I've had nothing but trouble with the orbi system but mostly we have battled to a stalemate. The one remaining thing I can't tolerate is constant dropping of streams from Apple TV, Amazon Fire sticks and PS4's. It seems to be caused by reissuing IP addresses. For example I constantly get ‘Lost internet connection’ on the 4th gen Apple TV even if it isn’t playing anything. When It's playing music then it drops the stream and stops. Pressing play immediately starts it again without delay.. it's not an internet problem, it's a local network issue. It’s accompanied by a log entry on the Orbi: [DHCP IP: 10.0.0.8] to MAC address xxxxxx, Sunday, October 14, 2018 09:59:41 This will happen about once or twice an hour, sometimes multiple times within 10 minutes where nothing else on the network is changing. These errors are all over the logs for just about every device on the network. Assigigning dedicated static ip's to devices doesn't help. Disabling every sattelite and just using the base station doesn't help. Signal is reported as strong by Apple TV and a wifi scanner near it. I have the following now but the problem was there in previous releases as well: Router RBR50 V2.2.1.210 Satellite RBS50 V2.2.1.210 Satellite RBW30 V2.2.1.204 Can anyone here think of any way to troubleshoot this or do I have to throw it away and buy something else? I'm kind of done with dealing with a system that has both rampant bugs and very little debugability.

lizabny, ekhalil: Thanks for replying and sorry you're seeing it too.. you're both describing 2.4GHz to 5GHz changes but I actually now suspect it's the router deciding to go from 20Mhz wide bands to 40Mhz wide bands and vice versa within the 2.4GHz network. Usually, 40Mhz wide bands are a bad idea in a crowded Wifi environment. What netgear seemingly is doing is looking for noise and if it sees a network nearby it switches to the more narrow 20MHz band. It could also be both 20<->40Mhz switching and 2.4<->5GHz switching though... who knows. Part of the problem is that the orbi doesn't actually log enough about what it's actually doing to be able to know. There is a setting in the advanced page to turn off the adaptive switching but I don't know if that means it sticks with 20 or with 40MHz wide channels or if you can choose... I'll have to investigate tonight. I'm starting to think this is the main issue. lizabny: Regarding your printer, I did have a printer issue before and it was due to the orbi allowing usage of channel 14 or something that the printer didn't support. I explicitly set the value on the orbi to not use that channel and it fixed it. You can perhaps search the forums for it. FURRYe38: I hope NetGear is paying you to be a 1st tier customer support because that's basically what you're doing here. It would be nice if they were more active. That being said, one thing a customer support person would do is encourage people to open their own threads to discuss instead of dropping the same debugging info which restarts a new conversation in the same thread. Just because someone says 'I'm having that issue too' doesn't mean it's acutally the same issue and it gets confusing reading 3 or 4 issues in one thread. It's also hard to point to it later as a solved thread. Anyway, I mean that as advice and not a criticism. I appreciate that you're trying to help everyone here.

Well, over the weekend I used the AppleTV quite a bit and didn't see connections drop. This means I'm going to consider the fix to my streaming issues to be the setting of 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only at least for firmware V2.2.1.210. If you also have this problem, I'd suggest you try that first. Note that: - 40Mhz is not great and Netgear should really make it so it can be set to 20Mhz only rather than 40Mhz only. - Netgear should also actually fix whatever bug causes it to drop when switching so we can use the 20/40Mhz coexistence feature. I'll re-check after the next firmware release. - I still see tons of other bugs: satellites disconnecting, inconsistent UI in the app vs. admin panel, etc... but I'll open new threads of discussion for them - Despite the forum having plenty of "works for me" responses to complaints, I'd say that overall for me the Orbi has not been worth the trouble it has caused. A 5% problem rate would be really bad and still would mean that 95% of people are happy so every thread would be full of happy stories. Instead we see many issues and almost no means for users to fix, debug or help themselves other than stab randomly at the settings. You can't have Apple-level simplicity in the interface without a corresponding dedication to constraining the things that can go wrong, testing, and bug fixing. Netgear really needs to invest in and focus on reliability. Adding half-baked features makes the problem worse.

