NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.

Forum Discussion

JoeJoeJoeJoe's avatar
Feb 05, 2026

871 reports disconnected Internet in error in conflict with Orbi App and actual operation

I have a 870 router with 1 satellite.  Internet via Centurylink fiber (Orbi connected to ONT).  Centurylink connection uses PPoE with VLAN 201 tagging.  871 is operating as router, not bridge mode (ONT is just a "dumb" device).

 

Overall my 870 system works very well - good uptime, uses 160MHz channels, no issues on data performance.

 

Every couple of months I wake up to find the 871 router showing pink light - disconnected Internet.  Has happened 3 times in last 6-months.

 

After investigating I find:

  • Via the Orbi phone app - shows Internet WAN port as ok - shows the ISP assigned IP address and other parameters all find
  • Via the Orbi web I/F - shows Internet as disconnected, no WAN IP address (0.0.0.0).  I look at the log history and today (Feb 5th) only showed log entries mid-January
  • Overall the Orbi system is working fine - 1Gbps speeds, all devices connected, no issues

The overall problem is that the router LED and web I/F is reporting the wrong status, but Orbi App and actual operationare correct.  Also the Orbi logging for some reason isn't working correctly.

 

If I reboot the router, will fix the situation with Router/LED.

 

Any suggestions on how to fix w/o need to reboot on every occurrence?

 

5 Replies

  • I will add that the only the 871 router has "pink" LED on, the 870 satellite has no LED showing.  I going to leave the Orbi system running for a day or so and see if the router fixes itself at some point and stops displaying the "pink" LED in error.

    • FURRYe38's avatar
      FURRYe38
      Guru - Experienced User

      The LED on the RBS is an indicator for the connection between the RBS and the RBR. Does not track the ISP connection on the RBS. 

       

      Power cycle both ONT and RBR OFF for 1 minuted then back ON. 

       

      Again, if you seen the PINK LED on the RBR come on at random times, the ISP needs to check there side up to the ONT when you see this happen.

  • Thanks for the reply.  I'm using the latest F/W - 10.5.20.4.

    Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, IPv6, Traffic Meter - are all disabled.

    Also using 9.9.9.9 as my DNS.

    Internet and all devices are connected - working fine.  Nothing is indicating that Internet actually stopped working - I have some IoT devices that would report any actual outage.  Just that router LED is "pink" and web I/F is reporting no Internet (in conflict with Orbi App reporting Internet is fine).  In fact as I'm sending this reply (connected to Internet, 871 is reporting ISP assigned IP as 0.0.0.0 and the Orbi 871 has "pink" LED on).  So don't understand how the cables or ONT can be causing issue.

    Overall appears to be an annoying S/W issue with Orbi 871 incorrectly reporting no Internet.  Was hoping that someone else had seen this issue and maybe had a work around or fix.

    • FURRYe38's avatar
      FURRYe38
      Guru - Experienced User

      Services on at the ONT or the ISP side needs to be checked when this happens. If cables ARE checked and good, then the signal on the ISP side, can drop or get interupted on the ISP side and would cause the front LED to turn PINK. Means the connection between the RBR and the ISP service has been interrupted or disconnected. The ISP should be able to check there logs and the ONT at the time frame when you see this. 

       

      Can try using ISP DNS or cloud fare to see if this still continues as well. Kinda doubt this is a DNS service as I use same quad9 as well. Just something for you to try though. 

       

      I've had my 870 series online have haven't seen this. Though mine is connected to a NG cable modem. I did have a service issue just last month and it was ISP related. Service was returned a while later. 

       

  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User

    Front PINK indicator on the RBR means the RBR has lost connection or internet services from the ISP ONT or ONT isnt' working to get internet services to the RBR correctly. Sometimes ISP services can go down. Something the ISP is responsible for. Possible bad cable as well. 

    https://kb.netgear.com/31030/What-do-the-LEDs-on-my-Orbi-mean

    If this happens ever so often, maybe something at the ONT or upstream at the ISP level. I would have the ISP check the logs on there side when you seen this happen to see if they see anything on there side. 

     

    What Firmware version is currently loaded?

    What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

    Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended. 

     

    Try disabling the following and see:

    Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, IPv6, Traffic Meter.

     

    Try using custom IPv4 DNS like cloudfare or quad9.