Using my Orbi RBR50 and RBS50 in AP mode...questions and issues.

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daddylogan wrote:

Hello,

I know there are many aritcles on this subject but every single one of them leaves out something or does not provide specific "order of operations" so to speak so I am hoping someone can provide correct and acurate information on this procedure. Also on the interenet I find all sorts of conflickting information on this and ORBI'S (Netgears) own instructions on this are bare bone basic.

So, here is my situation. I lived in one state where I had Comcast service, so I bought my own compatible modem (compatible with Comcast) and used my then new Orbi router and satellite. Life was great. Orbi's worked fantastic.

Then I moved to a new state and got what is called "Midco TV and Internet" and when they showed up for install - they put in one of those "all-in-one" modem routers. I was thinking to myself I just don't want my Orbi's going to waste. Yes...I could go out and buy but yet another compatible modem with my ISP service but I have already spent enough on decent gear.

So I figured my Orbi's have to be better then the router they gave me plus I can move my satellite downstairs and get good coverage in my basement as well. I could either go into bridge mode in my new router/modem or set up my Orbi to work as an AP and then still have the satellite in my basement connected. It all sounded so easy.

Now we get to what nobody ever tells ya...what do you do first IF you are going into AP mode?

Just so you know, my now router/modem has a cable that comes from the wall and plugs into it and then it has 4 LAN ports on the back. That is it.

For modems with built in wifi and router:

Your ISP Modem already has a built in router and wifi. This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NAT
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.

 

So most instructions say to simply plug in my Orbi with my ethernet cable to the INTERNET port on the Orbi and then into one of the LAN ports on the back of my router modem. Then log into my Orbi (which BTW I found out I could not log in using Netgears website anymore) so I found the Orbi network I click connect. It would not. No matter what it would not connect to the Orbi. So, I did a reset on my Orbi and the Satellite which defaulted back to the original "ORBI56" SSID and default password.

I was then able to connect and then had to type in 192.168.1.1 and finally got to the UI. I went through the setup process. However, after a few minutes my connection would drop and my computer would default back to my orginal routers SSID and I would be kicked off. Drove me crazy. So I then decided to do another rest on the Orbi's and I hard wired into another computer to configure (setup) and put it into AP mode. I finally made it through the process and while I was on the AP screen I unplugged the hard wire form my secondary computer and plugged back into the LAN port on the router/modem. I then click on the button to make it go to AP mode and assign a new IP which it did (192.168.0.xxx)

Now here is what I don't understand. What do I do next? Isee two networks now...one for my Orbi and one for my other (gateway) router/modem. Why would I see two networks if the AP is suppose to be just an extension of my gateway router? Next, there is no information on at what point I am suppose to turn wireless OFF in the gateway router - before you start all the procedures or after the ORBI is configured and hooked up? Conflicting articles everywhere on the net...and mind you, I am far from a network guru or procedures.

Next is the naming of the SSDI on my Orbi. Naturally it would seem if my ORBI'S SSID is different then my gateway modem/router all my devices in my home will go down....which brings up the question of whether or not I should assign my Orbi the same SSID and password as my gateway? It would seem like all my devices would then connect seemlessly...but at the same time, since it still shows I have two networks running would not my device be competing to connect to both routers now? I would think that once the Orbi is set into AP mode that it would stop broadcasting as a netwrok and just be an extension of my gateway? I keep thinking I should ignore the Orbi network login all together and log into my original network. All of this is confusing as well as interenet instructions on this matter.

Also people say the satellite will not work in AP mode and others say it does. If it does not work or connect my whole idea is pointless and I have papewr weights with my Orbi's unless I go buy a new standalone modem that is comapatible with my new ISP.

Ok....I hope I explained that well enough and I hope someone can lay out the exact procedure (from start to finish with the situation I have described) on how to get this working and not have a router battle going on and which network to connect to and should SSID's and password be the same on both?

What I do and recommend if the RBR is in router mode, configure the RBR for AP and and set a static IP address configuration on the RBR. 192.168.1.50 would be recommended. Then you'll always know where to access the RBRs web page when in AP mode. This address would need to be out side of the host routers default IP address pool range so you may need to set a new size on the host router. I use and recommend 192.168.#.100 to .200. This gives you room on either side of the pool to have some static IP addressed and configured devices. 
# is the 3rd number seen and used on the host routers LAN pool. Some are .1 and some can be .0
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

Yes you can use same SSID name and PW on both temporarily. Once you configure the RBR and apply the change, connect it up to the host router. You can disable the host routers at this point if you use same SSID name and PW on the Orbi as what you have on the host router. This would allow for or should allow for a seamless transition of wifi connected devices from the host router to the Orbi system. 

 

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I would start on this web site and see if your existing modem is compatible with MidCo:

https://www.midco.com/support/internet/modems/approved-modems/ 

 

ISPs almost always install a combination modem/router/WiFi because naive customers will have nothing to connect to their service if they provide only a modem.  That doesn't mean that is the only option.