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k3ll3yryco's avatar
k3ll3yryco
Follower
Aug 20, 2018

Use Netgear MR1100ATT

I read mixed reviews on the purpose of the physical network port on the Netgear MR1100ATT.  Can you connect the wan port from a home or wired routers and get internet access?

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1 Reply

  • JSchnee21's avatar
    JSchnee21
    Virtuoso
    Aug 22, 2018

    Hi k3ll3yryco,

     

    The Ethernet port on the MR1100 can serve two different purposes -- BUT, not simultaneously.  It can either:

     

    1) Connect one or more (through a switch) hardwired Ethernet clients to the router within the MR1100 which is in turn connected vial Cellular connection to the Internet.  In this case, the Router in the MR1100 performs the DHCP and NAT functions for clients.  This can be used simultaneously with the Wifi access point capabilities of the MR1100 as well.

     

    OR

     

    2) When the MR1100 Ethernet port is placed in Network Offloading mode, and the IP address of the MR1100 does not conflict with the network you are connecting to (if it does, you can change the management IP and DHCP range of the MR1100 -- no worries) then you can use only the Wifi access point capabilities of the MR1100 to host clients and connect them through to the offloaded network connection (whatever that is -- home, office, hotel, conference room, etc.).  Note that in this case you are double-NAT'ing and I've heard that some applications don't like this (Xbox?) though I've never experienced this myself.

     

    It is also possible to place the MR1100 in "Passthrough Mode" which in theory should turn of the MR1100's DHCP and routing functionality (turning it into a dumb Wifi access point) but I've heard that this functionality is not working right.  But I haven't tested this myself.

     

    Also note that the Ethernet port on the MR1100 likes to turn itself off to save power by default, so you need to go into the Management web page (not the phone app) and change the Ethernet standby time from "2min" to "disable".

     

    What are you trying to accomplish?  I've seen a few posters who want to use the MR1100 at home as some sort of backup for their spotty home internet.  The MR1100 is not really well suited for this application.  Additionally, the MR1100 has very poor Wifi range so it won't cover your whole house (more like one or two rooms).

     

    If you really want Cellular backup for your home internet, there are other better options.  Honestly, given unlimited data plans these days, I don't really see the use case for offloading at all.  Many folks use the MR1100 as their only source of internet at home, and then they use the Ethernet port to hook up a proper Wifi Access point with much better performance and range.

     

    -Jonathan