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Forum Discussion
RBR50 out of nowhere is losing connectivity 5-7 random times a day
So, I am relatively technical and out of nowhere by Orbi Mesh has lost its mind.
Spent two weeks with Spectrum to make sure everything is perfect between the Node and my House and then with Spectrum Maintenance to make sure the Node and Upstream is fine.
I share a node with my neighbor, and he has had zero issues....so it appears to be my Orbi out of the blue.
No new devices added or removed and no changes.
What firmware is loaded on the RBR and RBS?
Firmware is V2.7.5.6
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Brand New Spectrum Charter Modem - Model ET2251 / DOCSIS 3.1 eMTA
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router 📡 and satellite(s)🛰️? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR 📡 and RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected.
Nothing changed of course, but 3,000. Each Orbit is on its own floor, 2nd, Main, Basement and for 4 years has worked flawlessly and yes more than 30 ft apart of course.
Does this happen with the RBS turned OFF?
Mmmm...I have not been able to try that as my wife works on the Main Floor and her only access is Wireless and she can't get a single from the RBR from my second floor office....but on the weekend I can try this if nothing else.
Does this happen with both wireless and wired devices?
Yes - my work laptop is hard wired to RBR
What channel configurations are currently set on the router? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
Nothing changed....but 2.4Ghz is Auto and 5GHz is 48 - how is is possible that Auto for years worked on 2.4 and now this is my issue...can adjust I guess, but a bit lost on this one.
Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads while at home:
NETGEAR Mobile Applications and Android/Apple/Windows Devices FAQ | NETGEAR Communities
None enabled
Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, IPv6, Traffic Meter.
All Disabled
Any advice or help is appreciated.
46 Replies
So all these threads have my head spinning....that is on my, but streamlining in one follow up.
This MAC ADDRESS: 0c:23:69:8f:0a:7c - does not exist on my Attached Devices, originally it was a Disconnected Device, I removed it, yet I am still getting those logs. I will try to change SSID to see what happens.
Magically Access Control is back to normal and all devices are allowed.
I am not only running the RBR, with the Satellites off for now
the RBR is NOT HOT in the least bit.
No random MAC ADDRESS features on my PC
Ok, so I think there is a Devil in my Orbi...
Trying to turn on access control to BLOCK that one MAC address, could not do it, turn off Access Control and now this.
What PC are you using to manage the RBR and getting this web page?
Check the MAC address on this PC?
Make sure no random mac address features are enabled on this PC.
I would avoid using Access Controls for now until you can get the problem fixed.
May need to factory reset the sytem and setup from scratch.
Yeah so the ONLY PC at the moment connected....but as soon as that error came, it went away and I can log back into the Orbi with the same PC (laptop)
But access control has gone wild....
Logged in and I see this - I did not turn on nor did I block those. Line 2 is my PC and I am logged into the Orbi with that MAC and have internet (for the moment)
I know factory reset is next step...just trying to buy some time
Ok, when I tried to switch to 11 on 2.4 - I received this error when trying to apply, then I got the Please wait a moment....forever and finally logged out.
When I logged back in 11 was saved....although I THOUGHT I new a few things, not sure what that means in the real world performance, seems like a huge drop...but
Per Wi-Fi Alliance guidelines for 40 Mhz and 20 Mhz coexistence, even if you select "Up to 400Mbps" mode, your product’s service rate might drop to 20 Mhz. This typically corresponds to 192 Mbps performance.
Per Wi-Fi Alliance guidelines for 40 Mhz and 20 Mhz coexistence, even if you select "Up to 400Mbps" mode, your product’s service rate might drop to 20 Mhz. This typically corresponds to 192 Mbps performance.
That is just saying that 20/40 Mhz coexistence can result in the system choosing to use 20 Mhz in order to avoid interfering with other wifi.
Do you get many 2.4 ghz client connections? Are they connections where performance matters (laptops, phone, tablets)? Or are they iOT devices (smart power switches, etc)?
