I have a XB7 (Model:CGM4331COM) that I would like to use as my router with the WiFi turned off, and I would like to use my Orbi Router RBR50 and Satellite RBS50 in Access Point mode, but as soon as I get to the last step of connecting my Orbi satellite wired directly to the Orbi router, my internet connection goes offline until I disconnect the Orbi router and satellite. As soon as I disconnect my Orbis, my internet connection comes back online. I can reproduce this every time, and I believe there is an incompatibility issue either with the XB7 or the Orbi. I have tried using the Orbi using firmware 2.5.4.2 and the most recent 2.7.2.102, but I see the same issue on both firmware versions. Below are the steps I can take which will reproduce the issue: Turn off the wifi on the XB7 and reboot it for good measure.Reset the Orbi router and satellite , and then put it into AP mode with the correct wifi settings. Orbi is set to pull an IP from the XB7 using DHCP.Connect the XB7 to the Orbi in AP mode using the Internet port on the Orbi (doesn't matter which port I use on the XB7), and the Orbi will pull a valid IP address from the XB7. At this point, my network is online with the XB7 in routerl mode, and my Orbi RBR50 in AP mode. I can browse the internet either wired or wireless with no problems indefinitely.Connect the Orbi RBS50 satellite to the Orbi RBR50 using wired backhaul (not going through a switch), and this is when my internet access will go down for wired and wireless access.I would like to point out that I have had the XB7 in router mode along with the Orbis in AP mode before successfully, but I also experienced the same issue of bringing down my network when originally setting that up until I did a hard reset on both the XB7 and Orbis. Even resetting everything took a few trys and it's a pain to do that, but I know I could probably get it working again if I went the hard reset route again. Not that long ago, I decided to try to the Orbis in router mode with my XB7 in bridge mode, but now I would like to go back to the XB7 in router mode with the Orbis in AP mode. By the way, everything works just fine when the XB7 is in bridge mode and the Orbis are in router mode using the exact same wired connections. I'm not sure if the issue is with the XB7 or the Orbi, but I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this issue. If others have experienced this, I would like to report it to the proper channels at Netgear so they are aware. Thanks in advance for any feedback or assistance.

So I figured since everyone is out of the house, be a good time to try this.Changed out the RBR50 for a NetDuma R2 router.Turned OFF the RBS50 wired thats down in the basement.Configured the RBR50 for AP mode.Connected the RBRs WAN port to the host router and let the system get online and stablize. Checked internet thru RBR in AP mode and host router and was active. Powered ON the RBS in the basement and let it come on line. RBS LAN segment is connected directly behind the RBR using 1 LAN port. I watied at my Windows PC to see if the ARP storm would start, it did and lasted for 1.35 minutes then stopped:Checked the RBRs web page for the RBS connection and was present: I went to the basement with a iPhone to test internet services at the RBS. Speedtest and services were all active and working. Posting this here using this new configuration. Wondering if there is something between the RBR in AP mode and your ISP modem that is causing this problem for you and your system.

sclawrenc wrote:Thanks (again) Furry. Would this simply be a matter of logging into the debug.htm page on the RBR and selecting "Start Debug Log Capture when boot up"? YES. Would I need to do the same on the RBS or just the RBR? BOTH. I'm assuming I would then reboot the RBR and the RBS, and then try to connect the RBR Internet port to the XB7 followed by connecting the RBS in wired backhaul. I would then need to figure out a way to login to the debug page again to "SAVE DEBUG LOG" after I lose my network connection, right? I believe once you see the disconnect happen, just remove the ethernet connect from the RBS and give it a minute and see if you have connection to the RBRs debug page. If you can have a wired PC connected to the back of the RBS as well and have it's debug page loaded there as well.

Yes, I'm not sure why this is working now. I don't think it makes a difference which port you use on the satellite when using wired backhaul. It might have been the shutting down the Orbi router, connecting the Orbi Internet port to the XB7, and then turning the Orbi router back on. This was all done with the Orbi satellite still on and connected to hard wired other than the temporarily disconnect to move the cable connecting to the XB7 to the left most port. Still doesn't make a lot of sense though. Thanks again, and I will post later with results either way.

Try giving the RBS wired connection 2-3 minutes before trying internet services again. You maybe seeing this:https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBR50-Router-Firmware-Version-V2-7-2-102/m-p/2028357/highlight/true#M109645 I found it was worse on v40 and v4:https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-Version-2-6-1-40/m-p/2008400/highlight/true#M107200

Thanks furrye for your quick response.I have waited for 5-10 minutes after connecting the satellite in ap mode, but it never recovered. I did see a brief network drop in router mode but it recovered quickly.What ever is happening right after I connect the satellite to the Orbi router is shutting down my network until I disconnect the Orbis.Do we think the issue is on the Orbi side or the xb7 side?

sclawrenc

Apprentice

Jan 08, 2021

XB7 with Orbi RBR50 and RBS50 in Access Point Mode Issue

I have a XB7 (Model:CGM4331COM) that I would like to use as my router with the WiFi turned off, and I would like to use my Orbi Router RBR50 and Satellite RBS50 in Access Point mode, but as soon as I get to the last step of connecting my Orbi satellite wired directly to the Orbi router, my internet connection goes offline until I disconnect the Orbi router and satellite. As soon as I disconnect my Orbis, my internet connection comes back online. I can reproduce this every time, and I believe there is an incompatibility issue either with the XB7 or the Orbi. I have tried using the Orbi using firmware 2.5.4.2 and the most recent 2.7.2.102, but I see the same issue on both firmware versions.

