I am using Home Assistant and I used to have it integrated with HomeKit prior to upgrading my network. But after updating, I can't add Home Assistant as a bridge to HomeKit.I've tried running it through my ISP's modem/router and I can get it to work, so it's exclusive to my Orbi setup. Does anyone have any recommendations for what settings might be afflicting this? Thanks!-Chris Wireless settings:2.4GHz band — Enable SSID Broadcast, Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence, Enable WMM (WiFi Multimedia Settings), CTS/RTS: 2347, Preamble Mode: Automatic, Transmit Power Control: 100% 5GHz band — Enable SSID Broadcast, Enable WMM (WiFi Multimedia Settings), CTS/RTS: 2347, Preamble Mode: Automatic, Transmit Power Control: 100% Enable Daisy-Chain Topology, Enable Implicit BEAMFORMING, Enable MU-MIMO

Things may have stableized. I am still in bridge mode on the C2000T and have my credentials plugged in via PPPoE on the RBR20, and the wifi cut-outs seem to have ceased. Sadly, I still don't see the Home Assistant bridge appearing in the Home.app. Before abandoning the bridge mode idea, do you have any ideas for exposing the HA bridge to HomeKit? Thanks for all the ideas!

Bada-bing Bada-boom, all the accessories are showing up. Maybe it just took time like the bridge shifting over. I'm not sure how it all happened, but I'm really happy. Thanks for you help

Progress!! I updated the firmware to 2.3.5.36 - Hot Fix and I now have gone from 0% reliability to 66%! About 1/3 of the time, I get "no response", but this is a huge improvement. It also tells me that it's likely specific to the Orbi. Thanks!-Chris

chrisbrummel wrote:........I've tried running it through my ISP's modem/router and I can get it to work, ................. This is probably the reason, if both Orbi and your ISP modem are doing routing, many devices will get confused.Is Orbi in ROuter or AP Mode?Does the ISP modem have routing capability? What is the make and model or the modem?Recommendation is either to keep Orbi in Router Mode and set the ISP modem in modem-only or bridged mode, or change Orbi to AP Mode and keep the ISP modem as the main router.

Ekhalil, thanks for replying!1. Is Orbi in ROuter or AP Mode?It is in Router Mode 2. Does the ISP modem have routing capability? What is the make and model or the modem?Yes. It is the "technicolor C2000T". In the C2000T's device table, the only connected device is the RBR20, and in the Port Forwarding I'm passing all ports onto the IP of the RBR20. This worked for my previous router (Netgear R6400) and I was able to get this working that way. But it doesn't seem to be happy with the Orbi. Any ideas? Thanks!

Orbi RBR20 is blocking HomeKit | NETGEAR Communities

42 Replies

ekhalil
Master
Oct 13, 2019
chrisbrummel wrote:
........I've tried running it through my ISP's modem/router and I can get it to work, .........
........

This is probably the reason, if both Orbi and your ISP modem are doing routing, many devices will get confused.
Is Orbi in ROuter or AP Mode?
Does the ISP modem have routing capability? What is the make and model or the modem?
Recommendation is either to keep Orbi in Router Mode and set the ISP modem in modem-only or bridged mode, or change Orbi to AP Mode and keep the ISP modem as the main router.
- chrisbrummel
  Guide
  Oct 13, 2019
  Ekhalil, thanks for replying!
  1. Is Orbi in ROuter or AP Mode?
  It is in Router Mode
  
  2. Does the ISP modem have routing capability? What is the make and model or the modem?
  Yes. It is the "technicolor C2000T".
  
  In the C2000T's device table, the only connected device is the RBR20, and in the Port Forwarding I'm passing all ports onto the IP of the RBR20. This worked for my previous router (Netgear R6400) and I was able to get this working that way. But it doesn't seem to be happy with the Orbi.
  
  Any ideas?
  
  Thanks!
ekhalil
Master
Oct 13, 2019
chrisbrummel wrote:
I am using Home Assistant and I used to have it integrated with HomeKit prior to upgrading my network. But after updating, I can't add Home Assistant as a bridge to HomeKit.......

How is this done, is there a page describing this procedure? At what stage do things get wrong?
I guess that you are attaching the Raspberry Pi as a wireless device, Does it support both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands? What channel does Orbi use for the 2.4 GHz? Is it set to auto?
- chrisbrummel
  Guide
  Oct 13, 2019
  This page explains the process under "Setup": https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/homekit/
  
  Step 6 is where nothing happens. I expect to see the Home Assistant bridge in my Home.app, but nothing appears.
  
  The Raspberry Pi is wired to the Orbi. The Orbi supports both 2.4 and 5GHz and is set to auto. I'm guessing that this isn't an issued since it's wired, yeah?
  
  Thanks!
  - ekhalil
    Master
    Oct 13, 2019
    I think this has to do with ports not being passed through to Orbi by the ISP router.
    So when you say that you are passing through all ports to Orbi, do you mean that it's set to DMZ hosting (please see attached picture)?
    Can you please instead set it to "Trasparent Bridging" instead (please see attached picture)?

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Orbi RBR20 is blocking HomeKit