Unable to add two additional satellites (RBS750) to existing RBR750 setup
Hi all,
Note: This is my first time posting on this community so pardon me if I make errors or ask a question that's already been asked. I did my due diligence and reviewed the community and searched for relevant content but did not find an answer to this, so decided to ask for help. Thank you in advance for your patience and help.
The skinny: I own the RBR750 unit (one router + two satellites). Bought another RBR750 setup (one router + two satellites) with the goal of adding two more satellites to my original system but the satellites aren't being detected. Please help.
I have been a RBR750 owner/user since August 2020. I purchased the one router + two satellite package at Costco. It's served us very well with no issues. This system covers our upper/main level of the house well. I'm now looking to expand our WiFi coverage to the lower part of the house, so started looking into the options of expanding this existing system. If I am not mistaken, this model supports up to a total of four satellites (and I currently only have two).
So, I decided to look at my local marketplace and to my surprise, found the same exact model and setup for $100. I was super excited and upon getting home, got on wanting to set them up right away. After spending a whole day, trying almost everything - factory reset of the two new satellites, changing placements, keeping them very close/in the same room as the router, unplugging the original two satellites in case they were causing intereference etc., I finally gave up.
I am tech-savvy but not super uber network-guru. At this point, I am not sure what to do. The original router and two satellites are running on V7.2.6.31 firmware, which is the latest. Netgear probably won't offer support because 1) the product is no longer under warranty and 2) it was purchased off marketplace. Before I accept that I was sold faulty units and am out $100 (which I honestly don't think is the case), I thought I'd ask the online Orbi community for some help, support and guidance.
It very well could be something I'm doing (or not doing). Any help on this front would be greatly appreciated!
Re: Unable to add two additional satellites (RBS750) to existing RBR750 setup
Best way to hopefully get the incoming RBS to connect to existing system, would be to setup the 2nd RBR and RBS, off line from the current system and update the RBR and RBS so that they are on same level of FW as the existing system. No need to connect the RBR to the ISP modem. Leave the current system running. I'd turn OFF the existing RBS to better help get incoming RBS connected at a later point.
Have the RBR and RBS v.31 FW files already downloaded to a wired PC.
With the 2nd system, setup the system using a wired PC and web browser:
Skip pass the factory reset point the the PDF and where your waiting for the setup wizard web page to appear in the web browser. Then continue the process from there.
After the 2nd RBR and RBSs are setup and connected to each other and your at the home page for the RBR, manually update the RBS to v.31 FW, then update the 2nd RBR lastly to v.31. This PDF process gives details on how to manually update an Orbi system:
Once the 2nd Orbi set is fully updated. I believe you should be able to power OFF the 2nd RBR. I'd power off one of the 2nd set RBS leaving one ON. While the one is ON, the RBS will begin to blink or turn PINK in front. Log into the 1st RBRs web page with a web browser and use the 1st RBR Add Satellite feature to add the 1st coming RBS to the existing system. Hopefully should sync and the front RBS LED should turn BLUE. After 3 minutes, turn OFF the 1st incoming RBS and turn ON the 2nd RBS. Give a few minutes then run thru the RBRs Add Satellite feature again to get the 2nd incoming RBS connected. Hopefully this connects as well.
If both incoming RBS syncs fully to the existing RBR, then you can power them off and then go place them in there remote locations then power them all ON one at a time.
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 wired or wirelessly connected.
Re: Unable to add two additional satellites (RBS750) to existing RBR750 setup
Best way to hopefully get the incoming RBS to connect to existing system, would be to setup the 2nd RBR and RBS, off line from the current system and update the RBR and RBS so that they are on same level of FW as the existing system. No need to connect the RBR to the ISP modem. Leave the current system running. I'd turn OFF the existing RBS to better help get incoming RBS connected at a later point.
Have the RBR and RBS v.31 FW files already downloaded to a wired PC.
With the 2nd system, setup the system using a wired PC and web browser:
Skip pass the factory reset point the the PDF and where your waiting for the setup wizard web page to appear in the web browser. Then continue the process from there.
