Using an Orbi RBR20 AC2200 and Spectrum cable internet for my home office. 99% of the time it works great but during video calls using Zoom, esp. with more than 5 ppl on the call, I get an warning message that my internet is unstable. Within a few seconds my video call drops but then re-starts in about 30 seconds. I contacted Spectrum and they tested the line said it was fine and suggested changing the channel on the Orbi. I have done that a bunch of times and it seems to fix the problem for a little while, but then it comes back. Any suggestions? The only time that this internet instability is obvious is during these Zoom calls. It may happen other times e.g. slow connections etc., but it is most obvious, and annoying, during these calls. Time of day doesn't seem to have any correlation to the issue but haven't tracked that explicitly. Have no issues streaming movies on weekends or during evening hours. Ideas?

I'm experiencing similar issues:unstable network errors and interruptions during Zoom callsother apps seem to work fine, when doing VoIp calls on Telegram, Facetime, Whatsapp etc. I do not experience such issues, although I suspect it's because Zoom is more demanding in terms of bandwidth due to video streaming happens on wifi, using wired Ethernet cable connected to the Satellite I never have any issuesI have tried changing most settings as suggested but still happeningI have just changed to a new 2.4Ghz channel to see if it helps, but I don't think it's that. I don't have many wifi networks and there are no channel collisions whatsoever.My setup:Netgear Orbi RBR50 — Orbi AC3000 Tri-band WiFi RouterLatest firmware (V2.3.5.30)Satellite on wired backhaul connection I have just realized I have double NAT - my ISP router is doing NAT + Orbi is doing NAT. Could this be related, perhaps?I haven't experienced any issues with downloads, Netflix streaming or playing videogames on PS4.Any pointers appreciated.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I have the latest firmware (V2.3.5.26) - did a check for updates and I'm up to dateThe modem is from Spectrum (couldn't find a mfr), Model E31T2V12600 SF home, satellite probably 15-20 feet away from router. it is on 2nd floor by my office, Router is one floor below about 2 feet from cable modem. standard wood stud/drywall construction - no stone or brick between the floors. Currently on channel 8 for 2.4Ghz and channel 40 for 5 GHz. how can i find out if a channel is unused? I have tried various combinations of channels in the past. some work better than others. bunch of wifi neighbors - at least 10 show up when i look i enabled Beamforming and MIMO. WMM already enabled.Armor and Circle and fast roaming and IPv6 already disabled. did not change Daisy Chain because when i saved other changes, the system lost the IP address and locked up until I reset everything. not anxious to go thru that again. The 20/40 Mhz coexistence is checked but i don't see a way to set it to 40 Mhz only. how do i do that? thanks for your help. i have a small video call tomorrow and a bigger one next week. will see how it behaves.

What Firmware is currently loaded?What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router What channels are you using? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many? Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless SettingsTry disabling the following and see:Armor, Circle, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).

I resolved the double NAT issue by configuring the ISP router in bridge mode, but I'm still experiencing these issues.

"satellite probably 15-20 feet away from router." <This is too close. 30 feet between RBR and RBS is minimum. Try setting channels 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz. These are primary channels to use. All other channels are sub channels used by the system and shouldn't be set as a primary channel. "bunch of wifi neighbors - at least 10 show up when i look" Which channels are they using? You may need to lower the power output of the Orbi radios from 100% to say 75 or 50% and see if this helps any. There maybe some interferences coming from your nieghbors. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings "The 20/40 Mhz coexistence is checked but i don't see a way to set it to 40 Mhz only. how do i do that?" Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings, uncheck the 20/40Mhz check box then select apply. Disabling of Daisy Chain should not lock up or loose IP addressing. It should apply and reboot the RBR. You may need to power OFF the RBS for 30 seconds then back ON. jlurbanik wrote:Thanks for the detailed reply. I have the latest firmware (V2.3.5.26) - did a check for updates and I'm up to dateThe modem is from Spectrum (couldn't find a mfr), Model E31T2V12600 SF home, satellite probably 15-20 feet away from router. it is on 2nd floor by my office, Router is one floor below about 2 feet from cable modem. standard wood stud/drywall construction - no stone or brick between the floors. Currently on channel 8 for 2.4Ghz and channel 40 for 5 GHz. how can i find out if a channel is unused? I have tried various combinations of channels in the past. some work better than others. bunch of wifi neighbors - at least 10 show up when i look i enabled Beamforming and MIMO. WMM already enabled.Armor and Circle and fast roaming and IPv6 already disabled. did not change Daisy Chain because when i saved other changes, the system lost the IP address and locked up until I reset everything. not anxious to go thru that again. The 20/40 Mhz coexistence is checked but i don't see a way to set it to 40 Mhz only. how do i do that? thanks for your help. i have a small video call tomorrow and a bigger one next week. will see how it behaves.

Orbi RBR20 unstable internet during video calls

16 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru
Jan 02, 2020
What Firmware is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router

What channels are you using? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?

Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Circle, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).
- jlurbanik
  Guide
  Jan 02, 2020
  Thanks for the detailed reply.
  I have the latest firmware (V2.3.5.26) - did a check for updates and I'm up to date
  The modem is from Spectrum (couldn't find a mfr), Model E31T2V1
  2600 SF home, satellite probably 15-20 feet away from router. it is on 2nd floor by my office, Router is one floor below about 2 feet from cable modem. standard wood stud/drywall construction - no stone or brick between the floors.
  
  Currently on channel 8 for 2.4Ghz and channel 40 for 5 GHz. how can i find out if a channel is unused? I have tried various combinations of channels in the past. some work better than others.
  
  bunch of wifi neighbors - at least 10 show up when i look
  
  i enabled Beamforming and MIMO. WMM already enabled.
  Armor and Circle and fast roaming and IPv6 already disabled. did not change Daisy Chain because when i saved other changes, the system lost the IP address and locked up until I reset everything. not anxious to go thru that again. The 20/40 Mhz coexistence is checked but i don't see a way to set it to 40 Mhz only. how do i do that?
  
  thanks for your help. i have a small video call tomorrow and a bigger one next week. will see how it behaves.
  - albertopm
    Guide
    Jan 09, 2020
    I'm experiencing similar issues:
    unstable network errors and interruptions during Zoom calls
    other apps seem to work fine, when doing VoIp calls on Telegram, Facetime, Whatsapp etc. I do not experience such issues, although I suspect it's because Zoom is more demanding in terms of bandwidth due to video streaming
    happens on wifi, using wired Ethernet cable connected to the Satellite I never have any issues
    I have tried changing most settings as suggested but still happening
    I have just changed to a new 2.4Ghz channel to see if it helps, but I don't think it's that. I don't have many wifi networks and there are no channel collisions whatsoever.
    My setup:
    Netgear Orbi RBR50 — Orbi AC3000 Tri-band WiFi Router
    Latest firmware (V2.3.5.30)
    Satellite on wired backhaul connection
    
    I have just realized I have double NAT - my ISP router is doing NAT + Orbi is doing NAT. Could this be related, perhaps?
    I haven't experienced any issues with downloads, Netflix streaming or playing videogames on PS4.
    
    Any pointers appreciated.

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Orbi RBR20 unstable internet during video calls