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New - RBRE960 / RBSE960 Firmware Version 7.2.6.21 Released
Enhancements: 09/08/2023
Improves the stability of connections between router and satellites
Improves satellite firmware upgrade stability
Security Fixes:
This firmware addresses securi...
I manually updated 2 x RBSE960 satellites and then the RBRE960 router to 7.2.6.21 via the webpage (Safari browser on a Mac) as directed in the user manual. All appears to have worked fine although I haven't spotted any changes in function.
This went much more smoothly than my last manual update to 6.3.7.10 when I needed to do factory resets of the entire system to get it to work.
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended.
How many RBS are deployed?
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 RBS️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite ️
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads while at home:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-App/NETGEAR-Mobile-Applications-and-Apple-Devices-FAQ/td-p/2220016/jump-to/first-unread-message
Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.
Has a power off for 1 minute then back ON with the ISP modem and router been performed since last update?
Be sure to restart your network in this sequence:
Turn off and unplug modem.
Turn off router and computers.
Plug in and turn on modem. Wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on the router and wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on computers and rest of network.
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update? A complete pull of the power adapters for a period of time after the factory reset then walk thru the setup wizard and setup from scratch with a wired PC and web browser. https://kb.netgear.com/22697/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-router-using-the-router-web-interface
Recommend setting the default DHCP IP address pool range to the following after applying and a factory reset: 192.168.#.100 to 192.168.#.200.
https://kb.netgear.com/24089/How-do-I-specify-the-pool-of-IP-addresses-assigned-by-my-Nighthawk-router
https://kb.netgear.com/25722/How-do-I-reserve-an-IP-address-on-my-NETGEAR-router
I would power OFF the ISP modem for 1 minute. Factory reset the Orbi router and power it off. Power ON the ISP modem and let it sync. Then power ON the Orbi router and walk thru the setup wizard again using a wired PC and a web browser.
Press the back reset button for 15 seconds then release.
https://kb.netgear.com/31486/How-do-I-reset-my-Orbi-system-to-factory-default-settings
https://kb.netgear.com/000062081/How-do-I-erase-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System
BadInternet wrote:
Installing this update now. Based on the giant change in build #, I'm hoping this is the answer to my prayers to correct the issues with what has been the buggiest, most unreliable Wi-Fi router system I've used in 20 years. The unpredictable signal dropouts combined with the involuntary activation of the disabled guest network drive me up the wall, causing irregular, irritating interruptions to video calls, gaming sessions, and streaming videos. I'm really really hoping this firmware update works, otherwise I have had it with this overpriced mess of a system and am ready to chuck it in the dustbin of history.
This firmware update did not solve my problem of random internet disconnections that coincide with the GUEST network enabling itself, despite being turned off in the settings. This happens sporadically, sometimes only once in a given instance, but often it happens over and over again about once every 30 seconds to 1 minute. This behavior is only noticeable if streaming video or making a video call. This does not happen on our wired network. It is not an internet connection nor router problem.
To respond to your questions:
RBR is used in access point mode, router features are not used. The RBR internet port is connected to a TP-link switch using Cat 6A cable as recommended. Wireless backhaul is used in all cases, as wired backhaul has always been problematic according to everything I have read here.
We have 3 RBS in our system, house is 2100 ft2, but uses plaster walls with embedded metal grids that effectively make our house a faraday cage compared to standard sheetrock over timber construction. All RBS are more than 30 feet apart from each other, about 50ft, 60ft, and 80ft radially in different directions away from the more central RBR (the more distant two are in an outbuilding and a garage).
I have tried varying channels in the past to improve signal quality based on neighboring wifi installations. Currently using channel 5 (2.4ghz), 44 (5ghz) and 101 (6ghz). We have nearby installations on both sides of the property, one running channel 1, on on channel 11.
As far as I know, none of our devices use MAC randomizers.
None of these features are on: "Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter."
All internet devices were rebooted as described in your post as part of installing the firmware update. RBS's were disconnected from power for easily a half hour each, all were reset to factory, and re-synced.
Lets try turning OFF two RBS and just run the RBR and one RBS. Then do some streaming again or a video call and see if the problem continues .
Can you connect the RBR directly to the Host router and not connect it to the TP-Link switch? Help see if this maybe causing problems or not.
Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
Was the RBR factory reset and setup from scratch as well? No loading of a backup config file.
BadInternet wrote:
This firmware update did not solve my problem of random internet disconnections that coincide with the GUEST network enabling itself, despite being turned off in the settings. This happens sporadically, sometimes only once in a given instance, but often it happens over and over again about once every 30 seconds to 1 minute. This behavior is only noticeable if streaming video or making a video call. This does not happen on our wired network. It is not an internet connection nor router problem.
To respond to your questions:
RBR is used in access point mode, router features are not used. The RBR internet port is connected to a TP-link switch using Cat 6A cable as recommended. Wireless backhaul is used in all cases, as wired backhaul has always been problematic according to everything I have read here.
We have 3 RBS in our system, house is 2100 ft2, but uses plaster walls with embedded metal grids that effectively make our house a faraday cage compared to standard sheetrock over timber construction. All RBS are more than 30 feet apart from each other, about 50ft, 60ft, and 80ft radially in different directions away from the more central RBR (the more distant two are in an outbuilding and a garage).
I have tried varying channels in the past to improve signal quality based on neighboring wifi installations. Currently using channel 5 (2.4ghz), 44 (5ghz) and 101 (6ghz). We have nearby installations on both sides of the property, one running channel 1, on on channel 11.
As far as I know, none of our devices use MAC randomizers.
None of these features are on: "Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter."
All internet devices were rebooted as described in your post as part of installing the firmware update. RBS's were disconnected from power for easily a half hour each, all were reset to factory, and re-synced.
Thanks for the advice. SInce that post I have tried:
Full factory reset of RBR
Removing 2 of 3 satellites.
Changing WIFI channels as recommended.
Connecting RBR directly to host router.
Removing host router, using RBR as router directly from cable modem.
None of these options have stopped the base bad behavior, of the internet connection on wireless devices dropping, then the main WIFI network dropping, then coming back up with the (set to inactive) guest network turned on (but no internet access on the main network), then finally disconnecting again, guest network disappears, and internet access is restored.
There is no interruption of internet to wired devices.
Is there ANYTHING that makes sense as to why this would happen?
I'm about to try going down to just the RBR (in router mode) and see what happens. At this point at least I know it is not due to the rest of our network gear.
Oh and I also changed to new cables between the modem/RBR and RBR/switch, both Cat 6A.