RBR850 Router continually reassigning IP addresses to the satellites.

LOGS FOR VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS

Below are the logs corresponding to the network in several configurations. 

Time goes from bottom to top. Under each section is the configuration. 

Twice below I run the network with no RBS, a configuration in which there still does seem to be a tendency to repeatedly hand out ip's to devices. However, I don't know how normal the behavior is there. I don't have anything to compare it to. I'm assuming that a router should hand out an IP once and be done with it for a set number of hours. 

With a single RBS hardwired to the RBR, the RBR still hands out IPs repeatedly to the RBS, and devices attached to that RBS lose connectivity. This problem makes the network unusable, and shows that I can't even use an ethernet back-haul as a workaround. It seems to me that this data also rules out interference on wifi as the problem. 

The people on my network need an unbroken connection for their jobs, so I think I've reached the end of the road with this system. 

The logs are below, and afterwards there's an updated summary of the problem.

If there's ever a real diagnosis of what's going on please let me know.

[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address [device 1], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 18:45:33
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.6)] to MAC address [device 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 18:45:27
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.23)] to MAC address [device 3], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 18:24:08
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.23)] to MAC address [device 3], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 18:01:11
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 17:16:28
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.29)] to MAC address [device 5], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 17:13:25
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address [device 6], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 17:12:54
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address [device 6], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 16:52:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address [device 6], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 16:51:00
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.29)] to MAC address [device 5], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 16:38:47
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 15:56:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.13)] to MAC address [device 8], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:57:14

Above: Network is one RBR, no RBS again.
(14:44 router time)

[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.18)] to MAC address [device 9], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:41:35
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:40:46
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:27:48
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:27:36
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:24:19
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:23:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:23:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:22:02
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.19)] to MAC address [device 11], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:20:58
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:19:17
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:19:05
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 14:07:55
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 13:57:16
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 13:57:05
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 12:34:56
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 12:34:03
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address [device 6], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 12:23:36
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address [device 6], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 12:22:24
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.18)] to MAC address [device 9], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 12:16:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 12:15:54
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 12:15:44
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 11:59:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 11:59:33
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 11:52:39
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Saturday, Aug 20,2022 11:52:07
.
.
.

[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.30)] to MAC address [device 12], Friday, Aug 19,2022 21:48:35
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.26)] to MAC address [device 13], Friday, Aug 19,2022 21:29:34
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address [device 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:39:03
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.25)] to MAC address [device 14], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:38:41
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:38:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:37:58
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:37:47
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:36:51

Above: Network is one RBR, one RBS [RBS 2] connected via wifi

[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.6)] to MAC address [device 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:31:23
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address [device 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:31:09
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.24)] to MAC address [device 15], Friday, Aug 19,2022 20:13:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.23)] to MAC address [device 3], Friday, Aug 19,2022 18:35:08
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.23)] to MAC address [device 3], Friday, Aug 19,2022 18:27:08
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.25)] to MAC address [device 14], Friday, Aug 19,2022 17:53:54
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.20)] to MAC address [device 16], Friday, Aug 19,2022 17:46:26
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Friday, Aug 19,2022 17:39:47
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address [device 6], Friday, Aug 19,2022 17:13:44
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.23)] to MAC address [device 3], Friday, Aug 19,2022 16:51:03
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 16:45:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.18)] to MAC address [device 9], Friday, Aug 19,2022 16:43:58
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.23)] to MAC address [device 3], Friday, Aug 19,2022 16:24:50
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.26)] to MAC address [device 13], Friday, Aug 19,2022 15:57:00
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.19)] to MAC address [device 11], Friday, Aug 19,2022 15:18:32
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Friday, Aug 19,2022 15:07:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Friday, Aug 19,2022 15:04:02
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Friday, Aug 19,2022 14:57:53
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Friday, Aug 19,2022 14:43:50
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Friday, Aug 19,2022 14:08:52
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Friday, Aug 19,2022 13:51:48

