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Forum Discussion
sheppp
May 19, 2022Star
How can I match the firmware between the two when the latest firmware
RE: "Yes. Just ensure the FW is the same on the RBS as what's loaded on the RBR.":
I, too, am having problems getting my newer RBR760 (router) to recognize an older RBS750 (satellite).
-How can I...
FURRYe38
May 19, 2022Guru - Experienced User
IF you already have 4 RBS along with the RBR, then maybe thats all that is needed.
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and 📡 satellite(s)? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR and RBS📡 to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 📡
I have a feeling the the RBS750 series will not work with the 760 series system.
sheppp wrote:
I have connected two separate, working RBS750s (older satellites) to the back of the RBR760 (newer router) via ethernet cable, yet, neither show up in the RBR760's connected devices. Furthermore, I did a hardware reset of one of the older satellites to no avail.
The reason that I was wondering about the maximum satellite quantity is because I already have 4 RBS760s (newer satellites) connected to the RBR760 (newer router) - and wondered if perhaps that might be why my RBR760 isn't recognizing the older RBS750s (because 4 satellites might be the max. capacity - but this seems doubtful).
sheppp
May 20, 2022Star
Bottom Line (according to Netgear tech "support"): The ONLY satellite that connects with the RBR760 (router) is the RBS760. In other words, the RBS750 is incompatible with the RBR760. Furthermore, Netgear does NOT currently sell individual (separate) RBS760 satellites.
Blow-by-blow tech "support" experience (88 wasted minutes that I'll never get back):
Netgear customer "support" continues to be anything but that. I was reminded during my numerous calls and transfers as to the reason why I am still NOT a fanboy of Netgear.
- I spoke with five individuals. All were non-native English speakers who were difficult to understand, especially since all were providing "support" from environments in which there lots of LOUD background noise, with women and children talking/yelling, as well as lots of birds/animals, and strange music.
- The total time that I spent on the phone was 88 minutes.
- The first tech support lady that I spoke with initially told me that the new RBR760 (router) and older RBS750 (satellite) are incompatible, but then spent the next 15 minutes confirming it with her tech up-chain spiritual master.
- When I asked if I could purchase a single RBS760 satellite, I was told that I could do so but that I would need to be transferred to "Sales". Following the transfer, and brief conversation, the sales lady told me that she was actually in the "pre-sales" department (and could not help me) - and that I needed to contact "Sales" directly. She could not transfer me, but provided me with a toll -free number to the sales department.
- When I called the new number and worked my way through the prompts, I eventually spoke with somebody else in tech support. This person then transferred me to "Sales".
- When the sales person finally answered the line, she told me that the RBS760 was unavailable individually and that I would have to purchase another router/satellite combo set to get another satellite. She told me to call a retail store to attempt to locate an individual RBS760 (BTW, locating one is impossible via anything other than EBAY - based on my numerous Google searches).
- After hanging up with the sales lady, I re-contacted tech support to find out how many satellites an RBR760 (router) can handle. This tech support dude was very direct, almost to the point of being rude. He recommended that I connect no more than 4 satellites to the RBR760 (and attempted to convince me that a max of 3 would actually be best). Furthermore, when I mentioned the incompatibility problem between the RBR760 and the RBS750, he told me that the previous tech support info that I received was wrong - and that I COULD in fact connect the RBS750 to the RBR760. We spent the next 58 minutes attempting to do just that - with NO success. He then took my phone number, promised to talk to his higher-up ORBI guru about the matter, and return my call. If he calls back, I plan to book a plane to Vegas and put all of my life's savings on red - after which I will use a portion of my winnings to hire a full-time tech support wizard to deal with my wireless network issues for the remainder of my life. One thing I won’t be doing with my prize money is spending any of it on additional Orbi products.
Fortunately, I purchased my Orbis from Costco. Thus, I can return them at any time - and likely will do so. In fact, if it weren't for Costco's fantastic return policy - and the fact that they carry Orbis - I would have never purchased another Netgear product. This said, I have looked at Orbi alternatives and all seem to have their issues.
As for the question re why I need so many Orbi satellites:
I have a couple of VPN access points that must be connected directly to ethernet ports (no wireless) in areas of my house in which there are no ethernet jacks. Therefore, I can simply place an Orbi satellite in each area and connect the VPN access points directly to the back of each satellite. I then can plug my computers directly into the ethernet ports on the access points.
