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Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

rkarthik_75
Aspirant

Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

Hi, I've purchased a modem (in Australia) with router and 1 satellite -  

Netgear ORBI RBK50 Tri-Band Wireless-AC3000 System PN RBK50-100AUS from Ebay. Seller says There are many types of NBN. If you have a simple NBN modem box with just one network port to plug into, that should be fine ie FTTP, HFC etc. NOT FTTN. If you have a VDSL FTTN all in one device, it might not accept traffic to be routed via its modem out to the Internet

 

My question:

1. Does Netgear ORBI need to be connected directly to the phone line in the wall (and remove ISP provided NBN modem & router) OR does it have to be connected to the TP LINK NBN modem router (TPG provided-Archer VR1600v)?  

2. Will it work at my house in my current NBN plan? 

 

Look forward to your inputs. 

 

Karthik 

Model: RBK53|Orbi AC3000 Tri-band WiFi System
Message 1 of 9

Accepted Solutions
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop


@rkarthik_75 wrote:

Hi, I've purchased a modem (in Australia) with router and 1 satellite -  

Netgear ORBI RBK50 Tri-Band Wireless-AC3000 System PN RBK50-100AUS from Ebay. Seller says There are many types of NBN. If you have a simple NBN modem box with just one network port to plug into, that should be fine ie FTTP, HFC etc. NOT FTTN. If you have a VDSL FTTN all in one device, it might not accept traffic to be routed via its modem out to the Internet

 

My question:

1. Does Netgear ORBI need to be connected directly to the phone line in the wall (and remove ISP provided NBN modem & router) OR does it have to be connected to the TP LINK NBN modem router (TPG provided-Archer VR1600v)?  

2. Will it work at my house in my current NBN plan? 

 

Look forward to your inputs. 

 

Karthik 


 

View solution in original post

Message 3 of 9

All Replies

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?


@rkarthik_75 wrote:

 

1. Does Netgear ORBI need to be connected directly to the phone line in the wall ...?  

 


NO!

 

The Orbi is a router. It plugs into the "NBN modem & router". (Check the setup guide.)

 

But that raises an important issue. What is this NBN modem & router?

 

If it is a simple modem, no problem. If it is a modem/router, you have to work out how best to connect the Orbi router. You don't want two routers on the same network.

 

Two routers on your network can cause headaches. For example, you can end up with local address problems. Among other things, the other router can misdirect addresses that the Netgear router usually handles, such as routerlogin.net or the usual IP address for a router, 192.168.1.1.

This explains some of the other drawbacks.

What is Double NAT? | Answer | NETGEAR Support


@rkarthik_75 wrote:

2. Will it work at my house in my current NBN plan? 

 


No reason why it shouldnm;t but who knows what your NBN plan is, from the many flavoursa available, or what ISP you use?

 

What is an NBN network and is my NETGEAR DSL modem router compatible? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

 

 

Message 2 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop


@rkarthik_75 wrote:

Hi, I've purchased a modem (in Australia) with router and 1 satellite -  

Netgear ORBI RBK50 Tri-Band Wireless-AC3000 System PN RBK50-100AUS from Ebay. Seller says There are many types of NBN. If you have a simple NBN modem box with just one network port to plug into, that should be fine ie FTTP, HFC etc. NOT FTTN. If you have a VDSL FTTN all in one device, it might not accept traffic to be routed via its modem out to the Internet

 

My question:

1. Does Netgear ORBI need to be connected directly to the phone line in the wall (and remove ISP provided NBN modem & router) OR does it have to be connected to the TP LINK NBN modem router (TPG provided-Archer VR1600v)?  

2. Will it work at my house in my current NBN plan? 

 

Look forward to your inputs. 

 

Karthik 


 

Message 3 of 9
rkarthik_75
Aspirant

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

This seems to be a good option - disabling the router or reconfiguringh NBN modem/router settings to detect and allow IP passthrough to Netgear. Thanks @FURRYe38 

 

Update: My ISP is TPG and their L1 tech support today was so persistent that it is Netgear's problem, not compatible to any other model etc. I had to threaten to cancel their contract which has prompted them to escalate to a senior tech person. Hopefully they'll assign  

 

Message 4 of 9

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?



@rkarthik_75 wrote:

This seems to be a good option - disabling the router or reconfiguringh NBN modem/router settings to detect and allow IP passthrough to Netgear. Thanks @FURRYe38 

 


Of the three options, I'd rate this as the least satisfactory, and hardest to set up and maintain. It is suitable only if the two better options won't work. (Some ISP modem/routers won't play ball.) Why faff around with two devices when you really need to tweak only the modem./router?

 

The best option is probably "bridge mode" for the modem/router followed by wireless access point (AP) mode for the Orbi.

 

A lot of people go for AP mode because they have routers with better features and they want the Orbi for its wifi advantages.

 

In your case, I'd say that the Orbi would be a better router than your modem/router, a pretty basic box.

 

It is a pity that some websites describe the Archer VR1600v as a "modem". It is a modem/router. But unlike some ISP boxes it can work in bridge (modem only) mode. It seems to be easily changed.

 

How to turn on bridge mode on the TP Link 1600v - TPG Community

 

Then there is this bit:

 

@rkarthik_75 wrote:

Update: My ISP is TPG and their L1 tech support today was so persistent that it is Netgear's problem, not compatible to any other model etc. I had to threaten to cancel their contract which has prompted them to escalate to a senior tech person. Hopefully they'll assign  

 


As various discussions have shown, TPG tech support is famously ignorant about how its own network operates and how to get third party hardware to play nicely.

 

Solved: Re: VLAN tagging for TPG NBN - NETGEAR Communities

 

There are other messages on the same theme around here.

 

Search - NETGEAR Communities – TPG NBN

 

A good source of local incormation is here:

 

“NBN” - Whirlpool Forums

 

 

Message 5 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

Hopefuylly you can get yours working well. @michaelkenward has provides some great resources to check out to help you. 

 

Let us know how it turns out. 


@rkarthik_75 wrote:

This seems to be a good option - disabling the router or reconfiguringh NBN modem/router settings to detect and allow IP passthrough to Netgear. Thanks @FURRYe38 

 

Update: My ISP is TPG and their L1 tech support today was so persistent that it is Netgear's problem, not compatible to any other model etc. I had to threaten to cancel their contract which has prompted them to escalate to a senior tech person. Hopefully they'll assign  

 


 

Message 6 of 9
rkarthik_75
Aspirant

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

Actually it worked without explicitly attempting any of the three options. I was in a call with TPG senior technician and he confirmed nothing was done on their side too. All I did was update the firmware again and it worked. Strange and could have worked the 1st time! There were compatibility issues with Orbi with TP link modem but confirming it's working fine without actually doing any troubleshooting. So all good now @michaelkenward
Message 7 of 9
rkarthik_75
Aspirant

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

Thanks mate @FURRYe38
All good now and taken your post as a solution. The Orbi app shows internet is offline in the dashboard when it's working, but that's for a different post. Cheers
Message 8 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Is ORBI RBK50 compatibile to Australia NBN?

Yes, I'm seeing same issue with Orbi app and my RBR50 It shows off line. Please post about the Orbi app issue in the Orbi app forum.

 

Enjoy. Smiley Wink

Message 9 of 9
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