RBK40 v2.2.1.210 Satellite drops internet

Sounds to me like his Centurylink modem may not really be in bridged mode OR he still has the wifi turned on in it.

Anything is possible. :smileywink:

So then the question has to be is it the backhaul that is not making it or is there something wrong with the satellite itself.

You could temporarily test this (if you had a good length of cat5) by hardwiring your satellite to the router and see if that clears up the disconnects.  You would know that for some reason the signal from the router isnt making it -- perhaps you are just on the fringe of the range based on construction materials of your house.

If the problem didnt clear up, you know it has to do with the satellite and wifi radios.

I updated the firmware to 2.3.0.28. That didnt seem fix the issue, except now the satellite connected devices lose wifi every few minutes (more often than before). Sometimes my phone connects automatically after couple of minutes. Sometimes it doesnt connect at all. When I try to connect mannually from phone, it fails to connect. One time I saw phone complaining "authentication error". 

Before I left this morning I connected satellite with ethernet. I will check how it works once I am back to home.

Are there any debug tools (on phone or router/satellite) to see what is the actual issue?

Try a reset with the Satellite. Do this while in the same room as the router. See if the satellite will reconnect and gets a BLUE light on top. If so, take it back to the remote location and turn on. Still get a BLUE light on top? 

You can collect debug logs from Satellite IP address\debug.htm. However you'll have to read the logs to see if you can pick out anything. 

Might be time to ask NG about an RMA. 

In the management console you can find some information indicating connection status of the satellite to the base router.

I have done this several times and no improvement with this.

I also tried to separating SSIDs for 2.4 & 5ghz bands. It was ok for a day. Then again problem comes back. 

The problem is with Satellite. Router seems okay. If I turn off satellite, things are okay. But then why do I need mesh router?

I am going to give support call to netgear and see what they gonna say. I will update their conversation here later.

Thanks to all for your help

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FURRYe38 wrote:

Try a reset with the Satellite. Do this while in the same room as the router. See if the satellite will reconnect and gets a BLUE light on top. If so, take it back to the remote location and turn on. Still get a BLUE light on top? 

 

You can collect debug logs from Satellite IP address\debug.htm. However you'll have to read the logs to see if you can pick out anything. 

 

Might be time to ask NG about an RMA. 

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I see there is newer FW out and availble for the 40 series Orbi. Something you might want to give a try:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/New-NetGear-Orbi-20-40-Series-Firmware-Version-2-3-0-28/td-p/1714639/jump-to/first-unread-message

Let us know if you notice any changes. 

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rsquarev1 wrote:

I have done this several times and no improvement with this.

I also tried to separating SSIDs for 2.4 & 5ghz bands. It was ok for a day. Then again problem comes back. 

The problem is with Satellite. Router seems okay. If I turn off satellite, things are okay. But then why do I need mesh router?

I am going to give support call to netgear and see what they gonna say. I will update their conversation here later.

 

Thanks to all for your help

 

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FURRYe38 wrote:

Try a reset with the Satellite. Do this while in the same room as the router. See if the satellite will reconnect and gets a BLUE light on top. If so, take it back to the remote location and turn on. Still get a BLUE light on top? 

 

You can collect debug logs from Satellite IP address\debug.htm. However you'll have to read the logs to see if you can pick out anything. 

 

Might be time to ask NG about an RMA. 

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That firmware (2.3.0.28) hasn't fixed the issue. Plus the release notes don't specifically address our issues.

Workaround of having separate SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz sounds interesting. I guess any little trick tested by customers might help. But there's no point of spending hundreds of dollars on a mesh system when there's no "mesh". 

Netgear: Forget all the feature enhancements and fix the one issue that makes this a mesh system.

Yep, I installed 2.3.0.28. Issue still happens. I talked to netgear support, they sent it to level 2 support line. I haven't got a call from them yet.

If you could keep us updated. Thanks!

What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too? 
Is the Orbi system operating in Router or AP mode?

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? 
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between them 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?

Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO.

Try disabling the following and see:
Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).

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AlmondRoca wrote:

If you could keep us updated. Thanks!

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Hi rsquarev1

Please PM me the support case number. 

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team

Let us know how it goes with forum support. 

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rsquarev1 wrote:

Yep, I installed 2.3.0.28. Issue still happens. I talked to netgear support, they sent it to level 2 support line. I haven't got a call from them yet.

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Netgear support was no good. I was never received call from next level support person, though I was promised I get call within 24 hours. Now it is 10days.

While waiting for the support call, I have factory reset my router and satellite (after 2.3.0.28). Configured and imported my settings again. This time I placed my satellite around 10ft (radial) distance without ethernet, though the spot is not ideal for me. So far it is 10days and I haven't had any problems. This week I will test satellite by placing where I would like to. And I update what I find in one week.

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AlmondRoca wrote:

If you could keep us updated. Thanks!

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See how the satellite does at 30 feet. 

When you has the satellite at the remote location ethernet connected, was daisy chain disabled? 

You can try the satellite close before moving with the ethernet connection again to see if the satellite fails before moving it. Try swaping LAN cables as well. Use good qualilty LAN cables. CAT6 is recommended. 