Below are the steps I can take which will reproduce the issue:

Turn off the wifi on the XB7 and reboot it for good measure.
Reset the Orbi router and satellite , and then put it into AP mode with the correct wifi settings. Orbi is set to pull an IP from the XB7 using DHCP.
Connect the XB7 to the Orbi in AP mode using the Internet port on the Orbi (doesn't matter which port I use on the XB7), and the Orbi will pull a valid IP address from the XB7. At this point, my network is online with the XB7 in routerl mode, and my Orbi RBR50 in AP mode. I can browse the internet either wired or wireless with no problems indefinitely.
Connect the Orbi RBS50 satellite to the Orbi RBR50 using wired backhaul (not going through a switch), and this is when my internet access will go down for wired and wireless access.

I would like to point out that I have had the XB7 in router mode along with the Orbis in AP mode before successfully, but I also experienced the same issue of bringing down my network when originally setting that up until I did a hard reset on both the XB7 and Orbis. Even resetting everything took a few trys and it's a pain to do that, but I know I could probably get it working again if I went the hard reset route again.

Not that long ago, I decided to try to the Orbis in router mode with my XB7 in bridge mode, but now I would like to go back to the XB7 in router mode with the Orbis in AP mode. By the way, everything works just fine when the XB7 is in bridge mode and the Orbis are in router mode using the exact same wired connections.

I'm not sure if the issue is with the XB7 or the Orbi, but I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this issue. If others have experienced this, I would like to report it to the proper channels at Netgear so they are aware.

Thanks in advance for any feedback or assistance.

31 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Jan 08, 2021
Try giving the RBS wired connection 2-3 minutes before trying internet services again. You maybe seeing this:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBR50-Router-Firmware-Version-V2-7-2-102/m-p/2028357/highlight/true#M109645

I found it was worse on v40 and v4:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-Version-2-6-1-40/m-p/2008400/highlight/true#M107200
- sclawrenc
  Apprentice
  Jan 08, 2021
  Thanks furrye for your quick response.
  
  I have waited for 5-10 minutes after connecting the satellite in ap mode, but it never recovered. I did see a brief network drop in router mode but it recovered quickly.
  
  What ever is happening right after I connect the satellite to the Orbi router is shutting down my network until I disconnect the Orbis.
  
  Do we think the issue is on the Orbi side or the xb7 side?
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jan 08, 2021
    Has a factory reset and setup from scratch on the RBS and RBR been performed since v102 was applied? If not try this.
    Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable, CAT6 is recommended. Swap cables and LAN ports to be sure.
    
    If this fails still, you might downgrade to v16:
    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-2-5-1-16-Update/m-p/1897955/highlight/true#M89460
    
    Was last known well working version that didn't have problems or cause ARP storms with the RBS ethernet connected. Mines in router mode and v102 is loaded and RBS is ethernet connected behind 3 daisy chained swithes, though I saw an ARP storm happen, it when away after 2 minutes. Possible there in more of an issue in AP mode with this version of FW.
    Blanca_O
alokeprasad
Mentor
Jan 08, 2021
sclawrenc wrote:
...

Below are the steps I can take which will reproduce the issue:

Turn off the wifi on the XB7 and reboot it for good measure.
Reset the Orbi router and satellite , and then put it into AP mode with the correct wifi settings. Orbi is set to pull an IP from the XB7 using DHCP.
Connect the XB7 to the Orbi in AP mode using the Internet port on the Orbi (doesn't matter which port I use on the XB7), and the Orbi will pull a valid IP address from the XB7. At this point, my network is online with the XB7 in routerl mode, and my Orbi RBR50 in AP mode. I can browse the internet either wired or wireless with no problems indefinitely.
Connect the Orbi RBS50 satellite to the Orbi RBR50 using wired backhaul (not going through a switch), and this is when my internet access will go down for wired and wireless access.

What happens if you connect he RBS satellite to the RBR using WiFi at this tage?
- sclawrenc
  Apprentice
  Jan 08, 2021
  Thanks for your comment aloke.
  
  That is a good question. I didn’t try that way, and I might do that once my family is prepared for more downtime. :)

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XB7 with Orbi RBR50 and RBS50 in Access Point Mode Issue