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Forum Discussion
Orbi + August smart lock frquent disconnect/reconnect
I have a CBR750 with one satelite mesh system on a 1GB cable internet. I have about 20 devices connected. My issue is that my august smart locks (wifi versions) keep disconnecting and reconnecting. T...
I have had an August wifi smart lock for almost 1.5 years now and it's worked wonderfully with my Orbi until about a week ago. It disconnects from Wifi constantly. I contacted August and after much troubleshooting, they sent me a new lock but it's doing the exact same thing. I can setup the lock to connect to Wifi but then it disconnects and has a hard time reconnecting. Since this new lock is having the same issues, I'm starting to believe it's my Wifi network. Maybe the lock is trying to connect to 5 ghz? I may try to set up a 2.4 ghz extender as someone else stated in one of the above posts and see if that works.
Which Orbi model (and which August lock model) is this?
The August lock does not contain a 5G radio. It can sense only 2.4G WiFi signals. There is no incentive for manufacturers to include 5G WiFi capability in "Internet of Things" devices because (a) 2.4G has longer range and penetration than 5G, and (b) the amount of bandwidth is trivial, and (c) 2.4G WiFi chipsets are dirt cheap.
- Orbi RBK22 and August Smart Wifi Lock
I know the August isn't compatible with 5ghz. I'm at a loss as to why after having the same lock and wifi for over a year that the lock isn't working correctly. Even the new replacement lock behaves the same in that the wifi connection drops. Can you describe more about how this problem presents itself?
- What makes you aware that the lock has disconnected?
- Is there anything in the Orbi log?
Does the log show when the lock is assigned an IP address when it connects? - Does it ever reconnect by itself? Or, how do you get it to reconnect?
- I know it disconnects because it periodically won't work remotely but works when on Bluetooth. Also, the wifi icon will be grayed out and after trying to connect, the lock icon will say "unknown". Also, when I check my devices in the Orbi app, the August lock isn't listed. It does shown an IP address.
How can I get to the Orbi log?
I honestly don't know what causes it to reconnect. But when it does, I can see the August lock listed under the 2.4 list. But when I try to unlock/lock while connected to wifi, the lock icon will just pulsate, the light on the lock itself will slowly blink red and then eventually it will say "unknown".
I have a Samsung Note 20 Ultra but I've also tried on an iphone 11 and have the same problem. IMHO - The issues are related to the firmwares on CBR750 & RBS750, and not the WiFi devices themselves!
V4 firmware updates, both Netgear official and beta releases, have led to 1) Perfomance degradation and 2) Stability, as compared to the V3 firmwares, which I had from Dec 2020 till Aug/Sep 2021, when V4 firmwares that were pushed to our hardware. V3 was very stable!!!
Since Dec 2020 I have had CBK752 "Kit" which consists of:
- CBR750 (Cable Modem & Wireless Router) - Currently on Netgear official release V4.6.5.8 ( https://www.netgear.com/support/download/?model=CBR750 )
- RBS750 (Satelite) - Currently on "Official" beta release, link provided by FURRYe38 ( https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WiFi-6-AX-and-WiFi-6E-AXE/New-RBR750-RBS750-Firmware-Version-v4-6-7-5-Released/m-p/2182131#M25411 )
In my 2 story, 2600 sq. ft home, have about 30 WiFi devices, mix of 5Ghz, 2.4Ghz (and about 20 Zwave (908.42 Mhz) - ZWave just FYI and not relevant for this discussion). Some of the WiFi devices are "static" devices, in close proximity to the Satelite, and should connect to the Satelite. They randomly keep "bouncing" between the Router and Satelite, leading to a very unstable network!!!
I am attaching a few screen shots.
Mr. FURRYe38 - You seem to be the conduit to Netgear Supoort and have provided "official" beta releases. How about beta firmware for CBR750, or DarrenM (Moderator) - can this be provided?
CBR750RBS750RBS750
TIA,
Al
Drewmama wrote:
I know it disconnects because it periodically won't work remotely but works when on Bluetooth. Also, the wifi icon will be grayed out and after trying to connect, the lock icon will say "unknown". Also, when I check my devices in the Orbi app, the August lock isn't listed. It does shown an IP address.
How can I get to the Orbi log?
I honestly don't know what causes it to reconnect. But when it does, I can see the August lock listed under the 2.4 list. But when I try to unlock/lock while connected to wifi, the lock icon will just pulsate, the light on the lock itself will slowly blink red and then eventually it will say "unknown".
I have a Samsung Note 20 Ultra but I've also tried on an iphone 11 and have the same problem.
