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Orbi RBW30 satellite keeps dropping connection
I bought this last week and I set it up. It links (blue light) but then when I go to check it a little later it's not connected. It's doubly annoying because everything connected to it loses internet while they reconnect to the main router.
I've now tried moving it close twice and it's currently within 3 metres of the router but it still keeps dropping. Firmware is V2.2.1.204. At 3 meters from the router it is pretty much pointless, even if I could get it to work.
I've also checked the speed and I only get around 30mbps from the orbi when I'm sitting 1 metre from the router (100mbps connection, tested via wired). If I move to another room, it drops to 20-25.
TBH I've spent a lot of money on something to improve my wi-fi and it's now worse so I'm close to sending it back.
Is there anything I can do to fix this problem?
You can find RB40 FW here:
https://www.netgear.com/support/product/RBK40.aspx#download
Your way behind and you may not beable to upgrade fully to most current unless you apply an intermediate version of FW first. I would try
Version 2.1.1.12,
Then once this is applied, then apply v.210.
I recommend downloading the files first, the useing IE11 or FF browser, apply the intermediate vresion, then most current version, do a full factory reset then setup from scratch.
If you update to recent FW v.210, enable Daisy Chain. Some have mentioned that this seems to be working in reverse order, enabling means disabled actually.
Whirly wrote:
Hmm, I tried the firmware update, it says "No new firmware version available" on both the router and satellite.
RBR40 Firmware: V1.9.1.6
RBW30 Firmware: V2.2.1.204
19 Replies
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any setting changes to resolve what you're experiencing. The culprit seems to be version 2.2.1.210 firmware. I have three satellites and all three go off line countless times a day. I posted here a month or so ago and tried a variety of setting changes to no avail. When I talked to NG support, the guy claimed not to be aware of the chronic problems people are having, which is laughable; I told him to read the forum.
The solution he offered me was to replace all three satellites. As I told him, a. the problem got MUCH worse after the firmware update; b. what are the odds me & everyone else complaining about this all got bad satellites; and c. what are the odds all three of my satellites have the same manufacturing defect.
I'm past the 90 day refund window, so I've disputed the charges with my cc company. In the meantime, if NG rolls out a new FW version that fixes this, I might withdraw my dispute, but I haven't seen anything from them addressing this on a product-wide level and I'm very dissatisfied with their customer support organization.
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too? Are you connecting the RBW to a Orbi or a different kind of router?
30 feet is recommended in between RBW and base router to begin with depending upon building materials.
What channels are you using? Auto? 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?
What WPA security modes are you using?If your using a Orbi router, Try disabling the following and see:
MIMO, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).If you updated to recent FW v.210 on a Orbi, try enabling Daisy Chain. Some have mentioned that this seems to be working in reverse order, enabling means disabled actually.
Try a Manual FW load on both Orbi and RBW:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Firmware-2-2-1-210-released-as-of-10-3-18/m-p/1647303/highlight/true#M42416
Whirly wrote:
I bought this last week and I set it up. It links (blue light) but then when I go to check it a little later it's not connected. It's doubly annoying because everything connected to it loses internet while they reconnect to the main router.
I've now tried moving it close twice and it's currently within 3 metres of the router but it still keeps dropping. Firmware is V2.2.1.204. At 3 meters from the router it is pretty much pointless, even if I could get it to work.
I've also checked the speed and I only get around 30mbps from the orbi when I'm sitting 1 metre from the router (100mbps connection, tested via wired). If I move to another room, it drops to 20-25.
TBH I've spent a lot of money on something to improve my wi-fi and it's now worse so I'm close to sending it back.
Is there anything I can do to fix this problem?
I'm using a virgin media superhub 3.0 in modem mode that that is immaterial as the problem is not with the rbr40 router, just the satellite,
I'm grateful for the suggestions but most of them would make the whole point of having it pointless. It shouldn't matter what wpa mode I'm using or whether I have neighbours. The whole point of the system is to give high speed wifi throughout my home (about 1200 square feet) and if it can't even stay connected from 3 metres away then how can it fulfill it's advertised purpose?
I tested the speeds in the room with the satellite yesterday and got 16mbps. The satellite then went down and I got faster connected directly to the router. TBH the speeds I had from the Virgin Media router were better.
The reality is that unless something drastic happens I'm going to return it as faulty. I would have already done so if it wasn't for the amount of work required to switch everything back to the old wifi network. I should have some time next weekend to do it.
In the meantime, I will try your suggestions but I can't even find some of the settings?
MIMO - already disabled by default
Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 - can't find the setting
By the way, how do you check the speed the satellite is connected at?
Regarding the settings, if you cannot see them on the web GUI, then something else is wrong. Normally you will find them on the Web GUI>Advanced>Advanced Setup>Wireless Settings. There are blocks for Topology (Daisy Chain) and the other setting below. Play with Daisy Chain. For some there is a firmware glitch in this after the last update.
I do not know anyway to test satelite backhaul wifi speed but you can look at signal strength by using WiFi Analyzer.
Getting the satelite unit close to the router to test is counter productive and actually worsens the situation. Satelite works best at about 30ft. up to where the signal degrades.
Your Orbi router may be a touch slower than your original router. The Orbi is fast, but its main advantage - as all mesh routers - is coverage.
I'd like to confirm that my set up has exhibited the exact same problems of lost connectivity on the RBW30 since the latest firmware update. The prior version did not exhibit any such issues.
Let me clarify, the RBR50 and RBS40 running FW 2.2.1.210 work fine. It's just the RBW30 running 2.2.1.204 that keeps losing connectivity to the the RBS40, noting that Daisy Chain topology has been enabled.
It does eventually refind itself after a while. It holds the connection for a day or two, then drops it again.
Not a show stopper. I'll just wait until the next firmware update is made available (hopefully with a fix).