Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

MrcleanMC
Aspirant

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

Hi all,

Just a quick note in case NG reads this that I've been struggling with the same issue for several months with the 960 and it has been driving me absolutely nuts. 

 

I'm glad I found this thread and learned that 1) I'm not going crazy, and 2) this is a known issue and not just some one off thing happening to me on my iphone 15 pro.   

 

I had an old RB50 set up in a fairly large 7000sq house that got signal on three floors, a basement and in parts of the yard.   It was stable and fine for many years.  This spring  I "upgraded" to the 963 and even went to the trouble of hard wiring it (was using wireless backhaul with the 50) and while the speed was faster when devices were properly connected, I didn't notice much in the way of better total range, and the device dropping issue is maddening.   What a let down...

 

Given the cost of their new systems, I really hope NG puts in the time to roll out a firmware fix ASAP.   Otherwise I'm going to ebay this thing and get a Ubiquiti system or something else....   

Message 1 of 14
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

What region are you located? 

 

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?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended. 

 

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 wired or wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite ‌‌🛰

 

How are the RBS connected to the RBR? Ethernet or wireless? 

 

Does this happen with the RBS turned OFF? 
Does this happen with both wireless and wired devices? 
What channel configurations are currently set on the router?  

Is the separate 6Ghz SSID network enabled or disabled? 

 

Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads while at home:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-App/NETGEAR-Mobile-Applications-and-Apple-Devices-FAQ/td-p/222...

 

Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.

Message 2 of 14
choefler
Apprentice

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

i have the same Problem, and I allready opened a Ticket by Netgear. This was in May, and since there is no fix by Netgear.
Message 3 of 14
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

What model NG product do you have? 

What iOS device do you have? 

What iOS version do you have? 


@choefler wrote:
i have the same Problem, and I allready opened a Ticket by Netgear. This was in May, and since there is no fix by Netgear.

 

Message 4 of 14
choefler
Apprentice

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

Orbi 963 Series
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS 17.6.1
Message 5 of 14
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

What region are you located? 

 

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?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended. 

 

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 wired or wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite ‌‌🛰

 

How are the RBS connected to the RBR? Ethernet or wireless? 

 

Does this happen with the RBS turned OFF? 
Does this happen with both wireless and wired devices? 
What channel configurations are currently set on the router?  

Is the separate 6Ghz SSID network enabled or disabled? 

 

Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads while at home:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-App/NETGEAR-Mobile-Applications-and-Apple-Devices-FAQ/td-p/222...

 

Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.

 


@choefler wrote:
Orbi 963 Series
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS 17.6.1

 

Message 6 of 14
MrcleanMC
Aspirant

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

I have an Orbi 963 one router and I'm using 3 sats across about 7000 sq feet and 4 floors.

Located in the US

V7.2.6.31_5.0.24

All wired with Cat8 Ethernet cable

Using my own ARRIS Surfboard DOCSIS 3.1 Multi-Gigabit Cable Modem with 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Port instead of my ISPs modem.

All wired satellites are more than 30' from modem and each other

 

Message 7 of 14
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

Are the RBS ethernet connected to the back of the RBR or the ISP modem?

Are the RBS using the 1Gb LAN ports in back or the one 2.5Gb LAN port when ethernet connected? 

 

Users have reported having issues with v.31. So we've been recommending users downgrade the RBS first, the RBR lastly back to v.21 if your in the USA region:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WIFI-6-AX-AND-Wi-Fi-6E-AXE/New-RBRE960-RBSE960-Firmware-Versio...

 

This the most stable version of FW for the AX and AXE series. 

You'll need to factory reset and setup from scratch after getting the system downgraded. I recommend using the following PDF process to do it. Works well:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WIFI-6-AX-AND-Wi-Fi-6E-AXE/Procedure-for-Factory-reset-of-RBS8...


@MrcleanMC wrote:

I have an Orbi 963 one router and I'm using 3 sats across about 7000 sq feet and 4 floors.

Located in the US

V7.2.6.31_5.0.24

All wired with Cat8 Ethernet cable

Using my own ARRIS Surfboard DOCSIS 3.1 Multi-Gigabit Cable Modem with 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Port instead of my ISPs modem.

All wired satellites are more than 30' from modem and each other

 


 

Message 8 of 14
MrcleanMC
Aspirant

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

Thank you @FURRYe38 for the detailed post and instructions re: firmware downgrade. I will try that.

I have a 2.5gb cable modem.  I run cat8 from the modem's 2.5g port into the Orbi Router, then from the router I run cat 8 to a netgear switch (that is 2.5gb capable).  From the switch I run cat8 to each of the 3 sats using the 2.5gb ports on each of them.   When things work I get very fast speeds.  I have no issue with the speed, just the drop offs.   I have very poor cell signal at my house and rely 100% on wifi calling.  If I walk from room to room in the house, I do not get a seamless handoff and my call drops.  That has always been somewhat of an issue, but now the phone loses signal, flipflops or doesnt recognize wifi as other users have described and I have to turn off and back on the wifi on my phone, etc.  Sometimes it takes a while to get reconnected.  

 

THANK YOU

 

 

Message 9 of 14
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

What is the brand and model# of the switch? 

Message 10 of 14
MrcleanMC
Aspirant

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

I was thinking I used a netgear switch, but upon inspection it is not.

 

This is the switch I have:  TRENDnet TEG-S350.

TRENDnet 5-Port Unmanaged 2.5G Gaming Switch, 5 x 2.5GBASE-T Ports, 25Gbps Switching Capacity, Backwards Compatible with 1000Mbps Devices, Fanless, Wall Mountable, Lifetime Protection, Black,TEG-S350

 

 

Message 11 of 14
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

Ok, I'd start by the following,

 

Downgrading the RBS first then RBR lastly to v.21 and then factory reset and setup from scratch:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WIFI-6-AX-AND-Wi-Fi-6E-AXE/Procedure-for-Factory-reset-of-RBS8...

 

Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.


Ensure you don't use the separate 6Ghz SSID network. 

 

Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads while at home:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-App/NETGEAR-Mobile-Applications-and-Apple-Devices-FAQ/td-p/222...

 

Might try this for Apple phone or pads with cell phone features:

On your iPhone, go to Settings>Cellular. Scroll ALL the way down, past all the toggles for individual apps. Just past the apps section is a toggle for "WiFi Assist". This allows the iPhone to "automatically use cellular data when Wi-Fi connectivity is poor". Toggle this to OFF.

 

Any newer generation phones that support 6Ghz, see about disabling 6Ghz and testing with out this enabled...

Message 12 of 14
MrcleanMC
Aspirant

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

Thank you. I will try the firmware downgrades.  I already disabled wifi 6 and also turned off wifi assist.  Didn't seem to help.  It seems to only be an issue with my iphone 15 pro.  

Message 13 of 14
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Possible Fix for iPhone Dropping WiFi

Others are noticing issues withe the newer generation tri band iPhones and latest versions of iOS. 🙄

 

Message 14 of 14
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