Android devices keep getting thrown off the Orbi WiFi

I don't know what your experience with Shield TV specifically has been, but the wifi on that thing is _AWFUL_...*terrible* latency (right next to an AP!) and poor bandwidth coupled with packet loss, regardless of who made the AP.  Hook it up to Ethernet and it's an entirely different experience - so I plugged it into my Satellite and it's worked like a charm.

Rodney

Sorry but outside range, I had zero issue with my ASUS RT-N56U. Within range, worked perfectly. That is why I bought Orbi. I wanted range.

This doesn't explain the quick RMA conclusion after running through the other various appliance problems. (including drops/disconnects on Netgears own Arlo less than 25 ft away!)

So your Shield TV latency wasn't all over the map with the RT-N56U?  Mine has been with Orbi, OnHub (TP-Link), and eero.  The nVidia forums have roundly called the Shield's (2015 model) wifi garbage consistently.  *shrugs*

Sorry for the O/T.

Rodney

I had zero issues with drops as I said. In fact, I didn't even know about wifi issues until I installed the ORBI and started getting drops to the point of unusable....completely erratic.  I primarily use for Netflix and Amazon Prime. I tried game streaming only to demonstrate and that seemed fine.   Update on RMA: After my first box came in with what looked like vomit or snot all over the front of the base unit (clearly not cleaned during RMA process), my 2nd unit came in with the box that looked like it rolled down a hill or was used to get a Fedex truck out of the mud.  

Losing more respect for ORBI and NETGEAR brand...

Does anyone have a good Network monitor they can recommend for the Andorid platform?   I just installed the latest firmware without drops (so far).  v1.11.0.20.  I Have the beta v12 but not installing unless I see a drop.  But Id like to monitor w an app.  Thanks for the recommendations.

I use a few but Network Signal Info gives good information about channels and link speeds.

So, I replaced the RMA'd base and here are the "interim" results:

1. XBOX ONE S upstairs (25 ft to satelitte)  - 4 bars where 2 previously. There was definitely an improvement here. I will try streaming after Shield test.

2. S7 in same room as XBOX ONE S - 4 bars

3. NVidia Shield - 4 bars. In every attempt at first power up, I had issues with connection to wifi.  The Shield was connected the second I booted this time. No delay or failure on refresh of live tiles.  I am going to stream a few movies off Netflix today to verify if holds.

I don't exactly know what the problem was with the base. But, I still think there was a communication problem with the satelitte to give such poor signal on the XBOX upstairs. Will continue testing...

I think we *may* have a winner w firmware v1.11.  I just installed it with the intention of installing the beta v12 but since I've done this, I've had ZERO drops and excellent signal strenth.   If someone can tell me how to post a pic, I'll share the screen shot..  Its pretty interesting.  

1 hour parallel streaming with XBOX One S (Amazon Prime) and NVidia Shield TV (Netflix)..no drops...that is a first. I was on 1.11 previously and that didn't help as late as last night. This was clearly a hardware issue for me. I will continue to monitor..

Everything was running fine with the last beta firmware, until it got updated to V1.11.0.20.   My android devices started to disconnect/reconnect every few minutes.

Is there a newer version of the beta firmware I can try?

Hello Mccx

Yes there is a new beta if you received the first one contact support again they can get you the new one.

DarrenM

False Alarm.  I though 1.11 fixed my issues but while watching Apple TV, it loses connection.  VERY annoying for the family to have to start and stop 3-4 times while watching a single movie.  This is maddening. 

Final update..My issues definitely hardware. It is now the 3rd of July and all appliances connected upstairs or down are remaining connected and functioning as expected. Signals are strong. This includes my NVIDIA Shield TV which unlike previous, is connected flawlessly at startup and does not require constant wifi reconnections. 

OK Peeps - peace out.  I finaly broke and returned it, I just couldn't take it anymore. I wanted it to work so bad and feel I went above and beyond but I was losing crediblity with my family.  I hope Netgear figures this out but likely I won't be back.  How's that saying go?  Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.  Take care all. 

See ya.  I played the same game with Asus for almost 5 years, but in that case, it was with all devices.

I am getting to the same point although cannot return. Pretty close to selling ORBI, Arlo and anything else NETGEAR after the past 2 weeks:

- After reporting how the eventual RMA (failed on that as well)  installed and fixed my regulary drops with NVIDIA Shield, mobile etc...The unit crapped out a week ago with extreme latency and inability to connect to 99% of IPs/URL's. No clue what happened. I had to eventually break down and reset which resolved. 

