Connecting the 2 satellites for RBK753

Question

I purchased an RBK 753 set at the end of 2022 and have been using only the router at my previous home. Recently, I needed to extend the signal coverage, so I tried connecting the two satellites that haven’t been used for about a year. Unfortunately, despite resetting the router and satellites multiple times and placing them close together, I’ve been unable to get them to connect.

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas to help resolve this issue, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you in advance!

plemans · Answer

A couple things to try.&nbsp;
1. hardwire the satellites into the router. Give them a while to sync/update
2. Check the firmware versions on the router and satellites. If the satellites aren't sync'd, usually you can connect a pc/laptop to them via hardwire and access them using their ip address. Not sure if the ip address is 192.168.10.250 or 192.168.1.250 (its early). Make sure the satellites are on the same firmware as the router. You can manually update their firmware if it isn't&nbsp;

PMHC · Answer

Thanks for your sharing.As my 2 satellites only have 2 ethernet slots for sharing data to other devices, even though I have tried to plug it with my desktop, it did not enable the data transfer and allowed me to update the firmware. May I have any other ideas?Thank you.

CrimpOn · Answer

To add more detail to plemans post....
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Countless posts on the forum have left some us to believe that the AX series Orbi (specifically 750 &amp; 850) do not function when the router and satellites are on different firmware.&nbsp; Thus, if the satellites have been sitting in a box for a year, there is a really good chance that the router is now at a higher firmware release than the satellites.&nbsp; This means that:

The satellites will not sync with the router.
The satellites will not get an IP address from the router (because they do not sync).
It's a "Catch-22". They won't sync unless their firmware is updated, but the firmware cannot be updated because they won't sync.

One solution is to manually reload the older firmware on the router, which will enable the satellites to sync.&nbsp; But, which firmware?&nbsp; Since we cannot log into the satellite, we cannot learn which firmware release is on it.
&nbsp;
Another bit of folklore is that when the 750 satellite cannot get an IP address from the router, it decides to listen on IP 192.168.10.250.&nbsp; (I have a 750 satellite coming from eBay and hope to verify this later in the week.)&nbsp; But, 192.168.10.x is not the typical IP LAN subnet used by Orbi routers.
&nbsp;
So, the process is as follows:

Download the satellite version of the firmware that is currently running on the router to a computer.
Unpack the *.zip file to extract the satellite firmware file.
Disconnect the computer from the network.
Connect the computer (desktop, laptop) with an Ethernet cable to one of the Satellite LAN ports.
Remove all other cables from the computer and satellite.&nbsp; They are the only two devices connected with the cable.
Set the computer to a Static IP address in 192.168.10.x - anything that is not 192.168.10.250.&nbsp; (I would use 192.168.1.1)
Power up the Satellite. wait two minutes.
On the computer, open a web browser and enter 192.168.10.250
If the folklore is correct, the satellite web home page will appear.&nbsp; The page will display what firmware version is currently running on the satellite.&nbsp; This will validate (or disprove) the first assumption: that the router and firmware are on different versions.
Select the menu item, Firmware Update and follow the directions to upload firmware to the satellite.
After the satellite has updated with firmware that matches the router, restore things to their original condition.

Change the computer from Static IP back to DHCP and connect it to the network as it was before.
Place the satellite in the same room as the router and use the router menu item, Add Orbi Satellite to connect it to the router network.
Once the satellite has connected with the router and shows up in Attached Devices as "Connected WiFi 5G Good", then (if you want to) connect the satellite to the router with an Ethernet cable and verify that in about 5 minutes it changes from WiFi to 'wired' connection.

Finally, relocate the satellite to the desired position.

This is not a trivial process.&nbsp; When eBay delivers sometime this week, it is what I will do. (and find out if it works!)
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Connecting the 2 satellites for RBK753

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