I recently replaced my R6400 and EX8000 extender with an Orbi RBK40 and one satellite. However, I need an ethernet port in the room where the etender was previously located so I tried to get the EX8000 to connect to the Orbi. I go thru its configuration and it sees the SSID and accepts the passkey but then it say it's not connected. I even tried setting it up right next to the Orbi and got the same results. I don't understand why the EX8000 cannot connect to the Orbi via WiFi -- are they not compatible? Running an ethernet cable out to the other room is not an option. If for some reason the EX8000 and Orbi are not compatible (why?), are there other options or should I just return the Orbi?

Just another update - again. NG support asked me to downgrade to a previous firmware level on the EX8000 and try again, Then if that did not work (which it didn't) to then try setting the EX8000 up as an Access Point with it wired into the Orbi via ethernet. I reset it up as an Access Point and it did successfully work that way. I just sent them that info and hope that helps them to figure out how to make it work via WiFi. Stay tuned....

Most EX extenders are not fully compatible with Orbi systems. I recommend that you ether return the Orbi and find a R series router that the EX will connect to. The R8000 would be the best match for the EX8000. Or keep the Orbi and return the EX and find a RBS to connect to the Orbi system if you need more wifi coverage.

Interesting shelf life statement vs purchase date. Thanks for letting us know. Hopefully NG can get the EX working for you.

Just an update -- not a solution....I got another reply from Netgear support. This one asking me to make sure I had the latest firmware on the EX8000 (I did) and to re-install it if it was already there. I downloaded a fresh EX8000-V1.0.1.202.img file and re-installed it, completely reset extender to factory settings and walked thru its setup again using a separate extender network name, but again could not connect. As another aside, I did set the old R6400 in bridge mode and connected to the Orbi in just a couple of minutes without a problem. You'd think that if the R6400 could connect via WiFi, the EX8000 should be able to do so also. But.... Oh well -- I sent the above info to Netgear support a few minutes ago. The dance continues...

To: CrimpOn , FURRYe38 Mikey94025 Well, it's been a while - and this may be the last follow-up -- so I thought I'd give everyone an update has to where things are. I went back and forth with a next-level technician numerous times, trying different firmware levels and configurations. She then escalated the case to a senior technician who contacted me via phone on July 4th. We had a nice long call and went over what I had previously tried and what my requirements were -- Orbi by the cable modem connection in my office and Extender in the living room. He asked me to basically try some of the previous options again and note the lights on the EX8000 as it restarted. He was to call me back at 3:00 that afternoon but never did. I texted my results to him but still crickets so I texted a follow-up a couple of days later then posted those text messages in my open ticket earlier today: Hi Vince -- I'm posting this in the open ticket since I did not get a reply from my texts. I texted you this message on 7/4 after our call: I just tried 4 different options with setting up the EX8000: -5GHz with One WiFi Name Enabled -5GHz with it unchecked -2.4GHz with it enabled -2.4GHz with it unchecked In all 4 cases it "sees" the Orbi WiFi network and accepts the pass key. But then on the final screen after I check the box for "Click the Continue button after you connect your WiFi devices", it gives me the same message: "The Extender was not able to connect to your existing network" In all 4 cases the lights on the extender for both 2.4 and 5MHz are a solid white. Hope that helps -Thanks! Then again on 7/7/20, 11:37 AM I texted: Did not get that call you said would be coming after 3pm on Saturday! Did you come up with any other ideas? I have an appt. at 12 and should be home by 3pm today. Please let me know if you received this. Thanks! He did get back to me relatively quickly after reaching him via the online case and replied: This is Vince from Netgear and Yes I receive your email this time. Thank you for providing update of what you've tried to do. As what I understand on what you tried. First You tried connecting the extender only into the 5Ghz and one WiFi Name is enabled. Then you also tried to connect only into the 5Ghz with the One WiFi name disabled this time. And you also tried the 2.4Ghz only with same methods . And all ended with same exact result with unable to connect into the router.This only means that a regular mesh extender does not compatible with a WiFi Mesh System. What I can only suggest on this is to set the extender as an Access Point in order to work. He knew from our phone call that the whole point of setting it up as an Extender rather than an Access Point was because the Orbi is in my office next to the cable modem and the Extender's ethernet ports are needed in my living room. So I replied a few minutes ago with:Hi Vince. In order to set it up as an access point though, it has to be physically connected by ethernet to the Orbi, correct? If so, I guess I'll just throw it in the trash. I just got his reply as I was posting this long-winded (sorry!) message:Good day!I do understand your point and on what you are trying to get. However, in your case in order for the extender to work the only option is to set it as an Access Point where it need to be connected using Ethernet cable to the ORBI router so it will have its own Network connection point where your devices can connect and will not mess around with the main ORBI router's WiFi Mesh Network.But let me ask for further details about this EX8000 to RBR40 to see if there are better work around that we can do aside from setting up as access point modem which is not convenient in your end .I'll get back to you as soon as I have better information that I can share to you. So, as Walter Cronkite used to sign off with..."That's the way it is"

Orbi and EX8000 | NETGEAR Communities

30 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru
Jun 16, 2020
Did you try the WPS setup?
https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/EX8000/EX8000_QSG_EN.pdf
- Jazzper2
  Guide
  Jun 16, 2020
  Good idea....I'm a "put the info in manually" kind of guy but it's worth a shot-:)
  - Jazzper2
    Guide
    Jun 16, 2020
    Just tried your WPS idea -- no luck, even from about 12" away from Orbi. I then thought maybe it does not like using the same SSID so I tried it with "EXT" on the end of the names but same result. I go to the EX8000 admin screen via an ethernet connection, it lools like it sees the Orbi WiFi SSID, I put in the passkey and it looks like it takes it, but after I hit "Continue" it says it cannot connect.
    
