Re: Use Netgear AX2700 as a modem/LAN only router and another router for WIFI only

Kenny-J · ‎2024-12-22

Hi all, I just bought a Netgear AX2700 Modem/Router. It installed reasonably easily but it wouldn't auto-connect any of my devices. I had to connect all of them manually which is OK if you only have to do it once. But then I accidently turned the wireless radios off trying to turn the LED lights off (buttons are close together) and again, the devices did not auto-connect. I don't want to have to do this every time there is a power outage or a router reboot, etc. So I re-connected my old LinkSys EA6900 WIFI router to an ethernet port on the Netgear AX2700 and it works but I can't access the router login because both devices have the same 192.168.1.1 login address. I want to keep using the Netgear router for wired connections, I can finally utilize the 500Mbps I'm provisioned for. The Netgear allows me to turn off the WIFI, and none of my wireless devices are getting more than 100Mbps even using the Netgear, so I'm OK with using the LinkSys for WIFI. But I need to be able to log in to it and change some settings.

Looking for some help on how to set this up, hoping there is a way. I don't think this is much different than just using a standalone router and the Netgear as a modem only so surely there is a way. Thanks!

Kenny-J · ‎2024-12-23

So fun day today (not) but I did uncover a major mistake I made in the initial install and I may be completely OK now.

I wanted to try using the CAX30 in Bridge Mode or the Linksys as an Access Point since devices were losing connectivity and not auto-connecting to the CAX30. So I disabled Router Mode on the CAX30 and connected my old Linksys EA6900 WIFI Router. It auto-connected all devices immediately and there was no random dropping of devices. But it's signal strength is not as good so I decided to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30. However I couldn't log in to the CAX30 (with either a direct LAN cable to PC, or the wireless app) because the private network the Linksys EA6900 gave me was in the 10.0.0.0 region and the CAX30 login is 192.168.1.1, obviously a different network and unreachable. I was at least able to log back into the Linksys EA6900 and determine that it does not have any settings to make it into an Access Point.

So then I wanted to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30 Router and wondered if that is possible without a factory reset - that seems like an extreme measure to reverse a feature choice. So I made a Support case and called tech support. I got very good help from a woman in India who confirmed I would have to do a factory reset to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30. After getting the CAX30 back into action as the router, I confirmed that it does not offer any Bridge Mode features, so both of the common options (Bridge Mode and Access Point) for using two routers without getting double NAT are not possible. After the CAX30 was again the only router in service, none of my devices would auto-connect. I connected several of them manually, let them run a while and disconnected a few. They did not auto-connect back. Arghh.

While pulling a LAN cable for a TV out of the Linksys EA6900 to put it back into the CAX30 the solution stared me in the face and hit me like a lightning bolt. I had never once during this 3 day evolution removed the power cable from the back of the Linksys AE6900. So all this time its Dual Band WIFI radios were sending out their signals, vying for my devices to connect with it instead of the new CAX30. I pulled the Linksys power cable and several devices immediately auto-connected to the CAX30. Others did so after a power cycle or a WIFI OFF/ON cycle. Since then nothing has dropped its connection. While this glaring oversight on my part is embarrassing to admit, I do so hoping it may help others avoid this mistake, and give the SME's another troubleshooting tip to suggest.

Thanks very much to my responders, it is truly appreciated having a lifeline.

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Kitsap · ‎2024-12-22

@Kenny-J wrote:
Hi all, I just bought a Netgear AX2700 Modem/Router. It installed reasonably easily but it wouldn't auto-connect any of my devices. I had to connect all of them manually which is OK if you only have to do it once. But then I accidently turned the wireless radios off trying to turn the LED lights off (buttons are close together) and again, the devices did not auto-connect. I don't want to have to do this every time there is a power outage or a router reboot, etc. So I re-connected my old LinkSys EA6900 WIFI router to an ethernet port on the Netgear AX2700 and it works but I can't access the router login because both devices have the same 192.168.1.1 login address. I want to keep using the Netgear router for wired connections, I can finally utilize the 500Mbps I'm provisioned for. The Netgear allows me to turn off the WIFI, and none of my wireless devices are getting more than 100Mbps even using the Netgear, so I'm OK with using the LinkSys for WIFI. But I need to be able to log in to it and change some settings.

