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Forum Discussion
Orbi RBR50, v2.2.1.210, + Netgear CM1000 modem - STILL dropping connection
I purchased a new Orbi, with one satellite, in August of this year, along with a new CM1000 modem. A few weeks in, and the router would intermittently drop connection with the modem, pulsing magenta....
I have a similar setup to yours with the exception of a Netgear CM500V cable modem. I'm not experiencing the issues you have noted and I've had my RBR50 since 2016. I noted you've tried a factory reset and a manual system reconfiguration. Please confirm you did not use any saved/backup config files to rebuild your system after the factory reset.
What channels are you on for 2.4 and 5 gHz WiFi bands? Do you have nearby neighbors with WiFi systems? If so, the problem can be interference if you're on the same or nearby channels. I suggest Ch 1 for 2.4 gHz and Ch 48 for 5 gHz. I also have IP reservations setup for all my devices (wired and wireless).
Whenever I do a firmware upgrade I turn all my devices off (yes, it is a PITA!) then upgrade the satellite first, then upgrade the router and re-sync the satellite to the router. After they settle down–about 10 minutes, I'll turn on each device one at a time and let the system settle for 30 minutes before I even look at the status page on the router.
I suggest another factory reset to the router and satellite, reload the new V2.2.1.210 firmware (satellite first, then router) and manually reconfigure one more time. I know this is a PITA but it seems the ORBI is very sensitive to cruft leftover in the EPROM. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!
- Thank you for your response. Yes I can confirm that I set up the network from scratch during the factory reset, and did not rely on the saved previous configuration.
While you may not be experiencing any issues with your Orbi, and I wish you many more returns, a cursory Google search will reveal that random disconnections with any variety of modems are a common problem with this system. All to common, unfortunately. Some consumers have even returned units for new replacements and have encountered the same issues again.
As for channel interference, this isn't an issue. I always use a WiFi analysing app to ensure my network is set to the least-trafficked channels. (I'm no networking wizard, but I've been setting up and maintaining consumer-grade routers for over 10 years.) The router and satellite continually broadcast without a hitch. None of my devices ever lose connection or signal strength from either device. The problem is the magenta ring of death, which indicates that the Orbi is not detecting an internet connection. This is corroborated by the error messages on all smart devices throughout the home - no internet connection detected, but full signal strength remains.
As I've stated above, the modem and ISP are holding up their end, as the wired connection remains uninterrupted during these magenta-hued episodes. So the issue is the modem and Orbi communicating.
If I have to go through the hoops you describe of reinstalling the firmware and babying the setup back to functionality, then so be it. However, something tells me that it won't be that simple. I'll update this thread once completed.
Thanks again.Do you have any wired devices connected to the Router/Satellite? Any mesh speakers (e.g. Sonos) connected to the LAN port? I had so many issues when I had my speakers wired to Orbi, and -almost :) - all isues gone when I disconnected those devices. Seems Orbi still has some issues to handle some wired devices.
Please test disconnecting the wired devices and try to locate the bad ones...
- Thanks for your interest in my problem. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I have no wired devices attached to either unit, router or satellite. But thanks for the idea!
