.1.1 or orbilogin.com

     

    What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem/ONT the NG router is connected too? Built in router here by chance? If so, This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
    https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NAT
    Couple of options,
    1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only 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/ExposedHost 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

    • ironghat's avatar
      ironghat
      Aspirant

      Thanks for the detailed reply - I don't want to do a factory reset as many of my Home Automation devices have been assigned a static IP address in the Orbi for scripts, and although I can defnitely set that up again, it's a pain and I would rather avoid it.

       

      My devices:

      FRONTIER: Junction Box outside home brings in the Internet through an ethernet port in the wall. When the Frontier technician did the setup, he connected a Frontier FIOS Gateway Wireless router to the ethernet port in my wall, but after he left I simply unplugged the Gateway and plugged the ethernet cable from the wall straight to the RBR50 - that worked great.

       

      SPECTRUM: Spectrum have provided me with an Arriss modem, which is currently plugged into my laptop directly using an ethernet cable.

       

      Don't know much about networking so don't know what a double NAT condition is :smileysad:

       

      For now I will try:

      1. Power Spectrum modem OFF
      2. Power Orbi OFF
      3. Connect cable from Spectrum modem to Orbi
      4. Power Spectrum modem ON
      5. Wait a minute or so
      6. Power Orbi ON

      I'll have to do this in the evening once kids go to sleep - will update with results.

      • FURRYe38's avatar
        FURRYe38
        Guru

        Try that and see. If that fails, then something with the RBR is hanging on to the last ISP configuration. Only way to get ride of that is to factory reset the RBR. Hopefully you won't. 

         

        What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?