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Forum Discussion
sweetgerald
Sep 21, 2022Aspirant
RBR750 router with CM1200 modem - unpredictable and intermittent network speed drops
Hi Posting this here because I'm at a loss for where to go next. For period of 6 weeks I've experienced network issues where download speeds will drop to single digit Mbps or less. Sometimes complet...
FURRYe38
Sep 21, 2022Guru - Experienced User
Modem:
Please post a copy and paste of the modems connection status and event log page.
https://kb.netgear.com/30007/How-do-I-obtain-the-cable-connection-information-from-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-modem-router
https://kb.netgear.com/30008/How-do-I-view-or-clear-the-event-logs-on-my-NETGEAR-cable-modem-or-modem-router
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6 is recommended.
Be sure there are no coax cable line splitters in the between the modem and ISP service box.
Be sure your using good quality RG6 coax cable up to the modem.
Be sure to power OFF the modem for 1 minute then back ON.
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Cable-Modems-Routers/General-info-and-Troubleshooting-for-Cable-Modems/m-p/1530376#M12853
https://kb.netgear.com/24311/Power-level-guidelines-for-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-router?article=24311
https://www.duckware.com/tech/solving-intermittent-cable-modem-issues.html
Orbi:
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6 is recommended.
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 wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 📡
https://kb.netgear.com/000061709/Where-should-I-place-the-Mesh-WiFi-satellite-of-my-Nighthawk-Mesh-WiFi-6-and-Tri-band-Mesh-WiFi-6-products 📡
What channels are you using? Auto? Try Auto and 48 on 5Ghz. Or try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
Has a power off for 1 minute then back ON with the ISP modem and router been performed since last update?
Be sure to restart your network in this sequence:
Turn off and unplug modem.
Turn off router and computers.
Plug in and turn on modem. Wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on the router and wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on computers and rest of network.
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update?
I just had my CM1200 online for a few weeks up until last weekend with my 8 series system. Smooth operation between these two.
sweetgerald
Sep 21, 2022Aspirant
Regarding cables:
- using the LAN cables that came with the hardware (modem/router).
- no splitters as far as I know, from the ISP box to the modem (Xfinity tech did bypass some old stuff from previous homeowner's installation, on the morning of 9/7).
- Xfinity tech said the coax running up to modem was functioning well - it's in an enclosed finished room so I dont have easy access to replace anyway.
Regarding power:
- I've power cycled modem/router many times in the past month (including after firmware updates)
Regarding home details
- 2600 sqft, spread across 3 stories. Roughly 900 sqft/floor
- router and satellite are on different floors, opposite corners of the square-shaped house
- far enough away from other houses that I cannot pick up anyone else's wifi, if that is what you mean by wifi neighbors
Regarding configuration:
- using out of the box channels (not familiar with it enough to have changed anything).
- I have not power cycled again since I noticed there was a satellite firmware update this morning, that I had not noticed before. Just updated the satellite RBS750 to same firmware as the router.
- i have not done a factory reset and scratch setup since I had it configured and set up initially 8 months ago. Thought about it, but there's never a convenient time to do it.
- FURRYe38Sep 21, 2022Guru - Experienced User
sweetgerald wrote:
Regarding cables:
- using the LAN cables that came with the hardware (modem/router). <CAT6 is recommended.
- no splitters as far as I know, from the ISP box to the modem (Xfinity tech did bypass some old stuff from previous homeowner's installation, on the morning of 9/7).
- Xfinity tech said the coax running up to modem was functioning well - it's in an enclosed finished room so I dont have easy access to replace anyway.
Regarding power:
- I've power cycled modem/router many times in the past month (including after firmware updates)
Regarding home details
- 2600 sqft, spread across 3 stories. Roughly 900 sqft/floor
- router and satellite are on different floors, opposite corners of the square-shaped house, <What is the distance between the RBR and RBS?
- far enough away from other houses that I cannot pick up anyone else's wifi, if that is what you mean by wifi neighbors
Regarding configuration:
- using out of the box channels (not familiar with it enough to have changed anything). <Try setting channel 1 and 40 on the RBR. Also set 40Mhz only Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings. I would also maybe set the power to 50% as well.
- I have not power cycled again since I noticed there was a satellite firmware update this morning, that I had not noticed before. Just updated the satellite RBS750 to same firmware as the router. <Be sure that if FW updates are available that the RBS set updated first then the RBR lastly.
- i have not done a factory reset and scratch setup since I had it configured and set up initially 8 months ago. Thought about it, but there's never a convenient time to do it. <I recommend giving this a try on the entire system and setup from scratch.
- Ensure the laptops wifi and ethernet adapter drivers are fully up to date as well.
- sweetgeraldSep 21, 2022Aspirant
- will look into CAT6 if needed
- distance between RBR and RBS is about 35 ft in the horizontal plane, and about 6 ft in the vertical plane, on different floors, opposite corners of the house. So let's just assume a bit over 35 if my trigonometry is right.
- what will setting channels do?
- i just generally do the fw updates when the orbi app presents them to me
- Can do a full system reset if there are no other leads to pursue first
- regarding drivers - i'm also seeing the same symptom on all devices simultaneously. Phones, laptop, game console, tv, streaming sticks. It seems unlikely it's a device issue.
- I assume you mean power to mean the signal coming from the ISP into the modem, rather than "electrical" power to the hardware, correct?
- Both Xfinity techs noted an unusually high signal coming from the pole to the house, but both techs did some cabling rearrangement that they suggested would resolve the issue. The second tech did say he'd create a ticket to have someone look at something at the pole, but that is outside the scope of me hearing back from Xfinity about.
- Is there a specific log error or warning I can cite to Xfinity for support? Or is this something to address with my hardware?
- FURRYe38Sep 21, 2022Guru - Experienced User
sweetgerald wrote:
- will look into CAT6 if needed
- distance between RBR and RBS is about 35 ft in the horizontal plane, and about 6 ft in the vertical plane, on different floors, opposite corners of the house. So let's just assume a bit over 35 if my trigonometry is right.
- what will setting channels do? <Keeps all devices to one channel since there is no other wifi neighbors using same channels and makes it easier for devices to know what there connecting to all the time using manual channels. Something I've been doing for years.
- i just generally do the fw updates when the orbi app presents them to me <I recommend using the RBS web page and RBRs web page to manually update FW. Seen odd problems with the Orib app not correctly updating the system or getting the sequence wrong and updating the RBR and not the RBS thust he RBS gets out of sync with the RBR FW versions. You might try a full on re-load of FW using a wired PC and web browser, then power OFF for 1 minute then back ON.
- Can do a full system reset if there are no other leads to pursue first
- regarding drivers - i'm also seeing the same symptom on all devices simultaneously. Phones, laptop, game console, tv, streaming sticks. It seems unlikely it's a device issue.
- Yes lets get the modem fully working first, then focus on the Orbi system.