Orbi network troubleshooting - losing internet once in a while

Question

Helping a friend. I know Unifi wireless / basic windows things. But never worked with Orbi before.

He set things up months ago and overall, things are OK. They have gigabit service from Verizon.

The setup is a verizon Fios router (192.168.1.0/24) to the RBR20 (10.0.0.1/24) to a netgear gigabit switch then 2 RBS20s that are wired.

Right off the bat - there's the double NATing. Is there a way to turn off router part of the RBR20? There's a Cat5 AND coax going into the verizon router. Not sure if you can take the verizon router out of the equation. Is the coax not needed?

Everything works fine. Except that his son using google classrooms will 'get kicked off' daily or so. He is using a chromebook in the room next to the room with the RBS20 nearest to him. Normally, the wifi signal on the chromebook is medium (which through an interior wall is surprising?) . Bringing the netbook into the room with the RBS20, the signal is then high.

Speedof.me from the chromebook shows a fast connection / no dropouts. There's only a few devices on the network, 1 other son might be doing xbox gaming at same time as the google classroom (both sons going through the same RBS20.... ) that's not overloading the 1 orbi I would hope?

Setting up a unifi access point, there's not much RF usage from nearby houses. I see the SSIDs from each of the 3 devices. I also see hidden SSIDs that look like they are coming from the Orbis. That's the mesh networking, right? Are those needed since the 3 devices are wired? Can those be turned off?

And all 3 visible SSIDs are the same channel. Typically, with Unifi, they say to use different channels. Thoughts? can orbi channels be changed?

The verizon router's SSID should be turned off since it's right next to the RBR20, right?

Any thoughts where to start on troubleshooting? Anyone know if google classrooms is a stable product? The son moves to the living room, near the RBR20 and gets on and stays on google classroom.

Mikey94025 · Answer

EdShnatter&nbsp;wrote:Helping a friend. I know Unifi wireless / basic windows things. But never worked with Orbi before.&nbsp;He set things up months ago and overall, things are OK.&nbsp; They have gigabit service from Verizon.&nbsp;The setup is a verizon Fios router (192.168.1.0/24) to the RBR20 (10.0.0.1/24) to a netgear gigabit switch then 2 RBS20s that are wired.&nbsp;Right off the bat - there's the double NATing.&nbsp; Is there a way to turn off router part of the RBR20?&nbsp; There's a Cat5 AND coax going into the verizon router.&nbsp; Not sure if you can take the verizon router out of the equation.&nbsp; Is the coax not needed?Yes, start here.&nbsp; You can put the Orbi in Access Point (AP) mode instead of Router mode and rely upon the Verizon router.&nbsp; Alternatively, do the reverse and put the Verizon gateway into bridge mode and solely rely upon the Orbi for all routing functionality.&nbsp; In either case, turn off any redundant Verizon wireless network/broadcast since you should just use the Orbi wireless network.&nbsp;I suggest started with Orbi AP mode and seeing if that solves the issues reported:&nbsp;https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point&nbsp;

Mstrbig · Answer

EdShnatter&nbsp;wrote:Thanks!Would you know (I couldn't tell from that KB page) - when in access point mode, does the ethernet port on the router still work / the router becomes a 2 port switch?So not everything is done through the app? some is through the web interface of the router (and access points?).And the hidden SSIDs - OK to turn them off?&nbsp; Also through the web interface? of each device?We do many FIOS installs for Verizon. Your best bet if possible is to remove the router supplied by Verizon and connect directly to the ONT, then connect the Orbi router direct to it. This eliminates double NAT and other anomalies that can happen.&nbsp;With that said, where I am located, Verizon always install 2 devices in homes and small offices for their FIOS plan, (1 ONT and 1 router). Your area may be different.Regarding hidden SSIDs, they are usually the backhaul channels.

EdShnatter · Answer

Thanks!Would you know (I couldn't tell from that KB page) - when in access point mode, does the ethernet port on the router still work / the router becomes a 2 port switch?&nbsp;So not everything is done through the app? some is through the web interface of the router (and access points?).&nbsp;And the hidden SSIDs - OK to turn them off?&nbsp; Also through the web interface? of each device?

EdShnatter · Answer

right - the hidden SSIDs are the backhaul (you know better words than me : )&nbsp;&nbsp;Is there a way to turn them off and are they needed if the router and satellites are hard wired with cat5e cables to the network?&nbsp; Like removing the verizon router (vs. turn off the router part of the RBR20)... keep it simple usually can't hurt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mstrbig · Answer

EdShnatter&nbsp;wrote:right - the hidden SSIDs are the backhaul (you know better words than me : )&nbsp;&nbsp;Is there a way to turn them off and are they needed if the router and satellites are hard wired with cat5e cables to the network?&nbsp; Like removing the verizon router (vs. turn off the router part of the RBR20)... keep it simple usually can't hurt.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no way I know of to turn off the backhaul channel. However it would not cause any interference as it is part of the system.I prefer, if at all possible, to have the Orbi router control the environment and be in router mode. That's not to say that AP mode on the Orbi is a bad thing.&nbsp;But whenever we install new systems, we bypass the ISP or customer's router, unless the customer has some specific reason why they need it. In some cases it saves a monthly rental fee. Some Verizon FIOS systems have COAX coming from the ONT to the router. Others have Cat5e.

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Orbi network troubleshooting - losing internet once in a while

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