Wired Bridging an AC1900 R7000 to an RF Modem Router

[FairDealDave]

I live in an area with no cable and very poor dsl.  I contracted with an ISP that uses an rf type connection to their radio tower on a local mountain top.  They provided me with an rf modem with integral wifi router.  The integral router's wifi is not very good.  I want to connect one of the wired ethernet out connections from their router to my new Nighthawk and then use the Nighthawk's more powerful WiFi.  I have no idea how to connect the two routers or how to set them up to work with each other correctly.  The manual only talks about connecting two routers in "wireless bridge" mode.  I basically want to use a "wired bridge" mode.  Any thoughts?

[antinode · Accepted solution]

> That is exactly what I'm trying to do. [...]

   Which?  R7000 as WAP, or ISP-supplied gizmo as modem-only?

   For the R7000-as-WAP option, you may not need to know much of
anything about the main (modem+)router.

   In AP mode, the R7000 gets a new LAN IP address, typically from the
DHCP server in the main (modem+)router.  If the computer where you're
trying to access the management web site of the R7000-as-WAP is
connected to the R7000-as-WAP, then you may not notice.  If that
computer is connected directly to the main (modem+)router, then you'd
need to know which IP address the R7000-as-WAP got, and access it that
way.  With any luck, the main (modem+)router will provide some kind of
"Attached Devices" or "DHCP Clients" report where you'll be able to find
the R7000-as-WAP, and which which will reveal the new LAN IP address of
the R7000-as-WAP.  Otherwise, you shouldn't need to bother the main
(modem+)router to add the R7000-as-WAP to your LAN.

   Configuring the main (modem+)router as a modem-only would demand more
knowledge of that gizmo.

[antinode]

> [...] They provided me with an rf modem with integral wifi router.
> [...]

   An actual maker and model number would be more informative than that
description.  (Identifying the ISP might have some value, too.)

> [...] The manual only talks about connecting two routers in "wireless
> bridge" mode. [...]

   Where, exactly, in _which_ "The manual"?  Does the documentation for
your (unspecified) "an rf modem with integral wifi router" discuss a
bridge mode?

   If you're satisfied with the router functions of your (unspecified)
"an rf modem with integral wifi router", and all you want is better
wireless capability, then you might want to configure the R7000 as a
wireless access point.  Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your
model number, and look for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Look
for "Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point".

   If your (unspecified) "an rf modem with integral wifi router" has a
modem-only/bridge mode, and you want to use it that way, then you should
be able to set up the R7000 as a full-function router, as shown in its
User Manual, as if your ISP-supplied gizmo were any other kind of modem.

[FairDealDave]

That is exactly what I'm trying to do.  I now better understand the difference between "bridge" and "access point".  I'll have to contact the rf ISP that I use to get the details on the router that is part of their modem/router peice of equipment.  Once I have that I'll try out this solution and see how it works.  This may take a few days as they only have M-F customer support.

I'm sure this will be the solution to my problem and I'll update the message soon.

In the mean time thank you VERY MUCH for helping me! 😊

[antinode · Accepted solution]

> That is exactly what I'm trying to do. [...]

   Which?  R7000 as WAP, or ISP-supplied gizmo as modem-only?

   For the R7000-as-WAP option, you may not need to know much of
anything about the main (modem+)router.

   In AP mode, the R7000 gets a new LAN IP address, typically from the
DHCP server in the main (modem+)router.  If the computer where you're
trying to access the management web site of the R7000-as-WAP is
connected to the R7000-as-WAP, then you may not notice.  If that
computer is connected directly to the main (modem+)router, then you'd
need to know which IP address the R7000-as-WAP got, and access it that
way.  With any luck, the main (modem+)router will provide some kind of
"Attached Devices" or "DHCP Clients" report where you'll be able to find
the R7000-as-WAP, and which which will reveal the new LAN IP address of
the R7000-as-WAP.  Otherwise, you shouldn't need to bother the main
(modem+)router to add the R7000-as-WAP to your LAN.

   Configuring the main (modem+)router as a modem-only would demand more
knowledge of that gizmo.

[FairDealDave]

Antinode - All set now.  Nighthawk is now functioning perfectly as both a 2G & 5G wifi access point to the interent using my master router as the primary router in the system.

Thank you very much for your help this request is now SOLVED