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JayRey's avatar
JayRey
Initiate
Feb 14, 2021

AC1900 / R7000: WiFi Bridge Mode works fine to USB-Readyshare, but LAN ports 'seem' disabled

Configuration:

<modem>==cable==<AC2400 router1>......wifi 5G.....<R7000 router2>===LAN-dead.

My AC2400 (Router1) Links ad communicates to R7000 (Router2 client) works very well to ReadyShare\USB.) I backup every night to ReadyShare (usb) hard drive, works GREAT, very stable. Better than I hoped it would.)

Issue: ---------------------------------

I'd like to connect a ethernet cable from TV to R7000 (Router2 client). But everything I plug into the LAN ports (jacks) 'seems' dead.

Attempted fixes----------------------

(As a regular router, LAN ports were fine.)

I have tried 2 different firmware, tried different configurations & spent hours: attempting changes to DNS, DHCP (maybe collisions?). 

Router2 (R7000 ) home screen: "Internet Staus "Good".

Router1 is: 192.168.1.1 (assigned)

Router2 is: 192.168.1.20 (assigned)

Router2 DHCP Client: ON

Router2 IP Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0  (same as AC2400 router1)

Router2 Gateway IP Address: 192.168.1.1 (same as AC2400 router1)

Router2 Domain Name Server: 192.168.0.1 (same as AC2400 router1)

Router2 Bridge Mode: Get IP Address Dynamically

Router2 Bridge Mode: DNS Server Address Dynamically

Router2 Bridge Mode: WIFI settings work well, good link. Problem is not here.

 

Clearly, it is "Bridging" & transferring data, quite well. Just not able to do it via LAN ports, only Readyshare.

 

I am to the point, that maybe this router just cant do WIFI Bridge /LAN output as advertised!  Thoughts?  Jay

4 Replies

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User

    So, the AC2400 is the "source" that feeds the R7000 is the bridge/receiver?

     

    Which firmware is on the R7000?

     

    Recent report suggest that, probably as it tries to cram more money-making features on to some routers, Netgear has wiped out things like bridge mode in later firmware.

     

    But in those cases, the "bridge mode" option disappears from the browser graphical user interface (GUI). Are you doing this from the GUI?

     

    If set up correctly, the LAN ports will be active on the bridge.

     

    By the way, as a wifi phobe, I prefer using add-on routers in wired AP mode. I do this with Powerline Ethernet.

     

    I also use Powerline plugs for things like TVs and stuff that doesn't move. It is a more reliable, and easier to set up, than wifi.

     

     

    • JayRey's avatar
      JayRey
      Initiate

      Thank You for responding!

       

      michaelkenward So, the AC2400 is the "source" that feeds the R7000 is the bridge/receiver?

      JayRey<that is correct>

       

      michaelkenward Which firmware is on the R7000?

       

      JayRey<I bought this from someone, with original firmware. Tried Bidge mode with original, then updated to recent version. No sucess with 3 versions.

      Current version of firmware: V1.0.11.100_10.2.100   

      AC2400 is updated as well.>

       

      michaelkenward Recent report suggest that, probably as it tries to cram more money-making features on to some routers, Netgear has wiped out things like bridge mode in later firmware. But in those cases, the "bridge mode" option disappears from the browser graphical user interface (GUI).

       

      michaelkenward Are you doing this from the GUI?

      JayRey <Yes>

       

      michaelkenward If set up correctly, the LAN ports will be active on the bridge.

      JayRey <That would be my thought.>

       

      michaelkenward By the way, as a wifi phobe, I prefer using add-on routers in wired AP mode. I do this with Powerline Ethernet.  I also use Powerline plugs for things like TVs and stuff that doesn't move. It is a more reliable, and easier to set up, than wifi.

       

      JayRey <Already considered that but, given the layout/structure of house, would be a huge job. One side of home to the other. hence why I went WiFi. If router did what is advertised....>

      • antinode's avatar
        antinode
        Guru

        > AC1900 / R7000: WiFi Bridge Mode works fine to USB-Readyshare, [...]

         

           From devices which are connected to the AC2400 router?

         

        > [...] but LAN ports 'seem' disabled

         

           "'seem' disabled" is not a useful problem description.  It does not
        say what you did.  It does not say what happened when you did it.  As
        usual, showing actual actions (commands) with their actual results
        (error messages, LED indicators, ...) can be more helpful than vague
        descriptions or interpretations.

         

        > [...] 'seems' dead.

         

           Not an improvement.

         

        > I am to the point, that maybe this router just cant do WIFI Bridge
        > /LAN output as advertised! [...]


           That's one hypothesis, but I doubt its validity.  (Also, an Ethernet
        interface is bidirectional; there are no input ports or output ports.)

         

           A bad client gizmo or a bad cable can cause trouble much like that
        caused by a LAN Ethernet port which "'seems' dead".

         

           Did the R7000 LAN Ethernet ports work _before_ you made the mode
        change?

         

           I just reset and configured an R7000 (V1.0.9.88_10.2.88) as a
        wireless bridge (5GHz to my D7000 modem+router (V1.0.1.78_1.0.1)), and
        had no particular problems.  Repeating the whole procedure after a
        firmware update to V1.0.11.116_10.2.100 also worked as expected.

         

           I'm editing this message on a MacBook which is wired to the
        R7000-as-bridge.  Seems to be working.


           I'd try connecting a real computer (rather than some (unspecified)
        "TV") to a LAN Ethernet port on the R7000-as-bridge, and seeing what the
        computer has to say about its Ethernet connection.  And what the
        corresponding port-status LED on the R7000-as-bridge says.  I'd also
        point a web browser at the (new LAN) IP address of R7000-as-bridge, and
        see if it has any useful info to offer (BASIC > Attached Devices?).

         

           Because configuring the R7000 as a bridge involves changing its LAN
        IP address, and those of any devices which might be connected to it, I'd
        also restart all those things.

         


        > [...] Are you doing this from the GUI? [...]

         

           The R7000 management web site?  Is there another way?