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bobthetechie's avatar
bobthetechie
Aspirant
Jul 07, 2024
Solved

trying to add third RBS850 satellite to RBR850 - will not sync

Have an existing Orbi 6 RBR850 + two RBS850 satellites.  I'm trying to add a new out-of-the-box RBS850 satellite.  It just will not sync.   I suspect that since my existing Orbis are on firmware V7...
CrimpOn's avatar
CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Jul 07, 2024

There was a post on the forum saying that the "self-service" IP address of Orbi AX satellites is 192.168.10.250.

(I do not have an AX satellite and cannot confirm or refute this.)

 

Thus, the procedure for using TFTP to push firmware to this satellite would be:

  • Connect the satellite and one computer with an Ethernet cable (and to no other devices. Just those two.)
  • Set the computer to a static IP address in the 192.168.10.x  IP subnet.
  • Set up TFTP to send the satellite firmware file to 192.168.10.x
  • Power on the satellite.
  • Send the firmware image to the the satellite.

I confess to having accomplished this only one time and with an Orbi unit that is not in the AX series.  My experience was both frustrating and satisfying.  Five attempts failed completely.  Nada.  Zip. I had a hammer out, read to pound the Orbi into tiny pieces and thought, "what else do I have to do right now?" and tried a sixth time.  It worked!!! Hammer put away. Orbi unit working correctly with correct firmware.

 

My impression is that when an Orbi unit powers on, there is brief period while it goes through the boot process and is not looking for a TFTP connection.  Then... it does look for a TFTP connection.  After which, it returns to the boot sequence.

There is some "magic number" of seconds that the user needs to pause before hitting "Send".  Too soon = no response.  Too late = no response.  "Just right" = success!

 

What a pain in the (posterior region).\

 

 

  • bobthetechie's avatar
    bobthetechie
    Aspirant
    Jul 07, 2024

    Thanks very much for your detailed reply.

     

    I tried setting the laptop to 192.168.10.10 and the TFTP client to PUT to 192.168.10.250.  No luck.

     

    I tried various settings, such as "Private Network" or "Public Network".  I tried setting the laptop to 192.168.10.10 and 192.168.1.10.  Neither seemed to work.

     

    When using TFTP to update firmware on switches, I'm used to the laptop acting as a TFTP server and the switch makes the initial TFTP request.  The firmware file is placed in the TFTP root and is the only file there.  So, it seems unusual to me that the laptop needs to be a TFTP client and it needs to "PUT" the firmware to the Orbi.

     

    I never got TFTP to work.

     

    It took me a LOT of searching to find out how to do a "factory reset".  It looks like you push the reset button for 15 seconds until the LED turns yellow and blinks.  You have to wait until it blinks.

    Other people talk about 30/30/30 but never explain what that means.

    Sometimes a simple push/release of the reset button causes the LED to go yellow and then back to green.

     

    I just wish that Netgear would publish simple instructions for how to do a reset and if there are multiple kinds of resets, how to do each one.

     

    Here's what FINALLY worked for me:

     

    1.  hold reset button for more than 15 seconds and wait for the yellow LED to blink

    2.  set the laptop with the static IP 192.168.1.10 / 24 (255.255.255.0), gateway 192.168.1.1, DNS anything (I chose 192.168.1.1)

    3.  bring up Edge browser and go to the URL http://192.168.1.250

         It looks like the web page will only come up after a long (15 sec) factory reset

    4.  log into the Satellite's web page with admin and password (yes, the password is password!)

    5.  go to update firmware and select the firmware file.  wait for the update to finish and the Satellite to reboot.

    6.  go to the Orbi admin GUI, "Basic", "Add Orbi Satellite" and go through the steps

    7.  in the Orbi admin GUI, "Advanced", "Administration", "Attached Devices", the new satellite now appears in the list!!!!!

         but, it says "Out of sync"

    8.  Press the "Sync" button on the back of the new Orbi satellite

    9.  FINAL SUCCESS, it is synced and working

     

    Maybe these steps will help others with similar problems.  Thanks again for your help.