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Forum Discussion
Devices on satellites cannot access devices on router
I have an Orbi system of one router and two satellites. The router is model RBR50 and the satellites are RBS50. All of them have firmware version 2.5.1.16.
The issue I am facing is that devices connected to the router via WIFI and devices connected to the satellites via WIFI cannot communicate with one another.
Scenario #1: Laptop A is connected via WIFI to the Router in the office upstairs. Laptop B is also connected via WIFI to the Router in the office upstairs. The two machines can ping one another and share files with one another. Similar situation with either laptop on the Router and a wireless printer connected to the same router via WIFI.
Scenario #2: Laptop A and wireless printer is still connected via WIFI to Router in the office upstairs. Laptop B is moved to the basement and it connects via WIFI to the basement Satellite. Same SSID, same subnet (192.168.1.xxx). Now Laptop B cannot communicate with Laptop A or the printer. When I ping Laptop A or the printer from Laptop B, I get timed out response. Same when I try pinging Laptop B from Laptop A.. When I run the arp command, I can see the other devices. I even see the mac address of each and whether they are dynamic or static. When trying to connect to the printer from Laptop B, I can "see" the printer, but it shows offline, which isn't true.
I've read in several forums that connectivity issues similar to this is usually due to a firewall setting. In this case, it cannot be a firewall on either of the 2 laptops since they share with one another just fine when connected to the same router. Therefore, is there some sort of "firewall" between the ORBI router and its satellites? Is there a setting somewhere that doesn't allow devices across satellites to communicate with one another?
5 Replies
I agree this situation is mysterious. It does not match my experience.
I have only one RBR50 router and one RBS50 satellite. Same firmware (2.5.1.16). When I duplicate your experiment, two laptops behave as expected. Ping when connected to the same router. Move one downstairs to the satellite and ping successfully again.
I also agree that firewall behavior is not behind this. It is correct that Windows Firewall does not respond to ICMP (ping) unless an exception is created. But "not respond" means (literally) "never respond. not even once." It's not the laptop firewall.
- Do you think I might need to reset the router settings and start over setting it up? Any particular order of steps I should take?
pontke wrote:
Do you think I might need to reset the router settings and start over setting it up? Any particular order of steps I should take?I remain totally stumped as to what could possibly cause this phenomenon. The "last resort" is to perform a Factory Reset and set up the Orbi again. Of course, use the same exact SSID and password so that all devices will connect automatically.
For my own Orbi, I have a goofy system of assigning IP addresses to about 35 devices. IP cameras start with 192.168.1.51, smart plugs with 192.168.1.31, all the TV's, desktops, Tivo's, DVD's, etc. are from 1.2 through 1.30. It's silly, but it made sense at one time (I guess).
To keep devices from connecting as soon as the Orbi "comes alive" and getting IP addresses that I do not want them to have, I put off naming the Orbi WiFi until after I have created all my IP assignments. So, my network is essentially "dead" for almost an hour before I change the SSID/password to the previous value and everything rushes to connect.
Hi there,
I am intrigued by your post as it's the only one I have found that seems to match my issue:
The symptoms:
- Router UI shows 4 satellites connected, however the App only shows the router and the satellites as offline
The satellites (indoor) are showing as Linux icons, rather than the satellite icon.
Backgaul onnection is showing as good.
Satellites show no lights, so seem to believe they are fine.
Several devices are connected through the satellites, but the GUI isn’t able to identify the satellite name (just says 'satellite) or the connection bandwidth (says 'unknown').
Router and satellites are on the latest firmware, however the router cannot check the status as the GUI states 'waiting for connection'.
I use a SONOS system in the home, when this issue arises, I can only control those sonos speakers that are connected to the same router or satellite as my phone, from where I am controlling the system. SONOS speakers connected to other satellites or the router aren’t visible at that stage.
I have obviously tried reboots and powercycles, making sure I power up in sequence:
- Modem
- Router
- Satellites
To ensure that SONOS isn’t conflicting with the Orbi system, I have powerd up everything the way I described above and left all SONOS speakers powered off. The issue persists.
So the only way for me to fix this issue to date is to restore factory settings and apply the necessary settings from a backup file. Everything then behaves as normal for a while, eventually this will happen again, though!
Please post about this in the Orbi app forum:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-App/bd-p/en-home-orbi-app
Good Luck.
dermitchie wrote:Hi there,
I am intrigued by your post as it's the only one I have found that seems to match my issue:
The symptoms:
- Router UI shows 4 satellites connected, however the App only shows the router and the satellites as offline
The satellites (indoor) are showing as Linux icons, rather than the satellite icon.
Backgaul onnection is showing as good.
Satellites show no lights, so seem to believe they are fine.
Several devices are connected through the satellites, but the GUI isn’t able to identify the satellite name (just says 'satellite) or the connection bandwidth (says 'unknown').
Router and satellites are on the latest firmware, however the router cannot check the status as the GUI states 'waiting for connection'.
I use a SONOS system in the home, when this issue arises, I can only control those sonos speakers that are connected to the same router or satellite as my phone, from where I am controlling the system. SONOS speakers connected to other satellites or the router aren’t visible at that stage.
I have obviously tried reboots and powercycles, making sure I power up in sequence:
- Modem
- Router
- Satellites
To ensure that SONOS isn’t conflicting with the Orbi system, I have powerd up everything the way I described above and left all SONOS speakers powered off. The issue persists.
So the only way for me to fix this issue to date is to restore factory settings and apply the necessary settings from a backup file. Everything then behaves as normal for a while, eventually this will happen again, though!
