Netgear Orbi not connecting to 5 Ghz

[sandip_dstech]

My Netgear Orbi RBR50 Router suddenly stopped working on 5 Ghz band. Devices can connect to its 2.4 Ghz band but not on 5 Ghz. However, the Orbi Satellite connects to both 2.4 and 5 Ghz. Please help. I have rebooted the router multiple times. 

[CrimpOn]

If the router is not broadcasting the 5G channel, then the unit is FUBAR.  ("toast")

Guessing you may have already tried this experiment:

• Power off the satellite so that only the router is active.
• Connect some device that supports 5G (modern cell phone, tablet, laptop, etc.)  Be sure to have the device close enough that it would prefer 5G over 2.4G connection.
• Use the Orbi app or the web Attached Devices display to verify that the device is not connected at 5G.

[CrimpOn]

A more sophisticated experiment would be to use one of the "WiFi Analyzer" apps that display every WiFi access point that has a signal (yours, neighbors, printers, etc. etc.)  These apps typically have an option to group access points by name (SSID), so that all the WiFi devices that are supporting a particular SSID show up together.

As an example, I have a router and satellite broadcasting the SSID "Mad Dog":

The screen shot shows them both broadcasting this SSID on channel 2 (2.4G) and channel 40 (5G)

[sandip_dstech]

@CrimpOn Yes, I did everything as you suggested. It's the same. 

[CrimpOn]

That sucks, big time!   I see two choices:

1. Pick up a replacement RBR50 router from eBay.  It is ironic that the essential part (the RBR50 router) sells for dramatically less than the "add on" (RBS50 satellite).  This is undoubtedly because most people are looking to expand an existing system (add another satellite) and there are relatively few people looking for a router.  People are practically "giving them away".
2. Replace the entire WiFi5 system from 2016 with a newer WiFi6 system.  These are available everywhere at fairly low prices. (Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sams Club, Walmart)

I have never heard of anyone repairing these routers.

[FURRYe38]

Might try a 30-30-30 reset on the RBR to see if this brings back the 5Ghz radio. If this fails, then the RBR would need to be replaced. 

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@sandip_dstech wrote:

My Netgear Orbi RBR50 Router suddenly stopped working on 5 Ghz band. Devices can connect to its 2.4 Ghz band but not on 5 Ghz. However, the Orbi Satellite connects to both 2.4 and 5 Ghz. Please help. I have rebooted the router multiple times. 

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[sandip_dstech]

@FURRYe38 What is 30-30-30 reset?

[FURRYe38]

https://www.lifewire.com/hard-reset-rule-for-routers-3971318

[sandip_dstech]

@FURRYe38 Thank you! Will try that too. 

[FURRYe38]

👍

Another option might be to try and load up Voxels 3rd party FW as well and see if the radio appears. Could bring it back however would have same result. If so, ya, seems like the 5Ghz may have died? 🤔