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Forum Discussion
Solved
No Satellites with RBR960 set up as access point
If I set my Orbi RBRE (Firmware V7.2.6.31_5.0.24) as router, it sees my 4 satellites without problem. But I must set it up as Access Point, and it MUST be in the same address pool as all the rest of my network. However, as soon as I change the router to AP mode, it loses contact to all 4 satellites. Note that the satellites backhaul to the router via ethernet cable. Yet the router doesn't even see them.
I have reset everything multiple times, but I cannot solve the issue. Is it even possible to set up the RBRE as AP and get it to connect to the RBSE?
aag wrote:
I must set it up as Access Point, and it MUST be in the same address pool as all the rest of my network.
My sense is that product location and cable infrastructure are the major problems to overcome. If the Orbi router is located next to the primary router, then it would be trivial to connect the Orbi WAN port directly to the primary router and the Orbi LAN ports to the house network.
This network design issue has appeared a number of times on the forum. It is pretty clear that the Orbi is designed*** as follows:
- The default condition is for satellites to connect to the router using a 5G WiFi channel separate from the 5G WiFi channel intended for user devices. The base unit (router) can be in 'router mode' or 'access point mode' and the system will function correctly.
- If any satellites are connected to the router with Ethernet (either as a physical cable or as some combination of cables and devices that appear to the router as Ethernet (Powerline, MoCA, switches, radio links, etc.), then the satellite(s) must appear on the router LAN ports and not on the router WAN port.
For the vast majority of customers, this is not a major concern.
- The WiFi connection between router and satellites is a major benefit of mesh systems. It allows tremendous flexibility in terms of where satellites can be located.
- Most customers have the Orbi router as the root of their home network, with everything connected to it (satellites, user devices, switches, etc.)
Thus, the most straightforward solutions are:
- Leave the satellites connected with the default WiFi connection, or
- Replace the current router with the Orbi router and make it the root of the entire network.
If neither of these solutions are possible, then the task is how to have satellites appear to be connected only to the router LAN ports. Some solutions include:
- Run dedicated Ethernet cables from each satellite to the router. Material cost: trivial. However, installation may be too difficult or costly to contemplate.
- Where the satellites are connected to switches, install separate switches for only the satellites. Gigabit switches are inexpensive. However, this leads to a common problem: lack of Ethernet cable infrastructure.
- In this case, the solution is to use managed switches to create VLANs where the satellites and LAN ports appear in a different VLAN than the rest of the network.
*** Could Netgear have designed Orbi routers where AP mode allows satellites to be connected through either the LAN or WAN ports (or both)? Possibly. Did they? No.
12 Replies
Be sure the RBS are ethernet connected behind the RBR while in AP mode, not connected to the main host router.
Thank you for your kind help! However, I don't understand what is meant by "behind the RBR". The satellites are quite far apart from the RBR, and the Wifi mesh is too feeble. The only way to connect them to the RBR is via ethernet, which will be routed through the same switch as the rest of the LAN. Do the satellites really need to be attached to the RBR through a separate network segment? If so, maybe a virtual network might be a solution (it would require a managed switch though, increasing complexity and cost). Or did I misunderstand you?
The RBS have to be ethernet connected directly to the RBR or with a Non Managed LAN switch in between them as seen here: https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System 📡 🛰️
aag wrote:
I must set it up as Access Point, and it MUST be in the same address pool as all the rest of my network.
My sense is that product location and cable infrastructure are the major problems to overcome. If the Orbi router is located next to the primary router, then it would be trivial to connect the Orbi WAN port directly to the primary router and the Orbi LAN ports to the house network.
This network design issue has appeared a number of times on the forum. It is pretty clear that the Orbi is designed*** as follows:
- The default condition is for satellites to connect to the router using a 5G WiFi channel separate from the 5G WiFi channel intended for user devices. The base unit (router) can be in 'router mode' or 'access point mode' and the system will function correctly.
- If any satellites are connected to the router with Ethernet (either as a physical cable or as some combination of cables and devices that appear to the router as Ethernet (Powerline, MoCA, switches, radio links, etc.), then the satellite(s) must appear on the router LAN ports and not on the router WAN port.
For the vast majority of customers, this is not a major concern.
- The WiFi connection between router and satellites is a major benefit of mesh systems. It allows tremendous flexibility in terms of where satellites can be located.
- Most customers have the Orbi router as the root of their home network, with everything connected to it (satellites, user devices, switches, etc.)
Thus, the most straightforward solutions are:
- Leave the satellites connected with the default WiFi connection, or
- Replace the current router with the Orbi router and make it the root of the entire network.
If neither of these solutions are possible, then the task is how to have satellites appear to be connected only to the router LAN ports. Some solutions include:
- Run dedicated Ethernet cables from each satellite to the router. Material cost: trivial. However, installation may be too difficult or costly to contemplate.
- Where the satellites are connected to switches, install separate switches for only the satellites. Gigabit switches are inexpensive. However, this leads to a common problem: lack of Ethernet cable infrastructure.
- In this case, the solution is to use managed switches to create VLANs where the satellites and LAN ports appear in a different VLAN than the rest of the network.
*** Could Netgear have designed Orbi routers where AP mode allows satellites to be connected through either the LAN or WAN ports (or both)? Possibly. Did they? No.
Problem solved! I wish to thank all contributors for devoting their time and expertise to help me.
Fortunately, I have two ethernet cables running as pairs to each room of my home. Hence, I could attach the primary AP (Orbi RBR) to both ports, one running to the primary switch connected to the firewall, and a second one running to a dedicated 5-port switch that is not connected to the house network or to the internet. Then, I ran all 4 satellites from various rooms to same 5-port switch. Now I have Wifi everywhere!
It remains to be said that Netgear's documentation is hideous. The requirement for a separate backhaul network is anything but obvious. Without the community's help, I would have given up trying and would have wasted well over $1000 on useless equipment. Thank you again, I owe you a big one!
Glad you got it working. Please mark your thread as solved so others will know. Be sure to save off a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
https://kb.netgear.com/000062080/How-do-I-back-up-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System
Enjoy. 📡
