topic Re: Mesh Router, recommendations in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Mesh Router, recommendations

WasJohn — Thu, 24 May 2018 17:04:38 GMT

I came back to Plusnet when fibre reached our village and I was assured by the Plusnet salesman that their router was compatible with mesh systems. Being on the point of ordering a Netgear RBK53 Orbi. Netgear tell me that it won't work with the Plusnet router. Since Netgear seem to have the best product for my needs can I buy a plug and play modem that will work with both Plusnet and the Orbi mesh system. Or is there another solution or another powerful mesh system. In my house wifi extenders don't transmit through the walls.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

bill888 — Fri, 25 May 2018 05:05:43 GMT

I don't have direct experience of Orbi products, RBK53 support page links to the RBK50 user manual.

On page 79 of the manual for the RBK50

http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK50/Orbi_UM_EN.pdf

shows the Orbi can be put into 'Access Point mode'. Then you would hard wire one of the Orbis to the Plusnet hub yellow LAN port.

Finally, switch off the wifi on the Plusnet hub.

However, if you wish to specifically use the full capabilities of the Orbi as your main router, then you can use the Orbi with a standalone VDSL2 bridge modem. The cheapest modem options are perhaps:

- used Openreach Huawei HG612 (3B) bridge modem from eBay

- TPlink TD-W9970 offers a bridge mode.

- Netgear DM200

- BT Business Hub 5 also offers 'bridge mode'. (It must be the 'Business' version)

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

WasJohn — Fri, 25 May 2018 11:22:35 GMT

Thanks for such a prompt and clear reply. The Netgear stuff should be here tomorrow, I pray that you don't have to hear from me again because I can't get it running, I'm as thick as the walls of this house

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

ianpidgeon — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 15:40:25 GMT

Any news on this...as I'm in a similar boat..
Have the Orbi, but couldn't get it to work with the plusnet onehub..

Have just picked up an HB612, but looks like i need to do a bit of fiddling on that too!!

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

Baldrick1 — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:56:14 GMT

@WasJohn,

If you have tbick walls you may still have problems with wireless connections between the satellites. I know installation is a pain but be aware that you can interconnect the units via Ethernet cable if necessary.

@ianpidgeon

The easiest way to connect these is as a Wireless Point as explained on page 79 of the manual linked in the @bill888 post above. Using a HG612 is a neater solution but you do need to configure the Orbi by entering your Plusnet log in details.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

ianpidgeon — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 10:24:40 GMT

So it was actually dead simple...
Didn't have to 'access' the modem at all...
Plug in the phone line...plug in the orbi.. Enter the CORRECT log in details, and it all just worked!!!

Fast stable WiFi throughout the house!!!

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

wartosa — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:41:41 GMT

Sorry, I'm also a bit of a tech-newbie, but:

Do you mean you plugged the Orbi system into the phone line without using either the older BT Modem/Technicolour router that Plusnet used to supply (which, weirdly, has worked better for me than the Hub), or the Hub, and it worked?

So it does the job of both a modem and a router?

If so, I'm ordering one tomorrow

Thanks...

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

RealAleMadrid — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 05:51:47 GMT

@wartosa The Orbi system does not include a modem so the Openreach modem or equivalent is still required, See post #2 of this thread.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

wartosa — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:09:03 GMT

Great, thanks very much.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

jasmyn — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 03:39:03 GMT

You can use a HG612. remember to configure the Orbi. This should help 192.168.0.1. You can find information about different types of routers and fix your issues.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

WasJohn — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 07:48:34 GMT

I settled for the Netgear DM200 router and the whole system has worked like a dream. I'm only aware of the connection dropping out once since I've had it.

I had a redundant Netgear route extender from a previous attempt to get a signal further than one room. This found the network from what passes as a man-cave in the garden and acts as a hotspot, though I do have to find and connect to it each time.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

bogart99 — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 19:52:35 GMT

I have the Netgear DM200 modem but cannot get anything to work with the Orbi router. I could not get the DM200 to work with a Netgear Nighthawk router either but it worked fine with a Sky modem. What login details did it ask you?

Regards

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

ReedRichards — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 06:49:21 GMT

I installed and Orbi router with three satellites using a BT Home Hub as the modem a few months ago. I had to change the default settings on the Orbi but after that it was fine.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

Baldrick1 — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 16:46:38 GMT

@bogart99

Using the DM200 gives you two options for setting up.

1. If you set the DM200 in Modem + Router mode, which from the installation data sheet (see link below) looks like the default setting, you need to enter your Plusnet details into the DM200 (see link below) then set the Orbi to the Access Point mode.

2. If you set the DM200 to the optional Modem mode then the same Plusnet details need to be entered into the Orbi, not the DM200.and the Orbi configured in Router mode.

Other combinations will not work.

Link to Plusnet account settings https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/broadband-connection-settings/

Link to DM200 installation guide download (look for it in your browser download file) https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=2ahUKEwj5_9ekhf_eAhWJmbQKHRm5AbgQFjAFegQIBBAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.downloads.netgear.com%2Ffiles%2FGDC%2FDM200%2FDM200_QSG_EN.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3zgQsc5L3AVkijv-lRMSQ9

I hope this helps.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

WasJohn — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 19:07:41 GMT

Thanks for the guidance. I shall now knock some sense into that Netgear modem and strip it of its router properties.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

bogart99 — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 22:14:22 GMT

Finally got there after a fair bit of huffing and puffing. Main reason was incorrect primary DNS values. Letting it default to what Plusnet thinks was right , was WRONG. Last value on primary DNS needed manually setting to 41 and not 40 as was being defaulted. All is well now. Thanks folks.

Re: Mesh Router, recommendations

Newbie4 — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:25:13 GMT

Hi, I’ve just ordered an Orbi rbk50 and the Netgear DM200, on your post you mention two ways to connect them, which one would you recommend please?

if you just left the DM200 as a modem + router could you still connect the Orbi router?

apologies if basic questions , my first venture into buying my own router!