Re: Replacing Fios Router with Orbi

AldenDreamer · ‎2020-10-07

I have Fios gigabit and an Orbi. I use the Orbi as an AP. It has worked well for several years. When I initially installed the Orbi my Fios router and ONT were in the basement of my aprtment building. Verizon provided a Fios extender to get service to my apartment.

Recently Verizon moved the router and the ONT into my apartment. I just noticed that the ONT has a Coax and Ethernet cable. The Coax goes to a splitter and has one connected to my router and one to the wall to conect with the Coax to the TV. The phone also comes out of the ONT.

The attatched photo shows the setup.

Today I ddisconnected the Coax from the router and the TV, phone and Internet work fine without it.

Do I still need the Fios router? Can I connect the Ethernet cable from the ONT directly to the ORBI and have it be my router?

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-10-07

I would contact the ISP to see if this is possible.

https://kb.netgear.com/31100/How-do-I-set-up-my-Orbi-system-to-work-with-Fios

CrimpOn · ‎2020-10-07

@AldenDreamer wrote:
Today I ddisconnected the Coax from the router and the TV, phone and Internet work fine without it.
Do I still need the Fios router? Can I connect the Ethernet cable from the ONT directly to the ORBI and have it be my router?

Thanks for posting this question. Do my eyes deceive me, or is the ONT actually two boxes?

Would be fascinating to see pictures of the connector side of these units. Maybe the exact model numbers?

I think you may be on to something. It is sort of a big step to change the Orbi from AP to router mode. Have you done anything on the FIOS router to allocate IP addresses? (That would disappear the instant the Verizon router disappears.)

My first step would be to connect a laptop directly to the FIOS ONT and see what happens.

AldenDreamer · ‎2020-10-07

It is two boxes. The one on the top is the battery or charger from what the tech said. It has an ONT Reset button.

I attached a photo of the back. It appears to be an Alcatel I-211M-L.

I have not done anything to assign IP addresses. I turned off the wireless radio.

My wife's laptop is the only one that has an Ethernet port and it is being repaired. Will try once it is back.

Why is it a big step to change from AP to router mode?

AldenDreamer · ‎2020-10-07

I just checked my settings and it appears that I am in router mode not AP. The photo shows the setting. Is this possible? Is the Orbi in router mode? Shoudl I change it?

CrimpOn · ‎2020-10-07

@AldenDreamer wrote:
I just checked my settings and it appears that I am in router mode not AP. The photo shows the setting. Is this possible? Is the Orbi in router mode? Shoudl I change it?

Yes, router mode is the default. Since you have done nothing to customize the network, I don't see what can go wrong with simply plugging the Orbi directly into the ONT and turning it on. Your WiFi devices will get new IP addresses, but that should be automatic.

AldenDreamer · ‎2020-10-08

I relased the DHCP from teh Verizon router and pluddged it into the Orbi and I no longer am using the Fios router. All seems to be working correctly as of now.