Orbi and EX8000

Seems like they will need to make the FW for the EX8000 compatible for the Orbi. Something they did for the EX3700 and 7700. 

Good Luck. 

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....

:smileywink:

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"

Sounds like the EX may not work wirelessly connected to the RBR like a RBS. 

Thanks for letting us know. 

Jazzper2 Thought I would check in with you on what you did (if anything further) on this.  I would hate to think that while NG would make the lower end extenders compatible with a FW and the big daddy of them would not be also in with this.  The newest FW for the EX8000 is 1.0.1.224 and curious if this might be...or it was just security updates.

Costco had the Orbi RBK753S for sale $420 and thought if the EX8000 would incorporate with this system I would be inclinded.

When you had the EX8000 as an AP working, did it still utilize the same overall SSID e.g. One Wifi Name (it is no good if the extender has to be on a seperate network like most extenders as the units linked to the particular AP have to switch...and most don't unless it drops from its current.  Why I never liked extenders...plus backhaul always sucked) .

Thank you for all the info you provided in the tread.  You were the only one I found had good info on the subject of the EX8000 being incorporated.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/RBK-852-New-Firmware-Version-V3-2-16-6-1-4-4/m-p/1965770/highlight/true#M6526

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Turbojr74 wrote:

Thought I would check in with you on what you did (if anything further) on this.  I would hate to think that while NG would make the lower end extenders compatible with a FW and the big daddy of them would not be also in with this.  The newest FW for the EX8000 is 1.0.1.224 and curious if this might be...or it was just security updates.

Costco had the Orbi RBK753S for sale $420 and thought if the EX8000 would incorporate with this system I would be inclinded.

 

When you had the EX8000 as an AP working, did it still utilize the same overall SSID e.g. One Wifi Name (it is no good if the extender has to be on a seperate network like most extenders as the units linked to the particular AP have to switch...and most don't unless it drops from its current.  Why I never liked extenders...plus backhaul always sucked) .

 

Thank you for all the info you provided in the tread.  You were the only one I found had good info on the subject of the EX8000 being incorporated.

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Turbojr74 

After numerous tries with their senior tech support staff, they basically said it would not work. 

I threw the Orbi in the trash where it and their support belongs.

I see that you are stating it works with a picture in the link you provided, however neither are the EX8000.  Not that it shouldn't be worlds different either.

I think the key here is sharing the settings you used to obtain proper connection?  E.g. Enable One Wifi name / Enable Smart Connect / Sync configure 

Now I believe the OP stated he didn't want to use it in AP mode and have the backhaul wired (which could work for me) as it defeats the purpose of having that "mesh" ability.  So I pursued this first.

 I had gone out and purchased the OrbiRBK753 from Costco and set everything up and then began playing with the EX8000.  I tried a few things and it initially appeared that I can't use it via extender either.  The main Orbi router (which I will use as an AP instead - we'll call it 'Main') is in the middle of the second floor (where my original R7800 was).  Second floor is all hardwired, it's my first floor that unfortunately is not wired which is why I wanted to use this mesh and gain more coverage (which is where the EX8000 was originally). inside and just outside.

Here is what had to be done to get this to work as just adjustmenting the EX8000 from it's current state didn't want to work in the least (even though it had a great reported signal from the Orbi Main - pic1 shows 100% 2.4Ghz and 94% 5Ghz).  For whatever reason I would get "the extender was not able to connect to your existing network". 

1) fully factory reset the EX8000 by doing the reset via the paperclip to the back for 60 seconds (60 seconds seems mad, however this is one of those that was recommended by NetGear techs and could be attributed to it working??)

2) use the Nighthawk app (which I think is dodgy as hell) to set up everything 

3) after that it still took a little time for it to fully connect, but have patience in the end it did (I will show a pic on the next post)

The EX8000 is in an outside bedroom 30'-ish away (going through walls, bathroom, and hallway from the Orbi Main)

My EX8000 is running FW v1.0.1.224

Now the big question is - is it effective just like the other Orbi satellites?  I can't tell honestly with the limited testing I've done.  More testing would need to be completed and I'm trying to think what would be best to do that in order.  The EX8000 did ok when I had it connected to my R7800 (again as AP) and did fantastic when I found the right combo of channels to run.  However that took a ton of time to finally get the right combo.    

I am actually going to also try and test using the EX8000 in that corner room as a 'switch' to two computers and have it as another AP with a hard wire backhaul.  This might prove to be the most useful for me?  And if I do that it looks like the EX8000 provides both 5Ghz antennas and the 2.4Ghz (which I might consider turning off).  All this running on the same SSID...

In the end I will be testing just the Orbi to see if this is more stable and gets better coverage than the R7800/EX8000 because moving to anything else like Ubiquiti can nearly double the cost, but they know how to do mesh and agrigation.

Hope this helps someone in the future looking to do the same.

Jazzper 

Sorry to hear that Mate.  It is a tough one to deal with their tech support at times but if you ever try again, maybe what I listed here will work for ya.

Looking at the web interface after all was connected, the wireless portion under general, "Enable One Wifi name and Enable Smart connect" were set to Yes and "syn config from NG router" was No

Here is that second screen shot of it working.

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Jazzper wrote:

Turbojr74 

 

After numerous tries with their senior tech support staff, they basically said it would not work. 

I threw the Orbi in the trash where it and their support belongs.

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