After the 2nd RBR and RBSs are setup and connected to each other and your at the home page for the RBR, manually update the RBS to v.31 FW, then update the 2nd RBR lastly to v.31. This PDF process gives details on how to manually update an Orbi system:
Once the 2nd Orbi set is fully updated. I believe you should be able to power OFF the 2nd RBR. I'd power off one of the 2nd set RBS leaving one ON. While the one is ON, the RBS will begin to blink or turn PINK in front. Log into the 1st RBRs web page with a web browser and use the 1st RBR Add Satellite feature to add the 1st coming RBS to the existing system. Hopefully should sync and the front RBS LED should turn BLUE. After 3 minutes, turn OFF the 1st incoming RBS and turn ON the 2nd RBS. Give a few minutes then run thru the RBRs Add Satellite feature again to get the 2nd incoming RBS connected. Hopefully this connects as well.
If both incoming RBS syncs fully to the existing RBR, then you can power them off and then go place them in there remote locations then power them all ON one at a time.
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 wired or wirelessly connected.
Observe the firmware version on the add-on router. If it is not the same as the existing system, this may be the reason that the add-on satellites do not connect with the existing router.
If that is the case, you could sync the two add-on satellites to the add-on router using the menu "Add Orbi Satellite" and then use the Firmware Update process to update them to match the version on the existing operating system.
Once the two satellites are on the same firmware as the primary system, they can be factory reset again and added directly to the primary system.
Not sure if I'm responding/replying correctly but thanks to both of your help, I was able to successfully get both the addition two satellites up and running!
@FURRYe38 Absolutely loved and appreciated your detailed, thorough and step-by-step instructions.
@CrimpOn You nailed it - firmware update was the issue. Loved the idea of testing out the secondary unit to rule out if it's faulty or not.
Taking both your expertise and inputs, here's what I essentially did:
Unplugged the original/primary router and setup the secondary router and satellite as a "new Orbi system."
Thanks to @FURRYe38 's detailed instructions, I knew exactly what to unplug and leave on. Thereafter, used the admin console on my computer to manually do a firmware update on both satellites.
Ensured they both connected one at a time and together.
Unplugged the secondary router and synced the satellites one by one as directed by @FURRYe38 .
Unplugged them both, placed them where I wanted them. Now all four satellites are up and running with good WiFi strength and coverage, all running the same firmware.
You two rock! It's no surprise why you two are ranked as the highest contributors. Thank you both again!
PS: I have an Arlo Floodlight Camera-related issue. Are either of you experts in that as well? Figured it's also a Netgear brand, so thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance.
PS: I have an Arlo Floodlight Camera-related issue. Are either of you experts in that as well? Figured it's also a Netgear brand, so thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance.
No experience with Arlo, however................... Most cameras get connected to WiFi by having the smartphone app create a QR code containing the WiFi credentials, and then pointing the camera at the QR code.
Re: Unable to add two additional satellites (RBS750) to existing RBR750 setup
@CrimpOn It's the Arlo Floodlight 3. There's a pinkish/reddish hint on the video. I've tried resetting it, removing the battery, waiting a few seconds and re-installing it, removed device and added it again but none of it helped. It seems like an hardware issue. Online forums say it's the IR sensor? Curious if you have any insight into this. Thanks in advance.
Re: Unable to add two additional satellites (RBS750) to existing RBR750 setup
That's a great suggestion, will do, thank you!
Another question, if I may...I've been observing and monitoring all the units but since yesterday, one of the original satellites that I've owned since 2020 is showing disconnected. I did not change it's location or anything but now with the added two new satellites, this is new. Curious to know if you have any idea as to why that may be happening and any possible suggestions to troubleshoot this, please?
Hard to imagine that a sensor of any kind would create a tint on video recording. Some of the IR "illuminators" used to produce pictures in near darkness have a reddish appearance when viewed directly, but when the IR LEDs are on, my (not Arlo) cameras produce a black & white picture.
Is this tint on color (daytime) recordings or night recordings?
My cameras have an option to disable the IR LEDs, which would provide a quick test of that theory.
