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Forum Discussion
RBR50 and RBS50 don't sync properly
So after having issues with homegrown mesh systems built on DD-WRT and various routers, I decided to go with a commercial mesh system. I bought an RBK53 and got it set up without major issues, altho...
I have tried pretty much every firmware version from V2.0.1.4 to V2.7.0.70 and while the results vary a bit, the router never sees the satellite as a satellite. As for my ISP, I have tried it with my ISP (Charter) and my own modem (Arris SB8200), but I usually just test by placing the RBR behind my existing DD-WRT based router. At this point I feel I am out of options as Netgear has provided totally worthless support and is now telling me I'm not only out of phone support, I'm out of hardware warranty as I bought the pair from Newegg.com as a refurbished unit. Apparently not refurbished enough. I've had more routers than I can count from Netgear, Cisco, Asus, TP-Link, Linksys, and more I can't even remember. I've run stock firmware, DD-WRT, Tomato, OpenWRT, and more, and never had this much difficulty troubleshooting a device. Maybe at this point I'll turn to some alternative firmware for the pair and see if they'll at least provide me with enough diagnostic information to figure out what's going on. The pair can communicate with each other wirelessly, just not as router and satellite. The best I've gotten is for the router to see the satellite as just another connected device, with an "unknown" connection type (which is simply bizarre to have an unknown connection type in a fixed hardware configuration!). So I know they can communicate. However not being able to see the actual network interfaces and see what's not connecting correctly, it's impossible to troubleshoot.
PS The recovery techniques and explanation of boot phases and what lights mean on these devices is so woefully documented as to be essentially worthless.
I would contact NG support to see what your options are.
NG support has basically been useless. After spending hours on the phone going through the most basic steps, they're telling me I'm past my support period and past my hardware warranty (bought the device refurbished from Newegg at the end of February, but because of COVID-19, I couldn't reach it until July at my other location). Given that I've tried pretty much every firmware version on both the router and the satellite, as far as I can tell, I bought a defectively refurbished unit and am now screwed.
If you reset the router and satellite, installed the latest firmware on both router and satellite, performed a new setup on the router and after the router was configured, continued to install and pair the satellite, and you are satille seeing the satellite as unknow, you probably originally purchased a defective system from the seller. This is why, when I buy used or refurbished, I immediately test to make sure they are working, so I don't lose the return window. I know you don't want to hear this.
Maybe one last effort and start from scratch. There's always the possibility that the router and satellite did not fully reset. I've found very stubborn ones in the past. If you are a novice, maybe get local help.
Hi Mstrbig,
I'm anything but a novice. I've been flashing custom firmware such as DD-WRT and others for over a decade (maybe two decades at this point). I've owned at least 30 different routers over the years as I've been a full time telecommuter for over 25 years. I'm also a software architect and have developed microcoded firmware, operating system drivers, tools, applications, and everything in between.
But unfortunately I suspect you are right that the system (router I suspect as it sometimes takes hours for it to settle down after loading new firmware and resetting) has a hardware issue. Like right now I have updated the satellite to V2.7.0.70, and am trying to upgrade the router to the same version. I upgraded via the UI to V2.7.0.70, but it appears the router is stuck in a reboot loop as it is pingable for a while, then it's not, then it is, then it's not, etc. If I can get to the UI, it tells me I need to set up the router.
Now after about 30-60 minutes, the router seems to have calmed down and I can start configuring it. However, it can't find the satellite. I've tried pressing the sync button on both, but still the router says it can't find the satellite.
The weirdest part is that a few times in the past the router would report the satellite as a connected device with an unknown connection instead of being a satellite. At the moment with V2.7.0.70 firmware installed on both, the satellite is not discoverable.
By the way, these are V1 of the RBK50 as they still have the USB port.
