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Forum Discussion
Orbi satellite dropping connection
Right to the point: my Orbi system has 2 satellites and 1 main tower. The internet drops/slows down (to the point where internet browsing is not possible) 2-3 times per day randomly without warning on the satellites (both at same time), but the main tower would be fine. Also netgear please DO NOT mark this as solved with firmware update 1.12.0.18, because all of my towers are on that version and still disconnecting. ISP is Comcast. We are using the Arris Surfboard SB6190 modem. I have tried using ethernet on the satellites, but ethernet is also effected by this issue. It cannot be interference because the connection works fine most of the day, and the issue seems to be at random without a trigger.
I suspect there's a problem with the connection between the satellites and main tower, but would still like some advice. I think we upgraded to the orbi around 6 months ago.
570 Replies
Wow. One week ago I decided to purchase Orbi mesh system and made a mistake of moving from amazing (maybe not as fast in theory) Amplify-HD Mesh system!
Orbi constantly drops connection, devices drop out all the time and watching Netflix is just painfull, as connection drops every now and then.
Paid 699 euros and really, really disapointed at the moment. Nothing is more frustrating, than a crappy wi-fi connection. My broadband is 1000mb/s, but there is no way to enjoy it with Orbi, as constant drop outs and laggish connection makes usage basically impossible.
Newest firmware (V2.1.1.12) does not resolve the problem. I really hope there is a solution for that or I will take Orbi back to store.
As some others have suggested, I have turned the satellite off and force connection with router only. Coverage is limited, but continuous. No answer or reply from Netgear yet....apart from an email telling me that my support ticket was about to expire....very helpful
maxsc wrote:Wow. One week ago I decided to purchase Orbi mesh system and made a mistake of moving from amazing (maybe not as fast in theory) Amplify-HD Mesh system!
Orbi constantly drops connection, devices drop out all the time and watching Netflix is just painfull, as connection drops every now and then.
Paid 699 euros and really, really disapointed at the moment. Nothing is more frustrating, than a crappy wi-fi connection. My broadband is 1000mb/s, but there is no way to enjoy it with Orbi, as constant drop outs and laggish connection makes usage basically impossible.
Newest firmware (V2.1.1.12) does not resolve the problem. I really hope there is a solution for that or I will take Orbi back to store.
I'm losing the will to live with this Orbi!
Can I just ask... why did you move away from Amplify HD?
I'm thinking of giving up on Orbi and Netgear. Have tried Google Wifi but no bridge mode
- Amplify HD worked perfect for me, but Orbi in theory offers better wi-fi speed... I recently upgraded my broadband to 1000 mbit/s, so just wanted to get most of it in wi-fi, Amplify is slower (again in theory).
After a couple of months without problems, now with the latest firmware V2.1.1.16, even placing the satellite 1m from the router, after pulsing white for a while moves to solid magenta.
Just seen this yesterday. May be of interest.
ajdscc wrote:After a couple of months without problems, now with the latest firmware V2.1.1.16, even placing the satellite 1m from the router, after pulsing white for a while moves to solid magenta.
Have you tried pressing the sync button on the router and then the satellite?
Bought this over other models because of the rave reviews and the availability of multiple ethernet / USB ports.
Everything was working beautifully for 6 lovely months until it didn't. Frequent disconnections during the day leading to poor signals throughout the house and disgruntled family members (and a very unhappy wife due to the high cost of the units)
Moving the satellite around, setting the units to AP mode, firmware upgrades, multiple changes to settings have not helped.
Finally bit the straw and bought the Velops (1/2 price now) and all is well again.
Not happy
Get a shovel and bury that thing it’s junk
- Having the same problem as others - connection dropping every few minutes. It’s a complete mess... RBR50 + 2xRBS50; Charter/Spectrum with Arris SBRS6190 (modem). All Orbi devices running 2.1.1.16 firmware.
I’ve tried everything too - reset button, factory reset, manual firmware installs, changed settings, ran just the router, tried various satellite combos, checked line quality, spectrum tech to confirm it’s not a service issue, etc.
Given the number of posts on this topic, totally unacceptable from Netgear. I have almost $600 in a system that doesn’t last a year. Worked fine about two firmware updates ago.
Consumers should be warned that this is happening and not being adequately addressed. Issue is NOT solved...
Darren - I have already sent you a PM.I got 24 days of nothing but disappointment then I took it back.
After reseting to factory default the satellite, then changing the router LAN IP address space from default network 192.168.1.1/24 to 192.168.2.1/24, restart the Wireless connection and resync the Satellite, it worked!! It has been 10h without drop and the satellite is placed 60ft away in another room. Fingers crossed.
Both router and satellite are on the latest firmware version 2.1.1.16.
If this is happening to people with multiple satellites, try turning off all but one of the satellites (obviously, keep the main router plugged in). My disconnect issues have stopped for 3 days since doing this, and I'd much rather prefer stable connection that's slightly limited in range over unstable connection.
Thanks Bluefish... I have tried this already, but to no avail on my end. Drops occur with zero / one / two satellites. Hope your solution holds for you.