I had similar issues, that I found out -after too much troubleshooting- caused by my wired speakers that are part of a mesh audio system. What wired devices do you have connected to your system? Do you have wired Sonos to your system?

What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too? What is the Mfr and model# of the ethernet switch if one is in the configuration. Try disabling the following and see:MIMO, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s). If you updated to recent FW v.210, try enabling Daisy Chain. Some have mentioned that this seems to be working in reverse order, enabling means disabled actually. For wired back haul:Set up IP address reservations for each satellite and devices on the router as you add them to the router. The satellites need to be set up via wireless first. Then connect 1 satellite at a time to the ethernet LAN cable. Wait 5 minutes and the top led on the satellite should turn on BLUE. Set up an IP address reservation for the 1st satellite. Continue to do the same thing for the 2nd satellite. Then follow up with your devices. Modem Combo Units:Couple of options,1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. poswald wrote: I've had nothing but trouble with the orbi system but mostly we have battled to a stalemate. The one remaining thing I can't tolerate is constant dropping of streams from Apple TV, Amazon Fire sticks and PS4's. It seems to be caused by reissuing IP addresses. For example I constantly get ‘Lost internet connection’ on the 4th gen Apple TV even if it isn’t playing anything. When It's playing music then it drops the stream and stops. Pressing play immediately starts it again without delay.. it's not an internet problem, it's a local network issue. It’s accompanied by a log entry on the Orbi: [DHCP IP: 10.0.0.8] to MAC address xxxxxx, Sunday, October 14, 2018 09:59:41 This will happen about once or twice an hour, sometimes multiple times within 10 minutes where nothing else on the network is changing. These errors are all over the logs for just about every device on the network. Assigigning dedicated static ip's to devices doesn't help. Disabling every sattelite and just using the base station doesn't help. Signal is reported as strong by Apple TV and a wifi scanner near it. I have the following now but the problem was there in previous releases as well: Router RBR50 V2.2.1.210 Satellite RBS50 V2.2.1.210 Satellite RBW30 V2.2.1.204 Can anyone here think of any way to troubleshoot this or do I have to throw it away and buy something else? I'm kind of done with dealing with a system that has both rampant bugs and very little debugability.

Thank you for the replies. What wired devices do you have connected to your system? Do you have wired Sonos to your system? Only a Synology NAS connected to the RBS50 sattelite but it doesn't seem to matter since it happens even if both sattelites are turned off. Even the NAS which has a wired link to the satellite and I’ve given it a static IP gone through times where it reports “link down, link up” every few minutes. What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too? I'll have to look this up when I get home. It's a Japanese model since I live in Japan. What is the Mfr and model# of the ethernet switch if one is in the configuration. No switches. Try disabling the following and see:MIMO, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s). If you updated to recent FW v.210, try enabling Daisy Chain. Some have mentioned that this seems to be working in reverse order, enabling means disabled actually. *sigh* yeah I was afraid that this would be the recommendation. I've tried toggling a bunch of these on/off over the many months I've been troubleshooting this. I haven't tried IPv6 or 20/40Mhz Coexistence yet... I did do a wifi scan and see the networks switching between 20 and 40 but it didn't seem to correlate wtih the DHCP crazyness so I left it. I do want the system to be daisy-chained since the space is long and the main router is at one end. 1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly. This is something I also considered but haven't really wanted to get into. The modem is pretty janky and the UI is only available in Japanese. Kind of a pain to configure or fix if I make a mistake. I may try it out if it comes to this but for the record the Orbi is replacing an Apple Wifi router that never had any issues with this modem. My biggest complaint is with the seemingly very low quality control on updates, and complete lack of visibility into the state of the system or misleading data where it exists. I'd like a better source for information on why the modem reissues IP's.

