I have an Orbi system with one RBR850 and two RBS850s. I plugged an ethernet cable into the back of one of the satellites in order to access the internet with a laptop with a bad WiFi driver (long story). The laptop was able to then access the internet, but connecting to the RBS seems to cause the WiFi for the house to work but without any internet access. Everything returns to normal (except the RBS in question remains "out of sync" - even after powering it down and also pushing the Sync button). Is there a way to connect to the satellite with an ethernet cable without messing up internet for the WiFi? And do I need to do something special to re-sync the satellite - like powering down or rebooting the router? My firmware is v. 4.6.3.16 and all firmware is shown as up to date.

I woulld try the Laptop connected to the other RBS to see if the problem follows, if it does, then you'll know it's the laptop. 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. Having RBR and RBS too close can cause problems or having them too far away.

What CAT# cable are you using? CAT6 is recommended. Is the RBS connected to the back of the RBR directly or is there a LAN switch or patch panel in between the RBR and RBS? https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System 📡

Thank you for such a quick reply. It is a CAT6 cable. I looked at the link below for backhaul and I'm not sure that applies to my setup. My RBR is not connected to the RBS by any physical connection - just wirelessly. The RBR is connected to my Netgear modem by ethernet. The RBS in question is on a different floor from the RBR. My only reason to connect to the RBS with an ethernet cable is because this particular laptop no longer has WiFi capability and I was hoping to be able to connect to the RBS for an ethernet connection to the internet.

Have you tested other devices other than just the 1 laptop?

CrazyEddie wrote: The laptop was able to then access the internet, but connecting to the RBS seems to cause the WiFi for the house to work but without any internet access. Everything returns to normal (except the RBS in question remains "out of sync" - even after powering it down and also pushing the Sync button). Could you provide a little more detail about the sequence of events: The laptop is plugged in and has internet access.Does it continue to have internet access as long as it is plugged in? When the laptop is plugged in, what happens to other devices which are connected to any of the Orbi units with ethernet? Every device connected with WiFi immediately loses internet? What is going on with the satellite that the laptop is connected to?It must be still working because the laptop has internet, orThe satellite immediately shows "out of sync" even though the laptop continues to work? When does everything return to normal?When the laptop is disconnected?Just by itself, except when everything else starts working again, the satellite goes "out of sync"?

WiFi internet drops when I plug ethernet into RBS850

27 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru
Feb 15, 2022
What CAT# cable are you using? CAT6 is recommended.

Is the RBS connected to the back of the RBR directly or is there a LAN switch or patch panel in between the RBR and RBS?

https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System 📡
- CrazyEddie
  Apprentice
  Feb 15, 2022
  Thank you for such a quick reply. It is a CAT6 cable.
  
  I looked at the link below for backhaul and I'm not sure that applies to my setup. My RBR is not connected to the RBS by any physical connection - just wirelessly. The RBR is connected to my Netgear modem by ethernet. The RBS in question is on a different floor from the RBR. My only reason to connect to the RBS with an ethernet cable is because this particular laptop no longer has WiFi capability and I was hoping to be able to connect to the RBS for an ethernet connection to the internet.
  - plemans
    Guru
    Feb 15, 2022
    Have you tested other devices other than just the 1 laptop?
CrimpOn
Guru
Feb 15, 2022
CrazyEddie wrote:

The laptop was able to then access the internet, but connecting to the RBS seems to cause the WiFi for the house to work but without any internet access. Everything returns to normal (except the RBS in question remains "out of sync" - even after powering it down and also pushing the Sync button).

Could you provide a little more detail about the sequence of events:

The laptop is plugged in and has internet access.
Does it continue to have internet access as long as it is plugged in?

When the laptop is plugged in, what happens to other devices which are connected to any of the Orbi units with ethernet?

Every device connected with WiFi immediately loses internet?

What is going on with the satellite that the laptop is connected to?
It must be still working because the laptop has internet, or
The satellite immediately shows "out of sync" even though the laptop continues to work?

When does everything return to normal?
When the laptop is disconnected?
Just by itself, except when everything else starts working again, the satellite goes "out of sync"?
- CrazyEddie
  Apprentice
  Feb 15, 2022
  CrimpOn wrote:
  CrazyEddie wrote:
  The laptop was able to then access the internet, but connecting to the RBS seems to cause the WiFi for the house to work but without any internet access. Everything returns to normal (except the RBS in question remains "out of sync" - even after powering it down and also pushing the Sync button).
  Could you provide a little more detail about the sequence of events:
  The laptop is plugged in and has internet access. Correct
  Does it continue to have internet access as long as it is plugged in? Correct
  When the laptop is plugged in, what happens to other devices which are connected to any of the Orbi units with ethernet? There are no other devices connected to any Orbi units via ethernet.
  Every device connected with WiFi immediately loses internet? As far as I can tell. I have a lot of devices, but the phone in my hand and TV in the same room went out.
  What is going on with the satellite that the laptop is connected to? It seems to be unaffected
  It must be still working because the laptop has internet, or
  The satellite immediately shows "out of sync" even though the laptop continues to work? I have not watched the Orbi online interface as I'm plugging in - I haven't repeated it since I figured out the correlation, as I can't keep knocking out WiFi internet due to other obligations
  When does everything return to normal?
  When the laptop is disconnected? yes, after the laptop is disconnected and the satellite is powered down and back on - except it still shows as "Out of Sync" under Backhaul Status. The satellite does not show any blinking or other lights.
  Just by itself, except when everything else starts working again, the satellite goes "out of sync"?
  - CrimpOn
    Guru
    Feb 15, 2022
    CrazyEddie wrote:
    
    What is going on with the satellite that the laptop is connected to? It seems to be unaffected
    
    It must be still working because the laptop has internet, or
    The satellite immediately shows "out of sync" even though the laptop continues to work? I have not watched the Orbi online interface as I'm plugging in - I haven't repeated it since I figured out the correlation, as I can't keep knocking out WiFi internet due to other obligations
    
    Thanks for the information. Sort of a "Catch 22" because investigating the problem can interrupt internet access. Further diagnosis may have to wait until everyone else is asleep.
    
    Just a silly question: On the laptop, has the WiFi adapter been disabled in network settings?

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WiFi internet drops when I plug ethernet into RBS850