Does Orbi work with Spectrum?

If you live in a large home, you probably experience many ‘dead zones’ with your Wi-Fi network – even from a reliable ISP like Spectrum.

If your assumption that your home size means that you cannot get the best extent of Wi-Fi coverage, Netgear’s Orbi seeks to change that. The service aims to be the best solution for such areas that require good Wi-Fi coverage, even when using fast ISP services like Spectrum. While it has its advantages and disadvantages, it works for people that want an easy setup of a mesh unit because of its user-friendliness.

Netgear Orbi works well with Spectrum modems, and its setup process is easy as it takes a few minutes. Orbi uses a mesh system setup, working to link multiple access points and extending your Wi-Fi coverage without relying on equipment upgrades.

Setting up your Orbi system with the Spectrum router/modem

You can set up the system through two ways: one is setting the Spectrum modem as a bridge, which will disable its router functionality while allowing the modem to work. In this instance, the Orbi works as the router.

The other option is setting the Orbi to an AP (Access Point) mode. In this case, the Orbi works as the Access Point, while the Spectrum will remain in router/modem mode to handle the wireless connections. As an alternative, you can buy an Orbi cable Wi-Fi system as a replacement for the Spectrum modem if these methods fail to work for you.

The Orbi system supports various operation modes, but the two most popular ones are the Router Mode and AP mode. In the following table, we highlight the differences between the two.

Router Mode
Access Point Mode
The default operation mode, and is the most popular.
You activate this manually in the settings
Works when you are using a standalone modem from your ISP (such as Spectrum when it is in bridge mode).
Works when you already have a device that has both the router and modem functions (Spectrum in this case), and you want to connect Orbi to the existing router
Orbi should work in its Wi-Fi router mode to assign IP addresses and redirect traffic to the Spectrum modem
Not all Orbi features will work here, for instance, the Parental Controls.

We will look at both ways below and outline the steps to follow.

Activating the Spectrum bridge function and using Orbi as the router

  1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect Spectrum’s Ethernet port and your computer’s LAN port
  2. In your device, open a browser and type any of these IP addresses:
  • 168.1.254
  • 168.1.1
  • 168.0.1
  1. Type in your credentials to log in to the gateway router page.
  2. Go to the settings section and locate all these settings: DHCP, Routing, Firewall, Wireless, TR-069, and NAPT Mode. You might also access the ‘Wireless Bridge’ option that allows you to activate the Bridge Mode.
  3. Save the changes and restart your Spectrum router.

Activating the Orbi’s AP mode and using the Spectrum as the router/modem

  1. Connect the Spectrum router’s LAN port to Orbi’s Internet port using an Ethernet cable.
  2. On a mobile device or computer that is connected to the Orbi network, launch a web browser.
  3. In the search bar, type orbilogin.com. This will display a pop-up login window.
  4. Enter your password and username. If you do not have any, the default username is ‘admin’, while the password is the one you created when you set up your Orbi network. When you log in, the screen will display the BASIC Home Page.
  5. Tap on the ‘Advanced’ menu, and select ‘Advanced Setup’.
  6. Click on ‘Router/AP Mode’ to open the display page.
  7. Tap on the ‘AP Mode’ radio button to adjust the page.
  8. You will then choose a setting for your IP address. This can be one of two choices:
  • Getting your IP address dynamically from your existing router. You will get an IP address automatically from the Spectrum router while the Orbi is in AP mode.
  • Using a fixed IP address (not recommended). You will assign a specific IP address manually to your Orbi when it is in AP mode. It will require significant knowledge of networking systems, so do not use it unless you need to.

Pros and cons of using Netgear Orbi with Spectrum

Pros
Cons
·         A tri-band router (has two 2.4GHz bands and one 5GHz band)

·         No dead spots after setup

·         It offers an extended reach if the space is quite large

·         A maximum speed of 3 Gbps

·         It has 41-Gigabit Ethernet ports

·         None noted so far

Conclusion

Using Orbi with your Spectrum may not be as straightforward as other mesh system setups, but it still works and provides a worthwhile expansion of your Wi-Fi network.

FAQs

Can I use Spectrum alongside Orbi?

Yes, you can. The Orbi modem is fully compatible with all the major internet service providers, and you can use it immediately if you are a Cox, Spectrum, and Comcast user.

Is it possible to use Orbi with any modem?

Yes, it is. Orbi Wi-Fi systems connect to your cable wall outlets and can work as both routers and modems, although you can tailor them to work with your existing modem or gateway.

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