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Netgear Orbi and HomeKit Issues
Hello:
I am using the Netgear Orbi in my home since January 2018. I have the Orbi Router (RBK50) at one end of my home and the Orbi Satellite (RBS50) placed at the other end. Over the past mo...
You might try this and see if you can keep v10 on your system to make the HomeKit work:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBS40-firmware-V2-2-1-210-failed-what-next/m-p/1650247#M43189
I would presume that NG and Apple need to review this and either one come up with a good working and continued stable solution for HomeKit users.
Hello FURRYe38:
I am sorry for the delay in replying to your last communicaiton. :-(
As for 'passing the buck' I guess it is normal when everything you try to resolve the issue doesn't work like you hoped it would.
Anyway, over the weekend I finally had a chance to search for older Firmware on Netgear's website. I downloaded it and installed it over the most recent version. The Firmware I used was v2.1.4.10 dated from April of this year. I knew that things still worked at that time. How did it go? Unless it was just a fluke, I was able to access everything no matter my location in the home or even if I left the house. Sadly, it didn't last long as the Netgear Orbi Router and Satellite updated the Firmware on their own shortly thereafter.
In addiiton, I took the two Fibaro HomeKit devices and put them out in the Kitchen area which is serviced by the Orbi Satellite. I did this prior to downgrading the Firmware and I had better connectivity success with them compared to when they were in the Master Bedroom area. The Eve Light Switch I wasn't able to move and it still showed up as 'No Response'.
FURRYe38, I don't fully comprehend why I still had the issue using my two old Apple Airport Time Capsules unless I didn't set them up properly. Granted, I did have issues with my August SmartLock Connect but just chaulked that up to it needing to be reset or something else which I didn't want to do seeing I was only doing a test.
That said, I can only conclude now that Firmware v2.2.1.210 had a issue with HomeKit. I looked in the settings for the Netgear Orbi to see if I could stop automatic Firmware updates but I can't seem to find anything. At least telling it not to update till another Firmware version is available would be most helpful. Are you aware of a way to stop automatic updates?
FURRYe38, I appreciate everything you suggested as well as what Apple Support did along with Eve Support. Seeing it is leaning towards being a Netgear Firmware issue, do you think Netgear will still charge me for their help seeing my Netgear Orbi is no longer in the 90 Day Support period? I saw on the Netgear website that there is a charge of $50 US beyond the 90 Day period. Hopefully they won't seeing it is not something I did.
While I do still have your attention I would like to ask something that you might be able to comment on for me. Is it possible with Netgear Orbi to force a device to connect only with 5GHz and not the 2.4GHz band? I had with my Apple Airport Time Capsules a different SSID for the 5GHz band and had certain devices logged into that SSID. I hope you don't mind me asking.
On that note I will conclude. I await your thoughts on the above. Again, I am sorry for not responding sooner.
SIncerely,
Edward Walsh :-)
You might try this and see if you can keep v10 on your system to make the HomeKit work:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBS40-firmware-V2-2-1-210-failed-what-next/m-p/1650247#M43189
I would presume that NG and Apple need to review this and either one come up with a good working and continued stable solution for HomeKit users.
- I am quite frustrated and just wanted to add that I am having issues with the latest firmware and HomeKit as well.
Bought Orbi just yesterday and I am quite upset that I spend so much money just ending up with HomeKit not working anymore.
If I disconnect Orbi and reinstall the old WiFi setup, HomeKit works again. You might try this and see if you can keep v10 on your system to make the HomeKit work:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBS40-firmware-V2-2-1-210-failed-what-next/m-p/1650247#M43189
I would presume that NG and Apple need to review this and either one come up with a good working and continued stable solution for HomeKit users.
witto wrote:
I am quite frustrated and just wanted to add that I am having issues with the latest firmware and HomeKit as well.
Bought Orbi just yesterday and I am quite upset that I spend so much money just ending up with HomeKit not working anymore.
If I disconnect Orbi and reinstall the old WiFi setup, HomeKit works again.I'm having the same issues as described. This is the second time this has happened this year and it's quite frustrating. It happened in May when they released an update the created the same effect as what is happening now. I had to get a special FW update directly from a NG employee through the forum. I didn't drop $$$ on this router for it to break half of my stuff every 4-5 months. Now I have to turn off my satellite which helps the symptoms a little until they release a new FW. I just don't understand how this is acceptable.
Add me to the list of those having trouble on the latest firmware with the Orbis and HomeKit devices. REALLY annoying.
I have the same issue with Philips Hue lighting; the Routines I have set simply don't trigger and it's getting worse i.e. more regular to the point that the Routines now fail more often than they work. I have rebooted and reconfigured everything but still the problem persists.
Out of interest, I've been playing around with this and discovered that the HomeKit devices are more likely to work if the device acccessing them is NOT on the wifi network. e.g. I put my iPhone Xs into LTE-only (wifi off), and then I can usually access all my devices. However, when connected to the Orbi WiFi, many of my devices often don't respond in the Home app (though they often work in the original manufactuer's app - e.g. August locks).
What's going on here, Netgear?
Just an update on my issues. I found that with an iOS 12 update (12.1.1 I think) it helped fixed some of the issues I was having. Every now and then it gets a little weird, but I noticed a significant change at that point. So I'm not sure if Netgear's udpate fixed something that was coming in Apple's iOS 12.1.1 update, or what...but with everything up to date things have been working much better.
Thanks for letting us know. Glad its working better. I've hear people having issues with iOS v12 in some cases.
Have you seen any wifi issues or app operation issues with iOS v12?
ahann wrote:
Just an update on my issues. I found that with an iOS 12 update (12.1.1 I think) it helped fixed some of the issues I was having. Every now and then it gets a little weird, but I noticed a significant change at that point. So I'm not sure if Netgear's udpate fixed something that was coming in Apple's iOS 12.1.1 update, or what...but with everything up to date things have been working much better.