Looking for some help on how to set this up, hoping there is a way. I don't think this is much different than just using a standalone router and the Netgear as a modem only so surely there is a way. Thanks!

AX2700 is not a model number of a Netgear router. What is the model number? Look on the nameplate, possibly something starting with an R.

Your terminology for the function is incorrect. The router does not connect to devices. The router broadcasts a signal and the devices connect to the router using the broadcast SSID and the password you configured.

If you used the same SSID and password with your Netgear router, your devices should connect automatically.

For your Linksys device, there should be a means to configure it as a wired access point. That would disable the router functions and it would obtain an IP address from your Netgear router. That is the IP address you would use to log in to the Linksys user interface.

Kenny-J · ‎2024-12-22

Thank you for the reply. The model number is CAX30. I did use the same SSID and password and after a day now our phones are auto-connecting after inexplicably losing connectivity (another issue it seems). But other devices like TV's are not.

I'd still like to regain the use of the LinkSys EA6900 for wifi so I will try to set it up as an Access Point.

Kitsap · ‎2024-12-23

In your CAX30 configuration, recommend you turn off Smart Connect if it is available. Your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi SSID should have a different name than your 5 Ghz Wi-Fi SSID. For your 2.4 GHz band, choose channel 1, 6, or 11. Do not choose Auto. For your 5 GHz band, choose a channel between 36 and 48.

If your phones are Apple, they have a mind of their own. Often they use a rotating MAC address for security and it routinely confuses routers. Around home, you should turn off this feature.

Kenny-J · ‎2024-12-23

So fun day today (not) but I did uncover a major mistake I made in the initial install and I may be completely OK now.

I wanted to try using the CAX30 in Bridge Mode or the Linksys as an Access Point since devices were losing connectivity and not auto-connecting to the CAX30. So I disabled Router Mode on the CAX30 and connected my old Linksys EA6900 WIFI Router. It auto-connected all devices immediately and there was no random dropping of devices. But it's signal strength is not as good so I decided to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30. However I couldn't log in to the CAX30 (with either a direct LAN cable to PC, or the wireless app) because the private network the Linksys EA6900 gave me was in the 10.0.0.0 region and the CAX30 login is 192.168.1.1, obviously a different network and unreachable. I was at least able to log back into the Linksys EA6900 and determine that it does not have any settings to make it into an Access Point.

So then I wanted to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30 Router and wondered if that is possible without a factory reset - that seems like an extreme measure to reverse a feature choice. So I made a Support case and called tech support. I got very good help from a woman in India who confirmed I would have to do a factory reset to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30. After getting the CAX30 back into action as the router, I confirmed that it does not offer any Bridge Mode features, so both of the common options (Bridge Mode and Access Point) for using two routers without getting double NAT are not possible. After the CAX30 was again the only router in service, none of my devices would auto-connect. I connected several of them manually, let them run a while and disconnected a few. They did not auto-connect back. Arghh.

While pulling a LAN cable for a TV out of the Linksys EA6900 to put it back into the CAX30 the solution stared me in the face and hit me like a lightning bolt. I had never once during this 3 day evolution removed the power cable from the back of the Linksys AE6900. So all this time its Dual Band WIFI radios were sending out their signals, vying for my devices to connect with it instead of the new CAX30. I pulled the Linksys power cable and several devices immediately auto-connected to the CAX30. Others did so after a power cycle or a WIFI OFF/ON cycle. Since then nothing has dropped its connection. While this glaring oversight on my part is embarrassing to admit, I do so hoping it may help others avoid this mistake, and give the SME's another troubleshooting tip to suggest.

Thanks very much to my responders, it is truly appreciated having a lifeline.

Kitsap · ‎2024-12-23

@Kenny-J wrote:
So fun day today (not) but I did uncover a major mistake I made in the initial install and I may be completely OK now.

