Configuring ORBI RBR50 with ATT Fiber

[6old3nra1n]

Hello all,

I've been a long time user of my Orbi RBR50 first with an Xfinity cable connection. It has been rock solid (occasional outages but nothing significantly long in duration). The impressive thing about it is that I often got within 90-95% of the purchased connection speed. So for a 500Mbps connection, I regularly got around 450mbps on multiple wireless devices, such as my IphoneX, IPad Pro (2016), laptops, etc. These test results were obtained via the Ookla speedtest app. Orbi has always been configured in Router mode, while on the Xfinity cable modem it was configured in bridge mode.

I decided to move to ATT Gigabit Fiber due to the faster connection and symmetry in download/upload speeds. I got everything configured and working with just the first try (the instructions here really helped: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/How-do-I-setup-bridge-mode-in-the-ARRIS-BGW210-700/td-p/187599...). The one thing I noticed about the instructions was that the OP mentioned some things went working in AP mode so he reverted to using a Router mode, which I am also using. Orbi router and satellite are both using firmware 2.5.2.4.

This is where is gets interesting. Here are my speed test results:

1. IphoneX - wirelessly connected to Arris BGW210-700 (before I disabled all radios/WiFi on it): 420-530mbps download, 400-435mbps upload -- with Ookla Speedtest app

2. IphoneX - wirelessly connected to Orbi (in router mode): 350-420mbps download, 250-330mbps upload -- with Ookla Speedtest app

3. IphoneX - wirelessly connected to Orbi (in router mode): 850mbps download, 700mbps upload -- with Netgear Orbi app (huge difference!)

4. IPad Pro (2016) - connected to Orbi (in router mode): 365-420mbps download, 360-420mbps upload -- with Ookla Speedtest app

5. Thinkpad T490s - connected to Orbi via Ethernet: 875mbps download, 915mbps upload -- on Speedtest.net website

6. Thinkpad T490s - connected to Orbi via Ethernet: 845mbps download, 700mbps upload -- on built-in speedtest within Orbi router's configuration page

So based on these speedtest results, I'm wondering which ones to believe -- the Ookla speedtest app (which supposedly is also the speed test provider within the Orbi app) seems to report speeds that are HALF of what the Orbi app reports. On many other internet speed test providers I get a range of 280 to 480mbps, but never anywhere close to the speeds I see via the Orbi app. So I have one source reporting acceptable speeds vs all other sources reporting otherwise.

I've taken most of the defaults when re-setting up the Orbi router (which I factory reset first). However, I did turn back on Implicit Beamforming, MU-MIMO, but left Fast Roaming disabled. Daisy-Chain is enabled, but I only have one satellite and since it made no difference when I used to have an Xfinity connection, I left this one alone. All of the Advanced Wireless Settings in the 2.4 and 5 GHz sections are enabled.

Are there other specific settings that I should check/change so that I can maximize the speeds while connecting to the Orbi system via WiFi?

[One curious thing that happened after setting up the Orbi router today is that all my devices connected to the router but my wireless printer connected to the satellite and its issued IP is still on the 192.168.1.x range, while all other devices are now on the 10.0.0.x range. I guess I should reboot the satellite to see what happens...]

Any guidance will be greatly appreciated!

[6old3nra1n]

Now that I'm thinking about it -- the Orbi app as well as the router built-in speed test is probably pulling the results directly from the wired Router connection to the Arris gateway. In other words, it is NOT showing the actual wireless speeds, even if I using wirelessly connected devices.

For those that have the same ATT gigabit fiber connection with the same gateway + orbi router, what speeds are you getting when connected wirelessly? I guess I am expecting that with a faster internet connection that I should get at least the same wireless speeds as I got when I had Xfinity. It should not be slower (since I'm using the same Orbi hardware/setup), and if anything it should be much faster.

So in short, I have no speed problems when connected via a wired connection, but wireless connections run about half the speed (actually a little less) of wired. I've read other posts where users even have speed issues with wired connections but this is not my experience. And as I mentioned earlier, I don't think the Orbi app or the built in speed test within the Router actually reflects wireless speeds -- it's getting the speeds via the wired connection between the router and Arris gateway.

[FURRYe38]

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/Orbi-AX-6000-and-AT-amp-T-fiber-gateway-issue/m-p/1890125/h...