Drewmama wrote:
I know it disconnects because it periodically won't work remotely but works when on Bluetooth. Also, the wifi icon will be grayed out and after trying to connect, the lock icon will say "unknown". Also, when I check my devices in the Orbi app, the August lock isn't listed. It does shown an IP address.
How can I get to the Orbi log?
I honestly don't know what causes it to reconnect. But when it does, I can see the August lock listed under the 2.4 list. But when I try to unlock/lock while connected to wifi, the lock icon will just pulsate, the light on the lock itself will slowly blink red and then eventually it will say "unknown".
I have a Samsung Note 20 Ultra but I've also tried on an iphone 11 and have the same problem.Thanks for describing the problem. It appears that we now have mixed two discussions about the August Lock:
- The original issue involving the Orbi RBR750 router and
- Your issue with the RBR20 router.
The Orbi log is on the Orbi web interface (http://orbilogin.net) The Advanced Tab, Administration Menu, Logs.
To finish the thought, the August lock will reconnect, but not actually function? How do you get it to begin working over WiFi again?
- Thanks for the info re: Orbi log.
When the August actually connects to Wifi, it MIGHT work but more often it just keeps saying "Connecting" until it changes to "Unknown".
I'm just frustrated because like I said, everything worked well the last 1.5 years and I haven't changed anything. August even sent me a new lock because they couldn't figure it out but this new lock is doing the exact same thing. I love my August and my Orbi and I just want them to play nice together! I read somewhere in another thread months ago that this issue could be related to how the Orbi handles band steering in the v4 firmware. I too owned an August lock and Orbi RbR50 for 2 years w/o issue. Then one firmware update and all of these problems began. That is what led me to simply connecting my old Router to my Orbi Satellite only allow the 2.4ghz band to broadcast. This proved to be an affective work around.
Netgear has set up a community forum specifically for the Orbi With Cable Modem products. The CBR750 differs from the standard Orbi system and your question should be posted there:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-with-Built-in-Cable-Modem/bd-p/en-home-orbi-cable
Please use this link to the main forum product list to review and choose where to make your posts.
https://community.netgear.com/t5/NETGEAR-Forum/ct-p/en-netgear
Thank you.Grrrr. Drewmama I think it would help bring clarity to the discussion if you could open a new post. Things are so "mixed up" now that people are talking about different things.
- Your RBR20 does not have a "version 4" firmware. That is an issue with the AX products.
- Your RBR20 is not a "Cable Modem" model.
It is really not helpful that Netgear removed the telnet option with firmware V2.7.3.22. There have been a number of issues with this firmware that users have solved by manually loading a previous firmware. With telnet, it is easy to display exactly when the Orbi firmware was installed. (a file appropriately named firmware_time) That version came out in August of 2021, but it is unclear when Netgear began pushing the update to users without informing them. If the August lock problem began shortly after firmware was updated, then "duh. sort of obvious."
Do you have access to Microsoft Excel?
- Ok. I will create a new post. Sorry for the confusion.
I sent you a private message. Please click in the upper right part of the page.
- Private message to me? Don't see any messages.
I tried again.
I have the August 4G lock and have used it with Orbi AC, AX, and now AXE systems. It is problemmatic even with my current Orbi AXE (963RBKE) connected to its dedicated 2.4Ghz-only IoT radio/SSID. I've found that unless I change 2.4Ghz CTS/RTS Threshold from the default 64 to 2347, the August app will not be able to connect to that wirelesd SSID. Running 2.4Ghz with CTS/RTS=2347 and AX mode unchecked, I can connect though my August lock alerts me that it disconnects and reconnects multiple times a day (so I just disabled the Notify When Offline setting). I just set 2.4Ghz Preamble=Long to see if it improves the connectivity.
When I had the Orbi AX (and I think also the Orbi AC), the August lock was one of the devices that had to connect to another backup wireless router I ran for compatibility.
Mikey94025 I know this is about six months old, but I'm curious if the changes you made to the preamble worked for you. I have the August lock and an Orbi system dealing with the same exact issues.
The disconnects seemed to disappear for awhile, but have started coming back. However I have not noticed fast battery drains as I was before.
TheGrumpyGent wrote:Mikey94025 I know this is about six months old, but I'm curious if the changes you made to the preamble worked for you. I have the August lock and an Orbi system dealing with the same exact issues.
I continue to run my AXE's 2.4Ghz with RTS/CTS Threshold=2347, Preamble=Long to maximize connectivity with older clients like the August 4G lock. I turned off the disconnect notifications so I don't know if it's been helpful.
I also had an old August Connect that was used with my 3G lock, and discovered I could connect it to the 4G (via bluetooth) and use it for wireless. I think the Connect has better 2.4Ghz connectivity than the 4G lock itself.
