NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Returning my CBK40 System
After 3 months of struggles, I am finanly giving up on my CBR40 modem/router (and CBK40 kit). I have had Spectrum technicians out so many times that they have told me they wont help me until I use th...
I was ready to sell it on eBay after 2+ months of inconsistent behavior. My ISP (Spectrum) gave me a new Arris OEM router and modem to get me back up and running while I reseached what to buy next. I tried Google and didnt like it. Considered Eero and Ubiquity but they didnt have all the features I wanted and they were pretty expensive.
I did more research and decided to to try Orbi again - but with a Spectrum modem.
I got a RBK50 kit (RB50 router and RS50 satellite).
To my surprise - the EXACT same problems started again. Then, after pouring over every step of my configurations and every inich of my cabling and topology, it hit me like a ton of bricks - The problem has been isolated to Ethernet backhaul.
So I returned the brand-new RBK50 kit to Micro Center (only had it for 2 days), and re-deployed the original CBK40 kit again from factory (and removed my eBay ad).
I'm back where I started - but now I know EXACTLY what the issue is!
Its really bizare behavior. It looked like a WAN issue, but sure enough, it is in fact caused when I plug in a satallite into Ethernet (reproduced with both a RBS20 and a RBS50). It took me a long time to figure this out. I feel dumb now, but the symptoms always look like it was on the WAN - not the LAN.
My home is brand new. Moved in December 2017. Brand new Cat5e in all rooms with home-runs back to my utility/storage room in my garage when my coxial is located (and my routers/modems/etc). I had a 3rd-party network technician tone-out the cables and they all reported OK. All other cables (patch cables etc) are brand new and I have replaced them all at least once during troubleshooting.
If I plug a computer or game console into the RJ45 plug where I typically plugged in my Orbi satlelites (master bedroom wall plug), all the systems run fine (speed tests are great). But as soon as I plug in an Orbi Satallite into that same RJ45 wall plug for backhaul the whole system goes down.
Firmware is up to date. Done multiple factory resets etc.
There any ethernet switches in between the CBR and satellites? If so, Mfr and model# please...
How is you first set up the satellites for wired back haul? You have to set one up at a time via wireless, then connect the lan cable and wait 5 minutes for the the top led on the satellite to turn on BLUE. Then set up a IP address reservation for the satellite.
I also use wired backhaul with my 1 satellite and have no problems with wired back haul. The only issue I see randomly is that when some other device comes online, either new or a reboot on the router, for some reason the DHCP server fails to assign IP addresses correctly and the satellite and some random device on the network conflicts with the same IP address. I have to turn OFF the satellite. Get the other device reconfigured for a IP address reservation. Then turn on the satellite after the IP address reservation is applied and the CBR fully reboots. For some reason this conflict causes a ARM storm on my LAN network and all my switches start blinking rapidly until I stop the conflict. Have never seen this before in any other router system I have.
Other than this, wired back haul is working here for me. I have 3 non managed switches in between the CBR and satellite.
https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/products/18319-hp-j9794a/specifications/
and 2 of http://us.dlink.com/products/business-solutions/5-port-unmanaged-gigabit-switch/
While I do have NETGEAR brand 8-port gigabit unmanaged switches in all my Ethernet-wired rooms, I am currently NOT using any switches at all. I havent needed them yet. They are powered-off. I may need them in the future if I add more game consoles, computers etc.