As for 2.4 - quite a few, say 20 out of 40, mostly all IOT Devices - Blink Cameras, Thermostats, Smart Lights, etc.
Please give more details on what is losing connectivity? What is happening when this happens?
What devices are effected? Brand and model#s.
Have you factory reset the system and setup from scratch to troubleshoot this?
Any top ring LEDs come on when this happens?
Try channel 1 and 40 or 11 and 48 on the RBR.
FW upgrade files are here: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbk50
The Orbi 50 series is EoL so you have the latest from NG.
Please give more details on what is losing connectivity? What is happening when this happens?
What devices are effected? Brand and model#s.
Answer: Everything until the RBR requires the connection from the Modem.
Have you factory reset the system and setup from scratch to troubleshoot this?
Answer: Not yet, because I have enough connected devices the headache to do that is last step....unless there is a way to protect all that, but not sure. But baffled as to how this is happening out of the blue...but get that might be what I have to do.
Any top ring LEDs come on when this happens?
Answer: Yes, White is on flashing until it connects back with the Modem.
Try channel 1 and 40 or 11 and 48 on the RBR.
Answer: Ok switched 2.4 to 11 and 5 was already on 48, or should I move each to 1 and 40 respectively
FW upgrade files are here: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbk50
The Orbi 50 series is EoL so you have the latest from NG.
Answer: Ok thanks
If the top ring is blinking white means something has happened between the ISP modem and the RBR, RBR has lost it's connection with the modem. Check the logs to see if there are entries for Internet Connected, if yo use see more then one entry, means the ISP modem maybe stopping services unexpectedly thus the RBR starts blinking white.
Have the ISP check the signal on the line up there there modem. Check for Event logs as awell. Any Criticals, Errors or Warnings seen in the event logs needs to be reviewed and resolved by the ISP. Indicates a signal issue on the ISP line up to the modem.
Are you using ISP detected DNS or custom DNS?
Is IPv6 enabled on the RBR?
Try either wifi channel configurations and see what works best or helps better.
Factory reset the system and setup from scratch using this guide:
Orbi Systems Manual Factory Reset Process | NETGEAR Communities
Can save off a backup config to file before starting then reload it to help save time. FR with out is good as well as long as you use same SSID name and password for the WiFi, you'll be good.
Please give more details on what is losing connectivity? What is happening when this happens?
What devices are effected? Brand and model#s.
Answer: Everything until the RBR requires the connection from the Modem.
Have you factory reset the system and setup from scratch to troubleshoot this?
Answer: Not yet, because I have enough connected devices the headache to do that is last step....unless there is a way to protect all that, but not sure. But baffled as to how this is happening out of the blue...but get that might be what I have to do.
Any top ring LEDs come on when this happens?
Answer: Yes, White is on flashing until it connects back with the Modem.
Try channel 1 and 40 or 11 and 48 on the RBR.
Answer: Ok switched 2.4 to 11 and 5 was already on 48, or should I move each to 1 and 40 respectively
FW upgrade files are here: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbk50
The Orbi 50 series is EoL so you have the latest from NG.
Answer: Ok thanks
Meant to ask this, but can't seem to edit....
Was there a "recent" firmware upgrade - from this link I can't seem to find the RBR's
https://community.netgear.com/category/home-orbi/kb/en-home-orbi-firmware-releases
Yes - EVERY TIME !! - Which is even more insane to me.
Does the connectivity return on its own?
If not, what are you doing to restore it?
Does the connectivity return on its own?
Yes - EVERY TIME !! - Which is even more insane to me.
Can you tell if you still have local connectivity when the problem occurs? (just wondering if the WAN port connection is what is dropping, or if it is more than that).
Was there a "recent" firmware upgrade - from this link I can't seem to find the RBR's
This says you are running the most recent firmware:
- https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbr50
