NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Using RBR750 and RBR750 as APs, internet not reliable
Hello,
- I have a fiber modem with dhcp enabled, connected via ethernet to the Internet plug of an RBR750.
- On the RBR750, I connected an ethernet cable to a gigabit switch.
- I have a few of machines connected directly via ethernet to the switch.
- I have 2 orbi RBS750 that are connected to the same switch via Ethernet.
- I have set up the orbi to "access point" mode.
- I have set up wifi.
- All 3 devices are running the latest firmware to date: V4.6.14.3_2.3.12
My goal is to have the mobile devices (tables, phones) connect to the internet and move from one AP to the other without drops. I'm expecting the mobile devices to connect to the nearest AP, to get an IP from the modem, and the AP to forward packets. I expect all trafic between the APs to take place using ethernet as they're all connected to the same switch.
A few notes:
- What does really backhaul designate in the interface ? Is it the ability to communicate between the RBR and RBS (wether it's using wifi or ethernet), or is it the ability to communicate via the private wifi channel ? This is not obvious to me.
- On the home screen of the RBR, I see "attached devices: number of satellites: 0".
- On the "Attached devices" screen, the 2 satellites are present => No Satellites on the first, and 2 on the other ? Oops.
- On the "Attached devices" screen, the 2 satellites have backhaul status "disconnected". Why ?
- => Using WifiMan on my mobile, I still can see hidden SSIDs with mac addresses close to RBR/RBS. Why is this even up, as they can freely and reliably talk via Ethernet ?
Now to the real issue:
It works, but wifi is not reliable. I very often end up in a situation where the mobile is connected to a RBS (I can see it
in the orbi admin interface), but the mobile says it has no connection to internet. Disabling/Enabling the wifi on the mobile often enables internet access again, but it's not 100%. Interestingly, at the time it is "not connected to the internet":
- The phone pings fine the AP to which it is connected
- It does not ping any other machine on the lan though (I tried the RBR, the modem, or one of the desktops: no answer).
- Since it cannot ping the RBR, internet is not available (or given they're configured as APs, it should not go through the RBR ?)
- BTW, I have to hardcode the IP address on the mobile, otherwise the dhcp server is not available in this situation...
This shows that the wifi link is up, that the routing on the phone is fine, but somehow the bridge in the RBS does not forward packets.
I have downloaded the debug.zip from the AP when the issue occurs an issue, not sure where to find something interesting in there...
Any hints ?
Thanks,
Flavien.
4 Replies
What mobile devices are connected to the system? Apple or Android?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT and Host Router the NG router is connected too?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6 is recommended.What is the Mfr and model# of the ethernet switch in the configuration?
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 wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 🛰️What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s). Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
What mobile devices are connected to the system? Apple or Android?
Samsung Android + e/OS + Amazon Fire
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT and Host Router the NG router is connected too?
This is a standard Freebox Server V6 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freebox), very popular in France.
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6 is recommended.
Done.
What is the Mfr and model# of the ethernet switch in the configuration?
D-Link DGS 1016D: https://www.dlink.com/en/products/dgs-1016d-16-port-gigabit-unmanaged-desktop-switch
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 wirelessly connected.
I have Ethernet Cables wired in the walls, and I'm not expecting the Orbi's to use Wifi between them, so it should not really matter.
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
2.4 is set to Auto. It's using channel 5.
5GHz is set to 36 in the interface.
According to WiFiMan, I see it's using channel 40, even though the config says 36 (!).
Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.I don't see those options. Maybe because it's only available in Router mode, and they are disabled in AP mode ?
Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only.
The only option available is "enable/disable". It's currently enabled.
Shouldn't these WiFi settings be orthogonal to the issue I'm seeing ?
What about the fact that the device is connected, can ping the Satellite, the Satellite can be ping'ed by the other machines, but cannot ping the mobile device ? Could there be some arp broadcast/filtering stuff going on ?
Thanks,
Flavien.
Flavien1976 wrote:
What mobile devices are connected to the system? Apple or Android?
Samsung Android + e/OS + Amazon Fire
Be sure that any MAC Address randomizer is disable on mobile phones and pads:
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT and Host Router the NG router is connected too?
This is a standard Freebox Server V6 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freebox), very popular in France.
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6 is recommended.
Done.
What is the Mfr and model# of the ethernet switch in the configuration?
D-Link DGS 1016D: https://www.dlink.com/en/products/dgs-1016d-16-port-gigabit-unmanaged-desktop-switch
Have you tried the RBS directly connected to the RBR?
Tried a different Gb LAN switch? NG GS-105/108v4 and GS308v3, and HP ProCurve 1400/1800 series switches work for Orbi systems.
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 wirelessly connected.
I have Ethernet Cables wired in the walls, and I'm not expecting the Orbi's to use Wifi between them, so it should not really matter.
Distance IS a factor, regardless of how the RBS are connected, wired or wireless so please give distances between the RBS and RBR and each other.
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
2.4 is set to Auto. It's using channel 5.
5GHz is set to 36 in the interface.
According to WiFiMan, I see it's using channel 40, even though the config says 36 (!).
Try setting manual channel 1 on 2.4Ghz and 40 on 5Ghz.
Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.I don't see those options. Maybe because it's only available in Router mode, and they are disabled in AP mode ?
Got it. Ap mode. Correct. Not enabled while in AP mode.
Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only.
The only option available is "enable/disable". It's currently enabled.
Remove the check mark from the box then apply.
Since the Optical Network Terminator (ONT) is providing DHCP, there should be a management interface that displays what devices are connected to the network. Does it show the RBR750 router and the RBS750 satellites?
The backhaul link is exactly that: a connection between the router and satellites which supports communication between devices connected to them. The default is a 5G WiFi link on channel 157 (North America) or 108 (Japan and the rest of the world) - see page 130 of the User Manual: https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK752/RBK752_UM_EN.pdf
Although tedious, a more methodical process for configuring the system is:
- Begin with all equipment at the ONT location.
- Connect the RBR750 router and verify that it connects to the Internet.
Configure the desired WiFi SSID/password. - Power up a satellite (no Ethernet cables) and verify that it syncs with the router and appears on the Attached Devices display as a satellite. If this does not happen, then something is very wrong.
- After confirming that the satellites connect over WiFi, connect one directly to one of the router LAN ports with an Ethernet cable. (no switch) It takes longer than one might expect, but eventually the Attached Devices display should show the backhaul connection as 'Wired'. If after 10-15 minutes the status has not changed, something is very wrong.
- It is at this point that most people would place the Orbi router into Access Point (AP) mode. The Orbi router will cease performing any "router functions" See
https://kb.netgear.com/000061277/Disabled-Features-on-the-Orbi-when-set-to-AP-Mode
(Personally, I believe the comment about Guest WiFi is that devices connected to the Guest WiFi many no longer be segregated from devices on the primary network. The article may be out of date.) - After switching the system to AP mode, it is time to verify that the switch and house wiring are correct.
When each satellite is relocated to the desired placement, connected to Ethernet, and powered up, it should go through the regular startup process (Blue Light, etc.) and should show on the router Attached Devices as 'Wired'.
