Centurylink Fiber and RBK50

[creed0330]

Hello all, let me start by stating that I have read tons of forums on this and am still stuck.  I have CL Fiber with the C4000XG modem from CL, and just recently bought the RBK50 pack.

Breakdown of set up:

CL Modem-RBR50-PC

I set up the Orbi, one upstairs, one down, and the coverage seems to be okay.  I get close to 250-300 down over wireless.  I am in router mode, both radios disbled on the CL modem. When I do a speed test via the google speed test wired, i get aroun 400 down, yet through orbi, ookla, and other sites I get about 40 down.  Uploads alwasy seem to hit around 900...  I guess, my question is whats the best way I need to set my network up to reap the benefits of fiber?   I do have my PPOE creds from my ISP, do I need to bridge?  I get these decent wifi speeds, but my TV, which I use a firestick for streaming tends to buffer at times, yet, when I used the CL modems wifi, it never buffered.  Im at a loss, and looking for the best suggestion regarding my network.  Any all help would be appreciated.  I've read tons of forums related to this and still lost.

[FURRYe38]

What Firmware version is currently loaded?

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite

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

One User Experience/Configuration:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Most-Stable-Orbi-Configuration/m-p/1941087/highlight/true#M970...

You can find other speed diagnosis steps in the community faq: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/Community-FAQ-My-Orbi-speeds-are-slow-inconsistent-and-don-...

[creed0330]

Thanks for the response.  To answer your question, house is about 2700 Sq Ft.  Orbi Router is upstairs, and Sat is down stairls,literally right below it.  Wifi doesnt seem to be too much of an issue.  I have seen where people are taking the CL router our of the equation and using the Orbi in router mode, all this being done vie PPOE and VLAN tagging.  My ISP gave me my PPOE creds, yet when I log into my CL router, it says my connection is IPOE.  Any idea as to how I can use the Orbi in IPOE and remove the CL router?  Plenty of topics I have found where people have done this, but like i said, it was with a PPOE connection.  I have also tried option 3, and the results are the same, I see no difference.  I thought unless I removed the CL and configed the Orbi to do all the load bearing, that I would always have doube NAT.

[FURRYe38]

Are speed testing with a wired PC or wireless device? 

You'll need to ask your ISP about the IPoE protocol if that something that can be used on external routers...

Seems like the modem maybe trottling the Orbi data flow...

[jhoff909]

Do Furry's #3.  I tried all the others and got things to work but the only way I could get full fiber speed was with the orbi in AP mode.  I really really wanted to take the CL modem out of the picture all together.  I did get it working that way but the orbi couldn't keep up when it was doing both wifi, nat and routing.  Speeds were, I forget exactly but I think in the 500mbps range instead of the 925 or so that you should get with gigabit fiber.

[creed0330]

Yes wired, as stated in OP.  ISP wont provide anything regarding IPOE, they said contact netgear, but did say I had to use IPOE bc it's my ISP protocol, i need to know how to use IPOE via the orbi.  I have tried #3, same results.  I think the CL device is actually just a router...  Another note, today I placed Orbi in AP mode, and wifi is significantly worse than when in router mode and CL router radios disabled.  Im at a loss.  This is my 3rd mesh system, and it seems to be the best as far as coverage and speed, but thats about it.

[jhoff909]

Yes, the CL device is just a router.  Yes, the router needs to do IPOE or PPOE or something like that - you need to be able to "log in".  Interesting, I get fairly good results with the Orbi in AP mode.  No, I don't get gigabit speeds wireless but didn't expect to.  Wired connected to the RBR50, I get 925 or so symetric

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@creed0330 wrote:

Yes wired, as stated in OP.  ISP wont provide anything regarding IPOE, they said contact netgear, but did say I had to use IPOE bc it's my ISP protocol, i need to know how to use IPOE via the orbi.  I have tried #3, same results.  I think the CL device is actually just a router...  Another note, today I placed Orbi in AP mode, and wifi is significantly worse than when in router mode and CL router radios disabled.  Im at a loss.  This is my 3rd mesh system, and it seems to be the best as far as coverage and speed, but thats about it.

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[creed0330]

Yea, I dont expext gig speeds via wifi, but I would like to know how to configure my orbi for IPOE.

[jhoff909]

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@creed0330 wrote:

Yea, I dont expext gig speeds via wifi, but I would like to know how to configure my orbi for IPOE.

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Do some searches.  I have CL gigabit fiber but it uses PPPOE instead.  As best I can tell, with IPOE, yours should either just work or you have to set vlan tagging up using 201 as the tag.  Have a look at:  https://www.reddit.com/r/orbi/comments/gxtg6h/bypassing_cl_fiber_modem_something_seems_off/ although I don't think it fully discusses your issue.  I found that when I tried to take the CL router out of the system, that the orbi wasn't able to keep up doing routing, wifi and NAT.  Even wired, I couldn't get close to gigabit speeds.  The newer Orbi's might but I don't really know.  You can do some more searching but I found a lot of posts that suggested that the orbi just isn't a great, fully featured router and that the CL eq is better at that - just the wifi perf isn't great.  So let the CL box do the routing and the orbi do the wifi in AP mode.  I'm curious what your wired speeds look like once you do get it working tho... if...