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Forum Discussion
Android 8 Crashes Orbi
I've been tracking down an issue where my Orbi just suddenly drops wifi and reboots. I've isolated it to be associated with an Android device running 8.0 or higher. And I've proven it turning off w...
You lucky it only reboots every couple of hours. Before I took my phones off the WiFi, I could make the router reset on every connection to the WiFi from either of the two phones that are being affected. So since this packet capture change, and fully utilizing each of the phones again for over 20 hours, it's been great. Try what I did or don't, I just wanted to share it out because so many people are being affected and we can't count on Netgear to solve it anytime soon. My thing isn't a solution, it's a bandaid to get people working.
Another solution, if you have an old router, would be to set it up as an access point connected to the Orbi's network. Then connect the affected phones to it. I was experimenting with this before I worked with Netgear and had some good results. This solution isn't in place now that we were trying to make the router reboot.
My Orbi is in access mode with an Asus RT-AC68U serving as the router. This has been my config for the past year. I had no trouble whatsoever until earlier this month.
I have also observed that the router/sats reboot when my phone or my wife's connect or disconnect to the wireless network. (both Pixel 2 XL on 8.1. Hers seemed to not cause the problem until she updated to 8.1, which also has Dec security patch). I removed the Orbi wireless network from our phones and turned the 5Ghz band on again for the Asus router. I had our two phones connecting the the Asus. Still had the disconnection issues at the same frequency.
- I figure with other routers that the disconnections still happen. But does the Asus router actually reboot? My gut feeling is the December security patch broke this. Unfortunately for me, my Orbi is new and I have no "before" test as my phone was already on the December security patch when Orbi was installed. I have a sneaky suspicion that Google will fix the wifi issue in the January security update. But I'm still in my return window and can't risk it. I am about to change back to my R7000.
I should have been more clear. The Asus router NEVER reboots, as far as I can tell. The Orbi reboots, even when my phones are connected to the Asus wifi that's running as a router for the entire network.
I monitor this by keeping the Orbi System Statistics popup open on my computer that is hardwired to the Orbi. I check the System Uptime frequently. In times that I notice things dropping, I go to my computer and see the Orbi admin is inaccessible (page not found) when trying orbilogin.com and trying the IP address. It's possible that it's inaccessible due to the Asus router messing with DHCP assignments or something, but doubtful since many with this issue aren't running their Orbi in AP mode like I am.
- I've been running Eero for a week now. Not one single issue. Not even a little one.
Running an Orbi setup is like trying to build a house of cards in a windy beach.