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Forum Discussion
Drive RBR750 with iPhone 14Pro Using Lightning to Ethernet Adaptor
I currently have internet supplied via AT&T satellite to my AT&T MR1100 hotspot and then via ethernet cable to my RBR 750 mesh system. It is an AT&T unlimited data plan I have used for years as we are rural and there is not highspeed/cable internet available. AT&T is discontinuing this plan as it is tied to 4G and I will then be maxed out at 100GB on my MR1100; afterwhich there are astronomical charges for extra GB of data used. Steaming a TV will easily use up this 100 GB. I was told by AT&T that after expending that first 100 GB, I could then switch my devices (TV, tablets, other iPhones, etc) to use the mobil data via my iPhone 14Pro hotspot. They advised that I could also connect my iPhone 14Pro, via a lightning to ethernet adaptor, to my RBR750 and this would provide the mesh system with its internet connection using the mobile data on the iPhone. I tried this and although the adaptor is blinking, indicating they are communicating, the RBR750 just displays a continued red LED and nothing happens. I talked with Netgear chat and Neatgear Gearhead Support Team and they both tell me it cannot be done. I read a 2018 community discussion from a DarrenM (Snr Netgear moderator) who said you could connect an iPhone to the RBR with the ethernet adaptor so don’t know why some 6 years later that Netgear says you cannot do it. I’m guessing I need to make some system setting changes as well as just connect the iPhone to the RBR. Does anyone have any knowledge of this or better yet a solution?
5 Replies
IF the adapter is passing thru DHCP data with no WAN configurations, I guess it could work. Not sure if the issue maybe the adapter or the data needed from the iphone thru the adapter is getting thru. There is no configuration on the RBR that would be needed or is needed. Something to connnect up a wired PC to this adapter to see if it's getting internet services.
Thanks FURRYe38 for your reply/suggestion. Neither my iMac nor laptops have ethernet connections so I’ll need to find someone’s whose does and try it on their computer.
I am not that tech savvy about this topic so cannot answer your question; that is "IF the adapter is passing thru DHCP data with no WAN configurations” I’m now wondering if it is meant to transmit the internet signal “TO” the iPhone from a LAN system rather than “FROM” the iphone to another device.
I bought it on Amazon and here is the description below:
Lightning to Ethernet Adapter, [Apple MFi Certified] 2 in 1 RJ45 Ethernet LAN Network Adapter with Charge Port Compatible with iPhone/iPad/iPod, Plug and Play, Supports 100Mbps Ethernet Network.
Brand: Desoficon.- [2 in 1 RJ45 Ethernet Adapter]: This Lightning to RJ45 Ethernet LAN wired network port + charging port supports Internet access and charging at the same time. You can connect the network cable to your iPhone/iPad for wired network access, providing ultra-high-speed Internet access speed, allowing you to watch videos, play games or live broadcast connections more smoothly and get a smoother Internet experience.
Update: I tried the adaptor with my iPhone and connected it to the ethernet post on my daughter’s iMac and also to my Samsung TV. It worked and allowed me to provide internet connection to each of them via my iPhone hotspot data. I then tried it on the Orbi 750 router and no luck. The LED stays Red and it doesn’t establish an internet connection. So, I’m guessing that the Orbi doesn’t for some reason support it. A Best Buy Geek told me he thought it may accept it if I installed the Home app onto my phone. I tried that but the Home app doesn’t recognize the bar code on the bottom of the Orbi routher nor does it recgoognize the routher wirelessly. So, I guess I’m out of luck unless the Orbi techs know of someway to set up the Orbi 750 to accept its internet input from an IPhone via the Orbi’s ethernet port. Also, I’m wondering if I bought a router and plugged it in between my iPhone and the Orbi 750 if that would work?
rmakin wrote:
It is an AT&T unlimited data plan I have used for years as we are rural and there is not highspeed/cable internet available. AT&T is discontinuing this plan as it is tied to 4G and I will then be maxed out at 100GB on my MR1100; after which there are astronomical charges for extra GB of data used.
Surely AT&T has a replacement for this 4G plan. Connecting a home network to a cell phone Hot Spot is (stupid? ridiculous? insane?).
My experience when dealing with customer service is that different agents often respond differently to the same question.
"What am I supposed to do?" may result in a variety of answers.
