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DustyShaw's avatar
DustyShaw
Aspirant
Aug 18, 2021

R6020 doesn’t work without a modem?

So I live in an apartment that offers wifi through a outlet in the wall. I didn’t think I need a modem since there is already wifi in the wall. I got a router and it wants me to plug it into a modem. I don’t need a modem. Now I can’t finish setting up my router because it wants me to have a modem. I tried plugging my router into the wall instead of a modem, but it won’t except that. I can’t get past the “checking cables” section of the quick start

9 Replies

  • You are not getting 'wifi' through that outlet.  The outlet connects to the ethernet system in your complex.  It does not provide any type of internet access untill you sign up with an ISP and install a modem that is compatible with their service, and have the modem provisioned (activated). 

     

     

    • antinode's avatar
      antinode
      Guru

      > [...] I live in an apartment that offers wifi through a outlet in the
      > wall. I didn't think I need a modem since there is already wifi in the
      > wall. [...]

       

         "wifi" is not found in walls.

       

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi

       

         With my weak psychic powers, I don't know what's behind your wall any
      better than you do. But you might need to know more before you can get
      your router connected to the Internet.  Perhaps you should ask the
      building management about that hole in your wall, and how to use it.

       

      > [...] I can't get past the "checking cables" section of the quick
      > start

       

         That suggests that the hole in your wall isn't currently connected to
      anything.

       


      > [...] untill you sign up with an ISP and install a modem that is
      > compatible with their service, [...]

       

         His psychic powers might exceed mine.  Or they might not.  If the
      hole in your wall is an RJ45 (Ethernet) jack, then I doubt that a modem
      is what you need.

      • DustyShaw's avatar
        DustyShaw
        Aspirant
        Thank you for all the replies. I know I am not technologically adept. The labels on the plug say “CAT 6” and “OCC 6.” I contacted my apartment and they said that I do not need a modem, but I agree that that doesn’t seem correct. I wonder if the Orbi router with the built in modem will work instead? For now, I am going to use a wired connection straight to my computer from the wall and see if that works.