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Forum Discussion
Modem -> Router -> EdgeRouter -> Orbi
I have a unique set-up here...I have a Spectrum Modem, connected to a Spectrum Router, then connecting to my Edge Router Lite 3, and a few switches and AP's. I want to replace the AP's with the R...
Can you explain the reason to keep the Spectrum router?
If the Edge Router 3 is handling all the DHCP & Firewall rules, then only one port on the Spectrum router can be used, and the goal is not to use the Spectrum router WiFi capabilities. This seems to make the Spectrum router pretty much redundant.
The keys to Orbi products are:
- The RBR750 device must be connected using an ethernet cable to the WAN port.
- RBS devices must be connected to the RBR device either over WiFi backhaul or through the RBR device LAN ports.
It doesn't matter that the RBR750 is in Access Point (AP) mode. It still has to be connected through the WAN port.
If you could make up a simple diagram of how things are connected, that might be useful to the discussion.
CrimpOn - this is an image of my set-up
Setup
The way Spectrum has things wired (at least for us) is that I HAVE to keep the router in play, even tho it is not doing anything because it has DNS/Gateway etc settings that the Spectrum Modem can ONLY get from that device. Then the ERL3 is assigning DHCP and on a 192.168.5.XXX IP Range.
I want to add the ORBI in behind the ERL3, so that all firewall rules, DNAT etc remain in place and the ERL3 continues to handle DHCP - but I want to use the ORBI to handle WiFi signal/coverage.
miketheknight20 wrote:
The way Spectrum has things wired (at least for us) is that I HAVE to keep the router in play, even tho it is not doing anything because it has DNS/Gateway etc settings that the Spectrum Modem can ONLY get from that device. Then the ERL3 is assigning DHCP and on a 192.168.5.XXX IP Range.
I want to add the ORBI in behind the ERL3, so that all firewall rules, DNAT etc remain in place and the ERL3 continues to handle DHCP - but I want to use the ORBI to handle WiFi signal/coverage.
Thanks for the excellent drawing. This should work as long as the Orbi RBR750 is connected using the Internet port (yello) and the satellites backhaul to the RBR750 over 5G wireless. It would also work if the RBR750 is connected directly to the EdgeRouter and that 5 port switch is connected to one of the Orbi LAN ports. If you have any intention of using ethernet backhaul for the Orbi satellites, then the Modem -> Orbi -> Switch setup is the way to go. Since the EdgeRouter is handling all the DHCP, firewall, port forwarding, etc. then the Orbi would be put into Access Point (AP) mode using the Orbi web interface.
I still disagree that the Spectrum router is required. Customers receive their public IP, gateway, etc. from Spectrum servers through the modem, not from the router. (As an example, one of the common troubleshooting techniques is to connect a computer directly to the modem. i.e. having no router at all.) I have a Spectrum modem and my Orbi router is connected directly to the Spectrum modem. Having that Spectrum router installed creates a "Double NAT" that will interfere with certain user activities.
https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
You are faced with a more complicated situation than most customers because the EdgeRouter already exists. The DHCP, firewall, port forwarding,and other features are different than the Orbi equivalents. Using the EdgeRouter rules out using Netgear's Parental Controls and Bitdefender Armor products, as well as OpenDNS on the Orbi.
Long term I want to take the ERL out of the picture, but until I've had time to set-up firewall rules/parental controls wahtever you want to call them on the Orbi, I need to keep the ERL in play.
I currently have the Orbi connected to the 5 Port Switch, which is connected directly to the ERL and the Orbi will say connected with no internet...is this possibly due to the IP Range conflict I mentioned? I noticed the Orbi by default is 192.168.1.XXX and my ERL is on 192.168.5.XXX (or is this not an issue at all)?
Spectrum states the spectrum router MUST stay in play, anytime I have tried to remove it and connect my ERL directly to the modem everything seems fine on my end, but i'm unable to "talk" to the internet on the outside world. The second the spectrum router is added back to the equation things work exactly as expected. There is some configuration/setting that is on that router that is needed in order for the set-up to work, or at least that's what they keep telling me.
Do the Orbi Satellites need to be hardwired or can they pick up a wireless connection from the Orbi Router? The two ports on the back of the satellites makes me think they can pick up the wireless signal, and I can hardwire up to two devices if I go that route.
miketheknight20 wrote:
Long term I want to take the ERL out of the picture, but until I've had time to set-up firewall rules/parental controls wahtever you want to call them on the Orbi, I need to keep the ERL in play.
Some questions first:
- Is the only reason the EdgeRouter uses 192.168.5.x for the IP subnet because the Spectrum router had already taken 192.168.1.x?
- Have you reserved (assigned) 192.168.5.x IP addresses to specific devices that you want to keep that way?
(If the answer is "no", then the path forward is much easier.) - The existing WiFi access points are attached to the switch?
- You want to keep the existing WiFi SSID/password so that WiFi devices do not need to be reconfigured?
miketheknight20 wrote:
Spectrum states the spectrum router MUST stay in play.
Spectrum may say that, but it is not correct. My Orbi is connected directly to a Spectrum E31T2V1 modem. Getting rid of the Spectrum router is not necessary unless you intend to do certain things, such as some internet gaming, forwarding ports from the internet, using OpenVPN to reach your LAN from the internet, etc. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT The fact that the EdgeRouter exhibits a problem when the Spectrum router is removed indicates a problem with the EdgeRouter.
miketheknight20 wrote:
Do the Orbi Satellites need to be hardwired or can they pick up a wireless connection from the Orbi Router? The two ports on the back of the satellites makes me think they can pick up the wireless signal, and I can hardwire up to two devices if I go that route.
Orbi satellites are designed to use a 5G WiFi signal to communicate with the base router. No cable is required. However, performance of the satellites is generally better if they are connected using ethernet cable. I would wire my satellites to the router if installing cable in my 60 year old two-story house was practical. (Oh, for the days when the attic and crawl space could be used to connect any part of the house to any other part.) No matter how the satellites communicate with the router (WiFi or ethernet), the LAN ports on satellites can be used to support devices, including switches.