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Forum Discussion
RBR20 Connection Issues
I have had an ORBI RBR20 and two sattelites for about a year and a half. At first, it was connected to a DSL wifi router / modem, but in the spring we upgraded to cable. Since that time, it has been connected to an Arris DG2470A. We have been told by the cable company that we can't use our own modem.
In the first setup, we had slow but reliable internet. We had no troubles with the ORBI for the year or so that we used it with the DSL. Since moving to Cable (and the new modem / router), the internet is FAST (for us), but it drops out at least 5-6 times daily. The cable company checked out line and shows a continuous connection.
If I go into the orbi box, it always tells me that the internet is "good." I have discovered that if I run a "test" of the internet setup in the orbi box interface, the internet starts working again. If I am physically looking at the ORBI and the Cablem Modem, the ORBI shows something happening (ring lights up) but the modem shows no activity. I assume that means that my intenet connection is still good.
Any suggestions? I do know that the Arris NAT is in "bridged" mode, which is what I had the DSL modem set to previously. I am a bit nervous to poke around too much because I don't have any device with ethernet. If I lose connection to the ORBI via wireless I am in trouble!
14 Replies
alabama24 wrote:I have had an ORBI RBR20 and two sattelites for about a year and a half. At first, it was connected to a DSL wifi router / modem, but in the spring we upgraded to cable. Since that time, it has been connected to an Arris DG2470A. We have been told by the cable company that we can't use our own modem.
In the first setup, we had slow but reliable internet. We had no troubles with the ORBI for the year or so that we used it with the DSL. Since moving to Cable (and the new modem / router), the internet is FAST (for us), but it drops out at least 5-6 times daily. The cable company checked out line and shows a continuous connection.
If I go into the orbi box, it always tells me that the internet is "good." I have discovered that if I run a "test" of the internet setup in the orbi box interface, the internet starts working again. If I am physically looking at the ORBI and the Cablem Modem, the ORBI shows something happening (ring lights up) but the modem shows no activity. I assume that means that my intenet connection is still good.
Any suggestions? I do know that the Arris NAT is in "bridged" mode, which is what I had the DSL modem set to previously. I am a bit nervous to poke around too much because I don't have any device with ethernet. If I lose connection to the ORBI via wireless I am in trouble!
You do want to turn off the WIFI on the ARRIS, so you won't get interference. I would check the cable from the Arris to the Orbi router, and change it, to at least cat5e, if it is cat5.
Who is your ISP and what equipment did they provide?
What is the current firmware on your Orbi device?
What device is your Orbi router connected to?
Then try these settings:
Disable Circle, Armor, Daisy Chaining, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and uncheck 20/40Mhz Coexistence.
Enable WMM, Implicit BeamForming, Mu-MIMO
Set Short preamble mode. Save settings, reboot Orbi.Who is your ISP and what equipment did they provide?
Shentel, a regional cable company. The equipment is the Arris mentioned earlier.
What is the current firmware on your Orbi device?
V2.5.1.16
What device is your Orbi router connected to?It is the Arris mentioned earlier. It is a WIFI Router / Modem (Arris DG2470A)
Disable Circle, Armor, Daisy Chaining, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and uncheck 20/40Mhz Coexistence. Enable WMM, Implicit BeamForming, Mu-MIMO. Set Short preamble mode. Save settings, reboot Orbi.
I am willing to experiment, but have some questions and concerns:
Circle: I don't want to disable Circle... that is the only reason I purchased this particular mesh system.
Daisy Chaining: Isnt that the purpose of a mesh system? The base unit is on one side of the basement, our bedroom is upstairs on the other. The main device does not reach our room on its own.
Based on your reccomendation, I have enabled Implicit BeamForming and MU-MIMO. WMM was already enabled. I turned 20/40Mhz Coexistence off.
Fast roaming was already off. I do not subscribe to Armor, so it is off. IPv6 was already disabled.
Preamble mode is currently set to autormatic. I will see what happens with the changes above first.
I will reboot the ORBI and give it a go based on what I have written here.
IF your modem has a built in router, This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NAT
Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktopIF your modem has a built in router, This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended.
Thanks! I thought of that and purchased a non-router modem, but the ISP won't let me use it. Apparently I have to use their modem.
Couple of options,
Are these three options muturally exclusive? Should I start with one, if it doesnt work undo it and move to the next one?
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.It is my understanding that the modem is currently bridged and that the WIFI radios are turned off. Is "transparent bridge" different than "bridged mode"?
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.I am a bit confused by this suggestion... but am willing to give it a go. With the changes made above, I will wait to see what happens in a day or two. Is there a link for how to configure this way?
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router.I will research AP mode.
alabama24 wrote:IF your modem has a built in router, This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended.
Thanks! I thought of that and purchased a non-router modem, but the ISP won't let me use it. Apparently I have to use their modem.
Couple of options,
Are these three options muturally exclusive? Should I start with one, if it doesnt work undo it and move to the next one?
Yes.
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.It is my understanding that the modem is currently bridged and that the WIFI radios are turned off. Is "transparent bridge" different than "bridged mode"? Same.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.I am a bit confused by this suggestion... but am willing to give it a go. With the changes made above, I will wait to see what happens in a day or two. Is there a link for how to configure this way? This is only needed if your ISP Modem can't be bridged.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router.I will research AP mode. This is only if option 1 and 2 can't be configured on the ISP Modem.
To follow back up...
Things went well for about a month... then I started having troubles again.
Above I outlined what changes I previously made, but I verified each of these settings and they were as follows:
Enable Beamforming
Enable MU-MIMO.
Enable WMMDisable 20/40Mhz Coexistence
Disable Fast roaming
Disable IPv6Preamble mode is currently set to automatic.
One of the things which had been recommend earlier was to disable daisy-chain topology. I have now done so. Fingers crossed.
TURNED OFF DAISY CHAIN TOPOLOGY
Let us know how it goes...
alabama24 wrote:To follow back up...
Things went well for about a month... then I started having troubles again.
Above I outlined what changes I previously made, but I verified each of these settings and they were as follows:
Enable Beamforming
Enable MU-MIMO.
Enable WMMDisable 20/40Mhz Coexistence
Disable Fast roaming
Disable IPv6Preamble mode is currently set to automatic.
One of the things which had been recommend earlier was to disable daisy-chain topology. I have now done so. Fingers crossed.
TURNED OFF DAISY CHAIN TOPOLOGY
Unfortunately, we are back to square one. Any other ideas?
