ORBI RBK50 ethernet backhaul is not working - help

V2.5.1.8 ...........not good

Review this:

https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System

Be sure the connection between the RBS and RBR is on the same segment, serially behind the RBR, and not parallel to the RBR. 

If your using a managed swtich, be sure to disable ALL IGMP protocols and green ethernet features on the switch as these have been known to cause problems between RBR and RBS when ethernet connected. 

This isn't a FW problem. 

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jerich0 wrote:

I have an existing RBK50 setup with 2 RBS50 satellites connecting via wireless to the RBR50, this setup is working great, but because of working from home, i've had to set up a home office in the basement (long story... kids took over the real study) I recently got an additional RBS50 to place in the basement, and was plannign to use ethernet backhaul to try and get the best connectivity in the basement. I read on this community that a mix of eithernet and wireless backhaul works, so this is what i did. 

 

First, firmware is V2.5.1.8 on all the devices. RBK50 is running AP mode. My router is a Ubiquiti Edgerouter-X with dual WAN load balancing (both WANs are each max 500Mbps, fast.com average gets 400-450Mbps on ethernet). I'm using the web UI, but also the mobile app (as the mobile app seems to show a little more information, eg. it is supposed to show the ethernet backhaul as a solid line...) So here goes..

• I first set up the RBS50 in the basement as a wireless mesh, daisy chain on RBK50 is turned on, everything syncs up fine, seems to work fine - i get around 150-200 Mbps on fast.com. WebUI shows all 3 satellites with good connections on 5Ghz. All satellites and router in AP mode have reserved IP addresses on the Ubiquiti
• After this is working, i plugged in an ethernet cable from a switch (Netgear managed GS908) to the RBS50. The satellite first went magenta, then seemed to work. However, the webUI still shows connected with 5Ghz, it doesn't show wired. On the mobile UI, it was weirder... The basement satellite was seen as connecting to another satellite in the main floor, which was connecting to the main RBK50...
• So i went to turn off daisy chain, and it rebooted everything... but to make it more confusing, the mobile app shows magenta state and still dotted line (wireless) To make this worse, when you tap on the mobile app to the magenra satellite, you dont' see any devices connected to them, they seem to be connecting to some of the other satellites (it's random!) Fast.com speed tests on the devices in the basement all have not showed improvement - still 150-200Mbps, but they also now have occassional drops to 50-80Mbps once in a while, for no reason. 

As such, i've sinced removed the ethernet cable to the basement satellite, and is living with what it provide. That said, i'm curious why this is not working right?  Any advice here? It sounds like this is a scenario that should have just worked.

 

thanks.

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1. is any of the satellites on a differnent wan/lan from the router? 

2. There's some tips for managed switches using orbi backhaul: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-Ethernet-Backhaul-with-Managed-Switches/td-p/1613897

Not saying this is all needed. My managed switch has run fine and i haven't had to do anything to it. I've been recommeneded to disable IGMP protocols but I figure if somethings working, its not worth changing. 

3. Some have had better luck setting up the orbi satellites with the router running in router mode during setup, and then switching it over to AP mode. might be worth a shot. 

4. to get proper connection display with my orbi i've done it in this route:

   Modem---->my RAX router---->lan connection---->Orbi in AP mode (wan port)----->lan connection---->switch---->rest of satellites. 

not sure if any of this helps

This is something that FW or reverting back will not fix as this will be a switch issue, not a FW issue. This will happen on any version of FW. My RBK50 satellite is working via ethernet connection behind 4 non manged HP ProCurve 1400/1800 daisy chained swtiches. v2.5.1.8 loaded since it first came out. 

After swapping the switch out. What did the status say on the RBRs web page? 

What is the mfr and model # of the unmanaged switch you swapped in? 

You might do this after you changed the switch out. Factory reset the RBS. First wirelessly connect the RBS to the RBR. Make sure the status appears on the RBR correctly. I would do this with the RBS in the same room as the RBR. Once done wirelessly. Connect the RBS via ethernet and let it auto re-sync. Check the status after about 5 minutes on the RBR. Should change to wired. 

Green ethernet features seen on managed or non manged switchs can be another factor. 

Historical posts regarding managed and green ethernet switches

jerich0