My Orbi satellite is flashing white and I'm not sure why. I've been having sporadic network problems since I upgraded the firmware on the router. Unfortunately I upgraded the firmware on the router before the satellite which I now know is opposite of what you're supposed to do. Unfortunately it didn't say anywhere during the process that I should start at the satellite first, so I fear that it's bricked. The satellite doesn't show up as a device on the router I've tried syncing it normally I've tried a full reset of the router and doing a reset on the satellite with a pin. I've connected a Windows laptop directly to the satellite via ethernet and ran arp -a to see what IP it gives, but it's just 169 type addresses so I can't even use TFTP to load a firmware.What are my options? This setup is only 1.5 months old.

I did another factory reset and the top ring light is blinking white again. Back to square one it seems. I've only had it for about a month. On with support going through the steps. Hopefully an RMA is coming.Before this I had a TPLink router that didn't hiccup for 4 years. This Netgear Orbi is really of questionable quality for $300.

chuckblues wrote:Oh, oh. :( Does it say somewhere that pulsing white means "doing firmware upgrade" ?If so; that may mean when it started pulsing white after midnight in our sleep-dark bedroom where my wife was battling a migraine and she unplugged the annoying blinking light, she may have killed it in the middle of a firmware upgrade...Yes, cilck the bellow LEDs link under my sig. for more details. As FURRYe38 said, just do a hard factory reset and wait it out until it stops blinking. You will know it's done when you can access the router via default WiFi SSID. There's a reason the FW upgrade happens in the middle of the night. :smileyhappy:

Try another factory reset on the RBS with a wired PC connected to it. Wait about 4-5 minutes. IF the RBS is still working, the PC will get a IP address. You can access the RBS web page at 192.168.1.250 with a web browser. If you can get here, load the FW file to the RBS. Factory reset the RBS and setup from scratch.

Thanks. To be clear, what are the steps for a factory reset for the satellite? I've read various versions of the steps to take. What I have tried is:Insert paperclip and hold for 30 secWhile still inserted, unplug the powerWhile still inserted, plug in power and keep it there another 30 secThat seem right?

While plugged in to the power, press the back button for 15 seconds then release.

RBS50 blinking white - cannot connect

18 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru
Oct 30, 2019
Try another factory reset on the RBS with a wired PC connected to it. Wait about 4-5 minutes. IF the RBS is still working, the PC will get a IP address. You can access the RBS web page at 192.168.1.250 with a web browser. If you can get here, load the FW file to the RBS. Factory reset the RBS and setup from scratch.
- treadpool
  Tutor
  Oct 30, 2019
  Thanks. To be clear, what are the steps for a factory reset for the satellite? I've read various versions of the steps to take. What I have tried is:
  Insert paperclip and hold for 30 sec
  While still inserted, unplug the power
  While still inserted, plug in power and keep it there another 30 sec
  That seem right?
  - FURRYe38
    Guru
    Oct 30, 2019
    While plugged in to the power, press the back button for 15 seconds then release.
CrimpOn
Guru
Oct 30, 2019
treadpool wrote:
I've connected a Windows laptop directly to the satellite via ethernet and ran arp -a to see what IP it gives, but it's just 169 type addresses so I can't even use TFTP to load a firmware.
When a product is unable to get an IP address, it is common for them to create their own "169.x.x.x" address. In order to tftp firmware in that situation, the laptop has to be given an IP that is in the same subnet. i.e. Go into the Network and Sharing Center and change the ethernet port from DHCP to "Static IP" and give it a "169.x.x.x" address with subnet mask 255.255.255.0. Then connect directly from laptop to satellite. When the process is over, the laptop has to be reconfigured to DHCP for it to work on your network again.

The whole tftp process is a chore, what with messing with the network settings. I have actually done this with a RBS50 satellite, so I know it is possible.
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  Oct 30, 2019
  Hopefully a reset and connection with the wired PC to the RBS will be all they need. Hopefully.
  - treadpool
    Tutor
    Oct 31, 2019
    Ok so the simple reset didn't work. Resorted to TFTP which was successful and the img file was transferred. What am I supposed to do next? There's no ring light pulsing anymore and the green power led is solid. There's no response when I press the Sync button.

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RBS50 blinking white - cannot connect