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Forum Discussion
skyward1
Jan 18, 2020Apprentice
Cannot sync Orbi RBS50Y outdoor satellite to new Orbi RBR850 router.
Hello Community, I am copying my post here, that I subbmitted to Netgear support, but have not received any reply. Thank you for your assistance! <copied text> I spoke with a woman in tech ...
prrrtpieptoet
Jul 31, 2020Initiate
For everybody out there trying to sync an RBS50Y satellite and an RBR850 router:
After many attempts and some contact with NG Support, I managed to get this working, As it turns out, there are a couple of very important thing to keep in mind (at least valid at the time of writing):
- NG support confirmed RBS50Y and RBR850 can sync in Extender mode only. Orbi mesh mode is currently not supported.
- AX mode on the RBR850 does not have to be disabled.
- Extender mode only works on the main wireless network, not on the RBR850's guest network.
- 5GHz wifi only works in Indoor mode (makes sense to me as 5GHz is tri-band, just like indoor mode is. Outdoor mode is dual-band, but I don't know why these modes are called Indoor and Outdoor, radio frequency legislation maybe?).
- 5GHz between RBR850 and RBS50Y only works when going through the RBS50Y's Extender setup wizard. Just enabling 5GHz on the RBS50Y after setup is not enough (it will make the RBS50Y broadcast 5GHz but there is no 5GHz connection with the RBR850).
- RBS50Y FW 1.0.0.46 / RBR850 FW 3.2.15.25.
The setup sequence that did it for me:
- Boot RBS50Y in Extender mode: switch off RBS50Y with the power button, then press and hold the sync button while pressing and releasing the power button. Wait until led flashes blue and white before releasing the sync button. If the led is now blinking white, repeat this sequence. If the led is now blinking blue, proceed.
- Wait until the led is solid blue.
- Find wireless network NETGEAR_EXT and connect to it. If the network is not visible, press and release the RBS50Y's sync button.
- In a browser, go to mywifiext.local
- Start setup and when asked, choose manual setup for connecting the RBS50Y and the RBR850.
- Update RBS50Y's firmware if applicable (see menu on left).
- Enable 5GHz wifi (see menu left).
- Click the top item on the menu left. Start wizard to sync RBS50Y and RBR850.
- After setup, see if RBS50Y is connected as a device to RBR850 (it's not a satellite). If it is, copy it's ip address and navigate to it in a browser to check it's status.
Hope this helps anyone.
Grtz!
ttnoewoc
Aug 02, 2020Star
Well, after waiting two months for a fix or firmware update, I just returned my Outdoor Satellite for a refund, and I was VERY unhappy about doing so. The rest of the one-thousand dollars + I spent was in large part motivated by the Outdoor Satellite component and was not happy I couldnt get it to work.
Sorry to say, Netgear support did nothing for ME, provided no solutions, and just said a firmware update would be pending.
Glad to hear SOMEONE managed to hack this :)
- skyward1Aug 02, 2020Apprentice
I returned mine long ago (I was the one who started this). You would think Netgear would have made a fix for this way before now. It seems that NG is using the Community to figure out their fixes. It is still in workaround status. There is no fix. Netgear should manufacture a new product that will work with an AX system, and GIVE that new product to anyone who complained about the RBS50Y's inability to properly mesh with their Orbi AX!
I originally bought my RBS50Y to go with my RBR850. It did not do what the ad eluded to, tech support was worthless (still are) and gave me some false information about a firmware fix that still has yet to hapen. Afterwards, I returned the item for a refund.
- ttnoewocAug 03, 2020Star
Yes you did and thank you for that!
It is on the website now, buried in the spec details, that this is not compatible with AX > "Note: Only supports ac routers." but you have to definitely look for it, and of course the average consumer wouldn't even catch that (or understand what it means).
Kind of goes against the idea of calling this an Orbi "System" at all
- ttnoewocAug 13, 2020Star
Exact same experience I had. They said a firmware fix was coming. I kept mine for over a month waiting, and finally returned it.
- skyward1Aug 13, 2020ApprenticeYeah, it's a crock.