Advice needed on setting up Orbi 853

[roxyroo]

My new Orbi 853 system will be arriving shortly and I am looking for advice on how to set it up.  I will be connecting this to my ATT Gateway on bi-directional Gigabit Fiber.  Do I just turn off the wifi signals on the Gateway or is there any other settings I need to make before I connect Orbi?  Also I am wondering how to position the satellites.  I have a 5,000 sqft home but it has very high ceilings and a partial second floor.  How well does the system transmitt vertically versus just horizonally.  Can I place all three units on the first floor to cover a maximum area in the horizonal direction and will that give me good signal upstairs or must I place one upstairs?  Any other advice would be great.  Thanks.

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

It can if you have wired devices connected to the RBS.

If you want to use the Orbi as your main host router, you'll need to connect everything to the Orbi router. if you have more than 4 LAN wired devices, then you can add a Gb switch to the back of the RBR for additional LAN ports. NG GS-105/108v4, D-Link DGS-105/108 and HP ProCurve 1400/1800 series switches work for Orbi systems.

[FURRYe38]

Your ISP Modem already has a built in router and wifi. 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

Try option #2 first with the ISP modem...

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 📡

[roxyroo]

Thanks.  Does any of this impact wired ethernet connections?  It I dissable NAT on the ATT router would I still be able to use the built-in 4 port switch on it or would I have to feed everything that is wired off the Orbi with a separate wired switch plugged into it?

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

It can if you have wired devices connected to the RBS.

If you want to use the Orbi as your main host router, you'll need to connect everything to the Orbi router. if you have more than 4 LAN wired devices, then you can add a Gb switch to the back of the RBR for additional LAN ports. NG GS-105/108v4, D-Link DGS-105/108 and HP ProCurve 1400/1800 series switches work for Orbi systems.