    When I use a different SSID for the extender, I can connect to it via Wifi but can't go any further. A traceroute dies there and when I connect to the Orbi, it does not see the EX8000 in its list of connected devices.
    
    I'm out of ideas!
FURRYe38
Guru
Jun 16, 2020
There have been incompatibilities with EX and Orbi in the past.
Has the FW on the EX8000 been updated?
Jazzper2 wrote:
I recently replaced my R6400 and EX8000 extender with an Orbi RBK40 and one satellite. However, I need an ethernet port in the room where the etender was previously located so I tried to get the EX8000 to connect to the Orbi. I go thru its configuration and it sees the SSID and accepts the passkey but then it say it's not connected. I even tried setting it up right next to the Orbi and got the same results. I don't understand why the EX8000 cannot connect to the Orbi via WiFi -- are they not compatible? Running an ethernet cable out to the other room is not an option. If for some reason the EX8000 and Orbi are not compatible (why?), are there other options or should I just return the Orbi?
Mikey94025
Hero
Jun 17, 2020
Jazzper2 wrote:
I recently replaced my R6400 and EX8000 extender with an Orbi RBK40 and one satellite. However, I need an ethernet port in the room where the etender was previously located so I tried to get the EX8000 to connect to the Orbi. I go thru its configuration and it sees the SSID and accepts the passkey but then it say it's not connected. I even tried setting it up right next to the Orbi and got the same results. I don't understand why the EX8000 cannot connect to the Orbi via WiFi -- are they not compatible? Running an ethernet cable out to the other room is not an option. If for some reason the EX8000 and Orbi are not compatible (why?), are there other options or should I just return the Orbi?
I think your EX8000 should work with your new Orbi, or any other wifi router, so it is confusing that you're unable to connect it. Unfortunately the troubleshooting recommendations haven't worked for you so far.

As a workaround, since you just need an ethernet port access, how about using your old R6400 just as a wireless bridge to your Orbi network? It can provide ethernet port access as you were trying to setup your EX8000. Example bridge setup instructions are here (this is for a different Netgear model but the instructions should be similar): https://kb.netgear.com/24105/What-is-bridge-mode-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Nighthawk-router
- Jazzper
  Aspirant
  Jun 17, 2020
  Thx. This does look like the best alternative - pending an answer from NG tech support. I was hoping to be able to give my router to a friend but I'm going to give this a shot.
  
  Hopefully there's nothing in these Orbi's that would prohibit bridging to them-:)
  
  Again, thanks all for your suggestions.
  - CrimpOn
    Guru
    Jun 17, 2020
    I'm still very confused. Using the WPS buttons to connect a device to WiFi involves NO "entering passkeys". That's the whole point of having a button. (which some people describe as a horrible security breach, but that's a different topic.)
    
    There is no setup. Power it up. Press the WPS button. Press the other WPS button. Lights come on. New WiFi SSID's appear with the same password as the primary WiFi router. Once it is working, then the user can access the management interface and change settings.
Betoman
Aspirant
Jun 11, 2021
I have a EX8000 extender because I decide to upgrade to and Orbi Wifi 6 system. I sold everything else except the extender so I decided to do some research just to see if it can connect to the Orbi system. After researching I decided to do a test. Just now I was able to sync the satellite with the EX8000 and it works as expected. The only issue is that I see the satellite and the extender it came with but the EX8000 comes up as an extra device. My only question is would that affect the Orbi router? Also, it appears that the EX8000 only functions at 2.4 GHz, I'm assuming because that's the only option appearing when going through the Orbi app.
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  Jun 11, 2021
  Netgear has set up a community forum specifically for the Orbi AX product. Most of the people who watch that forum are more likely to have experience with Orbi AX and know how to work it better than those of us who follow this "general Orbi" forum. Might be more likely to find someone who has a solution if the question is posted there:
  https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/bd-p/en-home-orbi-ax
  Doesn't effect the RBR. Just works as a extender only. Check the EX web page for status and connection.
  
  Thank you.
  Betoman wrote:
  I have a EX8000 extender because I decide to upgrade to and Orbi Wifi 6 system. I sold everything else except the extender so I decided to do some research just to see if it can connect to the Orbi system. After researching I decided to do a test. Just now I was able to sync the satellite with the EX8000 and it works as expected. The only issue is that I see the satellite and the extender it came with but the EX8000 comes up as an extra device. My only question is would that affect the Orbi router? Also, it appears that the EX8000 only functions at 2.4 GHz, I'm assuming because that's the only option appearing when going through the Orbi app.

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Orbi and EX8000