Orbi RBR50 frequently losing connection

Guru - Experienced User

Mar 15, 2021

Cenex22 wrote:
It will stay disconnected for a while until I manually reboot, or until it randomly recovers after a while. At one point websites on a browser would continue to (slowly) load, while other services or apps did not. Usually it just completely loses connection, however. Using Windows troubleshooter tried to suggest a problem with the DNS server.
Firmware is updated to v2.7.2.104.

Did the problem begin soon after updating firmware to 2.7.2.104?

If the Orbi recovers by itself, does anything show in the Orbi log file?

One way to verify the problem being related to DNS is to open a command prompt (DOS Window) and do some ping tests.

i.e. ping some actual IP's, such as:

50.59.168.94

107.154.76.95

If you get ping responses from them, then ping by domain name:

usc.edu

toyota.com

(These are the domain names that should respond with 50.59.168.94 and 107.54.76.95)

It is a mystery to me how any specific firmware version seems to work perfectly for some users and cause horrible problems for others.

For certain, it is intolerable to live with such a situation. If this continues, I see two paths forward:

Stick with 2.7.2.104, and attempt to get a "clean" installation:
* save a copy of the config, do a Factory Reset, and during the new setup load that saved config.
* if that doesn't cure it, then do another Factory Reset and set the whole thing up from scratch
Do a Manual firmware load to a previous version, such as 2.5.1.16.
(and perhaps do a Factory Reset on it as well.)

Neither of these options is simple or convenient. But, having the internet die several times a day is a huge motivator.

jimih
Tutor
Mar 15, 2021
Latest (currently) firmware V2.7.2.104
Connections failing on all home devices - DNS failure.
Log on to the main router and do anything like:
- change from ISP provided DNS
- hard-coded DNS servers (tried the ones from my ISP as well as OpenDNS addresses)
- Reboot the device
Any of these things seem to "fix" the issue temporarily. Seems to occur every few hours.
Hopefully Netgear is aware of the cause and working on a fix!!
- vajim
  Master
  Mar 16, 2021
  jimih wrote:
  Latest (currently) firmware V2.7.2.104
  Connections failing on all home devices - DNS failure.
  Log on to the main router and do anything like:
  - change from ISP provided DNS
  - hard-coded DNS servers (tried the ones from my ISP as well as OpenDNS addresses)
  - Reboot the device
  Any of these things seem to "fix" the issue temporarily. Seems to occur every few hours.
  Hopefully Netgear is aware of the cause and working on a fix!!
  
  The sad part it happens every time a new firmware is released
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 16, 2021
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Urbangeek wrote:
I started having similar issues this past Sunday morning and its still an issue. I had google DNS, Cloud Flaire, and Open DNS listed in that order in my orbi router. Just to make it simple for troubleshooting purposes, i set it to automatically pull from ISP and that for worked for several hours, but then it stopped working again. Workaround was I statically set my current PC that I'm using to post this comment to use google DNS. Everything else in the household that uses DHCP and uses my Orbi router for the DNS is affected by this. This a big issue has I have several devices that doesn't allow to statically configured IP, let alone just DNS.

Issue has appear to crop for many users this past weekend. Not sure if its related to Daylight savings time.

Not sure about the rules on posting links to other sites, but check out reddit and search for "Orbi dropping DNS"

My RBR50 firmware version is currently at V2.7.2.104 and have been on it for a good month..
- Urbangeek
  Guide
  Mar 16, 2021
  Frontier (previously Verizon FIOS) . The ONT box is locked behind a case.
  
  I have factory reset the Orbi back when I updated to the latest firmware early in february and manually entered settings. Since it appears to have around the time change this past Sunday, I pointed to googles NTP server by IP address, since it wasn't able to resolve via DNS. I'll see if there's any improvements.
  - jimih
    Tutor
    Mar 16, 2021
    I rolled back to the .102 firmware version and it may have helped.
    that said - I did have to do a factory reset, connect wired and re-build all my settings.
    At the moment it is working, but I am hesitant to say it "fixed" amnything...
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 16, 2021
Also make sure your NTP settings are correct and working.
Urbangeek wrote:
I started having similar issues this past Sunday morning and its still an issue. I had google DNS, Cloud Flaire, and Open DNS listed in that order in my orbi router. Just to make it simple for troubleshooting purposes, i set it to automatically pull from ISP and that for worked for several hours, but then it stopped working again. Workaround was I statically set my current PC that I'm using to post this comment to use google DNS. Everything else in the household that uses DHCP and uses my Orbi router for the DNS is affected by this. This a big issue has I have several devices that doesn't allow to statically configured IP, let alone just DNS.

Issue has appear to crop for many users this past weekend. Not sure if its related to Daylight savings time.

Not sure about the rules on posting links to other sites, but check out reddit and search for "Orbi dropping DNS"

My RBR50 firmware version is currently at V2.7.2.104 and have been on it for a good month..

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Orbi RBR50 frequently losing connection