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RBR/RBS 860 sudden inconsistent connectivity issues
I have a 2 satellite, 860 RBS setup with the RBR running in router mode on firmware 7.2.7.15.
1 RBS is connected via wireless and the other is hard wired.
Everything has been stable and running without issues until 27th May and no changes were made (config, position of devices etc)
I came into the garden room where the second satellite is based (hard wired) and the internet wasn't working.
The network was connected and in some instances I could start to browse a page but it would fail and speedtest.net download test would fly up to 750mb then go down to zero and then up to 100mb or so.
Download tests would go to 600 odd then hang and then complete and show as a completed test.
I have 2 peloton devices, a sonos speaker and a laptop all connected wirelessly on this satellite and all experiencing the issue. My iPhone gets the same experience on this satellite but not on the other or the router.
I connected the laptop via a usb-c ethernet adapter and it was working on the garden room satellite.
At this stage I thought it was a satellite issue.
In the house I have 3 devices connected to the RBR ethernet ports all of which weren't working or worked intermittently including a Sky TV box which sometimes would connect to the inbuilt Netflix app and other times wouldn't.
After various power cycles including powering off the fibre ONT then RBR and satellites in that order and powering back on in the same order I was no further forward.
I'd also tried resetting the RBS'
I called Netgear support who wanted me to change wireless channels for 2.4 and 5ghz which I did and no difference so I reverted back to the original settings of auto and 40. This was despite me saying that there were hardwired devices with connectivity issues as well.
They then wanted me to reset back to factory settings which I did and then went though the basic setup before restoring from my saved config as the basic setup wasn't working due to ISP router config not being present.
Then I noticed my satellites were on 192.168.0.x and my RBR was on 172.0.16.x and it seemed all devices on 172 were working so I set the RBR to 192.168.1.1 and then went about restarting all devices so they picked up a 192 address from DHCP.
Almost all are working bar the Sky TV box on the RBR which is still inconsitent.
I come back to the hard wired satellite and I'm in exactly the same position as I was to begin with.
Laptop on copper is fine but wifi isn't working. Connection is strong and connected on 5ghz channel but the in built device tests on the pelotons fail due to poor speed.
Speedtests from my iPhone are exactly the same as before, they fly up then down to zero then up to about 100 but the actual experience trying to use any device is that they don't work.
Have Netgear enforced the firmware update? I can't think what else could be the cause and don't know what else to do to fix the issue.
Apologies for the length of post!
I rolled back the firmware to 7.2.6.31 and everything instantly worked.
9 Replies
I was actually wrong when I said one wired connection is still failing on the RBR.
None are working correctly.
All 3 devices have shown signs of being connected e.g. passing connection tests or initially loading before failing.I have Sky TV, Android Box and Tado bridge connected and the 4th is the wired backhaul to the satellite.
I think the IP addressing is a red herring as I think the reset caused a split between the subnet being used pre reset vs 192.186.1.x post reset. All devices get an IP and show connected regardless of whether they work or not.
Netgear support haven’t called back yet and it’s very frustrating when paying Orbi prices that it can just break on its own!
What happens if you set the wired RBS to wireless connected to the RBR?
Try swapping RBS with each other to see if problem follows.
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.Be sure the RBR is connected to the ISP modem using it's WAN port. Be sure that the RBS is ethernet connected to the LAN port behind the RBR.
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 RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 🛰The wired RBS is too far away to receive a wireless signal from the RBR.
The house is over 100 years old, with solid walls and aluminium framed doors and windows to the rear so WiFi strength drops hugely as soon as you stand outside those doors and windows.
The ONT is unbranded and was supplied by City Fibre with Vodafone being the ISP.
The RBR is running in modem mode so there is no router between the ONT and the RBR. It’s connected to the WAN port via cat 5e (the cable was provided via the ISP). The RBS is connected to one of the 4 LAN ports alongside the 3 hardwired devices that aren’t working properly.
The house is around square 1250ft and the other RBS is upstairs at the rear of the house whereas the RBR is on the ground floor at the front of the house. The RBS which is hardwired is at the end of garden which is approx 60 ft long and is connected via armoured cat 6.
I’ve not swapped the RBS’ around but I have tried disconnecting the wires RBS and I’m still having the wired issues with the RBR.
This was all working perfectly until Tuesday. No new devices have been added, positional changes of RBR or RBS etc. No changes to the Orbi configuration unless the latest firmware was pushed down overnight on the 26th. I can’t see it in the logs as the logs restart on reboot.
My hunch is that if the wired issues are resolved then the other RBR will start working as well.
I forgot to ask is yours still not working? If it’s working what did you do?
Then I noticed my satellites were on 192.168.0.x and my RBR was on 172.0.16.x and it seemed all devices on 172 were working so I set the RBR to 192.168.1.1 and then went about restarting all devices so they picked up a 192 address from DHCP.
When devices squat on different IP addresses like that, it can be a symptom of a clash caused by having two routers on a network.
For example, modem Netgear's modem-routers like to use 192.168.0.x while routers alone go for 192.168.1.x.
I think the IP addressing is a red herring as I think the reset caused a split between the subnet being used pre reset vs 192.186.1.x post reset. All devices get an IP and show connected regardless of whether they work or not.
In what way? Your reset may have fixed some conflicts, but it could be hangover from a past setup that suggests a complete reset. A pain, yes, but sometimes necessary. Certainly the first move that Netgear is likely to suggest.
Disclaimer: Just another user with time on their hands.
I rolled back the firmware to 7.2.6.31 and everything instantly worked.
Glad you got it working. 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-SystemI'd disable auto update on the RBR as well.
Enjoy. 📡