- I am on 2.0.0.74 since I installed router and satellites about a month ago and everything working fine though I am running on AP mode. The system hasn’t upgraded automatically to latest version and I am not going to try it. I bought it from Costco so should be no problem in return anytime if it start acting up. It is true that Netgear has lemon in their hand with orbi system because there are too many complaints from too many for such a premium system. Not acceptable. Only thing I would say to Netgear at this moment - ‘Make orbi great again’
I'm seeing horrible disconnects of my satellites as well. Router and satellites are on version V2.1.1.16. Disconnects seem to have just started with this update.
So I'm using the Velop for my main system now but I saw there was new firmware out for Orbi but I didn't want to try it as I wanted to see if my Orbi as a standalone router - 1 satellite system still rebooted. Well after one day it hasn't rebooted at all so added the new software won't prove anything I would have to re-insert it as my main system since it does seem to be triggered by something there - just don't know what. Not sure if I'm willing to troubleshoot it but I feel I can sell it with clear conscious if it's just on my system that issue is occuring and someone with a different setup wouldn't see it.
Has anyone seen this
With the 2.1.1.16, I'm seeing devices like my iPad that may sit for sometime without use have trouble getting to the internent. If I turn wifi on/off, it resolves whatever conflict and works as normal immediately so not sure if its an IP conflict or what. I'm also getting alot of freezing when watching Netflix which I was not seeing in previous versions so I'm guessing it might be a wifi connectivity issue now dropping the connection intermittently. Both of these have been happening since the update over several days, so it doesnt seem to be an internet issue and something with the Orbi. Tried restarting everything but problem still persists. I had pretty solid results with previous 2.x versions of the firmware as others have noted.
I kept getting a " you elected to watch on wi-fi only" message" "please change in settings." I dont have a data plan on my Tab 12.2 and didn't know what was happening since there is nothing in settings regarding this. I called Netflix and the tech told me it was because my network was being dropped and there was no data plan to keep it going , so therfore it sent that message. My Orbi drops about every 15 minutes before 11:00 PM
Last night was the last straw. Kept on losing the internet every 15 minutes on my Tab 12.2 while TRYING to watch Netflix. Changed back to my old router today and NO DROPOUTS! Returned my Orbi. Netgear should be ashamed about putting this piece of junk on the market. I still have some dead spots but MUCH better than NO INTERNET ANYWHERE. Netgear SHOULD have someone monitoring the community to see the problems related to this.
- The last firmware gets disconnect with satellite every 1 hour i dont know why i have reset and did again same issue.... keep disconnecting the router and satellite near by only
I have both RBK50 base unit and RBS50 satellite. Now running Router Firmware Version
V2.0.0.74. It is now January 18, but same Firmware version as of October 16. Not sure if it is auto-updating. My satellite keeps on dropping signal to my Samsung S6 (Android) phone. There appeeard to be no rhyme or reason. I get a message on my phone tat says "Authentication error occured." I can fix it by restarting my phone. (My phone does not have any problem auto-connecing to other secure Wifi networks in other locations when I travel. Just at home with Orbi system. ) At home with the Orbi system, multiple other devices connect to base system router with no problems. (Note: My iPad connects to stellite with no problem although signal sometimes drops from 5G to 2.4G. )
Although NetGear states this reply is an accepted solution, the solution seems to say that one should abandon the Orbi and buy a Google router. Is there a software fix for this "satellite" problem?
rickatron wrote:I have both RBK50 base unit and RBS50 satellite. Now running Router Firmware Version
V2.0.0.74. It is now January 18, but same Firmware version as of October 16. Not sure if it is auto-updating. My satellite keeps on dropping signal to my Samsung S6 (Android) phone. There appeeard to be no rhyme or reason. I get a message on my phone tat says "Authentication error occured." I can fix it by restarting my phone. (My phone does not have any problem auto-connecing to other secure Wifi networks in other locations when I travel. Just at home with Orbi system. ) At home with the Orbi system, multiple other devices connect to base system router with no problems. (Note: My iPad connects to stellite with no problem although signal sometimes drops from 5G to 2.4G. )
Although NetGear states this reply is an accepted solution, the solution seems to say that one should abandon the Orbi and buy a Google router. Is there a software fix for this "satellite" problem?Currently auto-update of Netgear firmware for the Orbi is turned off on the Netgear end, so no auto-update until Netgear turns that back on. You can, of course, manually update your firmware anytime you want:
You can also go backwards in firmware versions, should that be what works best for you.
Sorry I can't help with the Samsung Galaxy S6 problem...no problems here with the iPhone 7 or 8, or Pixel phone on the Orbi.
I manually updated the firmware on both satellite and then router base. Ugraded to V2.1.1.16. Upgrade was successful. Reconnected my wireless devices. Now I will have to see if my Samsung S6 stays connected to the satellite. Thanks to the community for help!
The “problem solved” note I believe was an accidental entry by an earlier post. The problem remains.
I have temporarily worked around the problem by manually setting every device in the house. I only have Apple products....phones, iPads and MacBooks so can’t help much with Android devices. The difficulty seems to be that when connection is lost, the devices are being forced onto “Router 0.0.0.0” which doesn’t exist. By manually setting the router to the correct address the problem seems to be temporarily fixed....but there is no way this should have to be done, and the problem has recurred after this ‘fix’.
- My connection also drops all the time.
My home automation is effected big time.
None of the workarounds worked. I don’t have any android device.
I have two more weeks left till I can return it for refund at Costco.
To bad Netgear doesn’t take the problem seriously.You should be able to return it to Costco at any time; the electronics return policy (90 days) does not apply to routers.
