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Resolved Question

Making router/modem combo work only as modem for ext router.

Jun 12, 2018 8:18PM PDT

Hello, I am running into problems making my Actiontec C1000a act as JUST a modem, and letting my Netgear R6400V2 do all the routing.
Both my router, and my modem are properly plugged in (Wall jack from modem to phone line, both power sources plugged in, ethernet cable from modems ethernet port to routers WAN port, and an ethernet straight to my laptop)

The steps I can currently get through are disabling the modems firewall, disabling qsos, disabling DHCP, turning off wireless, taking off the auto settings and inputting correct settings as to not revert back to PPPoe mode and turning on transparent bridge mode. This puts my modem/router combo into no internet, with the lights on the box showing Power Green, and DSL solid green, with no internet, and both ethernet ports Green.
Am I missing any steps with setting up the modem for use with the router? I have my PPPoe information from Century Link for use with router.

Next.
I login to my router settings, and try to connect to the internet (My ethernet cable is still plugged into modem, yet get the message that a cable may be incorrect, or my internet is down. My pppoe credentials are validly put in.

Is there more steps I need to take with the router to enable internet?

I am not the most network savvy person, so may need to put things in perspective for me.

ISP: Century Link
OS: Windows 10

Discussion is locked

JasonFillsby has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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This sounds like the credentials are still incorrect.
Jun 13, 2018 10:33AM PDT

Back to the ISP to ask them to share the correct setup and the settings for when you use the combo modem+router as a modem only. I can't do this for you as I don't have your account details which go into the settings. Also, the settings change from ISP to ISP so your fastest fix is with your ISP telling you how.

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PPPoe credentials should be same as modem correct?
Jun 13, 2018 10:57AM PDT

Sadly, tech support at Century Link is absolutely no help, everyone I have talked to provides absolutely no information and pretty much says they don't know how to do it. Their website has little information regarding bridging, and follows the steps I have already done. They usually just blame the other product's company (netgear) for any mishap. the pppoe credentials I put into the modem should be the exact ones I use to try to set up a connection on the router correct?

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I can't tell you this.
Jun 13, 2018 11:33AM PDT

The ISP could be doing something odd here.

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Was PPPoe's problem.
Jun 13, 2018 5:30PM PDT

I chatted with century link and I guess the first time they provided me with a completely different code to my PPP. I tried for hours to get it set up with the one they provided, and decided to chat with them again, and someone gave me a different PPP password, and it worked immediately. This whole thing was because Century Link couldn't give me the right password the first time, leading me to believe there was a different problem. Quite a bummer.
Working properly now.
Thank you guys!

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Thanks for the update.
Jun 13, 2018 6:01PM PDT

As you can guess, this story is typical. I can't guess why they do this. But at least it's up and you can move on.

-> A parting tip. Consider testing or using a non-ISP DNS. It's often faster.

I use Google's DNS at 8.8.8.8 and another at 4.2.2.1.

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Answer
You need to bridge the modem.
Jun 13, 2018 5:14AM PDT
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Modem is already in transparent bridge mode
Jun 13, 2018 10:23AM PDT

I really don't mean to be rude, however I stated in the post that I put the modem in transparent bridge mode.
I need to know if there is a step that I am missing somewhere. When I log into the Netgear router and enter pppoe credentials, then try to connect to the internet, it seems that my router can not get an IP or connect.

I don't know if the MAC address under the settings is something I need to worry about, or if anyone can clarify on that if I have to use the routers MAC adress or the modem/router combos MAC address.

I read about spoofing the computers MAC address briefly and tried connecting an ethernet cable directly to the router, and clicking use computer's MAC address, however when it reloaded, it just kicked me off of the local access to routerlogin.net and I could not access router settings anymore, so I performed a reset once again.