I wanted to try using the CAX30 in Bridge Mode or the Linksys as an Access Point since devices were losing connectivity and not auto-connecting to the CAX30. So I disabled Router Mode on the CAX30 and connected my old Linksys EA6900 WIFI Router. It auto-connected all devices immediately and there was no random dropping of devices. But it's signal strength is not as good so I decided to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30. However I couldn't log in to the CAX30 (with either a direct LAN cable to PC, or the wireless app) because the private network the Linksys EA6900 gave me was in the 10.0.0.0 region and the CAX30 login is 192.168.1.1, obviously a different network and unreachable. I was at least able to log back into the Linksys EA6900 and determine that it does not have any settings to make it into an Access Point.

I am going to take issue with your statements above, download the Linksys manual from here:

https://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/userguide/1224699372213/MAN_EA6900_8220_01617A00_Userguide_E...

Starting on page 37 are detailed instructions for configuring the device as an access point.

When configured as an access point and re-booted, the access point will pull an IP address from your CAX30 that is within the 192.168.0.0 subnet. As such, it will be reachable from your CAX30 local area network.

So then I wanted to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30 Router and wondered if that is possible without a factory reset - that seems like an extreme measure to reverse a feature choice. So I made a Support case and called tech support. I got very good help from a woman in India who confirmed I would have to do a factory reset to re-enable Router Mode on the CAX30. After getting the CAX30 back into action as the router, I confirmed that it does not offer any Bridge Mode features, so both of the common options (Bridge Mode and Access Point) for using two routers without getting double NAT are not possible. After the CAX30 was again the only router in service, none of my devices would auto-connect. I connected several of them manually, let them run a while and disconnected a few. They did not auto-connect back. Arghh.

While pulling a LAN cable for a TV out of the Linksys EA6900 to put it back into the CAX30 the solution stared me in the face and hit me like a lightning bolt. I had never once during this 3 day evolution removed the power cable from the back of the Linksys AE6900. So all this time its Dual Band WIFI radios were sending out their signals, vying for my devices to connect with it instead of the new CAX30. I pulled the Linksys power cable and several devices immediately auto-connected to the CAX30. Others did so after a power cycle or a WIFI OFF/ON cycle. Since then nothing has dropped its connection. While this glaring oversight on my part is embarrassing to admit, I do so hoping it may help others avoid this mistake, and give the SME's another troubleshooting tip to suggest.

Thanks very much to my responders, it is truly appreciated having a lifeline.

Kenny-J · ‎2024-12-23

I am going to take issue with your statements above, download the Linksys manual from here:

https://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/userguide/1224699372213/MAN_EA6900_8220_01617A00_Userguide_E...

Starting on page 37 are detailed instructions for configuring the device as an access point.

When configured as an access point and re-booted, the access point will pull an IP address from your CAX30 that is within the 192.168.0.0 subnet. As such, it will be reachable from your CAX30 local area network.

I did try that but with the CAX30 in Router Mode I could not access the Linksys to configure it. It turns out I didn't need to do this anyway. The WIFI radios in the CAX30 are much better so using the Linksys for WIFI would have been a backward step just to regain device auto-connection.

FURRYe38 · ‎2024-12-26

Just as an FYI, for the CAX30, it only has two operating modes, Router/Gateway or Modem only mode. Modem only menaing that ALL router and WiFi features are disabled and turned OFF. So when in modem mode, the Linksys unit would need to be in Router mode, not AP mode as AP mode unit needs a DHCP service to operate correctly. IF your using the LInksys unit for wifi completely, I would disable the WiFI radios on the CAX30 to help avoid interferences.

When the CAX30 is in router mode, the Linksys unit can be in AP mode and needs to be configured for it's networking to use same subnet IP address configuration as on the CAX30, i.e. 192.168.1.x.

If the Linksys unit is configured for AP mode and set for Dynamic IP addressing configuration, then the Linksys should get a 192.168.1.### IP address from the CAX30 in router mode. Once the Linksys gets this IP address, use this IP address to access it's WEB page UI to configure the Linksys from there.