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X10 R9000 in Bridge mode
Okay so I just upgraded my internet and TV. I am forced to use the ISP router to get my STB working. Anyhow I love my X10 and miss having my plex media center. So I want to incorporate it into my network. I was going to go out and buy a switch because this new router only has 4 LAN ports. Than I figured why when I have my X10. So I decided to place the X10 into bridge mode. Now I don’t know what I’m doing but I figured what the heck maybe someone can help me out. So I set the X10 into bridge mode. I connected a LAN port from new router to LAN port on X10. Everything seems to be good. Now I’m seeing people saying to connect the LAN port of new router to the WAN port in the X10. Should I do that instead? Obviously my goal here is to use my X10 as a plex server and network switch. Wireless bridge sounds good but I don’t want anything that’s going to slow my WiFi speeds down. Also I don’t want the X10 creating any interference or double NAT issues. I’m sorry as I have a hard time comprehending networks and how they function. Reading post after post with one person saying one thing and another saying something different. It’s hard to determine the correct way. Any advice would be great. Thank you!
> Okay so I tried a few things. First I tried LAN to WAN and that is not
> right. [...]Did you simply move the cable, or did you follow the instructions in
the R9000 User Manual for "Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point"?> [...] 1 is the access point [...] However I would need Ethernet ran to
> the upstairs to really benefit from this.Right.
> [...] I can do a wired bridge mode like I have. With Ethernet
> connecting the 2 routers. [...]That is not what Netgear calls "bridge mode". I don't know what you
mean by "bridge mode".> [...] Get the User Manual. Read. Look for [...]
Did you?
> [...] I than have X10 in bridge mode but not setup for wireless ( I
> skipped that part of the setup). [...]I don't know what you mean by "in bridge mode but not setup for
wireless". The whole point of (real) "bridge mode" on an R9000 is to
get a wireless connection between it and the main router (LAN). See
"Set Up the Router in Bridge Mode" in the R9000 User Manual.> [...] My main goal was to run my plex media server from the X10 and
> allow more wired devices to connect to the router [...]As explained before, that's what a wireless access point should do,
if you can use an Ethernet cable to connect the R9000-as-WAP to the main
router.
8 Replies
> [...] So I decided to place the X10 into bridge mode. [...]
Why "bridge mode"? Are you trying to connect devices wirelessly to
your main router, when those devices are not wireless-capable?Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Documentation. Get the User Manual. Read. Look for "Use the
Router as a WiFi Access Point". (And "Set Up the Router in Bridge
Mode". Compare.)Some older Netgear router User Manuals included some helpful pictures
intended to show how these different modes act, but they seem to have
been omitted in newer manuals.> [...] I connected a LAN port from new router to LAN port on X10. [...]
I'd consult the manual.
> [...] Wireless bridge sounds good [...]
For what?
> [...] Reading post after post with one person saying one thing and
> another saying something different. [...]Trust no one, I always say.
> [...] So I want to incorporate it into my network. [...]
Not the clearest description of your goal. Assuming that you can run
an Ethernet cable from your main router to the R9000, I'd suggest
configuring the R9000 as a wireless access point.> [...] Any advice would be great. [...]
Obviously not, as you've already discovered.
- I chose bridge mode not because items don’t support wireless but because I prefer a wired connection whenever possible. The new router only has 4 Lan ports and instead of spending money on a network switch I figured I would just put the X10 in bridge mode and have access to more wired connections.
The wireless bridge was interesting because i could hardwire devices on the second floor and possibly receive a better connection.
Yes I understand and you are right. The manual is probably my best source for the setup process but the issues often found in certain setup modes aren’t always listed in the manuals. So real life talk to others might help in determining what typically works best.> I chose bridge mode not because items don't support wireless but
> because I prefer a wired connection whenever possible. [...]Ok, but "bridge mode" would use a wireless connection between the
R9000 and your main router. Moreover, I believe that the R9000 wireless
(in that mode) would be dedicated exclusively to that connection to the
main router.> [...] The new router only has 4 Lan ports and instead of spending
> money on a network switch I figured I would just put the X10 in bridge
> mode and have access to more wired connections.That's what wireless-access-point mode would do. And, it would give
you a wireless access point (whose radios could be disabled, if you
wanted).A wireless access point is called that because it provides wireless
access to client devices, not because it uses a wireless connection to
the LAN. (It uses a wired connection to the main router.)
> The wireless bridge was interesting because i could hardwire devices
> on the second floor and possibly receive a better connection.You'd get a better (wired) connection between client devices and the
R9000-as-bridge, but you'd then have a wireless connection between the
R9000-as-bridge and your main router. That could be useful if you can't
run an Ethernet cable (or equivalent) between the main router and the
R9000 ("on the second floor"?).