Streaming from network devices stops due to constant DHCP lease renewal?

20 Replies

ekhalil
Master
Nov 18, 2018
I had similar issues, that I found out -after too much troubleshooting- caused by my wired speakers that are part of a mesh audio system.

What wired devices do you have connected to your system? Do you have wired Sonos to your system?
FURRYe38
Guru
Nov 18, 2018
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
What is the Mfr and model# of the ethernet switch if one is in the configuration.

Try disabling the following and see:
MIMO, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).

If you updated to recent FW v.210, try enabling Daisy Chain. Some have mentioned that this seems to be working in reverse order, enabling means disabled actually.

For wired back haul:
Set up IP address reservations for each satellite and devices on the router as you add them to the router. The satellites need to be set up via wireless first. Then connect 1 satellite at a time to the ethernet LAN cable. Wait 5 minutes and the top led on the satellite should turn on BLUE. Set up an IP address reservation for the 1st satellite. Continue to do the same thing for the 2nd satellite. Then follow up with your devices.

Modem Combo Units:
Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router.

poswald wrote:

I've had nothing but trouble with the orbi system but mostly we have battled to a stalemate. The one remaining thing I can't tolerate is constant dropping of streams from Apple TV, Amazon Fire sticks and PS4's.

It seems to be caused by reissuing IP addresses. For example I constantly get ‘Lost internet connection’ on the 4th gen Apple TV even if it isn’t playing anything. When It's playing music then it drops the stream and stops. Pressing play immediately starts it again without delay.. it's not an internet problem, it's a local network issue. It’s accompanied by a log entry on the Orbi:

[DHCP IP: 10.0.0.8] to MAC address xxxxxx, Sunday, October 14, 2018 09:59:41

This will happen about once or twice an hour, sometimes multiple times within 10 minutes where nothing else on the network is changing. These errors are all over the logs for just about every device on the network. Assigigning dedicated static ip's to devices doesn't help. Disabling every sattelite and just using the base station doesn't help. Signal is reported as strong by Apple TV and a wifi scanner near it.

I have the following now but the problem was there in previous releases as well:

Router RBR50 V2.2.1.210

Satellite RBS50 V2.2.1.210

Satellite RBW30 V2.2.1.204

Can anyone here think of any way to troubleshoot this or do I have to throw it away and buy something else? I'm kind of done with dealing with a system that has both rampant bugs and very little debugability.
- poswald
  Guide
  Nov 19, 2018
  Thank you for the replies.
  
  What wired devices do you have connected to your system? Do you have wired Sonos to your system?
  
  Only a Synology NAS connected to the RBS50 sattelite but it doesn't seem to matter since it happens even if both sattelites are turned off. Even the NAS which has a wired link to the satellite and I’ve given it a static IP gone through times where it reports “link down, link up” every few minutes.
  
  What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
  
  I'll have to look this up when I get home. It's a Japanese model since I live in Japan.
  
  What is the Mfr and model# of the ethernet switch if one is in the configuration.
  
  No switches.
  
  Try disabling the following and see:
  MIMO, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).
  
  If you updated to recent FW v.210, try enabling Daisy Chain. Some have mentioned that this seems to be working in reverse order, enabling means disabled actually.
  
  *sigh* yeah I was afraid that this would be the recommendation. I've tried toggling a bunch of these on/off over the many months I've been troubleshooting this. I haven't tried IPv6 or 20/40Mhz Coexistence yet... I did do a wifi scan and see the networks switching between 20 and 40 but it didn't seem to correlate wtih the DHCP crazyness so I left it. I do want the system to be daisy-chained since the space is long and the main router is at one end.
  
  1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
  
  This is something I also considered but haven't really wanted to get into. The modem is pretty janky and the UI is only available in Japanese. Kind of a pain to configure or fix if I make a mistake. I may try it out if it comes to this but for the record the Orbi is replacing an Apple Wifi router that never had any issues with this modem.
  
