Re: Trying to set up Sprint Airave 2.5 behind D6400/AC1600 modem/router

texgolfcon · ‎2017-07-28

I am struggling to setup Sprint Airave 2.5 behind my D6400/AC1600 modem/router. Att gave me a Netgear 7550 modem/router and the Airave works perfectly with no setup, but the 7550 is very weak as a wireless router. Does anyone know the settings needed in the Netgear Genie and/or the Airave 2.5 to make the connection work. I get the red flashing lights for the Network and Mobile on the Airave. All others connections to the D6400/AC1600 work great.

I am not real fluent in DCP and static ports settings. I have seen some posts out there for other models, but not for the D6400/AC1600.

DarrenM · ‎2017-08-04

Hello texgolfcon

You may want to look if you need any port forwarding for the Sprint device.

DarrenM

texgolfcon · ‎2017-08-04

It may well need Port Forwarding. From other posts and forums I have seen about setting things up behind the router it probably does. However, I cannot find any information on the settings or how to forward the port to the Airave. I think the Airave usually works behind the modem but the D6400/AC1600 is a modem/router and the router side needs to be by passed. I don't see where in the Netgear Genie to make the setup changes. And I am not sure what settings it might need.

michaelkenward · ‎2017-08-05

Are you using the D6400 as a modem?

What is this 7550? It isn't a recognisable Netgear model number. If you can access its settings, maybe you can see what you need to tweak.

You can get the manual here:

>>>> D6400 | Product | Support | NETGEAR <<<<

You probably found this:

>>>> AIRAVE 2.5 Support <<<<

No mention of clever settings like port forwarding.

texgolfcon · ‎2017-08-05

AT&T actually gave me a 7550 modem/router and it was plug and play with the Airave 2.5. However, the wifi range is very limited. I purchased a Netgear D6400/AC1600. The wifi range and the wired reliability is great. However, I have terrible cell service in our metal roofed house and need the Airave to help with the cell service.

I need help with how to tweak the settings on the D6400/AC1600 Netgear modem/router to allow the DSL signal to pass through to the Airave unit.

michaelkenward · ‎2017-08-05

I'm afraid your latest message tells us no more than your first messages, except for the fact that, contrary to your first message, the 7550 probably has nothing to do with Netgear.

I gave you a few pointers. So did DarrenM.

Unless you can find out from AT&T what you need to tweak to get the D6400 to work, it will be hard for anyone to help.

If you need to set up Port Forwarding, AT&T will tell you. There is no mention of this in the material I looked at for the Airave.

texgolfcon · ‎2017-08-06

OK, I see my main problem. I didn't realize there was a different Netgear Genie for the D6400 modem versus the AC1600 router. They are one unit. I guess I expected one program to access both. I am sorry but I haven't delved into changing setup in modems or routers before.

I have now logged into the Netgear D6400 genie and found the Advanced tab. I can see where I can turn on port forwarding etc. I know the IP address from ATT DSL (192.168.0.7). Do I need to change any other settings? Setup port as a bridge?

antinode · ‎2017-08-06

> I am struggling to setup Sprint Airave 2.5 behind my D6400/AC1600
> modem/router. [...]

Why behind? As I read the AIRAVE 2.5 User Guide, the suggested
arrangement (page 7 = PDF 11) is: modem - AIRAVE - your_router.

> [...] but the D6400/AC1600 is a modem/router and the router side needs
> to be by passed.

Or, you could ignore the modem in the D6400, and use it as only a
router. (As shown on page 29 in the D6400 User Manual.)

https://support.sprint.com/global/pdf/user_guides/sprint/airave_2_5/airave_2_5_ug.pdf

http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/D6400/D6400_UM_EN.pdf

Or: FIGHT THE POWER! Don't let the MAN(uals) push you around!

(How's that been working so far?)

michaelkenward · ‎2017-08-06

@texgolfcon wrote:
OK, I see my main problem. I didn't realize there was a different Netgear Genie for the D6400 modem versus the AC1600 router. They are one unit. I guess I expected one program to access both.

That's right, the D6400 is a modem/router that uses the AC1600 "standard" for the wifi capabilities.

There is no such thing as an AC1600. It is a generic label that Netgear uses to describe the wifi features of around half a dozen different routers (R models) and modem/routers (D and C models).

@texgolfcon wrote:
I guess I expected one program to access both.

The genie will, or should, access all of these. But there are several "genies, the web interface for the hardware, standalone desktop software (for PCs and Macs) and apps for mobile devices (Android and iThing). Each has its different features and capabilities.

@texgolfcon wrote:
I know the IP address from ATT DSL (192.168.0.7).

That is the local IP address on your network. The router allocates an address like this to everything on the network. Usually it hands out these addresses when you start the network.

Some hardware works better if it always has the same fixed IP address. If so, you can set that up using the web interface for the modem/router. If this is the case, then it should say so in the documentation for the Airave. I could not see that when I looked.

texgolfcon · ‎2017-08-06

Thanks for the suggestions. I need the modem and I need the router. I am looking to bypass the router for only the Airave. I think I need to either forward a port or set a port as a bridge, or both. I am just not sure.

antinode · ‎2017-08-06

> I need the modem and I need the router.

   You need _a_ modem, and the D6400 router. The "Netgear 7550
modem/router" apparently contains a modem (or modem+router, depending on
how it's configured) which works with the AIRAVE. If the D6400 router
can be fed from the AIRAVE, then I'd expect you to be relatively happy.

>    Why behind? As I read the AIRAVE 2.5 User Guide, the suggested
> arrangement (page 7 = PDF 11) is: modem - AIRAVE - your_router.

   Still a mystery.

   I'll admit that using two gizmos instead of three would be more
satisfying, but we don't seem to know what the AIRAVE requires from
whatever feeds it, so, until that ignorance is reduced, I'd still vote
for starting with the known-working configuration of the "Netgear 7550
modem/router" (Is that really a Netgear model number?) and the AIRAVE,
and trying to add the D6400 router to that, as the AIRAVE manual
suggests. (Try to forget about the modem in the D6400, and this may
seem more reasonable.)

> I think I need to either forward a port or set a port as a bridge, or
> both. I am just not sure.

   That's exactly why I'd try the "Netgear 7550 modem/router" - AIRAVE -
D6400 arrangement.

michaelkenward · ‎2017-08-07

Did you find this?

Setup instructions for Airave behind a router - Sprint Community

leading to this:

Setup instructions for Airave behind a router - Page 10 - Sprint Community

Pretty old, but maybe still relevant.

There is more like that out in Google land, a better place to research hardware that is not familiar to many Netgear users.

That Sprint has its own user forum is promising. Have you thrown your problem at that?

It seems most unlikely that you need to have two separate bits of kit, and the port forwarding thing seems like a red herring from those other messages.

Did you ever get answer from Sprint about the settings you need? They should be able to alert you to any quirks.