[6old3nra1n]

@FURRYe38 Thank you for your help! This said, I’m not sure how that linked post helps in my situation since I am not experiencing any issue in connectivity and also I do not have a double NAT situation.

The issue is that my connection is working (wired speed is great) but the wireless speed is 40-50% the speed of the wired speed. For those that tried the workaround in the post you’ve referenced, what has been your speeds when connected wirelessly to the Orbi?

[FURRYe38]

With my older iPhone, I get around 400Mpbs on 5Ghz. Thats about the max between the RBR and iphone I've ever seen. For AC class devices, thats about the max rate you'll see on a 5Ghz AC class device and wifi router.

[6old3nra1n]

Like I said above, I've gotten better wireless speeds with my old Xfinity connection. Easily 450mbps and more consistent. In fact after I've tested my ATT fiber connection today more extensively, the speeds drop to around 200mbps even in direct line of sight (no obstructions) of the Orbi router but around 20 ft away. When I used to have the Xfinity connection, I could be 40 ft away with several walls/structures in the way and I would still get nearly 450mbps.

I definitely am NOT impressed with ATT fiber -- especially if it can't play well with hardware like the Orbi. Some may argue its Orbi's fault but I think the fault like squarely on ATT's firmware for the Arris gateway.

[FURRYe38]

Have you tried AP mode with the RBR and the modem in router mode with wifi radios disabled? 

[6old3nra1n]

This suggestion of yours may be the next thing I try... that said I wish others who have the same ATT fiber plus Orbi chime in on their wireless connection speeds.. is everyone just accepting 200-350mbps connection speeds on a supposed GIGABIT connection?! My HALF megabit Xfinity connection resulted in a 450mbit+ wireless connection speed regardless of where in the house. Also I do have newer hardware that is not hampered by the theoretical max speed of the respective standard. I have ac and ax devices and the wireless connection speed should max out at 866mbit for ac-standard devices. I don't expect 866, but why not 500? Why not 600 or 700? 

[FURRYe38]

The 866Mbps is a connection rate ONLY between the orbi Wifi and wifi devices that support connecting at the rate. The rate is not actual bandwith speed that you will see on a download or upload on a AC supporting wifi device. The rate and bandwidth speeds are different. You will not see anything near or much over 500Mbps. AC class devices max out between 400-500Mpbs mostly. Even on Orbi, with mine, I see just over 400Mpbs with my iphone 6sP. Again, speeds on AC are dependent upon signal, quality, distance, device design and support and signal noise. Many factors contribute to wifi speeds being seen or not seen. Just the nature of 5Ghz AC and wifi design. 

Wired yes, you should need near or just over 900Mpbs on the wire only. 

[6old3nra1n]

Again, like I said, I don't expect the theoretical max. But I do expect at least as good as my previous ISP. 450-500Mbps is what I got previously. So why is it I get about HALF of this on ATT fiber? 

So you say I should not see anything close to 500Mbps but that's basically what I got all day, every day on Xfinity, even in older devices like a 4 year old IPad Pro.

The fact that I see others who are using Orbi Ax6000 and still having trouble with their ATT fiber speeds tells me a lot. In that case, the constraining factor should be the internet connection speed purchased since a gigabit connection still cannot fully saturate this specific router. But in my case, the constraining factor should be the Orbi router but the fact using the same hardware I get half my previous Xfinity speeds is all the indication we need to note something is seriously wrong with the handoff/passthrough mode.

[FURRYe38]

You can try this:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/Orbi-AX-6000-and-AT-amp-T-fiber-gateway-issue/m-p/1890125/h...

I get about 700Mpbs with my Mac Book Pro on my Orbi AX. It's only AC supporting. However I don't have ATT, Csble ISP here. 

[6old3nra1n]

Also, why is this showing a 192.168.1.x IP address when IP passthrough is enabled in the Arris gateway:

IP passthrough working?

Shouldn't it show the public IP address that is supposed to be passed through? 

[FURRYe38]

Something to ask your ISP about. ISP have the tech info on there modems and hardware...

[gr8sho]

You can’t turn off router function in the BGW210. Best to use the Orbi in AP mode. It’s how mine is setup. Only change I make to a factory reset gateway is to disable the wireless radios.