NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
BeeBeeMan
Mar 09, 2023Aspirant
Using RAX80 as a switch
I'm trying to use my RAX80 as a splitter.
I have an NBN box that connects to a modem, that modem connects to several ports in room 1, that connects to room3 and into the RAX80 which has wireless devices connected. The issue is that the RAX80 doesn't detect the signal in the WAN port and split the internet signal. I don't know what I'm doing really and would appreciate any help.
Map below to make things more clear.
- NBN connects to Modem with PPOE internet connection
- Port 1 - PC 1
- Port 2 - PC 2
- Port 3 - RAX80 that detects no internet connection
- Wireless device
- Wireless device
- Wireless device
- Wireless device
- Wireless device
- Wireless device
- Wired device
- Wired device
- Port 4 - Not used
- Port 5 - Not used
I would try the RAX in AP Mode and then try the connection. Otherwise, one of these would be recommended:
5 Replies
Sort By
BeeBeeMan wrote:
I'm trying to use my RAX80 as a splitter.
Only a splitter? A cheap switch might be more sensible.
Back to the network.
I have an NBN box that connects to a modem, that modem connects to several ports in room 1, that connects to room3 and into the RAX80 which has wireless devices connected.
What sort of NBN? Cable? DSL?
NBN effectively means Australian Internet, the backbone network from NBN Co. There are several flavours of NBN Internet from many different Internet service providers.
What is this NBN box? What is this modem? Make and model?
The usual layout for a modem and router is to plug the router, and only the router, into the modem. Then everything else runs from the router.
It looks like your "modem" is a modem router. So you have added a router to a router.
Two routers on your network can cause headaches. For example, you can end up with local address problems. Among other things, the other router can misdirect addresses that the Netgear router usually handles, such as routerlogin.net or the usual IP address for a router, 192.168.1.1.
This explains some of the other drawbacks.
What is Double NAT? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
Unless you have specific reasons for using two routers – to create two separate networks for example – it is often easier to use just one router and then to set up the second router as a wifi access point. Netgear advises this, as does just about every site you will visit.
In your case, one option is to put the RAX80 into AP mode. But that has its drawbacks.
Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR SupportI'd start from scratch and work out the best way to set up your network, which appears to be a bit messy.
- BeeBeeManAspirant
Thanks for the detailed response, let me clarify some things for you.
michaelkenward wrote:Back to the network.
What sort of NBN? Cable? DSL?
Fibre to the building.
What is this NBN box? What is this modem? Make and model?
I wish I could tell you, all I can see is a serial number and no device model number.
it is often easier to use just one router and then to set up the second router as a wifi access point. Netgear advises this, as does just about every site you will visit.
That is exactly what I'm trying to do. I have the NBN box with 1 working port sending data to a modem-router (TP-LINK) in Room 1 that has no WIFI enabled (broken). That modem-router sends data to 3 CAT6 wall jacks that distribute internet to 2 PCs in different rooms and the RAX80 modem-router in another room, that has 2 devices connected to it's LAN ports and the primary source of WIFI for the apartment.
My problem is when I connect a cable from the ethernet wall jack to the RAX80 WAN port I get no connection. I assume I have to change something here in the RAX80 settings but I've researched and don't understand what I need to do.
Photo for more context.
Network
I would try the RAX in AP Mode and then try the connection. Otherwise, one of these would be recommended: