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Over the past month approximately the disconnects have become increasingly frequent
My Orbi mesh system is 6 months old. After some initial setup pains, the system worked very well for 3-4 months. Over the past month approximately the disconnects have become increasingly frequent. As I write, the system is stable, but yesterday it was disconnecting every 5-10 minutes.
The system includes the RBE771 and two RBE770 satellites covering a private residence of about 3500 sq. ft. Firmware is v10.5.20.3. All settings are in their default state. I have done the elementary troubleshooting steps—multiple reboots. (Haven’t tried a factory reset yet.)
The ISP is Cox. The cable modem is a Surfboard SB8200. (I originally purchased a Nighthawk CM3000, but it would not function well on the Cox system and continually lost connection. Every cable in the house and in the neighborhood was replaced in troubleshooting that to no avail. At the suggestion of the Cox technicians, I finally replaced it with the Surfboard, which has worked very well.)
My issue with the Orbi seems to be similar if not identical to those discussed here. Has anyone successfully identified a solution? Any suggestions on where I should start? (I have opened a case with Netgear support.)
44 Replies
Where are you seeing this disconnects? With devices connected at the RBR or RBS?
What brand and model devices do you have connected to the system?
You might turn OFF one RBS and re-test for disconnects. For the size of home, the RBR and just one RBS out at 30 feet starting should be enough.
Try using manual channesl 1 and 40 or 11 and 48.
Is IPv6 enabled or disabled on the RBR?
I had my 770 series on line for around 30 days with v.3 and didn't have any issues though we are monitoring for wifi issues at the RBS currently.
My Orbi mesh system is 6 months old. After some initial setup pains, the system worked very well for 3-4 months. Over the past month approximately the disconnects have become increasingly frequent. As I write, the system is stable, but yesterday it was disconnecting every 5-10 minutes.
The system includes the RBE771 and two RBE770 satellites covering a private residence of about 3500 sq. ft. Firmware is v10.5.20.3. All settings are in their default state. I have done the elementary troubleshooting steps—multiple reboots. (Haven’t tried a factory reset yet.)
The ISP is Cox. The cable modem is a Surfboard SB8200. (I originally purchased a Nighthawk CM3000, but it would not function well on the Cox system and continually lost connection. Every cable in the house and in the neighborhood was replaced in troubleshooting that to no avail. At the suggestion of the Cox technicians, I finally replaced it with the Surfboard, which has worked very well.)
My issue with the Orbi seems to be similar if not identical to those discussed here. Has anyone successfully identified a solution? Any suggestions on where I should start? (I have opened a case with Netgear support.)Thanks for the prompt reply, FURRYe38. The disconnects are all seen at the RBSs, but most of the device use occurs away from the RBR. I have not tried to determine if the disconnects occur in proximity to the RBR. IPv6 is enabled on the RBR. At any given time, there may be 4 or 5 devices connected including Windows desktop, Windows laptops, iPhones, iPads, Wiim network streamers and a Brother printer. (All devices are connecting well at this moment and the network has been stable for hours. Hmmm. Like when we were kids and our toothaches disappeared when Mom told us we were going to the dentist.)
Ok something Im testing right now on with problems seen at the RBS and letting NG know about.
Any of these devices have WiFi7 features, like phones or pads?
What is the brand and model# of the wifi adapters with in the Windows desktop and laptops please.
Please disable IPv6 on the RBR for now.
Please turn OFF one RBS and re-test for disconnects.
Try using manual channels 1 and 40 or 11 and 48.
The disconnects are all seen at the RBSs, but most of the device use occurs away from the RBR. I have not tried to determine if the disconnects occur in proximity to the RBR. IPv6 is enabled on the RBR. At any given time, there may be 4 or 5 devices connected including Windows desktop, Windows laptops, iPhones, iPads, Wiim network streamers and a Brother printer. (All devices are connecting well at this moment and the network has been stable for hours. Hmmm. Like when we were kids and our toothaches disappeared when Mom told us we were going to the dentist.)
After making the changes noted above the network has been stable for many hours, although I did encounter one strange issue. All devices except my iPad were connecting fine, but the iPad disconnected every few seconds to minutes. I did some troubleshooting on Grok (Elon’s AI) which noted, “Orbi V10.5.20.3 mishandles Apple’s rotating MAC (Private Address) every 2–3 min and the iPad gets kicked from the network.” The solution was “Turn OFF “Private Wi-Fi Address”, Turn OFF “Low Data Mode”, Forget the network, then re-join with password and then reboot.” iPad is stable now.
Not sure if this is at all related, so your mileage may vary.
Ya something we've seen before.
Glad new configruation seems to be working, lets let it run for 3 days and see how it goes.
'Curses, foiled again,' as the saying goes. I spoke too soon and the dropped connections are back. As donawalt suggested I am getting the impression that this might be an Apple OS issue. As I write at this moment on an ASUS laptop I have no connection issues, but on the iPad, which is immediately adjacent to the laptop, the Orbi app will not connect to the Orbi router.
