HELP!!! Orbi 960 Series AXE11000 | Hardwire speeds of router and satelite fine, wifi drops randomly

Update:

New network is still stable, Ive added a device or two a day with no issues so far. 

Has anyone else ever had anything like this? Could it have been some legacy cache or something like that causing some sort of intermittent interference? 

I can't come up with anything else, and NetGear support hasn't been helpful either. 

Open to any opinions, ideas, or otherwise. Thank you

I spent the day troubleshooting what sounds like your issue. I have a 960 router with 5 satellites on a wired backhaul. My hardwired devices get 1.7Gbps. 6 Ghz at 900Mbps.  5Ghz at 450Mbps.  5Ghz dropped to 15-50Mbps.

I performed 3 factor resets, tried AP and Router mode, and tested with and without satellites.  I thought I found the issue with Apple's Limit IP Address Tracking, but this only impacts connections to the satellites, not the RBRE.

I just changed the password on my 6E connection and the issue stopped.  I'm waiting for another occurance and a callback from Netgear.

Good luck on the call from Netgear, they almost never call back. (In my experience, I always have to call back in and explain it to the next person). I got to L2 support, and to go to L3 apparently takes weeks to months... 

Your password change might work. I setup a new network name and have been slowly adding me devices back on and its been stable a few days now. Given they even sent me a new router, I'm not sure what else it could be. (Unless as noted a few replies up, the factory resets really don't clear out the satellites). 

Please do reply if you come up with anything or get any information from Netgear, this has been driving me nuts for weeks now. 

So I got the issue again yesterday and this morning, but it only lasted a brief amount of time, was not as slowed down as before, and I ultimately did not do anything to restore it. 

I want to think its interference from a neighbor, but I was running inssider (https://www.metageek.com/downloads/inssider-win/) and I wasn't seeing any interference or signal loss. 

Leaves me rather clueless, but figured I would share nonetheless. 

Next Update :

So all my satellites went offline yesterday and my speeds tanked. Only two came back on with the other saying disconnected. Speeds came back in the morning without me doing anything, and looking at the interference tool, I don't see anything. (All my signals / channels look green). 

The disconnected satellite would boot up to the blue light every time, even after I removed it and factory reset it 3 times!!!! If I hardwire to it, it still puts out good speed (800MBPs), but the app nor the Orbi login recognize it. I have no idea how its still working? 

I don't know what to do if I can't factory reset it. Is the only way to factory reset the entire system? I'd rather not do that again as each time it seems to take longer and longer to setup. 

A complete pull of the power adapters for a period of time after the factory reset then walk thru the setup wizard and setup from scratch with a wired PC and web browser. https://kb.netgear.com/22697/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-router-using-the-router-web-interface
Recommend setting the default DHCP IP address pool range to the following after applying and a factory reset: 192.168.#.100 to 192.168.#.200.
https://kb.netgear.com/24089/How-do-I-specify-the-pool-of-IP-addresses-assigned-by-my-Nighthawk-router
https://kb.netgear.com/25722/How-do-I-reserve-an-IP-address-on-my-NETGEAR-router
I would power OFF the ISP modem for 1 minute. Factory reset the router and power it off. Power ON the ISP modem and let it sync. Then power ON the router and walk thru the setup wizard again using a wired PC and a web browser.

Press the back reset button for 15 seconds then release on the RBS first then RBR or kick of the RBR reset using the ERASE button on it's web page. 
https://kb.netgear.com/31486/How-do-I-reset-my-Orbi-system-to-factory-default-settings
https://kb.netgear.com/000062081/How-do-I-erase-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System

So I do have to factory reset the router again? I was trying to avoid it as everything is actually working great right now, but that rogue satellite doesn't seem to be recognized anywhere. 

Do you think if I factory reset the satellite again and let it sit with no power for awhile that could clear it? 

(Sidenote: Waiting on a call from Netgear as I sent them debug logs and some other information for L3 to look at)

Yes try a reset on the RBS. 

The best advise we can give people is to start a new config, power on one RBS and wait for some SOLID light or most often blue or magenta. And then add the RBS WIRELESSLY via the WebUI. Power off the RBS. Then rinse and repeat with any additional RBS(s). Pair RBS one at a time even if you have more than one. For ethernet connected RBS, after things come up wirelessly, you can move to wired backhaul but don't start with wired backhaul for those RBS that are ethernet connected. Wirelessly connect and sync RBS first before ethernet connecting RBS. 

FURRYe38 so just reset the satellite again or the router also?

Try a RBS on the RBS. Press reset button for 15 seconds then release. White for the front LED to blink white or pulsate WHITE for about 3 minutes. Then use the RBRs web page Add Satellite to add the RBS. I'd do this with the RBS near or in same room as the RBR. 

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detroitsandman wrote:

FURRYe38 so just reset the satellite again or the router also?

 

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Is that something you can adjust on the 960? 

I agree once I get either a refund or a replacement from NetGear, I'm likely to explore other options after this experience. 

Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

Did you try this already? 

Yeah I am pretty sure that was one of the many steps I took with Pro Support. 

They did just send me a beta firmware update to try, but I'm waiting to hear what the root cause was and how they fixed it before I waste any more time, effort, and energy on it. (Not to mention stress)

I'll share the root cause and whatever they send me with this thread as well.

So you bought a new same model system and that doesn't reproduce the problem right on current release FW? 

Correct. I wanted to prove my point that I thought it was a hardware issue.

I plan to return it, and given this problem has been going on for 8 weeks, I can't have intermittent internet when I need to work, kids have homework, etc. 

Overall I just want a refund or a new system from NetGear, as I am sick of all the back and forth. 

And they gave you a beta for the problem system right? 

I guess you'll need to test it out to see if it fixes this. 

I presume you did mention to them that the newly bought system works with out any issues and with out the beta right? 

Yes, I told them I bought a new system that works fine in an effort to have mine replaced. They essentially ignored it and sent me the beta firmware for the broken one. Hence my hesitance to waste any more time on it until I get a better explanation from them on what they are actually fixing. 

I recommend that you apply the beta and check to see if it fixes the issue or not. Don't let time pass on this that would make it worse. You have support looking into this with you so take advantage of it. 

("Egg on my face" for not reading more closely.  Sorry.)

Thanks for the explanation.  Now, to see what ELSE I got wrong.....