Re: BT Home Hub conflict

JulietteT · ‎2020-04-12

Please can anyone help?

I have sucessfully-ish installed my Orbi plus 2 satelites. I am currently using a BT Home Hub and this is causing some issues - can't print, can't access some websites (error code 404), and can't connect to my smart tv or bluetooth speaker.

I have tried disabling the wifi on the Home Hub router and I have tried with the wifi enabled.

Can anyone suggest what else I could try? I am happy to replace the Home Hub with a modem if this might help.

Many thanks

plemans · ‎2020-04-12

disabling wifi doesn't disable the routing aspect of the home home. it leaves you in a double nat

https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT

2 easiest options are 1. put the home home in passthrough/modem only mode or 2. put the orbi in access point mode.

michaelkenward · ‎2020-04-13

@plemans wrote:

options are 1. put the home home in passthrough/modem only mode or

Easier said than done, if not impossible with the HomeHuib. BT goes out of its way to deny users that option .

@plemans wrote:

put the orbi in access point mode.

That works fine for many Orbi users. I don't have a HomeHub. (I've got three of them, two still shrink wrapped.) But I still have an AP Orbi network.

JulietteT · ‎2020-04-13

Thank you for the help.

Yes, I think putting the homehub into modem/passthrough mode is impossible.

Do you have any advice on how to do your second suggestions? I am not a techie at all so just stumbling through this progress while my family moan and complain about the pages they cant access!!! (To be fair, my eldest cant get logged onto her Uni library which is not helping her Masters dissertation much!!)

I'm sure there must be a solution.....

Thanks

Juliette

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-13

SImplest solution would be to configure yoru Orbi for AP mode:

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

Keep your Home Hub router as your main router. Disable ALL wifi radios on this modem. Have you ISP help you with this.

michaelkenward · ‎2020-04-13

@FURRYe38 wrote:

Disable ALL wifi radios on this modem. Have you ISP help you with this.

That's a good idea, but you may not even need to do that.

The Orbi will give itself a different SSID. My router's wifi coexists happily with the Orbi wifi.

The only issue could be if they choose to squat on the same channels and when the family complains about which wifi network to connect to.

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-13

Why I mentioned disabling wifi radios on the Hub. Helps with initial installation and interferences.

michaelkenward · ‎2020-04-13

Makes sense. But it can be easier to leave Homehubs well alone unless needed.

The BT Homehub is a pig. Worth what they charge for it. Nothing plus delivery of £6.95, when mine arrived.

Unfortunately, modem only devices for DSL are vanishing. Seeing this, I was lucky enough to buy an unused DM200 from a strange supplier who seems to specialise in refurbs that are actually just "open box". The price was higher than I paid new last year.

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-13

Everyone on the ISP side seems to want the modem router combo units now days for DSL and Cable. Still glad cable offers stand alone modems still.

timch · ‎2020-04-13

Yes the best way through this is turn of the radios on the Home Hub and put the Orbi in AP mode. This works really well for me.

JulietteT · ‎2020-04-20

thank you for the advice however I cant make this work for me, unfortunately.

The problem is logging into Orbilogin. If I am attached via my BT homehub understandably the log in doesnt work because I'm not connected to the Orbi but if I log in while connected to the Orbi then I get the Error 404 message - i.e. exactly the conflict I am trying to remove.

There must be a way. Any help gratefully received.

timch · ‎2020-04-20

The best way to go from here is to factory reset your Orbi router. Then either connect to it by cable or using the orbi Wi-fi detailsfrom the label. Set to AP in Advanced Settings and alter the Wi-Fi credentials SSID and password to match your current network. Finally connect the Home Hub to the yellow socket and turn off Wi-fi on your Home Hub. Set up like this the Home Hub does the routing and your Orbi does the Wi-Fi. It works great for me like this.

michaelkenward · ‎2020-04-20

I have lost track of how far you have got. Did you ever succeed in getring the Orib into AP mode?

If not, try this.

Disconnect Orbi from modem/router
Connect PC to Orbi
Now try Orbilogin on the PC
Set up Orbi as Access point
Turn everything off.
Connect Orbi to modem router as before
Connect PC to whatever it was plugged into before
Turn ion Modem/Router
Wait for it to settle down and connect to Internet
Turn on Orbi
Wait for it to settle down and connect to Internet
Turn on everything else

If you have got the Orbi in AP mode, you can access its controls through its IP address. (Orbilogin won't work.) The modem/router should have a list of "Connected Devices" that tells you the Orbi's IP address. Point a browser at that IP address.

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-20

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

I recommend trying option #2 or 3.

Make sure the IP address on the main upstream router isn't in conflict with the RBR. Walking thru the setup wizard on the RBR should help with this.

@JulietteT wrote:
thank you for the advice however I cant make this work for me, unfortunately.
The problem is logging into Orbilogin. If I am attached via my BT homehub understandably the log in doesnt work because I'm not connected to the Orbi but if I log in while connected to the Orbi then I get the Error 404 message - i.e. exactly the conflict I am trying to remove.

There must be a way. Any help gratefully received.

michaelkenward · ‎2020-04-20

@FURRYe38 wrote:

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.

Not possible. See above.

BT's HomeHub is designed to frustrate users on that front.

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-20

Updated post.

Thank you.