Help changing Orbi to AP

[jp104]

Recently purchased an Orbi wifi extender and set it up. It worked great for 3 days then I started getting the dreaded 401 error. After searching on the net for this error I see that the way most people fixed it is to change the Orbi router to AP. I tried to login to the router while on the orbi network using http://orbilogin.com but it still gives me the same 401 error. I've done this from multiple devices and PCs with no luck thus far. I also tried to log in remotely from the app. 

So at this point I cannot log into the orbi router to change to AP mode. Is there any way to do this from the orbi app? I can't see any options to enter advanced mode from the orbi app. Any assistance is much appreciated!

Internet provider ATT Uverse fiber

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

You can set up the Orbi if you disconnect it from the ISP modem. 

Factory reset the Orbi and skip the setup wizard. Once your in, go in to the advanced settings and change the Orbi to AP mode. Then you can connect it to the ISP modem.

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

What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?

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@jp104 wrote:

Thank you! I think I have that double NAT thing going on. I'm away from the router now while at work so I'll have to try what you posted later on tonight. Also do you know if there is a way to set the Orbi to AP while doing the set up? I may just have to uninstall the whole thing and try again from scratch.

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[FURRYe38]

What FW is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too? Built in router here? If so, This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge 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 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 

Review option #3...

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@jp104 wrote:

Recently purchased an Orbi wifi extender and set it up. It worked great for 3 days then I started getting the dreaded 401 error. After searching on the net for this error I see that the way most people fixed it is to change the Orbi router to AP. I tried to login to the router while on the orbi network using http://orbilogin.com but it still gives me the same 401 error. I've done this from multiple devices and PCs with no luck thus far. I also tried to log in remotely from the app. 

So at this point I cannot log into the orbi router to change to AP mode. Is there any way to do this from the orbi app? I can't see any options to enter advanced mode from the orbi app. Any assistance is much appreciated!

Internet provider ATT Uverse fiber

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[CrimpOn]

The 401 error appears during random web browsing or specifically when connecting to the Orbi?

If the Orbi login is the only thing affected, then either the Orbi's IP address is not where orbilogin.net typically points to (192.168.1.1) or the login credentials being entered are not correct.

Can you point a web browser to 192.168.1.1 and see if you can log in?  If not, do you get this error message:

401 Unauthorized

Access to this resource is denied, your client has not supplied the correct authentication.

We can help you to recover the router’s admin password. Please complete the information below and click Continue.

If this is not the message that you get, then you are probably connected to something else, like the ISP's modem.

If this is the message, did you attempt to follow the directions?  (I did once, and they actually worked.)  If they do not work, then the Orbi admin password is probably not what you think it is.

[jp104]

Thanks for all the replies!

I tried to login using orbilogin.com and 192.168.1.1 and got the 401 unauthorized message. I haven't changed the orbi admin password so it's still set at the default password "password".

[jp104]

Thank you! I think I have that double NAT thing going on. I'm away from the router now while at work so I'll have to try what you posted later on tonight. Also do you know if there is a way to set the Orbi to AP while doing the set up? I may just have to uninstall the whole thing and try again from scratch.

[CrimpOn]

I understand that the "double NAT" causes specific problems.  Considering that the default configuration for most ISP devices is "router" and the default for Orbi is "router", there must be a lot of users who have no problems.  My Orbi has been a double NAT for two years, and everything I have done so far has worked.  There are specific things I have not done, like VPN, port forwarding, port triggering, etc.  Getting a 401 error sounds like regular web browsing.

So, all sorts of web sites return 401 errors?

How are you going about connecting to the Orbi?  (a PC connected with an Ethernet cable?  The Orbi smartphone app?)

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

You can set up the Orbi if you disconnect it from the ISP modem. 

Factory reset the Orbi and skip the setup wizard. Once your in, go in to the advanced settings and change the Orbi to AP mode. Then you can connect it to the ISP modem.

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

What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?

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@jp104 wrote:

Thank you! I think I have that double NAT thing going on. I'm away from the router now while at work so I'll have to try what you posted later on tonight. Also do you know if there is a way to set the Orbi to AP while doing the set up? I may just have to uninstall the whole thing and try again from scratch.

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[jp104]

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@CrimpOn wrote:

I understand that the "double NAT" causes specific problems.  Considering that the default configuration for most ISP devices is "router" and the default for Orbi is "router", there must be a lot of users who have no problems.  My Orbi has been a double NAT for two years, and everything I have done so far has worked.  There are specific things I have not done, like VPN, port forwarding, port triggering, etc.  Getting a 401 error sounds like regular web browsing.

So, all sorts of web sites return 401 errors?

How are you going about connecting to the Orbi?  (a PC connected with an Ethernet cable?  The Orbi smartphone app?)

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I can only connect via the App at this time. If I try to connect to the orbi login web page I get the 401 error. The 401 error occurs with almost every website that I try to access. The funny thing is that i set it all up 3 days ago and it worked fine until last night. Nothing has changed as far as I know but all of a sudden Im getting tons of 401 errors. 

[FURRYe38]

What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?

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@jp104 wrote:

Thank you! I think I have that double NAT thing going on. I'm away from the router now while at work so I'll have to try what you posted later on tonight. Also do you know if there is a way to set the Orbi to AP while doing the set up? I may just have to uninstall the whole thing and try again from scratch.

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[jp104]

Just a follow up. I factory reset the orbi and during set up changed it to AP. Works like a charm now. Thank you for your help!

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@FURRYe38 wrote:

You can set up the Orbi if you disconnect it from the ISP modem. 

Factory reset the Orbi and skip the setup wizard. Once your in, go in to the advanced settings and change the Orbi to AP mode. Then you can connect it to the ISP modem.

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

What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?

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@jp104 wrote:

Thank you! I think I have that double NAT thing going on. I'm away from the router now while at work so I'll have to try what you posted later on tonight. Also do you know if there is a way to set the Orbi to AP while doing the set up? I may just have to uninstall the whole thing and try again from scratch.

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[FURRYe38]

Great that its working. 

For posterity, What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too? Just curious. 

Enjoy the sytem.