RBS850 Satellite will not sync with RBR850 Router when in AP mode

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 27, 2020
Review this:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/RBK853-wired-satellite/m-p/1881894/highlight/true#M2563

Indths2register wrote:
I am having the same issue among a few admin page display issues. I have no problem setting it up in router mode, finds satellite has no issues. Change it to AP mode satellite goes offline. Defaulted satellite, removed it from router tried sync from Orbi app, failed, sync from admin page failed, sync from buttons failed. It is on the latest firmware it automatically will download.

Opened support case pending response currently.
- Indths2register
  Aspirant
  Mar 30, 2020
  Had a 90 minute call with support, it seems it is an order of operations issue. This is what i was doing.
  
  1 - Connect to defaulted RBR850 via Orbi App on iPhone.
  2 - Going through prompts and guides to set it up to completion.
  3 - Going to admin web page and turning off DHCP and static assign the LAN IP Address
  4 - Change to AP Mode
  
  Upon rebooting, Satellite shows offline in web page and magenta ring on the unit. Deleted RBS850 in admin page, defaulted, reset, and went through add satellite every way possible. Would not ever add it.
  
  After multiple defaults and walking through the process and how my network is set up, i went through this process.
  
  1- Defaulted both RBR850 and RBS850
  2 - Went through Orbi IPhone app setup again
  3 - Changed to AP mode and RBR850 rebooted
  4 - Logged back into RBR850 and it still shows the satellite up and working!!
  5 - Issue though is it is still using a DHCP address and I do not know if it is running the DHCP Server or not. There is no place to change to static IP or turn off DHCP as most menu options are now grayed out.
  5 - Went to admin page, Advanced Tab, Advanced Menu, clicked Router/AP Mode
  7 - No options only radial button for Router Mode and AP Mode...
  8 - Selected the Router Mode radial button like i was going to change it back, then switched it back to the AP Mode button and it loaded the option to set static IP. Updated it to Static IP and applied, system rebooted came up and satellite is still online.
  
  Seems an order of operations and really bad admin page navigation is the biggest issue. Trying to set up another satellite now, RBS50, non AX, while in AP mode. It went through setup and synced fine, said it was added successfully but after reboot it doesnt sync. Like previously, if i use Wired backhaul it pops right up. It seems it relies on the RBR850 to be a specific IP address to set up satellites almost and until you set them all up you cant change it.
  
  That would be odd...
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Mar 30, 2020
    The process should be that while in router mode, the RBS should be already synced.
    
    Then to configure AP mode, I recommended and what I do is to turn OFF the RBSs.
    Configure AP mode. Do not disable any DHCP server on the RBR prior. AP mode will do this after you apply the AP mode setting.
    I set up a static IP address, 192.168.#.85. # being the same IP address sub net pool number that your host router is using. Also be sure that your host routers Default IP address pool is smaller, i.e. 192.168.#.100 to .200. This gives you area on either side of the pool to assign STATIC assinged devices such as the Orbi RBR in AP mode at 192.168.#.85.
    
    Once you get the RBR setup for AP mode and configured and apply the setting, connect the RBR to the host router with a LAN cable connected to the WAN port on the RBR. Wait for the RBR to come to ready. Check to ensure the RBR is working here.
    
    Then turn on a RBS and let it sync. Wirelessly it should sync. Wired seems to have problems if there is a switch in between the RBR and RBS. Wired RBS should work directly connected with out a switch.

Forum Discussion

RBS850 Satellite will not sync with RBR850 Router when in AP mode