Only 1 device(MacBook Air) not connecting to satellite (RBS750)

[JayB600]

I am unable to get my MacBook Air to connect to the internet via the RBS750. My MacBook states that the wifi is connected and it’s even listed as attached device to the RBS750 in the admin console, but will not connect to the internet. However, the MacBook is able to connect to the internet via the RBR750.

Alll of the other devices in my home - which include smart home devices, other MacBooks and mobile devices - are able to connect to the RBS750 from multiple levels of the home. 

I’ve spoke for hours with my ISP, Apple support and even paid for NetGear’s tech support which is supplied by a company named Gearhead (lovely people, but waste of money and time) and still have the same issues. They all place the blame for this issue at each other.

All firmware, MacOS, etc is update to the latest versions. Router and satellite have been rebooted, reset and synced multiple times. Manually updated TCP/IP, renewed DHCP lease, and the list goes on. I’ve gone through every discussion on here and the web to try and trouble shoot this problem, but nothing has worked yet.

Any other suggestions?

[JayB600 · Accepted solution]

I was able to resolve this by resetting BOTH the RBR and RBS - defaulting back to the factory settings, and then using the app to “set up a new orbi system.” 

[FURRYe38]

What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

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 📡

If other devices are connecting to the RBS and the one device isn't, this device would need to be reviewed. Disable the wifi radio on the one device and move near the RBS, then re-enable the wifi radio on the device. Should pick up and connect to the RBS. 

Also try turning down the power output of the RBRs wifi radios from 100% to 50% and see if this changes anything. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

[JayB600]

Hi Furry!

Thanks for responding! I’ve tried your wi-fi radio suggestion of turning it off and then turning it back on while being directly next to the RBS, but still nothing.

I should mention that I’m not having issues with the RBR interfering with the device’s connection to the RBS. For clarity, the device only works with the RBR if it’s within range of the RBR which is in my basement.

In addition, I’ve noticed that on my device it is picking up the IPV6 address instead of the IPV4 address. 

[FURRYe38]

Ya all Apple devices have IPv6 enabled and that can't be disabled on the devices.

Do you have IPv6 enabled on the RBR? 

[CrimpOn]

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@JayB600 wrote:

In addition, I’ve noticed that on my device it is picking up the IPV6 address instead of the IPV4 address. 

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(an opportunity to learn something about Apple devices...)

"instead of" implies to me that the MacBook Air has no IPv4 address, which means that it cannot possibly communicate with anything that does not support IPv6, correct?  A substantial fraction of the world's devices do not support IPv6.  My Windows computer clearly shows both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses (actually multiple IPv6 addresses)

When the MacBook Air is connected to the Orbi, what does the Attached Devices page (or the app Connected Devices) say about the device IP?

[JayB600]

IPv6 is not enabled on RBR.

On the MacBook Air it states “Wi-Fi is connected to [network name] and has the IP address [IPv6 address]”

[CrimpOn]

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@JayB600 wrote:

IOn the MacBook Air it states “Wi-Fi is connected to [network name] and has the IP address [IPv6 address]”

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Still wondering what IP address the Orbi says it has.

[JayB600]

Hi CrimpOn!

Thanks for also responding!

When the MacBook Air is connected to the RBR, it says the device name, IP address, MAC address, connection type and connected orbi. This information matches what populates on the MacBook Air within the TCP/IP settings page, including the router IP.

However, when standing next to the RBS with MacBook Air, the TCP/IP settings page for the IPv4, only displays the IP address and the Subnet Mask show. The router field is blank.

[JayB600]

The Orbi displays the IPv4 address

[FURRYe38]

Have you removed the wifi profile from the Mac Book then while near the RBS, reconnect the device? 

Something else to try while at the RBS, set a static/manual IP address ON the mac book, set IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway and DNS. 

What OSX version are you using on the Mac Book?

[CrimpOn]

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@JayB600 wrote:

The Orbi displays the IPv4 address

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Thanks.  I am terribly fixated on minutia.

• The Orbi says the MacBook has an IPv4 address when connected to the router, and
• The MacBook says the same IPv4 address when connected to the router.

When standing next to the satellite,

• The Orbi says????? (not connected at all?  The table takes over 5 minutes to update. be patient)
• The MacBook displays only an IPv6 address (no IPv4 address at all)

By chance would the IPv6 address begin with fe80, such as this one:

Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::9913:c3f2:15ee:7438%22(Preferred)

I believe this may be created by the MacBook itself when the Orbi router does not respond with an IPv6 address assignment.

(although, IPv6 is way more complicated than I thought possible)

[JayB600]

Yeah, I turned off the wi-if + removed the wi-if profile and then turned back on the wi-fi + attempted to connect to the network again. Unfortunately, this did not work. 

[JayB600]

Yes, that is correct. 

When standing next to the RBS, the MacBook displays that it’s connected with the IPv6 address which is similar to the one you posted, but begins with ‘fd57’. 

[JayB600]

Sorry, Furry. I missed answering your question relating to OS. I’m currently using the macOS Monterey v 12.6, and the RBR/RBS are both on v4.6.9.11 

[FURRYe38]

What happens if you set a manual/static IP configuration on the mac book? 

[JayB600]

It shows wi-if is connected to the manual/static IP, but still doesn’t connect to the internet.

[FURRYe38]

Can you do a traceroute 192.168.1.1 in a Terminal window while connected at the RBS? 

Then try traceroute macpaw.com

[JayB600]

Doesn’t appear to work. I tried each command while standing next to the RBS and got the following:

traceroute: findsaddr: write: No such process; and

unknown host macpaw.com

[FURRYe38]

So the mac book isn't getting services correctly. Seems like there is a problem at the mac book or in between the mac book and the RBS. 

Might contact NG support and check to see if a RMA option could be tried with the RBS. If other devices work at the RBS and just this once device...kinda points to the mac book. 

[JayB600]

Unfortunately, RMA isn’t an option for me.

Any suggestions as to what I should advise Apple to check?

[FURRYe38]

Have them check the console logs and any networking logs that maybe behind the scenes of this one Mac Book. If other mac books are working, compare any differences between them and this one Mac Book that seems to be giving problems. Just seems to point to something that's not right on this one Mac Book. 

[JayB600]

Thanks, Furry! I’ll keep you posted!

[FURRYe38]

👍

[JayB600 · Accepted solution]

I was able to resolve this by resetting BOTH the RBR and RBS - defaulting back to the factory settings, and then using the app to “set up a new orbi system.” 

[FURRYe38]

Glad you got it working. Please mark your thread as solved so others will know. Be sure to save off a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
https://kb.netgear.com/000062080/How-do-I-back-up-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System
Enjoy. 📡