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Some Android apps can't transfer data
I have a RAX120 WiFI-6 router, Ethernet-wired to a T-Mobile Home Internet modem. (I normally keep the WiFi radios in that modem off.)
It's been working without problem for several years now. I recently acquired my first Android device, a Boox Go7 eReader (basically a customized Android tablet running Android 13). There are two apps I have tried (Kindle and BItwarden) that are unable to download their data from their clouds to my device. They both have access to the Internet and allow me to log in and interact with the app, but when they are trying to do their downloads, they show items queued, but after about a minute they time out with a "failed to download" error. (These similar apps on iOS devices also work fine on this network.)
I've had my son download these apps to his Android (15) phone and both apps work fine there on this same network.
I recently took my device to a different WiFi system and found that it worked just fine there.
I then turned on the 5Ghz radio in the T-Mobile modem and connected directly to that (instead of the Netgear router which is downstream of it) and again, it worked fine! So I can't blame this on T-Mobile. There is some way that this particular device is interacting with the RAX120 that's causing a problem.
I've tried turned off the WiFi-6 part. I've tried turning off Access Control (which I do normally use). I've tried both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz connections. I've verified that no ports or sites are set to be blocked in the router.
PLEASE, would someone give me some ideas on what settings I should try to change to get this to work? Any ideas appreciated.
The home modem probably has a built in router already. If so, This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NATCouple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the NG router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the NG router gets from the modem. https://kb.netgear.com/25891/DMZ-on-NETGEAR-routers
https://kb.netgear.com/24086/How-do-I-set-up-a-default-DMZ-server-on-my-Nighthawk-router
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the NG router to the modem, LAN to LAN configure AP mode on the NG router.
https://kb.netgear.com/20927/How-do-I-change-my-NETGEAR-router-to-AP-mode
https://community.netgear.com/kb/en-home-nighthawk-knowledge-sharing/procedure-to-configure-static-ip-address-for-ap-mode-for-netgear-orbi-or-nightha/2456243
9 Replies
The home modem probably has a built in router already. If so, This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NATCouple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the NG router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the NG router gets from the modem. https://kb.netgear.com/25891/DMZ-on-NETGEAR-routers
https://kb.netgear.com/24086/How-do-I-set-up-a-default-DMZ-server-on-my-Nighthawk-router
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the NG router to the modem, LAN to LAN configure AP mode on the NG router.
https://kb.netgear.com/20927/How-do-I-change-my-NETGEAR-router-to-AP-mode
https://community.netgear.com/kb/en-home-nighthawk-knowledge-sharing/procedure-to-configure-static-ip-address-for-ap-mode-for-netgear-orbi-or-nightha/2456243Thank you very much for the quick response!
These T-Mobile modems have almost zero configuration capability. Even turning off the radios was a hack someone had discovered, and now that doesn't even work anymore. You are absolutely right that double-NAT is occurring (but it hasn't been a problem until now).
I will try your option-3, which will hopefully be OK since I'm not using Guest mode.
Appreciate the insights.
Thank you so much!
Changing the RAX120 to AP mode has solved the problem.
I'm still not understanding why double-NAT is bad (as long as the address ranges don't overlap), but I'll re-read the doc you pointed to. I guess these apps are passing back what it thinks its translated address is to some server, but that can't take into account the NAT done by the modem's router?
Its having two routers and two translations that cause problems when only one translation and one routing device is needed between the ISP services and connecting device. Have two in the mix can cause confusion in the apps and translation from one network to another. For some, a DMZ or IP Pass thru feature can help on the 1st router for a 2nd router downstream.
My parents actually used a tmobile home wifi for a bit. The easiest option was putting the netgear in access point mode. It does disable some features but wifi/ethernet all still work fine.
