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Divamatrix's avatar
Divamatrix
Tutor
Oct 09, 2019

Connected Devices showing up as wrong device

This may seem nitpicky but it's driving me crazy! With upwards of 30 devices on my network, I have them all named and set up with the proper identifier type...i.e. smartphone, camera, etc. The problem is that several devices are being resolved to the wrong device type. I can change it to be the correct device type but it resets itself in seconds no matter what I do. I have an Alexa decice identifying as a smartphone even though I have others that are correct. I have multiple cameras showing as network devices even though they've been set as cameras many times. If you look, for example, all 5 devices are cameras and have been repeadedly identified as such, but these 2 always revert back immediately even after it says they were updated. I know it's knitpicky, but I keep tight control over what's on my network and this drives me crazy!
Troubleshooting

2 Replies

  • CrimpOn's avatar
    CrimpOn
    Guru - Experienced User
    Oct 09, 2019

    Please excuse the rant ("It's that f**king APP again").  I have no explanation.  The only thing I can suggest is to look at the Orbi web interface, "Attached Devices" page.  What does that show?

     

    I have other network applications (Fing is one) that allow me to input "descriptions" for devices, and store the description on my smartphone.  When I bring up Fing on my tablet, it has no knowledge of what is on the phone, until I go through the whole process again.

     

    So, where the heck does the Orbi "app" store these descriptions?  Is it on the Orbi app device?  On the Orbi router?  Somewhere in the Netgear cloud?  I have no idea.

     

    I also recall that there was a post within the past month reporting that defining devices was not working.  I believe the final suggestion was to do the dreaded "factory reset" on the router.  The Orbi firmware is programs.  (I programmed for a living.)  One poorly written "pointer" can result in random destruction that manifests in strange ways.  Almost impossible to find.

     

    Wow.  That may not have helped, but I feel better!

  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Oct 09, 2019

    Please post about this in the Orbi app forum:
    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-App/bd-p/en-home-orbi-app

    Divamatrix wrote:
    This may seem nitpicky but it's driving me crazy! With upwards of 30 devices on my network, I have them all named and set up with the proper identifier type...i.e. smartphone, camera, etc. The problem is that several devices are being resolved to the wrong device type. I can change it to be the correct device type but it resets itself in seconds no matter what I do. I have an Alexa decice identifying as a smartphone even though I have others that are correct. I have multiple cameras showing as network devices even though they've been set as cameras many times. If you look, for example, all 5 devices are cameras and have been repeadedly identified as such, but these 2 always revert back immediately even after it says they were updated. I know it's knitpicky, but I keep tight control over what's on my network and this drives me crazy!