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Forum Discussion
rolkergiv
Sep 26, 2025Aspirant
Nighthawk M5 Ethernet port / data offloading
There's so little documentation about this that I don't can't figure out the best way to phrase my question. If you plug the M5 / MR5200 into a wired switch with it's own Internet access, will t...
rolkergiv
Sep 27, 2025Aspirant
Then what does the Offload Data function actually do?
StephenB
Sep 27, 2025Guru - Experienced User
rolkergiv wrote:Then what does the Offload Data function actually do?
Thx for following up, your "access point" vocabulary confused me some.
Per the manual:
- https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/MR5100/MR5100_MR5200_UM_EN.pdf
The mobile router can use a wired Internet connection with automatic failover support
so that you can connect the mobile router to an existing DSL, cable, or fiber-optic
modem. If the wired Internet connection goes down, the mobile router can automatically
and seamlessly switch overto the backup Internet connection overthe mobile broadband
network for continuous connectivity.
Always-on WiFi will route all traffic over the Ethernet WAN. If the Ethernet connection
fails, the device automatically switches to LTE
Note that a modem (not a switch or router) is being connected to the M5. The M5 is always acting as the router - the route it uses for internet traffic is what is changing. This is not quite the same as an AP (which performs no routing functions).
I don't know exactly what would happen if you connected the LAN port to another router that had its own set of clients (either directly or via a switch). But I doubt it would work properly.