Unable to extend Orbi RBR50 wifi with EX7700 – AC2200 Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi Mesh Extender

[mgruber]

Hi I have an Orbi RBR50 router (firmware v2.3.5.30) and two Orbi RBS50 mesh satellites which all work happily. I am now trying to add an EX7700 nighthawk (firmware v 1.0.0.202 - latest) to the mesh, but I cannot get it to extend the wifi (see image attached).

I did the following;

1. downloaded the latest firmware.
2. factory reset the extender.
3. connected the extender to the laptop, installed the latest firmware.
4. log back into the extender.
5. select the configuration genie.
6. chose wifi extender setup.
7. after auto-scan, selected the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz networks I want to extend
8. choose to use the same SSID
9. entered the WIFI passwords.
10. completed the setup.

Fails to connect - I tried it via the app - and the app tells me the wifi password is invalid - which it's not as a copy/paste from the Orbi app to remove key errors. I also tried the WPS button sync - no good.

I've run out of ideas. Hopefully, someone has had the same problem and solved it.

regards Michael

p.s. also logged onto the RBR50 and tied to wps sync from the menu there too.

[Christian_R]

Hello mgruber,

Thanks for posting. Would you mind performing a factory reset on the extender by holding down on the reset button for 15+ seconds. After doing so, please run through the setup instructions and connect the EX7700 to the Orbi router. 

Looking forward to hearing back!

~Christian 

[Colmanlee]

I actually have exactly the same issue and I do not know how many times I hard reset the mesh extender and I still have the same problem over and over again.

Really hope to have some sort of solutions coming from the Netgear team.

[mgruber]

Hi,

I did perform a factory reset, please review my initial post and steps again. 

Ok, why +15sec, what is the difference between 5, 10, 15, 20 seconds - is it a physical difference i.e. how the power drains from the memory chips, a software difference i.e. a timer tracks how long reset is held?

If you cannot explain the why, then your response has no merit and is unsupported by any real evidence.

I'm not religious, so I don't like praying and hope things work, please explain the why.

regards

Michael

[Christian_R]

Colmanlee & mgruber, 

We have received similar reports of the same issue and have a trial firmware available for the EX7700 that may help resolve the issue. I have sent you both a message with the trial firmware. Please let me know how it turns out. 

~Christian 

[mgruber]

Christian,

The firmware works, I detected the Orbi and connected fine.

However the Orbi shows the EX770 connecting on 2 of 3 bars (singal strength) and the EX770 wifi signal LED is pink/orange.

The Orbi router is 8-10m away at the end of a corridor, I would think it would be 100% strong, since my other Orbi satellite is on a level below under a concrete slab is it gets a good signal.

regards

Michael

[Colmanlee]

The new firmware works great now! Thanks for helping!

[Christian_R]

Michael and Colmanlee,

Glad to hear! Thanks for taking the time to provide an update!

~Christian 

[CottoNet]

Would appreciate this firmware update for EX7700 as I have same problem.

[salwoo]

I brought a ex6250 for my printer, and I facing the same problem as mgruber

I would like to know whether the trial firmware is suitable for my extender. 

Thanks, 

Fred

[Tongey]

Hi, Could I also get a copy of this firmware please?

I have just bought the Orbi RBK30 and want to use my EX7000 to have WiFi in the garden 🙂

[Tongey]

Actually, I have just checked it, and the Setup Genie connected to the Orbi and I was able to extend the signal out into the garden 🙂

[Buzzwal]

I also cannot connect the EX7300 to the Orbi via wifi just continues in a trying loop. Please send the firmware fix.  Thanks

[powercut]

i Have the same Problem with the EX8000

[brysont085]

Is there a trail firmware for the EX7300? It shows connected to my Orbi setup but doesn't provide internet. Everything was fine until this latest orbi update. If I roll back it works flawlessly again. 

[TLamberti]

It seems as though whatever firmware went out it bricked

a lot of peoples extenders, can we get the fix asap?

[borisy]

I also have same problem. My firmware is 1.0.0.202. Can you send the lfirmware that could fix the problem to me?

[navinm]

Please help. I bought this extender today and have spent hours trying to connect it to my orbi.

[VictorSureau]

how to update my extender with the trial firmware ? 

[navinm]

I manually downloaded the current firmware for the extender onto a computer. I plugged the computer into the extender using an eternet cable and access the router to through the web browser. Then uploaded the firmware to the extender. After the update it connected to the router in a few seconds.

[Christian_R]

Hello VictorSureau, 

Happy Tuesday! Have you gotten a chance to update to the latest firmware v1.0.0.206? I have linked the official firmware version below. 

https://kb.netgear.com/000061387/EX7700-Firmware-Version-1-0-0-206

Christian