MojoGene 26.1 has ben out for all device types (iPad, iPhone, tvOS, HomePods, MacOS) since MOnday - and it propoogates quickly. I needs good WiFi, if you are having issues that might be why. If you can get it somewhere where the WiFi is stable for it, then power cycle the iPad and check. If that fails - toggle Airplane mode off, wait 10 seconds, toggle it on, and check. Or, connect the iPad to a computer (Mac with Finder or PC with iTunes) via USB, then in Finder/iTunes choose “Check for Update” and see if it offers the 26.1 update that way. This often bypasses some OTA issues.
No, 26.2 beta 1 just came out this week.
Thanks, donawalt. Interesting process. I tried to update directly from the iPad including the cold reboot and the Airplane on/off suggestion. Nada. The iPad reported that it was "Checking for an update," but it just hung. The iPhone, immediately adjacent to the iPad and on the same network, updated to 26.1 with no trouble. I was finally able to get the iPad update started with an iTunes connection on the desktop. That is in process now. I'll update after observing stability for a period of time.
Awesome! Yes, keep us posted!
Another saga to relate today. Nothing seemed to be working this morning, but after some investigation it turned out to be only the satellites. Both were disconnected from the RBR, although the RBR wireless was working fine. My satellite troubleshooting efforts were thwarted by being unable to log into the router web interface. Turns out my Brother wireless printer decided it loved the IP address for the RBR (...1.1) and refused to relinquish it. I finally forced a different IP address into the printer. The satellites (two in total, one about 30 feet from the RBR, the other about 65-70 feet from the router and maybe 18 to 20 feet from the first router) would not reset with simple power off/on and sync attempts. A couple of factory resets and more syncs finally got the RBR and satellites singing in 3-part harmony. The system has been stable now for roughly 5 hours.
Stay tuned.
It's been a little over a week. The setup seemed to be stable for a number of days. Then, brief and intermittent loss of wireless connection again started to occur a few times per day. This morning, the satellite currently in operation (only one is connected currently) would not connect even after multiple reboots, hard resets. Since the last post of Nov 9, there have been no changes to the system and no new devices added.
As above, there is a good wireless signal in proximity to the RBR and the issue seems to be with the broadcast to the satellites. I eventually switched the operational satellite, disconnecting the one that was operational and turning on the one that had been switched off. After a firmware update on the second satellite, it started working.
So now testing the 2nd RBS now with the 1st RBS turned OFF?
Yes. RBS #1 is OFF. RBS #2 is on and Status is showing "Good" connection. (After the hard reset, it reverted to Auto channel selection.) HOWEVER, all the devices are connecting to the RBR, not the satellite. (The satellite is on the opposite side of the house on the same floor as the router and about 55 to 60 feet away. The device I am currently using is in immediate proximity (about 2 feet from) the satellite.
Can set manual channels 1, 6 or 11 and 40, 44 or 48 if you prefer to set channels.
Possible that distance between the RBR and RBS and clients inbetween may be a factor. Devices might prefer the RBR. Can give it some time to see if any devices will migrate.
Can move that 2nd RBS a bit closer to see if anything will connect.
If your system hasn't been FW updated, you might try this as well since v.7 came out near the 1st of the month: Orbi Firmware Releases | NETGEAR Communities
If you do choose to update, be sure to power on the RBS thats off prior and get it synced first. RBS first then RBR lastly.
I will add for what it's worth the while "Orbi Satellite-2" (the name of the currently connected RBE appears on the Web interface as active with a "Good" Status, the Orbi IOS app does NOT show this satellite. (The Orbi app shows a "Orbi Satellte-1" as "offline."
I will add an amendment. The "Orbi Satellite-2" does not show in Device Manager, but it does show on the network diagram. (Still, everything is connecting only to the RBR even after a reboot of everything.)
RBS only appears under Network Map on the Orbi app. WEB UI should be seen at the top of the Connected Devices page.
Bring the distance of the RBS closer to the RBR.
How many devices do you have in total connected?
The experience continues to be strange, if not bizarre. I disconnected the one active satellite in order to relocate it and then plugged it in at a different location approximately 30-35 feet from the RBR (about 20 feet from where most of the device use occurs). Now, the satellite will not connect (I have rebooted x3 and waited >90 minutes). Initially, the laptop I have been using to troubleshoot would not connect to the router signal until I had it within 10-12 feet of the RBR. It is now intermittently connected to the router signal at a distance of perhaps 50 feet, but the signals goes on and off at random intervals. My iPad, which is immediately adjacent to the laptop, will not connect at that distance. Through lots of trial and error, it appears that the iPad connects to the RBR signal once it is within 10 feet or the RBR.
I have tried moving the satellite to about 12 feet from the RBR, but the satellite still will not connect.
At most times, there are 5-7 devices connected. A desktop, a laptop, one or two iPads, one or two iPhones and a network music streamer. At most times, no more than 2 or 3 devices are active and the volume of the usage is very low.
What happens if you ethernet connect to the the RBR?
If you can get both RBS connectes, I recommend getting the RBS updated first then RBR lastly: https://community.netgear.com/kb/en-orbi-knowledge-sharing/procedure-to-manually-firmware-update-orbi-and-nighthawk-mesh-systems-/2456254