Above: Network has 1 RBR 0 RBS
killed both satellites at 13:51 (router time),

[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Friday, Aug 19,2022 13:21:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:59:27
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:58:52
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:23:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:20:35
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:20:32
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:20:13
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:20:00
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:17:53
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:17:30
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:17:20
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:17:19
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:17:17
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:15:14
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:14:51
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:14:40
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:07:39
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:07:22
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:07:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:05:00
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:04:36
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.18)] to MAC address [device 9], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:04:33
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 12:04:30
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.23)] to MAC address [device 3], Friday, Aug 19,2022 11:58:11
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 11:35:12
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 11:26:20
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Friday, Aug 19,2022 11:23:34

Above: Network now has one RBR, one hardwired RBS [RBS 1],
killed RBS that was connected via WIFI at 11:23 (router time),

[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 11:09:01
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Friday, Aug 19,2022 11:01:32
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address [device 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:53:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.6)] to MAC address [device 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:46:08
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.6)] to MAC address [device 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:43:03
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.21)] to MAC address [device 4], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:40:19
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.14)] to MAC address [device 17], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:38:29
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:37:35
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address [device 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:22:58
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address [device 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:19:24
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.22)] to MAC address [device 10], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:17:27
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.6)] to MAC address [device 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:11:08
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address [device 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:08:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:01:07
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:01:05
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:01:03
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:01:02
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:01:01
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:00:59
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:00:58
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:00:58
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:00:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.17)] to MAC address [device 7], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:00:57
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.102)] to MAC address [RBS 2], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:00:55
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.101)] to MAC address [RBS 1], Friday, Aug 19,2022 10:00:55

Above, Network has
one RBR,
one RBS hardwired [RBS 1]
one RBS wifi [RBS 2]

***************END LOG

PROBLEM

My router will fall into a pattern of continually assigning IP addresses to the satellites. 

Devices connected to those satellites get disconnected. 

HARDWARE

• Model RBK853-100NAS,
• 1 router RBR850,
• 2 satellites RBS850
• Firmware: V4.6.8.5_2.1.9
• RBR850 is connected to the internet via ethernet to FIOS ONT box. 
• Satellites are connected to router wirelessly. 

PROBLEMS RULED OUT

• The problem is not related to our ISP, as I happen to have switched ISP’s recently. And problem still crops up sometimes.
• problem is not with the supply of power to the router because the log does not show rebooting. Also you’d expect to see more devices reinitializing rather than just one. 
• problem is note power to satellites because they always ask for their ip’s together. 
• Problem is not custom settings on router, I’ve reset the router to factory twice and problem still crops up.
• Problem is not firmware: has been updated. 
• Problem is not IP conflicts. No conflicts listed on router. Problem happens regardless of IPs being reserved or not. 
• Problem is not WIFI signal strength of router at the satellites
• backhaul always ‘good’ and running at 5Ghz 
• orbi’s always glow ‘blue’ signaling good connectivity with router
• problem happens regardless of signal strength of router at sats i
• -45db has problem
• -65db > to > -60db still has problem. 
• moving satellite near router doesn’t help. 
• Problem probably is not RF interference. 
• ran microwave and other possible causes, problem did not happen.
• moving satellite right next to router didn’t help.
• unplugged antenna from a PD machine
• Problem is not that I had a uniquely broken bit of netgear hardware
• replaced the hardware. 
• problem is not wifi interference
• I hardwired one satellite to the router and turned the other off, and the router still hands out ip over and over to the satellite. 
• problem is not DFS channels

COULD STILL BE

• universal problem with netgear’s hardware. or bad batch. 

STUFF I’VE TRIED

• Switched ISP from xfinity to verizon fios. 
• Replacing both satellites and the Router
• Reset to factory
• Checking wifi signal strength
• Moving Satellite next to router
• Looking for causes of temporary RF interference: microwaves, printers, lighting etc. 
• Updating Firmware on all units (From V4.6.8.2_2.1.9 to V4.6.8.5_2.1.9) manually. 
• Reserving IPs for satellites
• Power cycling
• resyncing
• discussing problem with netgear and following their advice. 
• unplugging the antenna on a piece of medical equipment
• changing the channels used for wifi
• verified that i’m not using DFS channels. 
• moved satellites so that signal from router was between -65db and -60db. not to close and not too far. (recommended by geek squad). 
• hardwiring one router to satellite
• one sat hardwired, the other on wifi. 
• router only, no satellites.