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RBR750/RBS750 - satellites won't connect to mesh network
I have two RBS 750 satellites working with a RBR 750 router. The network was working flawlessly for the past two years until a few weeks ago when the satellites stopped working. Using the Orbi App,...
Download latest firmware for your devices from netgear.com/support If you have the RBS750 and RBR750, those are the links. Unzip both files:
https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbr750.aspx#downloadhttps://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbs750.aspx#download
Important Notes:
- To do the process below, you need to be connected via ethernet between your computer and the router, do not do this over Wi-Fi,
- Update satellites firmware first, and then your router last.
Here is what I did to resolve it:
- Unplug everything (power and ethernet), plug ethernet between your computer and the router, then power back to the router only. Let the router start entirely,
- Reset the router by pushing the 'reset' button with a pin at the back of the router for 15 seconds; wait for the router to start completely (solid white or not light at all),
- Once the router has started, set up the router so that you can access it via the admin interface (this is normal configuration via web admin or mobile app),
- Update the satellites firmware:
- Plug ethernet cable from one satellite to the router, and plug power to the satellite; wait for the satellite to start completely (solid blue),
- Push 'reset' on the satellite to reset the device and wait for solid blue light,
-
Once solid blue is visible, go on router admin via web interface and go to 'Attached Devices'. You should see a "netgear" device via 'wired' in the list under "Connected Devices". Note the IP address and open it in a new tab,
- Login using your the credentials you used in step 3. If those don't work, try the default admin/password ("password" is the actual password) which worked for me; from there you should see the firmware version,
- If the version is not the same as the one downloaded earlier, go to 'Firmware Upgrade', then 'Browse' and select the .cfk file from the RBS-750 (pick RBS, not RBR), and let it do its jobs; the satellite will eventually reboot, it takes a little while,
- Unplug ethernet and power from your satellite and repeat step 4.1 to 4.5 with every other satellites you have.
- Once done, it is time to upgrade the router firmware:
- Disconnect all satellites from the router, unplug power from satellites; your computer is still connected to router via ethernet,
- In the router admin interface, go to "Advanced" tab > Administration > Firmware Update > "Manual Update" tab,
- Click "Browse" and select the .chk from the RBR-750 folder (not RBS), click "Upload" and let it do its job, until the router restart and shows no light (or solid white).
- Plug power back to satellites (no ethernet); they should automatically sync with the router (show solid blue light). It take a little while.
- Once both satellites show a solid blue, go to the router admin interface > "Attached Devices"; you should now see both routers in the "Connected Satellites" section (not in the "Connected Devices" section anymore).
And that, should resolve the issue of satellites not connecting to your router. The whole process takes a little while, especially when you reset/reboot devices as they take a few minutes to be ready. Any questions, please feel free to ask in this thread. I will try my best to help.
A bit of background: this issue has been caused by Netgear themselves. They pushed an update to either satellites or router without pushing the update to the other device, as such devices were using different firmware versions and were not able to properly sync. To me the issue started around May 25th.
Issue was resolved by manually updating firmware to most recent on all devices, starting with the two routers. Once all devices are on the same firmware, everything works as expected.
Hope this helps resolve your issue.
How did you update the Satellites if they are not recognized by orbilogin.com?
This morning 1 satellite is showing up as green on the app, but the backhaul status is "out of sync", no devices are connected and the firmware version is still blank. I want to update the firmware for the satellites first and then the router (as I've seen this is recommended order), but I haven't seen instructions on how to achieve if the satellite does not show up in the firmware update section of orbilogin.com (#3 from the instructions below). I've downloaded the zip files for RBS & RBR 750 but don't know to execute the firmware update from this point. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
To manually update the firmware on your Orbi satellite:
- Download the firmware for your Orbi satellite from the NETGEAR Download Center and save it to your desktop.
- Click the Manual Update tab.
The Firmware Update page displays. - Select the check box next to your satellite's model name.
- Click the Update button.
The Orbi satellite Firmware Update window opens. - If the browser asks you for the admin password, enter the same password you entered for the Orbi router.
- Click the BROWSE button, then locate and select the file that ends in .img or .chk on your desktop.
- Click the UPLOAD button to upload the firmware file.
It takes a few minutes to complete the process. - After your Orbi satellite finishes updating, select Status and make sure that the firmware version on the Status page matches the firmware version on the NETGEAR Support page.
The firmware on your Orbi satellite is updated.
Give me a moment, I'll post details on how to proceed later in the day.
Download latest firmware for your devices from netgear.com/support If you have the RBS750 and RBR750, those are the links. Unzip both files:
https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbr750.aspx#downloadhttps://www.netgear.com/support/product/rbs750.aspx#download
Important Notes:
- To do the process below, you need to be connected via ethernet between your computer and the router, do not do this over Wi-Fi,
- Update satellites firmware first, and then your router last.
Here is what I did to resolve it:
- Unplug everything (power and ethernet), plug ethernet between your computer and the router, then power back to the router only. Let the router start entirely,
- Reset the router by pushing the 'reset' button with a pin at the back of the router for 15 seconds; wait for the router to start completely (solid white or not light at all),
- Once the router has started, set up the router so that you can access it via the admin interface (this is normal configuration via web admin or mobile app),
- Update the satellites firmware:
- Plug ethernet cable from one satellite to the router, and plug power to the satellite; wait for the satellite to start completely (solid blue),
- Push 'reset' on the satellite to reset the device and wait for solid blue light,
-
Once solid blue is visible, go on router admin via web interface and go to 'Attached Devices'. You should see a "netgear" device via 'wired' in the list under "Connected Devices". Note the IP address and open it in a new tab,
- Login using your the credentials you used in step 3. If those don't work, try the default admin/password ("password" is the actual password) which worked for me; from there you should see the firmware version,
- If the version is not the same as the one downloaded earlier, go to 'Firmware Upgrade', then 'Browse' and select the .cfk file from the RBS-750 (pick RBS, not RBR), and let it do its jobs; the satellite will eventually reboot, it takes a little while,
- Unplug ethernet and power from your satellite and repeat step 4.1 to 4.5 with every other satellites you have.
- Once done, it is time to upgrade the router firmware:
- Disconnect all satellites from the router, unplug power from satellites; your computer is still connected to router via ethernet,
- In the router admin interface, go to "Advanced" tab > Administration > Firmware Update > "Manual Update" tab,
- Click "Browse" and select the .chk from the RBR-750 folder (not RBS), click "Upload" and let it do its job, until the router restart and shows no light (or solid white).
- Plug power back to satellites (no ethernet); they should automatically sync with the router (show solid blue light). It take a little while.
- Once both satellites show a solid blue, go to the router admin interface > "Attached Devices"; you should now see both routers in the "Connected Satellites" section (not in the "Connected Devices" section anymore).
And that, should resolve the issue of satellites not connecting to your router. The whole process takes a little while, especially when you reset/reboot devices as they take a few minutes to be ready. Any questions, please feel free to ask in this thread. I will try my best to help.
A bit of background: this issue has been caused by Netgear themselves. They pushed an update to either satellites or router without pushing the update to the other device, as such devices were using different firmware versions and were not able to properly sync. To me the issue started around May 25th.
Thanks. I got to step 4.3, but the admin page doesn't show the satellite as wired with an IP address and it looks the same as before. I was able to see an IP address on the app however and used it to access the satellite via a web browser as you suggested. As expected, the satellites had an updated firmware. I was able to work through the process as described and now everything is up and working again. Thanks for the help and hopefully others will find this helpful if they find themselves in a similar situation.