rbr40 - need advise on setting the Orbi up with a new modem.

[Fergie2]

I have the RBR40 which is two years old. I am switching from Spectrum to ATT Fiber 1000 this weekend.  My Orbi is all set up with the Spectrum modem and working fine.  Can some advise as to what I need to do in order to get it set up and working on the new ATT modem?

[plemans]

ATT devices are horrible for having a properly functioning passthrough mode. They tend to be modem/router combo devices. 

Some have gotten passthrough working properly but it takes a little effort. 

Others have simply placed their orbi in access point mode. then they can still use the wireless and ethernet connections on the orbi and rely on the ATT device to run all the routing aspects of it. 

[Fergie2]

Thanks so much for the advice. So what would I need to do???  Once the AT&T technician installs the Fiber1000 and sets up their modem, do I simply unplug the Orbi router from the Spectrum Arris modem, and plug it into the new ATT modem and then hope that the internet service works with the same password?  Or do I need to reconfigure something to get the Orbi router to work with the new modem?

[plemans]

Whenever I switch providers, I always prefer to set it up from factory so you don't have to worry about an old setting causing issues. 

You can write down your ssid/passwords so when you re-do the setup, you can use all the old ssid info and your devices should reconnect fine. 

then you just have to choose if you want to just put it in AP (access point) mode or try and get passthrough working on their modem. 

[Fergie2]

Thanks once again.  Can you advise as to the pros and cons of using the Access Point (not sure what this really means) vs. the modem pass through?  

[plemans]

in access point mode several features are disabled because the netgear device isn't handling routing.

https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Disabled-Features-on-the-Router-when-set-to-AP-Mode

If you get passthrough modem working properly on the att device, then its simply a modem. It allows the netgear to run in full router mode. but it is challenging with att devices. 

[Fergie2]

If my objective is simply to have a wide coverage of internet services over my property at the fastest speed possible, which route should I go down?

[plemans]

Both modes will work fine. Neither changes how the wireless broadcasts. It just changes which device is handling the routing service. 

[FURRYe38]

30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router

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. 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

Option 3 would be easiest. 

---

@Fergie2 wrote:

If my objective is simply to have a wide coverage of internet services over my property at the fastest speed possible, which route should I go down?

---