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Zoom and Unstable Internet
I’ve recently encountered a problem where I cannot receive Zoom audio and receive Internet Unstable messages. I have the RBR850 with 3 wired satellites and a 1GB fibre optic internet connection, upload and download speeds are consistently in excess of 900mps. Audio video streaming via other other channels such as YouTube or Teams are working normally and this is a new issue with Zoom which was previously working normally as well. Zoom is working normally if I hotspot my laptop from my mobile phone, so it would appear that the Orbi has a conflict of some sort with the Zoom network requirements. Can anyone assist me with this?
- After much frustration I have finally resolved the audio issues with Zoom, this follows extensive troubleshooting with the local support team, who have been excellent and even provided a complete replacement of new hardware with the problem continuing. The local support provided an advance load of firmware 4.6.7.5_2.1.7 and Zoom audio is now working normally regardless of Wifi, LAN,etc.
20 Replies
1. what modem/gateway is the orbi connected to?
2. what firmware is on the router and the satellites?
3. have you noticed a difference if different devices try zoom? (basically do they all have the issues or just one)
4. have you noticed if its a difference from devices connected to the router or the satellite?
- To answer your questions.
1) Huawei HG8040H (ISP is Netvigator Hong Kong)
2)Router v4.6.3.16_2.0.51
Satellites v4.6.3.16
3) all Devices connected via the Orbi have the same problem. Ie MacBook, iPad, iPhone
4) no difference, have also tried both WiFi and wired via the orbithere's a new firmware that you can try.
In addition to the pre-release firmware version from the above post, you should also take a look at the "Disable SIP ALG" setting in Advanced tab...Setup...WAN Setup.
I was encountering the same problem as you while testing an Orbi RBK752 given to me that used to be what my brother was using. When I received it I updated to the current production firmware release and when I saw the pre-release firmware I switched to it.
I thought all was well, speed matches my ISP plan, and YouTube & Roku video streaming is fine. Until I noticed that only in Zoom calls there were frequent "Unstable internet" notifications, cyclical audio freezes (several times a minute), and occasional video freezes.
I do not see the symptoms when I swapped out the Orbi with my regular Netgear R7450 router, that I've used since 2018, on the same 6 person group Zoom call.
I compared the settings and the big difference was the "Disable SIP ALG" WAN setting. So I unchecked "Disable SIP ALG" on the Orbi to match what my Netgear R7450 had and things have been fine with Zoom thru the Orbi for about 10 days now. Apparently the state of the SIP ALG setting can affect VOIP / video communications apps.What FW version are you using?
I believe Disable SIP ALG is enabled by default in FW.
Patone407 wrote:
In addition to the pre-release firmware version from the above post, you should also take a look at the "Disable SIP ALG" setting in Advanced tab...Setup...WAN Setup.
I was encountering the same problem as you while testing an Orbi RBK752 given to me that used to be what my brother was using. When I received it I updated to the current production firmware release and when I saw the pre-release firmware I switched to it.
I thought all was well, speed matches my ISP plan, and YouTube & Roku video streaming is fine. Until I noticed that only in Zoom calls there were frequent "Unstable internet" notifications, cyclical audio freezes (several times a minute), and occasional video freezes.
I do not see the symptoms when I swapped out the Orbi with my regular Netgear R7450 router, that I've used since 2018, on the same 6 person group Zoom call.
I compared the settings and the big difference was the "Disable SIP ALG" WAN setting. So I unchecked "Disable SIP ALG" on the Orbi to match what my Netgear R7450 had and things have been fine with Zoom thru the Orbi for about 10 days now. Apparently the state of the SIP ALG setting can affect VOIP / video communications apps.On my Orbi RBK752 I'm using v4.6.7.5 and I've done the hard reset switch and firmware reset to default setting when I received it from my brother before I did the firmware upgrades. The "Disable SIP ALG" setting being check-marked must be the default for this router.
I don't recall tinkering around with this setting in my R7450 since I have not changed any setting since 2018/2019 and I've been using Zoom with the router in 2020/2021. Since the setting was not check-marked I tried it on the Orbi and things are well with Zoom (desktop / PC version).
Zoom has frequent updates so I don't know if app optimizations makes it SIP ALG friendly. Have not yet tried other video call apps I use like Skype, Facetime since the switch to Orbi.
