RBK50 Blocking Connections to Approved Devices / Untrusted Certificate?

Question

About a week ago, devices on my network started randomly losing connectivity to the internet. Office 365 and chrome started showing untrusted certificate errors that pointed to the netgear router login certificate and could not be bypassed. Then all the phones in the house couldn't get connected. Last night, my PS4 was unable to connect to the playstation network and showed a generic error. This morning, my girlfriend's Macbook air couldn’t get anywhere on chrome, and so on. All of these devices have been on the network for a long time (some for years) and are already set up in access control (we use access control and block all incoming connections until approved). Setting up new devices is even harder and requires a device be configured at least 3 times AFTER the initial failure and being approved. I found a post where someone said the workaround is to block and re-approve the device - and that works, after half-a-dozen tries - but that is an unacceptable hack for this system. Does anyone know what happened, and how to fix it? It pops up at the most random times, and sometimes hits the same device more than once. And it's especially bad when it hits the moment you try to join a work meeting on zoom or teams, or try to connect to your work VPN. I have looked for firmware updates and found none, and really don't know what to do. Almost ready to buy some other product and put this one in the trash.

Please help.

FURRYe38 · Answer

What Firmware version is currently loaded?What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
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Is Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Access Controls enabled on the RBR?&nbsp;
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Has a power off for 1 minute then back ON with the ISP modem and Orbi system been performed since last update?
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tfs2021 · Answer

Router Firmware Version: V2.7.3.22, and it's a spectrum technicolor modem, but I can't make out the model number without disconnecting stuff.

I don't use Armor and there are no parental controls. Access control is in use (as noted in my post: " All of these devices have been on the network for a long time (some for years) and are already set up in access control (we use access control and block all incoming connections until approved). " All systems have been power cycled multiple times since the last update and since the problem began.

The hack I've been using is the one from other people with the same issue. I would prefer a better solution, and one that is less disruptive. Overall, really disappointed in this system, and doubt I would buy another or recommend to anyone.

Suggestions?

FURRYe38 · Answer

You may need to do a full factory reset and setup from scratch on the RBS and RBR.
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tfs2021 · Answer

The hack is using the app to disable the device's internet access and re-enable it.&nbsp; For the PS4, you have to repeat this process multiple times AND reboot the PS4 at least twice.&nbsp; There's a good 30 minutes you don't get back.&nbsp;The problem, according to some articles I've read,&nbsp; appears to stem from expired self-signed certificates that Netgear declines to fix. But this is just hearsay.&nbsp;Honestly, with all the trouble we had setting the system up in the first place -- it took several support calls and moving the satellite back and forth across the house to get it to pair,&nbsp; and there was even a firmware update and then downgrade -- if I have to do&nbsp; any kind of factory reset, I'm seriously thinking of throwing the whole system in the trash, and buying a competitor's product. I work from home, my GF works from home, during the pandemic, my kid was at school from home...I don't have time for this kind of shenanigans.&nbsp;&nbsp;By the way, thank you for trying to help me.&nbsp; :)

CrimpOn · Answer

Since devices have assigned IP addresses in the Orbi LAN Setup table, I presume that you are comfortable using the Orbi web administration interface.&nbsp; Would you happen to also use the Orbi 'app' from time-to-time?&nbsp; (I have suspicions that there may be a bug in the Orbi to App connection that sometimes causes problems with access control.&nbsp; If you never use the 'app', then this is not likely to be causing your issue.)
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Switching to another product may be a solution.&nbsp; It may take some time to research, purchase, and install a replacement. Would you consider disabling Access Control during in the interim.&nbsp; If that keeps everything 'on', that could ease the time pressure and allow a more deliberate change.

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RBK50 Blocking Connections to Approved Devices / Untrusted Certificate?

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