Help connecting Orbi RBK23 to fibre ONT to avoid using ISP gateway?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Help connecting Orbi RBK23 to fibre ONT to avoid using ISP gateway?

didyousaybeer

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#289997 14-Oct-2021 09:45

Been reading heaps of Geekzone threads about people connecting their mesh network routers directly to their Fibre ONT box to avoid sitting behind their ISP's provided gateway (modem+router). Brcsuse, from what I gather, if you don't setup your mesh router as an an Access Point when behind the gateway, then you'd need to fiddle with the ISP gateway to turn off its router + wifi functions else it'd be a double router setup like ONT -> Gateway Router -> Mesh Router (in Router Mode) -> Mesh Satellite?

So, I'd like to do the same but for the life of me cannot seem to get it to work. Here's what I have and what I've tried:

- Orbi RBK23
- Chorus fibre ONT
- new Skinny fibre broadband (7th day waiting for new Skinny gateway to be delivered due to NZPost delays)
- old TrustPower gateway -> THIS ACTUALLY WORKS ON SKINNY after manual modem configs

But, I don't want to have to use any ISP gateway between ONT (since that should have a built-in modem) and the Orbi router as others have allegedly accomplished.

Tried using this PBTech guide: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/NetgearISPSettings#sparkorbi

However, this PBTech article doesn't specify the Orbi VLAN tagging needs for Skinny but what I still don't understand is why neither Internet Settings + VLAN/Bridge tagging options work for Skinny? When I tried both, the Orbi eventually just ends up with the magenta/purple ring to say No Internet.

I feel like I tried this when I had TrustPower too and that also just got the purple ring.

What am I doing wrong? I'd really like to not have to be reliant on an ISP Gateway to use my mesh wifi regardless of which ISP it is. Because else, is having the Orbi in Router mode and the ISP Gateway configured like it is out of the box, wouldn't that cause like double-routing issues?

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3762 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2794949 14-Oct-2021 09:48

Skinny don't use vlan tagging.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

didyousaybeer

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2794951 14-Oct-2021 09:56

Is Skinny like the only big NZ ISP that doesn't support this and if so, is that saying no way to configure an Orbi router at all to replace their Skinny gateway?

If there is no way and the Skinny gateway has to be connected to the ONT first, then how best to setup the Orbi off the back of it? Router mode gives you all the features, however, does that cause conflicts if the Skinny gateway is acting as a router out of the box and then you're plugging an Orbi mesh router into that? (Because if we're forced to use the gateway, I'd definitely love to have the 3 extra LAN ports on the back of the gateway since the Orbi only has 1 ... But is there a way to use both boxes like that?). How do I avoid having routing conflicts then?

Spyware

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Lifetime subscriber

#2794954 14-Oct-2021 10:01

You misunderstand me. You should not be configuring the vlan/bridge section as no vlan tagging is involved.

didyousaybeer

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2794965 14-Oct-2021 10:46

Spyware:
You misunderstand me. You should not be configuring the vlan/bridge section as no vlan tagging is involved.

Sorry, so do you mean you should just be able to plug the Orbi directly up to the ONT (which happens to have Skinny as the ISP) and not have to make any kind of VLAN settings?

If no VLAN settings needed, then for Skinny, what do the Orbi's Internet Settings have to be set to, yes or no, for "Does your internet connection require a login?" (We definitely don't have a router-specific login so assuming No, but since Skinny is off the back of the Spark network, that PB Tech article said for Spark configurations at least you need to select Yes but then leave the password field blank and use a user@spark.co.nz username... So which for Skinny?)

Spyware

3762 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2794967 14-Oct-2021 10:49

Skinny use PPPoE with username and password which can be made up, e.g., user@spark.co.nz:password, i.e., make up a password and put in password field.

didyousaybeer

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2795693 15-Oct-2021 08:33

Spyware:
Skinny use PPPoE with username and password which can be made up, e.g., user@spark.co.nz:password, i.e., make up a password and put in password field.

Thanks! That did work for getting it connected straight to the ONT!

Download speed is half of what it should be but it's not terrible, however the Upload is like 300% slower than it should be... Guess that's my next issue to work out 😅

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2795699 15-Oct-2021 08:44

How are you testing & what speeds are you seeing? Netgear traditionally have had very poor PPPoE performance, I'm not sure on the RBK23 specifically though.

Quic Broadband

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Jase2985

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#2795770 15-Oct-2021 09:23

Testing via wifi or ethernet?

didyousaybeer

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2795773 15-Oct-2021 09:31

wratterus:
How are you testing & what speeds are you seeing? Netgear traditionally have had very poor PPPoE performance, I'm not sure on the RBK23 specifically though.

Testing using the tried and true Ookla speedtest.net via WiFi standing near the RBR20 router and getting like 400down / 20up. HOWEVER, before saying anything about testing via ethernet instead, know that I am replicating my wifi speed test comparing these speeds to what I had literally last week before we changed our ISP where we are getting 600down/400up on our 1gb plan.

What has changed since is:
1) Switching from TrustPower to Skinny
2) The higher speeds were when this Orbi router was plugged into the TrustPower modem plugged into the fibre ONT whereas now the Orbi router is plugged into the fibre ONT directly.

Jase2985

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#2795775 15-Oct-2021 09:34

we appreciate that but you need to confirm your max speed via ethernet before anyone can say there is an issue with the wifi

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#2795776 15-Oct-2021 09:36

Your testing method is quite unreliable, particularly on a high speed connection. It's best to make sure your testing is 100% before blaming the connection. So:
1) Do not test over wifi - there are too many external factors that can alter tests
2) Use the sppedtest app, not a browser
3) You don't mention where you are testing to. This needs to be one of the Spark servers in this case

See how you go with that first and report back with the results.

liquidcore

187 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2795777 15-Oct-2021 09:37

What happens if you run the speed test via the Orbi admin panel itself?

didyousaybeer

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2795786 15-Oct-2021 09:46

liquidcore:
What happens if you run the speed test via the Orbi admin panel itself?

It is interesting that if use the Orbi panel Ookla speed test, that's showing 600/200. The upload looks better but still lower than was in old setup.

Is this version of the test inherently showing what the router itself is getting via ethernet? We're paying for 950/500

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2795788 15-Oct-2021 09:49

You still want to test over Ethernet, using the speedtest app to a Spark server, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's about what you'll get out of the Orbi devices. As mentioned Netgear's PPPoE performance is often sub-par.

Wait till you get the Skinny router & test with that. You might want to just use the Orbis in AP mode if you really want to keep them & get full performance.

liquidcore

187 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2795794 15-Oct-2021 09:52

It doesn't have the same processing power as a computer, so don't expect to see the full speed. It was just a quick way of seeing if the upload is faster than what you're seeing with WiFi.

Orbis have poor PPPoE performance, so don't expect to see gigabit speeds even via ethernet. You would have seen better speeds with having the Orbi in AP mode rather than router mode.

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