NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
RAX20 AX1800 configuration with NBN VoiP Modem
Hardware:
-Netgear Nighthawk AX1800 (RAX20) Wifi Router
-TP-Link Archer VR1600V VoIP Wifi Modem/Router (proprietory firmware by ISP, not supported by TP-Link, not compatibly with TP-Link Tether App)
I recently upgraded out internet connection to NBN FTTC with TPG in Australia. In doing so I was required to change my modem and our telephone now uses VoIP function with the TP-Link Modem provided by our ISP.
Issue: The security functionality is inferior to the Netgear Nighthawk and I require the use of the sophisticated parental controls and Netgear Nighthawk App on my phone.
I need to make my Netgear Nighthawk Router to control all the devices on my network. This would involve using the TP-Link VoIP Modem Router just for the VoIP and Modem function only and disabling the router.
I have contacted TP-Link and they adviced the hardware is a special model built for the ISP and the ISP has deveoped the firmware. TP-Link say this product is unsupported.
I have contacted my ISP and discussed my issue with them and I have received conflicting advice from their support on how to achieve my outcome. Support say what I want to achieve is possible, when I ask them what do I need to do in my settings they advise me to contact Netgear on how to go about setting it up.
Is there anyone here that can advise me how to setup (configure) my Netgear AX1800 (RAX20) Router as my primary router, using my ISP provided modem (TP-Link VR1600V VoIP Modem) just as a modem and VoIP communications only.
Thanks in advance
4 Replies
Your tplink needs to be put in modem only/passthrough mode. That'd be done through the isp or tplink as they'd be the experts in that device. Once its in that mode, then you can set the netgear as the primary router.
If you can't do that, disable wifi on the tplink, set the netgear's ip address in the tplink's dmz, and then make sure everything connects to the netgear wireless and wired.
OK, Round 2.
After going through the settings in the TP-Link Modem/Router there was nothing in it that allowed me to set it just as a modem.
I then turned off the DHCP setting and gave it a fixed IP address and connected it to the Netgear AX1800 Router via the WAN port.
That failed.
I contacted TP-Link to ask if there were any settings that needed to be changed in the device. There response was to contact TPG.
I contacted TPG again and got hold of someone that had sufficient technical skill to understand the problem and give me advice. His advice was have the TP-LInk functioning as a moden/router, disable the Wifi access and then connect the Netgear AX1800 via the LAN port on the Netgear AX1800 and NOT the WAN port and enable the Wifi access on the Netgear AX1800.
To get the Wifi setup on the Netgear AX1800 I had to disconnect it from the TP-Link VR1600V and manually configure the network on the Netgear AX1800, setup the Wifi, parental controls etc. Once that was configured, then reconnect the TP-Link VR1600V to the Netgear AX1800 via the LAN port, to access the Internet.
Upon doing this I was able to get the network working with Internet, and use the VoIP Phone service attached to the TP-Link modem/router.
At this stage my initial problem is half solved as I can now use my Netgear AX1800 with the TP-Link VR1600V Modem/Router. However, I still have an issue with it. After configuring the Netgear AX1800 and reconnecting it to the TP-Link VR1600V Moden/Router, the TP-Link device takes over as the primary router, and the Netgear AX1800 becomes a slave to it.
When I run the Nighthawk App on my phone while connected with Wifi, I can access the devices on my network. However I am unable to setup and turn on the Netgear Armor functionality because the TP-LInk VR1600V is the primary router. Next I tried to access my network remotely with the Nighthawk App, and it failed to connect to the AX1800 saying it wasn't online.
If I disconnect the TP-Link VR1600V from the Netgear AX1800 and restart the Netgear AX1800, it operates as the router should, but I dont have Internet access because the TP-Link VR1600V is disconnected from it. If I attempt to activate the Netgear Armor feature in the firmware, it says I am not connected to the Internet and I can not complete this task.
At this point I reconnect the TP-Link VR1600V Modem/Router and it takes control of the network, and provides Internet access, however the Netgear AX1800 logs out and the settings are not accessable.
TPG say the modem is functioning as it should and my issue is a network configuration issue with the Netgear AX1800.
Can anyone hear offer advice on how I can get the Netgear AX1800 to operate as the primary router, and the TP-Link VR1600V to operate just as a modem.
Thanks in advance.
Your issue isn't the netgear. Its the fact that you can't get the tp-link to function properly in modem only mode.
TP-link/their forum would be the experts on setting up that device in modem only/passthrough mode.
without it, you do end up having 2 routers running on your network. And armor won't function properly like that.
Options?
1. get on the tp-link forum to get help getting their device in modem only/passthrough mode.
2. purchase a modem only device for service.
3. use the tplink as primary router, set the netgear as an access point, and not use netgear armor.
