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Solved
New RBS850 Satellite showing blue LED but not connecting to router
Hello
I recently received a new RBS850 satellite from an RMA. Here are the events of me attempting to get it connected.
- I plugged it in and waited. After a few minutes the LED showed solid blue, but when I went to orbilogin.net, it did not show that any satellite was connected to the router.
- There was an extra wifi network available here named Orbi173. I could connect to it via the password on the bottom on the device but wasn't able to make any more headway as orbilogin.net didn't work and I don't know the satellite's IP address.
- I pressed the sync button on the router and then the sync button on the satellite within 2 minutes. They both pulsed white for some time before turning the LED's off. No LED light. The satellite was still not connected according to orbilogin.
- I brought the satellite to within a metre or so of the router and plugged it in via an ethernet cable to the router. After the satellite had powered up, it once again showed a blue LED, but didn't show in orbilogin. I pressed the sync buttons again but the LED's both eventually turned off without any change anywhere.
- It was around this time where I noticed that the "Orb173" network had been replaced by "NETGEARORBI_hidden48" which google tells me is the backhaul network. I don't know the relevance of this.
- I tried using the horrible orbi app. I followed the instructions by hitting the sync button on the satellite and after some time told me the syncing had failed. Subsequent attempts to sync again where failed nearly instantly.
- I tried using the interface at orbilogin.net to add a new satellite. The instructions here are the same as on the app (minus the obnoxious wait time). Namely; Power up the satellite, hit the sync button, then hit the sync button in-browser. This sync session resulted in the same outcome. LED lights turn off. Satellite is not connected according to the browser, setup wizard claims that syncing had failed, and subsequent attempts are reported as failed almost immediately.
- I tried power cycling the router. This had no impact.
- I checked the firmware for the router and it is up to date at V7.2.6.21_5.0.20. I do not know what version the satellite is on.
- I tried connecting my PC to the satellite via ethernet cable. This told me there was an 'unidentified network' connected and I couldn't do anything more. This did not change whether the satellite was connected to the router via a different ethernet cable or not.
What else can I try to get this to work?
To close: I managed to get on a call with the support agent tied to the RMA. The router's firmware was incompatible with the routers so it wasn't able to connect. She was able to direct me to find the Satellite's IP address in the router's logs (Advanced - Administration - Logs) by comparing the MAC address from the label beneath the satellite.
Using the IP address I was able to connect to the satellite by just entering the IP address in my browser window while connected to the router (something that would fail before the RMA) and then follow the prompts to manually update the firmware. Once updated the router only took a minute or so before it corrected the backhaul status and was good to go.
11 Replies
Did you give about 5-10 minutes after factory resetting the RBR and RBS for them to auto sync to the RBR before starting the setup wizard routine. I've found that if you bring the RBS to same room or near the RBR, 12-15 feet distance and let them auto sync then run thru the setup routine, this gets them detected by the RBR and setup wizard and you can complete the setup and then configured everything for your needs, once thats complete, you can power OFF the RBS and then return them to there remote locations.
I use this method in this PDF: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WIFI-6-AX-AND-Wi-Fi-6E-AXE/Procedure-for-Factory-reset-of-RBS850/m-p/2356834/highlight/true#M52575
Keep with v.21 FW as it's the most stable FW. V.31 has been reporting by many users as having problems so we can recommend that version.
I did leave the satellite some time to set itself up each time I powered it on. I didn't factory reset the router though. This is a disruptive step, I can try to get it done once everyone in the house is asleep but I want to know if you think it'll make the difference.
For brevity did you want me to do the factory reset where I hold the button for a few seconds or the one where I hold it for 2 minutes?
And you want me to reset the router, reset the satellite, leave both for a few minutes, then press the sync buttons?- Alright, I brought the router and satellite into the same room, powered it on and waited till the light was stable (it was purple this time).
- Then I held down the reset button on the router for 15+ seconds, then held down the button on the satellite for 15+ seconds and gave them some time to turn on.
- The satellite did not auto-connect to the router. It's LED was purple and the setup wizard for the router was unable to detect/setup the satellite.
- On a whim I pressed the sync button on the router and then the satellite, but this didn't fix the issue.
- The ORB173 network returned. It seems this is the default network for both router and satellite?
- Issue persisted after I went through the setup wizard and returned my router settings to how they were before to get the routers wi-fi working.
- After renaming our wi-fi network, the ORB173 network remained, but I was unable to do anything while connected to that network.
