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Forum Discussion
Orbi RBR50 - Cannot Connect August Connect Module
Just bought a Yale smart lock with an August Connect module. Been trying for days to connect the August Connect to my Orbi Wifi with the August technical support. They finally told me that they can't help any further and suggested I send my smart lock back!? In the August app, I can detect the Connect module, but when I try to connect it to the network, it immediately gets an Error: 2 exceptions occurred.
What I've tried:
1) changed my 2.4GHz network from auto to channel 6
2) set up guest network
3) move module close to router
4) disconnect the satellite
5) connecting with a Android and Apple phone
6) Rebooting/resetting - app, Connect module, phone, router
Setup: Connect module is by the door to the driveway. Stairs are right next to door. Orbi router is in the room at the top of the stairs. Orbi satelite is on 1st floor in the Master bedroom behind the stairs. Security WPA2-PSK [AES]. Firmware V2.3.5.30.
One day near the beginning, I saw the August-Connect module in my Access Control list as 'Blocked'. I changed it to 'allow', but now it is in the Unconnected Device listing.
Driving me nuts! Any advice? Is there a way to manually connect a device?
16 Replies
Christopher1020 wrote:
1) changed my 2.4GHz network from auto to channel 6
How are you setting ti up? Some sort of mobile app?
Does the August Connect module insist on 2.4 GHz?
If so, it is badly designed, but there may be a way around it.
Forget about messing around with the 2.4 GHz, disable the 5 GHz SSID broadcast, ensure that the wifi apop connects to 2.4 GHz and see it that works.
That's a standard trick that has bailed out many users of poorly implemented wifi apps.
Yes, connecting with the August App and it's probably crappy. The device has to connect at 2.4. Just now, I disabled the SSID broadcast for 5.0 and confrmed the phone was connected to 2.4 Ghz. Still didn't connect. Tried disabling the daiseychaining as well and that didn't do anything. Is there a way to connect the device without the app?
Is this the product: https://august.com/pages/accessories
It does not show up in the Orbi web interface "Attached Devices" display, correct?
But, it does appear in the Advanced Tab, Security, Access Control in the table of "Allowed Devices not Connected"?
Do you have Access Control "on" or "off"?
Since the MAC address of the device appears in the table, this might be a good time to go into the Advanced Tab, Setup, LAN Setup and reserve an IP address (outside the DHCP range) for the device. Then, remove it from the table.
There should be a way to "Reset" the device (usually a tiny hole labelled "Reset"). You could try resetting the device, stop broadcasting the 5G WiFi SSID, "forget" the Orbi on the smartphone, reconnect to Orbi, and then start up the August App.
Hmmm, I run an August Connect with my Orbi. I do recall occasional issues getting the Connect on my network, but nothing that was persistent like yours. Your device might legitimately be defective, but let's grasp for straws before giving up. It sounds like you've tried everything else already so these ideas are way out there...
- The Connect doesn't need to be on the same wifi network, just able to access the Internet. So try setting up a Guest network with WPA-PSK [TKIP] and connect to that SSID instead. The Connect might not like your AES and WPA2.
- Do you have a really long wifi password or use special characters? Maybe the Connect has a bug so try avoiding unusual password lengths or characters.
Thanks Mikey. August actually sent me a 2nd module when they couldn't get it to connect. I actually did try changing the security to WPA-PSK [TKIP] and tried no security to no avail. Password is not long and has only one capital and one number. When you set yours up, did you do it with an iphone or an Android?
Christopher1020 wrote:Thanks Mikey. August actually sent me a 2nd module when they couldn't get it to connect. I actually did try changing the security to WPA-PSK [TKIP] and tried no security to no avail. Password is not long and has only one capital and one number. When you set yours up, did you do it with an iphone or an Android?
I used an iPhone to set it up. I did not have to do anything with access control on the Orbi. Are you running all the Orbi wifi defaults other than simple changes like channel or security?
- Have you changed CTS/RTS Threshold in Advanced...Advanced Wireless Settings to 2347? The firmware default is 64 but causes problems, so that is a general fix offered here. You should definitely try this if you haven't already.
- If you disable AX in Advanced...Advanced Wireless Settings does it help?
All, I finally connected. My son came home and I borrowed his iPhone again. All settings were back to normal on the Orbi. One try, and it connected. Seems the August app has a problem with the Android.
Although I did try the setup with the iPhone before, I think for some reason Orbi blocked it then. This time I had Orbi app open to see it, but I didn't have to do anything. It connected. Thanks for the Help!
Christopher1020 wrote:All, I finally connected. My son came home and I borrowed his iPhone again. All settings were back to normal on the Orbi. One try, and it connected. Seems the August app has a problem with the Android.
Although I did try the setup with the iPhone before, I think for some reason Orbi blocked it then. This time I had Orbi app open to see it, but I didn't have to do anything. It connected. Thanks for the Help!
Glad it finally worked for you.
I just got the new August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4G today and replaced my 3G version. I tried to connect it to wi-fi (the 4G has wi-fi builtin and doesn't use a separate Connect like 3G) and could not get it to work with either my Orbi AX or my older Orbi AC (which I use as a guest network). It would not join, complaining about the password, even after turning the 5G SSID off and lowering 5G power to 25%. I was trying to setup wireless on an iPhone using the August app.
What finally did work was to telnet to my Orbi AX and temporary turn off the 5G radio using "ip link set down dev ath1" per this post: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Smart-plugs-won-t-connect/m-p/1706087#M52316
To clarify, the "ip link set down dev ath1" instructions in the post I referred to are not in the marked solution but instead this reply: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Smart-plugs-won-t-connect/m-p/1706100/highlight/true#M52323
