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Forum Discussion
Blocked/Not-Blocked Devices
Late last night I found a UI in the app that allowed me to "block" devices from accessing a specific satellite (showed a device list for the specific satellite with a blue background). This sounded like a great thing because an Apple Tv in my basement was connecting to a satellite on the other side of the house rather than a satellite 5 feet away.
Fast forward to today, the Apple Tv cannot connect to the internet at all (is connected to wifi). The strange parts are - I cannot find that UI I found last night, the app shows no indicator that the Apple Tv has been blocked from anything (Device Manager shows green), yet the Web Admin shows the device as blocked.
Any ideas how to A.) get back to that UI in the app? B.) how to unblock the device?
Devices: 970
Firmware: V9.12.5.3_1.3.24
12 Replies
Late last night I found a UI in the app that allowed me to "block" devices from accessing a specific satellite (showed a device list for the specific satellite with a blue background).
iOS or Android app?
The strange parts are - I cannot find that UI I found last night
- Orbi App
- Network map
- Devices
iOS.
Orbi App > Network Map > Devices
- I see no direct option for Devices. If I tap on one of the Orbi devices it is generally the same UI as the device list, with no option to block a device from connecting to a specific satellite.
no option to block a device from connecting to a specific satellite
Not sure that that is possible.
If you use Access Control, my probably dodgy understanding is that the router is in charge. Satellites just pass that message back to the router.
Agree with michaelkenward . Customers have asked Netgear for this capability for YEARS, and Netgear has never indicated any support for the concept.
With the satellite so close, it's sad that this is not the AppleTV model with Ethernet.
Mobile devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) tend to "keep looking" for a better WiFi connection after they have made their initial connection. Devices which are designed to be stationary sometimes appear to be designed to search for the strongest WiFi signal, connect to it, and then quit searching.
This can be awkward because when an Orbi mesh system reboots (after a power outage, a firmware update, or deliberately) the router starts broadcasting WiFi before any of the satellites. Thus, one hypothesis is that the AppleTV "saw" the router first before the satellite began broadcasting, connected, and has quit looking. This would be simple to check: power off the AppleTV, wait a bit, then power it on and see where it connects. (The Orbi Attached Devices - or Connected Devices on the App) can take several minutes to update.)
I would start by bringing up the Access Control page in the Orbi web interface. Find the entry for the Apple TV and change it to "Allowed". (I would also tend to disable Access Control entirely for the test.)
What I am saying is that for a brief period last night, I had the option to do this. The option clearly stated - "Block from connecting to this device." I enabled the block for the Apple Tv on that satellite. Clearly it did something. The Apple Tv, in the app is connected and not blocked while the Web GUI shows the device as blocked. This is the key to my issue - the device is in fact blocked, but cannot be unblocked without the UI I saw last night. This isn't as simple as connecting to the wrong satellite or to the router.
Web Admin:
App:
When blocking for any device, if blocked is set, then regardless of where the device maybe connecting too, will block the device from the entire system or getting any connection from the RBR or RBS and getting any internet services, regardless of where the device maybe attempting to connect too.
"Block from connecting to this device."
What an interesting description: "this device" I have never enabled Armor on an Orbi system. Could this be an option in Armor rather than the basic Orbi Access Control mechanism?
I have not enabled Armor on my system, but I will to test if this UI/feature shows up there.
