We purchased an Orbi 970 with 3 satellite and added 4 all connected through a netgear 10g ethernet switch. We noticed some issues on boot up where they may boot up as wireless, or stuck in config sync or not found, and every once in awhile out of sync We added 5 as wireless and it got really bad where maybe only 1 out of 20 reboot would all come up as good. We have done the reset and resync etc etc. We have also notice the list of connected devices on the remote login or app is not accurate and question even if the boot up state information on the app is accurate or not because a satellite will be blue but it will say not found? Any ideas? Is there a setting or a why we need to change the balance between wired and wireless that would make this boot up every time? Any way to get accurate data in the app and remote login?

What FW is loaded on the System, both RBR and RBS? 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 wired or wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 🛰 Are all RBS ethernet connected to the switch or only one or two? What is the brand and model# of this switch? Besure the switch is 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 📡 🛰 Be sure that your using good quality LAN cable between the RBR, switch and RBS. CAT6A STP is recommended. 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. Also seems to be a limited number of RBS that can be connected to any BE series system as well: https://kb.netgear.com/000062035/How-many-satellites-can-you-add-to-an-Orbi-WiFi-System

Latest firmware 9.12.5.3_1.3.4 all firmware is auto updated and is latest. All 4 wired are connect to the netgear XS508M 10gig switch the router between the satellite are the only things on the switch. definitely 2 wired and the wireless are less 30 feet. Two others wired maybe be slight longer like 40feet. we are aware of the limit of what seems to be 4 wireless that is why we went with wired connections. I could easily with to 3 wireless and 2 wired. MetroNet out of lexington is the internet provider. not sure of the modem. We are using good quality industrial lan cable.

Well latest FW is here: Orbi Firmware Releases | NETGEAR Communities What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR 📡 and RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected. Less than 30 feet will be too close. I bellieve that even regardless of wireless and wired mixes RBS, the hard limit is four RBS connected to the RBR total. Maybe running into this limit and thus it's not working correctly after the 5th RBS gets connected. What is the CAT# LAN cable being used?

the tech note you sent indicates 6 satellites is the maximum. i will measure and there is cement walls and some steel rebar between them which is why we went with wired.

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? Be sure you fully read the KB article as there are differences seen there. Ah, ya, concrete and steel, will be problematic for any wireless MESH system. I would turn OFF all RBS and run with just one at the remote location that has ethernet connection there. What I would do is first wirelessly sync the RBS near the RBR first to make sure it syncs fully, then ethernet connected to the back of the RBR. Make sure it sync's good there. All this while in same room as the RBR. Then once the ethernet BH is good, power OFF the RBS and place back in remote location with ethernet connection, connect ethernet to back of RBS and power it ON. Test and see if RBS connects fully over ETH BH. IF it does, then go to add another RBS. Use same process as above. Do this for first 4 RBS only though.

Orbi 970 startup issues with 4 or 5 satellites

19 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Sep 01, 2025
What FW version is loaded on your Orbi systems?

electramet Noginthenog

There is a beta FW available that you might ask NG support about and see if this helps any. I have mine running and is working pretty good.
CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Jul 28, 2025
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if networking issues are caused by problem with the Ethernet cables.

(10G is "pushing it" a bit for in-wall cabling)

It might be a useful experiment to bring all six satellites to the location of the switch and connect them to the switch one at a time. As each is connected and powered up, it should appear on Attached Devices with a status of 'Wired - Good'. If some satellites do not connect correctly with this placement, there is no point in placing them in remote locations.

I believe the point of that Netgear article on maximum number of satellites is the effect of adding more traffic on the WiFi backhaul link and the effect it might have on performance. The ideal configuration would be all satellites as 'wired' and none of them connected over WiFi.

The WiFi7 forum contains a number of discussions of "10G". It is clearly the optimal network connection...... as long as it works!

electramet wrote:
So the firmware does not come up on automatic update. which is interesting. I guess I have to try manual update.

Remember the more recent Orbi systems appear to be sensitive to the order used in updating firmware. Satellites first. Router last.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Jun 25, 2025
What FW is loaded on the System, both RBR and RBS?

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 wired or wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite ‌‌🛰

Are all RBS ethernet connected to the switch or only one or two?

What is the brand and model# of this switch?

Besure the switch is 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 📡 ‌‌🛰

Be sure that your using good quality LAN cable between the RBR, switch and RBS. CAT6A STP is recommended.

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.

Also seems to be a limited number of RBS that can be connected to any BE series system as well: https://kb.netgear.com/000062035/How-many-satellites-can-you-add-to-an-Orbi-WiFi-System
- electramet
  Aspirant
  Jun 25, 2025
  Latest firmware 9.12.5.3_1.3.4 all firmware is auto updated and is latest.
  
  All 4 wired are connect to the netgear XS508M 10gig switch the router between the satellite are the only things on the switch.
  
  definitely 2 wired and the wireless are less 30 feet. Two others wired maybe be slight longer like 40feet.
  
  we are aware of the limit of what seems to be 4 wireless that is why we went with wired connections. I could easily with to 3 wireless and 2 wired.
  
  MetroNet out of lexington is the internet provider. not sure of the modem.
  
  We are using good quality industrial lan cable.
  - electramet
    Aspirant
    Jun 25, 2025
    So the firmware does not come up on automatic update. which is interesting. I guest I have to try manual update.

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Orbi 970 startup issues with 4 or 5 satellites