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Forum Discussion
Are there any hardware diagnostics for Orbi (RBK50)
I've been having ongoing problems for a little over a week with my RBK50 with two satellites after owning them for over a year and a half with no problems. I tried various firmware (including beta 2...
Hi FURRYe38,
No modem. It's ethernet (Cat 5e) to my condo, which has fiber Internet to the building and Cat 5e cabling to each unit). Also, problems still exist without a network cable connected to the LAN port, therefore that's not the source of the problem.
Square feet is about 765 and distance is about 12 feet and 22 feet.
Channels have been auto until I had problems and then I tried I believe channel 6 on 2.4 GHz. I also tried different 5 GHz channels, but the same problems.
On average I can see 30 wireless networks and occupational 40-50 wireless network. I live in a densely populated area of Seattle. This has been that way since before I purchased my Orbi and wasn't a problem for more than a year and a half.
With firmware 2.1.4.16 and 2.2.0.66 (beta), I did try disabling MIMO, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6, and Set 20/40 Mhz Coexistence to 40 Mhz, but still had the same problems.
I did look at the debug.htm page, but there isn't much there.
I did factory resets (base and satellites) with firmware 2.1.4.16 and 2.2.0.66 (beta) and setup from scratch (different IP address range, Wi-Fi network names, and admin password), but same problems.
Since I've performed all the troubleshooting you recommended and I saw in other forum posts, I highly suspect either a hardware problem or major firmware bug. That's why a wanted hardware diagnostics to help narrow down the problem. I'm thinking of purchasing a new system from Costco. If it works then recycle the old one and if it doesn't work then return to Costco.
Ok for that size of home, lets turn OFF ALL satellites. You maybe running into a wifi over lap issue. The current distance is too close.
The router alone can cover up to 30 feet and beyond by itself.
Try the router alone.
The other problem is that you maybe in a wifi congested area. Having that many other wifi neighbors, the router maybe experiencing interferences. You can try this, lower the power out put of the radios from 100% to try 50% with the router alone. This will make the broadcast foot print smaller and help with nieghboring wifi...Try any channel 1, 6 or 11 and any on 5ghz. See if this might help. Let us know the results...
After trying all suggestions (including reducing the power put out by the radios), it was initially still rebooting numerous times per hour. The interval between spontaneous rebooting slowly increase over a few days and stabilized to about twice a day. Everything else appears to back to normal. This isn't ideal, but liveable for the time being. If this was a new product then I would have returned. Netgear does provide me any confidence with purchasing their products in the future.
If Orbi continues to have problems then I'll consider a different product that just works.
You might contact NG support and ask for an RMA. Could be that you have a bad system is all.
I've owned it for over a year and a half and I believe Netgear products, including Orbi, have only a one-year warranty and 90-days of support. Therefore I'm outside of the RMA window.