Orbi and EX8000

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"