My Orbi router (not the satellite) stays solid magenta after rebooting. When I login to the router, every parameter looks OK. The router is in Access Point mode and has received an IP address from my cable box. The satellite doesn't seem to have any problem (ring light is off). The wifi connection also works fine. What does solid magenta on the router mean? The Netgear FAQ only mentiones solid magenta for the satellite.

Small addition: I just checked the Advanced settings of the router. In the LAN port sections it says the WAN port is down (0 packets). My orbi router is in Access Point mode however and has received an IP address from my cable box. Also the orbi wifi internet connection works fine, so there is traffic going between the cable box and the orbi WAN port. Recently introduced sofware bug? Until a few days ago the ring light used to go off, as in 'working normally'.

I had the same thing happen once on the previous firmware release (after nearly two weeks of uptime), waiting to see if it will trigger on the latest release. I couldn't even reach the web UI when it happened, the router was unpingable despite passing WAN traffic (like you, in AP mode) with no issue. Very odd. Rodney

I am having the same issues. I am using it in AP mode. I tried going back to 1.4.0.18 but made no difference. System seems to work ok, but annoying magenta ring glowing away! Your LAN & WAN settings should be greyed out when in AP mode, mine are.

Hi All, Just got my Orbi set up yesterday. All seemed ok, all lights were off and router reports 2 satellites connected. Today I noticed the router light is solid magenta. I tried re-syncing the satellites and the router light is still magenta. Wifi speed seems to be good so the satelites seem to be working. I'm on .34 firmware and I'm in AP mode. My router lan cable to my actual router is through the WAN port. Anyone else still having this issue ?

I am on the current version, in AP mode, have the solid magenta on the router. I cannot access the web UI. I have rebooted with no resolution.

Orbi router solid magenta (not the satellite)

125 Replies

vinesh
Guide
Jan 18, 2018
Tried the NTP Solution but that doesnt work for me.
Orbi Router in AP mode with nothing plugged into the "internet/yellow" port (to solve the wired Satellite in AP Mode issue).
Does any of the BETA firmware's solve this?
soreneck
Tutor
Jan 21, 2018
I just saw the magenta ring on my orbi router - first time! I've just got the orbi 2 weeks ago, on V2.1.2.18.

Everything is working ok tho, I can login to orbilogin.com, internet is up, wifi is ok. The Orbi iOS app is ok too. I then stumble upon this thread, and went back to check on the router and the magenta is gone!

?????
- st_shaw
  Master
  Jan 21, 2018
  The router will turn magenta if the connection to the Internet is lost, even momentarily. This could be due to a problem with your modem, a problem with your ISP, removing the cable from the Orbi Internet port, etc.
  - Michele31415
    Star
    Jan 21, 2018
    "The router will turn magenta if the connection to the Internet is lost, even momentarily."
    That's fine. The problem seems to be that the router fails to turn OFF the magenta LED when the Internet connection returns.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Apr 15, 2018
Have seen other post that the use of the LAN port works better for AP mode. I would suggest trying both to see. Yes, the WAN port will show Magenta LED if it's not connected. I've tired this on mine. LAN port works fine.
ngcmos
Aspirant
Aug 02, 2018
I just purchased RBK50 for my home Aug 1st 2018, My firmware is V2.1.4.16

A little about me. I have a rack of servers, and enterprise grade networking equipment in my house, and my ORBI is connected to CISCO layer managed switch, so the threads saying it has to be connected to a "dumb unmanaged" switch are incorrect. I am 20 year IT pro. It still took me a few hours to sort this out.

So I got my orbi connectected per instructions and needed immediately wanted to go to AP mode. When switching the GUI says setting IP addresses manually or "Fixed" is NOT recommended. This is where things go downhill.

My scenario was that my devices connected to the orbi via wifi COULD get internet. The solid Magenta ring on the router was because the ORBI router could not talk to the internet.

My issue is that my own routers (not any orbi unit) DHCP server gave my internal DNS server as the primary DNS, and an internet located DNS server as secondary. For some reason the Orbi could not make DNS lookups through my internal DNS. I specified googles DNS service (8.8.8.8) as the primary...and voila...Magenta light gone. and the orbi can can talk to the internet itself now.

Detailed Steps to resolve:

Note**: My ethernet cable is plugged into the the YELLOW internet port on the orbi.

So I went to the Orbi gui and pretended to but the Orbi back in router mode. (Advanced Tab --->Advanced Setup Menu---->Router/AP Mode) I clicked Router Mode and DID NOT save. then I clicked back on AP Mode, it gave me the option again to change my IP settings ("Use fixed IP Address (not recommended"). I gave my orbi a static IP and manually set the DNS to internet DNS servers as specified above. Saved, the Orbi rebooted....and everything is great.

I think Netgear makes things confusing by trying to discourage people from setting a static IP on the ORBI. Because people may not know how to get back in if the do something wrong.
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Aug 02, 2018
  FYI about managed swtiches and Orbi...Disable IGMP on Managed Switches if your going to use Orbi on them:
  https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-MR-2-1-Update-3-23-18/m-p/1553749/highlight/true#M30673
  https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Using-Router-Configured-as-Access-Point-Cannot-see-Satellites-in/m-p/1612052/highlight/true#M37974
  
  ngcmos wrote:
  
  I just purchased RBK50 for my home Aug 1st 2018, My firmware is V2.1.4.16
  
  A little about me. I have a rack of servers, and enterprise grade networking equipment in my house, and my ORBI is connected to CISCO layer managed switch, so the threads saying it has to be connected to a "dumb unmanaged" switch are incorrect. I am 20 year IT pro. It still took me a few hours to sort this out.
  
  So I got my orbi connectected per instructions and needed immediately wanted to go to AP mode. When switching the GUI says setting IP addresses manually or "Fixed" is NOT recommended. This is where things go downhill.
  
  My scenario was that my devices connected to the orbi via wifi COULD get internet. The solid Magenta ring on the router was because the ORBI router could not talk to the internet.
  
  My issue is that my own routers (not any orbi unit) DHCP server gave my internal DNS server as the primary DNS, and an internet located DNS server as secondary. For some reason the Orbi could not make DNS lookups through my internal DNS. I specified googles DNS service (8.8.8.8) as the primary...and voila...Magenta light gone. and the orbi can can talk to the internet itself now.
  
  Detailed Steps to resolve:
  
  Note**: My ethernet cable is plugged into the the YELLOW internet port on the orbi.
  
  So I went to the Orbi gui and pretended to but the Orbi back in router mode. (Advanced Tab --->Advanced Setup Menu---->Router/AP Mode) I clicked Router Mode and DID NOT save. then I clicked back on AP Mode, it gave me the option again to change my IP settings ("Use fixed IP Address (not recommended"). I gave my orbi a static IP and manually set the DNS to internet DNS servers as specified above. Saved, the Orbi rebooted....and everything is great.
  
  I think Netgear makes things confusing by trying to discourage people from setting a static IP on the ORBI. Because people may not know how to get back in if the do something wrong.

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Orbi router solid magenta (not the satellite)