Re: Setting up R4500 as an Access Point on Orbi Network

waruz · ‎2021-12-12

I just upgraded my network to an Orbi wifi6 mesh network (RBR750) from a Nightscout R7800 router. I found an older/previous R4500 / N900 router that I had used and wanted to set it up on the network as a wired Access Point (I do not need to use the wireless functions). The problem is that when I connect it via ethernet to the Orbi base and then connect a laptop to the R4500 using a wireed connection - I cannot access the administrative setup of the R4500. Both routerlogin and orbilogin try to login to the Orbi admin function. How do I access the R4500 now so that I can change settind to make it a wired-only access point? Also - if I do so, can I used the R45000 ReadyShare USB connettions to make hard drives accessible to all users on the network (the Orbi has no USB ports and no ReadyShare functionality)?

Does this make sense? Also - what is the difference in using the R4500 as an Access Point vs. converting it ino an ethernet switch? Thanks.

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-12-12

Using the IP address that is given to the R series router.

plemans · ‎2021-12-12

disconnec the r4500 from your primary router and reboot it.

Then connect your laptop to the r4500 without the r4500 connected to the primary router.

From there you should be able to access it and put it in access point mode.

Once in access point mode, connect it to the primary router.

The primary router will assign it an ip address and you can use that to access it.

waruz · ‎2021-12-13

disconnec the r4500 from your primary router and reboot it.

Then connect your laptop to the r4500 without the r4500 connected to the primary router.

From there you should be able to access it and put it in access point mode.

Thanks. I think I tried this. The issue was that, even if I had a laptop directly connected to the R4500 with an ethernet cable. I could not access the settings via a web browser using routerlogin.net. I assume this would be because the R4500 is not conected to the primarr router and, hence, not on the network (nor is the laptop; if I connect the laptopm or the R4500 to the network, I end up accessing the Orbi base admin login). Does this make sense?

waruz · ‎2021-12-13

Using the IP address that is given to the R series router.

Isn't the same IP address the default for the Orbi base - thus I end up loging into the Orbi administrative settings?

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-12-13

The R4500 should have changed it's IP address from 192.168.1.1 to something else. Possible that since this router is old enough, may not have that ability.

So if you factory reset the R4500 router with out it being connected to the Orbi system, keeping 1 wired PC connected to the R4500 router, you can't access the routers web page at 192.168.1.1 at all? If not, possible this router is faulty.

See if you can set a static IP address on the R4500 for AP mode. I know user generation routers can do this. This way you'll know the IP address when it's connected to the Orbi system.

plemans · ‎2021-12-13

@waruz wrote:

Thanks. I think I tried this. The issue was that, even if I had a laptop directly connected to the R4500 with an ethernet cable. I could not access the settings via a web browser using routerlogin.net. I assume this would be because the R4500 is not conected to the primarr router and, hence, not on the network (nor is the laptop; if I connect the laptopm or the R4500 to the network, I end up accessing the Orbi base admin login). Does this make sense?

it might have changed its default ip address. Try doing the same but factory reset it. that should get you to the default 192.168.1.1 address. try using that instead of the routerlogin address.

Make sure not to connect it to the orbi until you have it in access point mode. Once its in access point mode, connect the R4500's wan port to the orbi's lan port. Then log into the orbi and find what IP address the orbi assigned to the R4500. Use that address to access it.