- Support is completely, utterly useless. I was panicking as had to do an online meeting. I had my support removed without notice because I was over 90 days and even though I had severe problems as indicated and 2 faulty RMA's that were embarrassing. Absolutely THE worst customer service I have seen in any company. They did eventually get back to me...TODAY! (a week later)

- Today, I noticed my Arlo not recording to cloud. Nothing on website..now back to diagnosing whether Arlo or ORBI or a combination as there seems to be latency on connecting to them.

It's pretty clear that NETGEAR is garbage. I have zero respect for the company and not adding to my Arlo camera collection anytime soon (or buying anything else)_.

It really is a great pity that Netgear can't get to the bottom of these issues.

I still believe that it's environmental related ie. if I were to send you my perfectly working Orbi/Arlo setup and you were to send me yours, that your would work perfectly here and mine would give you grief there.

This is by no means and excuse but something that Netgear needs to dive into to find out why in certain installations these problems are occurring.

Were you sent some of the Orbi beta versions of the firmware to try out?

If not then I would ping DarrenM to see if he can assist.

One more for the list.  Brand new Orbi RBK50 + Satellite, updated to the latest firmware.   Running as router.

The good:

A room that was previously a deadspot now has solid, fast internet.  A PS4 connects and, for the first time anywhere in the house, maxes out the line and doesn't give me network error messages in games.  A laptop connects and inSSIDer shows a green connnection strength.  TV streams 1080P happily.  All solid, fast connections.

The bad:

Android phone.  LG.  In the same room.  Repeatedly drops connection.  "Internet unavailable with ORBI20".  "Authentication error", occasionally. All without moving the phone. 

I've tried:  assigning an IP, letting it select an IP, both types of DHCP available in the developer options, beamforming on/off, MUMIMO on/off, moving the satellite. None change anything.

The satellite signal is twice as strong as the base, so it shouldn't be an issue of choosing which to connect to.  

Literally just watched it, over 5 minutes, go from a "good" 5GHZ 351Mbps connection, slow down to a 13Mbps connection.  Disconnect.  Connects to 2.4.  Tells me "internet unavailable" and now "Avoided Poor Internet Connection".  Without moving it.  Turn the wifi off and back on, and connects fine.  Plus the laptop I'm typing on stays connected (5GHZ) and inSSIDer shows no change in signal.

Phone had no issue staying connected to the Asus router in place beforehand.  The signal just doesn't cover the house.

Try enabling TKIP

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HoboJones wrote:

Android phone.  LG.  In the same room.  Repeatedly drops connection.  "Internet unavailable with ORBI20".  "Authentication error", occasionally. All without moving the phone. 

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But that will limit the speed to everything else to 54Mbps, which kind of defies the point of spending this much.  I can get that performance with a pair of £10 wifi extenders.

Hello HoboJones

Have you gone into the advanced wifi settings on the phone and turn off the feature that switches to your mobile network when it has low wifi or loss of wifi it could be a issue on the mesh network when it keeps dropping.

DarrenM

Have never had that turned on.  And the signal strength is enough to stream 1080P, etc.   It's purely the android phones - 2 of them - on the network.  And they've never had an issue with the previous wifi.

This would appear to be an Orbi issue, given the number of similar comments/posts.

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DarrenM wrote:

Hello HoboJones

 

Have you gone into the advanced wifi settings on the phone and turn off the feature that switches to your mobile network when it has low wifi or loss of wifi it could be a issue on the mesh network when it keeps dropping.

 

DarrenM

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This didn't do anything but lose all my WiFi passwords for every place I visited. 

Hardware Version RBR40
Firmware Version V1.12.0.20
GUI Language Version V1.0.0.297

My Samsung Galaxy S8 running Android 7.0 disconnects frequently and quickly. I have been using my mobile network in my home ever since I purchased ORBI.

I have tried every suggestion in this thread with no luck. Is this an issue with Samsung or NETGEAR? Is there a beta available? Has anyone had any luck with another product (Google Wifi)?

Hello Jaredrummier

It was a issue with samsung and a patch from them has fixed the issue but not every ISP has pushed it out yet keep checking for a update on your phone.

DarrenM