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How Do I Put My Cable Modem + Router Combo (also called a Gateway) into Bridge Mode, So I Can Connect Another Router behind It?

Karen H.
  • Updated

What is BRIDGE MODE?

Typically, two pieces of equipment are required to connect to the Internet and the Wireless network in your home:

  • A modem connects your home to an Internet Service Provider's network.
  • A router connects your wired and wireless devices to your modem.

Motorola has gateway models that combine the modem and router into one piece of equipment.

However, there may be times when you may want to use your own router.

To do this, you will have to enable the BRIDGE MODE feature on your gateway.  This turns off its routing capabilities while leaving the modem capabilities on.

Please Note: Motorola model numbers starting with the letters MB (7220, 7420, 7621 and 8600) are known as Bridge Modems. as such, they are already in Bridge Mode by default, no further configuration is required.

Please Note: your Service Provider, if they are sending a reset signal or an update to your device, that may take the unit out of Bridge Mode and back into its default, modem and router combination mode.

PUTTING CABLE MODEM/ROUTER INTO BRIDGE MODE - STEPS:

(For the MG7700, MG8725 and MT8733 scroll to the bottom for instructions)

  1. Disconnect the coaxial cable from the back of the modem/router.
  2. Turn off the modem/router, then turn it back on.
  3. Hold down the WLAN button on the back of the unit for 5 seconds and then confirm that the wireless indicator LED is now off.
  4. Connect an Ethernet cable between the modem/router and a computer.
  5. On the computer, open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.0.1 
  6. Press Enter
  7. The username is admin, and the password is motorola. Click on Login.
  8. Click on Advanced on the top right-hand corner.
  9. Click on Status, then click on Connections.
  10. The setting you’re looking for is eRouter Provisioning. Click on the drop-down menu to make it say Bridged. Click Save.

**If this step is grayed out for you, or you are not able to click the drop-down menu, this means that you still have the COAX cable connected to your modem.

If you unplugged the COAX cable and you are still unable to select "Bridge" -- you need to power down your modem, and power it back up.

Once you power the modem back up and login (Step 4) - you should now have that option to select "Bridge" mode

  1. Reconnect the coaxial cable while the modem/router is rebooting. Note that, you will no longer be able to log into the interface.
  2. Remove the computer you used to log into the modem/router and connect the Ethernet cable to your other router instead.
  3. Turn off the modem/router and turn it back on, so that it binds to the MAC Address of the router.

 

 MG7700, MG8725 and MT8733 - Put into bridge mode:

 

 

  1. Disconnect the coaxial cable from the back of the modem/router.
  2. Turn off the modem/router, then turn it back on.
  3. Connect an Ethernet cable between the modem/router and a computer.
  4. On the computer, open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.0.1 
  5. Press Enter
  6. The username is admin, and the password is motorola or the unique password printed on the label at the bottom of the device. Click on Login.
  7. Click on Advanced on the top right-hand corner.
  8. Click on wireless, then Radio.
  9. Under 2.4 you will need to disable the wireless radio and the select save. You will notice the 2.4 wireless LED on the front of the router turn off. 
  10. Follow the same steps as listed above for the 5g radio. You will see the 5g LED go off as well once saved. 
  11. Click on Status, then click on Connections.
  12. The setting you’re looking for is eRouter Provisioning. Click on the drop-down menu to make it say Bridged. Click Save.

 

 

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