  My biggest complaint is with the seemingly very low quality control on updates, and complete lack of visibility into the state of the system or misleading data where it exists. I'd like a better source for information on why the modem reissues IP's.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru
    Nov 19, 2018
    Let us know about this modem. Just checking to see if it's got any built in router and wifi. These modem can cause problems.
    
    If you do want the system to be Daisy chained, then besure the Satellies are in a linear line out from the base router and from each other. Then if your on v210, uncheck Daisy Chain, this should actually enable Daisy Chain for this version of FW.
    
    You'll need to contact your ISP about what happens on your modem and IP addressing. They control the modem and IPs up to that point.
ekhalil
Master
Nov 20, 2018
poswald wrote:

............................

It seems to be caused by reissuing IP addresses. For example I constantly get ‘Lost internet connection’ on the 4th gen Apple TV even if it isn’t playing anything. When It's playing music then it drops the stream and stops. Pressing play immediately starts it again without delay.. it's not an internet problem, it's a local network issue. It’s accompanied by a log entry on the Orbi:

[DHCP IP: 10.0.0.8] to MAC address xxxxxx, Sunday, October 14, 2018 09:59:41

............................

Do you notice that those devices change from 2.4GHz to 5GHz or vice versa when this interruption happens?

I noticed that some of my devices suddenly decide to move between the two bands back and forth, together with this change there will be internet interruption for a short period and a DHCP message like the one you mentioned in the Logs.
- lizabny
  Aspirant
  Nov 20, 2018
  I am seeing the same exact issue - with constant dhcp ip issuing and clients continuously dropping from the network. And my newest macbook pro willl not reconnect, and occassionally other macbooks, iphones and ipads suffer the same issue. We don't have many heavily used, non-ios clients, but my canon printer hasn't been able to be used without restarting it, either. I've also tried all sorts of various options and placements, and am stuck, and frustrated because it disrupts business video calls and demos all the time! We have a 5000 sqft home and have tried R-S-S daisy chain and S-R-S configurations, with no improvement. I'll have a day or two with no issues, and then mornings like just now where it dropped almost a dozen times within an hour.
  
  I do notice that sometimes I'm connected to 2.4 and sometimes 5, though I don't know if it constantly flip-flops back and forth. I'll watch for that. Maybe I'll try to force the 5 connection only either through the clients or the router, and see if that stabilizes things.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru
    Nov 20, 2018
    What FW is currently loaded?
    What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
    
    What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials.
    
    What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
    Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
    
    Try disabling the following and see:
    MIMO, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).
    
    If you updated to recent FW v.210, try enabling Daisy Chain. Some have mentioned that this seems to be working in reverse order, enabling means disabled actually for R-S-S.
    
    lizabny wrote:
    
    I am seeing the same exact issue - with constant dhcp ip issuing and clients continuously dropping from the network. And my newest macbook pro willl not reconnect, and occassionally other macbooks, iphones and ipads suffer the same issue. We don't have many heavily used, non-ios clients, but my canon printer hasn't been able to be used without restarting it, either. I've also tried all sorts of various options and placements, and am stuck, and frustrated because it disrupts business video calls and demos all the time! We have a 5000 sqft home and have tried R-S-S daisy chain and S-R-S configurations, with no improvement. I'll have a day or two with no issues, and then mornings like just now where it dropped almost a dozen times within an hour.
    
    I do notice that sometimes I'm connected to 2.4 and sometimes 5, though I don't know if it constantly flip-flops back and forth. I'll watch for that. Maybe I'll try to force the 5 connection only either through the clients or the router, and see if that stabilizes things.

Router	RBR50	V2.2.1.210
Satellite	RBS50	V2.2.1.210
Satellite	RBW30	V2.2.1.204

Forum Discussion

Streaming from network devices stops due to constant DHCP lease renewal?