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Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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EAX20 wired and in router mode

Mark500000
Tutor

EAX20 wired and in router mode

I was running my EAX20 in router mode and needed more signal in one area of our house. I wired it with Ethernet and moved it. It is still in router mode, not AP mode. Is the wired connection helping?

Does a wired EAX20 actually use WiFi instead of Ethernet to talk to the router when it is in router mode?
Does an Ethernet wired EAX20 need to be in AP mode if in order to take advantage of the wired connection to the router?

Message 1 of 13
schumaku
Guru

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

Honestly, I failed to spot any indication of the EAX20 Router Mode in the fine manuals.

 

Of course, I'm aware the similar WAX202 and WAX206 Wireless Access Points can be configured into a Router mode, so don't wonder a second if they have enabled this (in my reading) undocumented feature on the EAX20, too..

 

In Router Mode, The AP functions as both a lightweight router and WiFi 6 access point, and can support LAN clients through its LAN ports. Because the AP is connected to your modem, the AP receives its IP address settings from your Internet service provider (ISP). The AP delivers IP address settings to its clients so that Internet access is provided.

 

The only meaningful purpose is to connect the WAN /Internet port to a cable modem (or the like). Other variants don't make much sense, due to double NAT, port forwarding limitations, ...

 

Do you have another NAT router, e.g. an ISP provided Wi-Fi router gateway combo?

 

Of course, you could re-locate the EAX20 in router mode to a position providing better WiFi coverage, by adding a cable connection to your internet device/cable modem. This requires that you have to extend all Ethernet cables for the LAN devices to the same position.

 

However, I'm not convinced this makes a lot of sense, depending on your Internet connection. If you have another NAT router/gateway offering private RFC1918 IP addresses for the LAN, consider to operate the EAX20 in access point mode.

 

 

 

 

Message 2 of 13
plemans
Guru

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

Like @schumaku says, there is ZERO router mode on the EAX20. 

It either has extender mode or access point mode. 

If you have it in extender mode but hardwired to the router, it won't function properly. 

So if you're planning on using it hardwired, you need to reinstall it in access point mode. 

Message 3 of 13
Mark500000
Tutor

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

I had ATT 300/300 fiber installed and ATT supplied the Humax modem/router.
The EAX20 is in router mode. The manual only says that running the EAX20 in AP mode results in losing some features of the EAX20, like guest access.

Message 4 of 13
plemans
Guru

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode


@Mark500000 wrote:

The EAX20 is in router mode. The manual only says that running the EAX20 in AP mode results in losing some features of the EAX20, like guest access.


There is no router mode. So if it's not in access point mode, its in extender mode. 

It won't function properly in extender mode if you have it hardwired to the router. 

So if you want to wire it to your router, set it up in access point mode. 

If you want to continue using the extra features, then you need to disconnect the connection back to the router and run it in extender mode. 

Message 5 of 13
schumaku
Guru

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode


@Mark500000 wrote:
I had ATT 300/300 fiber installed and ATT supplied the Humax modem/router.
The EAX20 is in router mode. The manual only says that running the EAX20 in AP mode results in losing some features of the EAX20, like guest access.

New guess from Switzerland: We're facing a RAX20 — 4-Stream AX1800 WiFi 6 Router here?

Message 6 of 13
Mark500000
Tutor

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

When I installed it, the EAX20 asked if I wanted to install the EAX20 in router mode or AP mode. I want sure so I picked router mode. I can’t find that in the manual. Maybe router mode means the same as extender mode.
Is there a reliable way to determine if the EAX20 is operating in extender mode, possibly router mode, or in AP mode?
Message 7 of 13
schumaku
Guru

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

Assuming the connections are the same as before:

 

Connect a PC or associate a wireless client to the network.

Does the device get an IP address assigned?

Is this something in the 192.168.1.x network ?

Open a Web browser and access http://192.168.1.1/ - login with the password known ....

 

 

Message 8 of 13
Mark500000
Tutor

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

Sorry. My bad. The software asks to set up in extender mode or access point mode. I think I got the term “router mode” from another person or website. Sorry. This stuff is mostly outside my area of expertise.

 

All connected devices to the network are 192.xxx.xxx.xxx.

 

So the the EAX20 (AX1800) is set up in extender mode and is connected to Ethernet. Seems like after I wired it, WiFi speeds from the extender improved. Is that possible in extender mode?

Message 9 of 13
plemans
Guru

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

How is it wired? 

If your pc is hardwired to the extender, you'll get better speeds than over wireless. 

This happens because a single/dual band extender drops throughput 50% because of how they function over wireless. 

they have to use the same chip to go router----extender and then extender--device and can't do both at once. 

But if you either have the extender hardwired in (in access point mode) or the pc hardwired in, you don't get that drop in speed as there isn't the wireless re-transmission.  

Message 10 of 13
Mark500000
Tutor

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

The extender is hard wired to the router/modem. Seems to improve speed distances from the extender.
Message 11 of 13
Bouncingmolar
Aspirant

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

What does schumanku mean when it won't function correctly when connected to Lan in extender mode.

Does Lan connected AP mode still extend the wifi? Or does it need it's own separate wifi name
Message 12 of 13
plemans
Guru

Re: EAX20 wired and in router mode

@Bouncingmolar This post starts off with a few issues. I'd recommend starting your own if you have questions about a setup, performance, etc. then we can directly help you with your specifics and not get them confused with the OP. 

Message 13 of 13
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