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Forum Discussion
Orbi firmware update v2.1.4.16 availability
We’ve been monitoring issues that some customers have experienced in OrbiOS 2.1.4. In response, we’re releasing firmware that provides a permanent fix for the homekit issue along with various other f...
Feedback/status report for BretD
Having run 2.1.4.16 for a while now—a week maybe?—it has improved HomeKit. I cannot think of finding a device unresponsive since applying it. I have iDevice wall "switches", Lutron light switches, and a Hue lightstrip run from an AppleTV as the hub.
So far as iOS devices dropping off the WiFi, despite having a very strong signal, that's still happening, although, I'd say it's happening much less than before (but still more than a few months ago when this whole mess started.)
Is any of the following enabled on the router? Beamforming, MIMO, Daisy Chain or Fast Roaming?
bwc_ wrote:
Feedback/status report for BretD
Having run 2.1.4.16 for a while now—a week maybe?—it has improved HomeKit. I cannot think of finding a device unresponsive since applying it. I have iDevice wall "switches", Lutron light switches, and a Hue lightstrip run from an AppleTV as the hub.
So far as iOS devices dropping off the WiFi, despite having a very strong signal, that's still happening, although, I'd say it's happening much less than before (but still more than a few months ago when this whole mess started.)
bwc_ wrote:
Feedback/status report for BretD
Having run 2.1.4.16 for a while now—a week maybe?—it has improved HomeKit. I cannot think of finding a device unresponsive since applying it. I have iDevice wall "switches", Lutron light switches, and a Hue lightstrip run from an AppleTV as the hub.
So far as iOS devices dropping off the WiFi, despite having a very strong signal, that's still happening, although, I'd say it's happening much less than before (but still more than a few months ago when this whole mess started.)
So odd - I have a number of Apple TVs, and 3 iPhone and 4 iPads on my network running os 11.4 and os12 beta and none of them have any issues with dropping the signal from the Orbi on this firmware. Are you updated on all your devices to latest iOS? Are you hitting interferance from a neighbor? I had to use WifiExplorer on my Macbook Pro in order to find clear channels on 2.4 and 5ghz - even in a single family home due to how over powered all Wifi APs are these days...
tdroz73 wrote:
bwc_ wrote:
Feedback/status report for BretD
Having run 2.1.4.16 for a while now—a week maybe?—it has improved HomeKit. I cannot think of finding a device unresponsive since applying it. I have iDevice wall "switches", Lutron light switches, and a Hue lightstrip run from an AppleTV as the hub.
So far as iOS devices dropping off the WiFi, despite having a very strong signal, that's still happening, although, I'd say it's happening much less than before (but still more than a few months ago when this whole mess started.)
So odd - I have a number of Apple TVs, and 3 iPhone and 4 iPads on my network running os 11.4 and os12 beta and none of them have any issues with dropping the signal from the Orbi on this firmware. Are you updated on all your devices to latest iOS? Are you hitting interferance from a neighbor? I had to use WifiExplorer on my Macbook Pro in order to find clear channels on 2.4 and 5ghz - even in a single family home due to how over powered all Wifi APs are these days...
Also been running the 2.1.4.16 firmware on my system. No issues with HomeKit or any Apple device having connectivity issues. Are all your units running the same version? If one of your satellites can't run this same version I would turn it off and see if the problem goes away. Homekit definitely did not work very well with 2.1.4.10. If the issue goes away you'll probably have to wait for this version for your particular hardware model.
If all of your units are running 2.1.4.16 then I would power cycle the router and satellites and see if that doesn't correct the issue. If it persists I would perform a factory reset with 2.1.4.16 installed on all units.
I'm running Wemo switches with the Homekit gateway, iDevices, and Ikea's connected lighting solution with several AppleTVs, Homepods,iPhones, iPads without any issue.
I’m running v2.1.4.16 with a wired backhaul I have a number of iDevicesall, some Wemo globes and a switch, an Echo Dot, a Google Home, a couple of TP-Link Kasa switches, and five Lifx globes, all of which connect and stay connected flawlessly. Until ‘16, I was having occasional issues with Lifx and HomeKit, but since upgrading to ‘16, none whatsoever.
Now Netgear, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
- My girlfriend's iPhone X is always dropping wifi calling on our Orbi. Horrible.
Try iPhone Settings, WiFi, your connected WiFi, Forget This Network and reconnect to WiFi from scratch. In my household, there are two iPhones, two iPads, a MacBook, a HomePod, an Airport Express (for AirPlay), and several generations of Apple TV, all of which connect flawlessly and never drop out. I have found the iDevices are the easiest to connect, so something else must be amis. Have you tried using the Netgear Genie to troubleshoot? The Genie maps all your devices and shows signal strength. Another option is to put iDevices in aeroplane mode for a few seconds, then switch it off. This kills WiFi, then forces it to reconnect. Try this on the iPhone near the router, then near the satellite to see if one is stronger than the other.
A final tip is to download from the App Store an app called Net Analyser. I think there’s a free Lite version. Then open it to the Information page. Look for a setting called “BSSID”. it will be a 12 character number, the composition of which is unimportant and can be ignored. Now walk from one Orbi device to the other, watching the BSSID code. As you move out from under the umbrella of WiFi cover for the first Orbi device, and under the cover of the next Orbi device, the BSSID should change. If it does then your Orbi mesh network is doing its job.
Using some of these modern tools is a joy when they work, unfortunately they need maintenance and a good location.
Let me know how you go