Blanca_O 

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rsquarev1 wrote:

Netgear support was no good. I was never received call from next level support person, though I was promised I get call within 24 hours. Now it is 10days.

While waiting for the support call, I have factory reset my router and satellite (after 2.3.0.28). Configured and imported my settings again. This time I placed my satellite around 10ft (radial) distance without ethernet, though the spot is not ideal for me. So far it is 10days and I haven't had any problems. This week I will test satellite by placing where I would like to. And I update what I find in one week.

 

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AlmondRoca wrote:

If you could keep us updated. Thanks!

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Its been two days, I moved my satellite more than 20 feet away from router and wired. So far it is great, no issues or instability.

Satellite CPU is now between 13 & 20%. It was over 45 constantly in the past.

Router CPU is pretty stable at 8-15%

I am not sure what made it stable now. I suspect the firmware update is not clean. Noticed this everytime I updated firmware (3 versions I did). And many in netgear community suggested to do this. Though it doesnt work all the time, I guess you need to keep doing this until it works. For sure, this is not the quality we are expecting from Netgear.

Series of things I did in given sequence below are...

• Backup settings
• Factory reset on router & satellite
• Firmware update to 2.3.0.28 manually on router & satellite 
• Reconfigure router using setup wizard
• Factory reset on router & satellite
• Firmware update to 2.3.0.28 manually on router & satellite  (yes, I did same update twice)
• Reconfigure router using setup wizard
• Import settings that are previously backed up

I will watch next few days and update here if I notice any problems. Thank you all for the help. Great community!!

Hopefully the move of the satellite was key. Distance between the base and satellite is important. 

Mark your post as solved so other will know for future reference. 

Enjoy. :smileywink

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rsquarev1 wrote:

Its been two days, I moved my satellite more than 20 feet away from router and wired. So far it is great, no issues or instability.

Satellite CPU is now between 13 & 20%. It was over 45 constantly in the past.

Router CPU is pretty stable at 8-15%

I am not sure what made it stable now. I suspect the firmware update is not clean. Noticed this everytime I updated firmware (3 versions I did). And many in netgear community suggested to do this. Though it doesnt work all the time, I guess you need to keep doing this until it works. For sure, this is not the quality we are expecting from Netgear.

 

Series of things I did in given sequence below are...

• Backup settings
• Factory reset on router & satellite
• Firmware update to 2.3.0.28 manually on router & satellite 
• Reconfigure router using setup wizard
• Factory reset on router & satellite
• Reconfigure router using setup wizard
• Import settings that are previously backed up

I will watch next few days and update here if I notice any problems. Thank you all for the help. Great community!!

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rsquarev1 wrote:

Satellite CPU is now between 13 & 20%. It was over 45 constantly in the past.

Router CPU is pretty stable at 8-15%

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Where is this information visible?  

 orbilogin.net/debug.htm (router) 

 192.168.1.2/debug.htm (satellite)

IP may be different for your satellite. you can find the ip in attached devices from orbilogin.net/index.htm

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gr8sho wrote:

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rsquarev1 wrote:

Satellite CPU is now between 13 & 20%. It was over 45 constantly in the past.

Router CPU is pretty stable at 8-15%

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Where is this information visible?  

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Yesterday, I was organizing my cables and had to disconnect router from power outlet for few minutes. When I plugged in back, original issue popped out. Now all my devices connected to satellite doesnt have interent. Devices connected to router are fine. 

Note that nothing changed configuration or placement of router/satellite or cables connected to them. 

I tried couple of times resetting and re-updating the firmware on satellite. Nothing worked. After almost 2hours, I got frustruated and turned off satellite. Using only router now.

Netgear, Are you listening? This is a crappy product.

Now I am realizing why my neighbor recommended to go with velop mesh. I got this only because I had previously Netgear R7000 and satisfied with it.

Possilbly powering OFF and ON too many times has put the satellite in a bad state? 

Did you update the satellite to v28 then factory reset it and the re-add it? 

Have you updated the RBR as well to v28? There is FW available for both. 

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/New-NetGear-Orbi-20-40-Series-Firmware-Version-2-3-0-28/td-p/1714639/jump-to/first-unread-message

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rsquarev1 wrote:

Yesterday, I was organizing my cables and had to disconnect router from power outlet for few minutes. When I plugged in back, original issue popped out. Now all my devices connected to satellite doesnt have interent. Devices connected to router are fine. 

 

Note that nothing changed configuration or placement of router/satellite or cables connected to them. 

 

I tried couple of times resetting and re-updating the firmware on satellite. Nothing worked. After almost 2hours, I got frustruated and turned off satellite. Using only router now.

 

Netgear, Are you listening? This is a crappy product.

Now I am realizing why my neighbor recommended to go with velop mesh. I got this only because I had previously Netgear R7000 and satisfied with it.

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Hmm... powering on and off puts in bad state? Wow... Do you think RBK40 is still in beta or experimental? I thought it is a final consumer product, didn't think to have a thought it could be in beta or experimental product. 

Satellite was untouched between router power recycles.

When problem appeared, I did firmware update on only satellite. I cannot do router update everytime I do power recyle, because it just takes somuch time to go thru setup. Instead I chose to turn off satellite.