Thanks much for all of your ideas and assistance - and best of luck navigating the rat hole that is Netgear!
- FURRYe38May 20, 2022Guru - Experienced User
Good Luck.
- ThaladorMay 21, 2022Apprentice
Are you seeing any of the issues with the 763 with regards to not being able to get to the admin page like the 753/853s are having?
- shepppMay 21, 2022StarI am using the web interface (not the Orbi app) and have had no problems with that at all once I turned my new router into an access point. Since I run my Orbi as an access point - and not a router (I use my Ziply modem/router as my primary router) - I had to connect the new Orbi directly to a non-networked computer first to change the router in access point on one of the settings screens. Once I did that, I could then add the Orbi to my network. Of course finding info from Netgear re doing this is pretty much non-existent - which seems strange because I assume that lots of people might want to use a modem/router combo that they get from their cable company (without using it as a bridge).
- FURRYe38May 21, 2022Guru - Experienced User
You can find lots of help and information in NGs knowledge base articles:
kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point
Lots of existing information there...
- Mikey94025May 22, 2022Hero
sheppp wrote:As for the question re why I need so many Orbi satellites:
I have a couple of VPN access points that must be connected directly to ethernet ports (no wireless) in areas of my house in which there are no ethernet jacks. Therefore, I can simply place an Orbi satellite in each area and connect the VPN access points directly to the back of each satellite. I then can plug my computers directly into the ethernet ports on the access points.
Yes, the Orbi satellite is useful because besides extending the mesh coverage of your home network they also provide ethernet jacks for wired devices (i.e., serve as a wireless bridge).
Another option - If you do not need to extend your mesh coverage then it is cheaper to simply purchase a dedicated wireless bridge device. Any vendor will do, in the same way that any manufacturer's wireless device will work with your Orbi home nework. Netgear's own WAX206 device supports AX and will be cheaper than an additional Orbi AX satellite: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wireless-WAX206-Dual-Band-Ethernet/dp/B098BRF91P
- shepppMay 22, 2022Star
Thanks!
Re CrimpOn's suggestion that I call Netgear a third time "break the tie": As much as I am tempted to do so, I'm fairly certain that it wouldn't help - and would merely suck up more time that I don't have. I already spent loads of time attempting to get both to connect by myself and with the second Netgear tech that I dealt with - to no avail. Since second guy never called me back, my strong hunch is that the first set of techs were correct in their assessments that RBS750s (older satellites) will not connect to RBR760s. I also cancelled my flight to Vegas.
Re Mikey94025: I like your idea of using separate WAX206s. I noticed elsewhere that it seems that their latest firmware lets them be used as client bridges for my dedicated ethernet devices. I'll order one and try it out. The downside is that it keeps me in the Netgear environment ...
- FURRYe38May 23, 2022Guru - Experienced User
So just FYI. I got information regarding compatibility. The RBS750s are not compatible with the 760 series.
Sorry.
- shepppMay 25, 2022Star
Hey Mikey94025,
I got a WAX206 from Amazon yesterday. After upgrading the firmware, I connected it in wireless "bridge" mode to my Orbi and turned off the wifi on the WAX206 (the original firmware does not include bridge mode). I can connect my wife's work VPN access point directly via ethernet cable to the back of the WAX206. It seems to work well. I didn't test the speeds but it is good enough to get nice A/V via MS Teams and have access to the files that she needs. The only slight negative is that it looks as if Netgear uses recycled plastic from dollar store toys to make them. Furthermore, the base of it is hollow with no place to mount rubber feet to keep the thing from sliding around. In other words, the Orbi has a much better external build quality.
Thanks again! Since the WAX206 was under $100, you saved me a bit of cabbage - and the hassle of somehow finding another solo RBS760 and getting it connected!!
- globespyMay 26, 2022Apprentice
Would you recommend the RBK763S as a new system where I only need to replace the current RBK53 units that were irreparably damaged by forced FW updates that I did not either need nor want?
Costco will take back my 3+ year old RBK53, so can replace with the RBK763 they have in stock, but I'm quite frankly tired of wasting days on end trying to just use the frickin internet without running around the house resetting units every other day.Like you if it wasn't for Costco's return policy I would not even entertain another Netgear product at this stage.