RBR850 Router continually reassigning IP addresses to the satellites.

[chewywater]

PROBLEM

My router will fall into a pattern of continually re-assigning IP addresses to the satellites. 

Devices connected to those satellites wind up losing their connection and then getting their IP's reassigned. 

I'd appreciate any advice. I'm going to have to return this hardware if it keeps happening, I've got peoples' jobs depending on this network. 

HARDWARE

Model RBK853-100NAS,

1 router RBR850,

2 satellites RBS850

DATA

Here’s a paste of some of the log. It was doing this for hours and hours.

One of my satellites is: xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2

The other satellite is: xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92

The redacted mac addresses are devices on my network

[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.2)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 12:00:46
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:57:29
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:55:24
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:55:06
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:55:00
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:51
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:51
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:48
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:48
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:47
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:43
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:43
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:41
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:41
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:39
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:39
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:54:03
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:18
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:18
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:14
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:14
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:12
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:11
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:07
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:07
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:06
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:06
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:05
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:05
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:51:04
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:37
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:22
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:18
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:17
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:15
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:15
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:13
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:13
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:11
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:11
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:11
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:10
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:09
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:50:09
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:46:24
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.8)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:46:05
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.9)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:46:05
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:51
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:50
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:47
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:46
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:43
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:43
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:41
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:41
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:40
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.8)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:40
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:38
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:38
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:37
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.8)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:32
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:19
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:45:04
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:55
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:54
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:51
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:50
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:49
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:48
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:47
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:46
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.11)] to MAC address [machine address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:45
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:44
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:43
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.15)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:43
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.16)] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92, Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:44:42
[Time synchronized with NTP server] Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:34:25
[Internet connected] IP address: [ip address redacted], Monday, Jun 27,2022 11:34:25

STUFF RULED OUT

• The problem is not related to our ISP, as I happen to have switched ISP’s recently. And problem still crops up sometimes.
• I don’t think the problem is with the supply of power to the router because the log does not show rebooting.
• I’ve reset the router to factory and problem still crops up.
• WIFI signal strength of router at the satellites is fine:  AROUND -45db

WORKAROUND

• I can fix the problem temporarily by unplugging the router and satellites, then plugging everything back in and letting them resync, But this is not good enough for the long term.  

Any help appreciated. 

[plemans]

what modem/gateway is it connected to? 

Are the satellites hardwired in or wireless? 

Have you done a reserved ip address for the satellites?

[chewywater]

what modem/gateway is it connected to? 

RBR850 is connected to the internet via ethernet to FIOS ONT box. 

Are the satellites hardwired in or wireless? 

Satellites are connected to router via wireless. 

Have you done a reserved ip address for the satellites?

No I haven't tried this yet. 

Should I try this next? I don't mind doing this, it does concern me though that I would HAVE to reserve IP's to stop something like this from happening. 

[FURRYe38]

What Firmware version is currently loaded?

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

Do you have any IP address reservations set for the RBS ON the RBR?

---

@chewywater wrote:

PROBLEM

My router will fall into a pattern of continually re-assigning IP addresses to the satellites. 

Devices connected to those satellites wind up losing their connection and then getting their IP's reassigned. 

I'd appreciate any advice. I'm going to have to return this hardware if it keeps happening, I've got peoples' jobs depending on this network. 

HARDWARE

Model RBK853-100NAS,

1 router RBR850,

2 satellites RBS850

DATA

Here’s a paste of some of the log. It was doing this for hours and hours.

One of my satellites is: xx:xx:xx:xx:97:D2

The other satellite is: xx:xx:xx:xx:A4:92

The redacted mac addresses are devices on my network

STUFF RULED OUT

• The problem is not related to our ISP, as I happen to have switched ISP’s recently. And problem still crops up sometimes.
• I don’t think the problem is with the supply of power to the router because the log does not show rebooting.
• I’ve reset the router to factory and problem still crops up.
• WIFI signal strength of router at the satellites is fine:  AROUND -45db

WORKAROUND

• I can fix the problem temporarily by unplugging the router and satellites, then plugging everything back in and letting them resync, But this is not good enough for the long term.  

Any help appreciated. 

---

[chewywater]

What Firmware version is currently loaded?

V4.6.8.2_2.1.9

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?

8000

What is the distance between the router and 📡satellite(s)?

35 ft maybe? Signal strength of router is around -45db at both satellites, which should be more than adequate. Both satellites pulse blue when syncing, signaling good connection. 

Backhaul Status is always "good" for both satellites

Do you have any IP address reservations set for the RBS ON the RBR?

Currently, I have no reservations set for the satellites on the router. Only IPs reserved right now are at 192.168.1.200 and 192.168.1.205. for a printer and laptop. 

power cycled router and satellites at 12:15pm. Problem began again at 1:47pm.

[chewywater]

So I just reserved two IPs for the satellites, then power-cycled all the hardware. The satellites do acquire their reserved IPs. Then some of the problem returns with the satellites getting their IPs over and over again. But then the problem went away and has not happened again in the last hour. 

Not sure what else to try. Will check back in tomorrow for more advice. 

[FURRYe38]

Looking thru my email logs, I'm seeing same thing on my 7 series that currently online...though only happened for a short period of time last evening around 10PM. Then it stopped. I have my one RBS set with a IP address reservation as well. Hmmmm. 

[chewywater]

Problem occurred 3 times again this morning. Each episode lasted three to five minutes. 

Is it possible this is caused by em interference of some kind? There can't be any continuous interference because most of the time performance is good, speed tests are good, signal strength to the satellites is strong. But perhaps the interference is intermittent? 

Anybody know if the activity in my logs is indicative of temporary interference or not? 

I tried to reproduce the problem this morning by running some electronics that I thought might be causing interference: microwave etc. But can't seem to reproduce problem. 

Whatever the problem is it always affects both satellites at the same time, which makes me think problem is near or in the router.

[FURRYe38]

Does this happen on both RBS? 

Might turn OFF 1 RBS and see if it continues, though I presume it will. I only have 1 RBS here. Mine happened last night after 10Pm and only for less that a minute. 

Might also update FW as well to v.5 on the RBS then RBR lastly. After that's applied, power OFF and back ON. I might factory reset and setup from scratch here as well. 

I have passed this on to NG for review. 

[chewywater]

Does this happen on both RBS? 

Yes. Always happens with both satellites at the same time. 

Might also update FW as well to v.5

Sounds like a good idea, but I'm confused. My router tells me no new firmware is available, but the netgear website offers 4.6.8.5. 

Am I missing something here? Just need reassurance that I'm not going to get myself into trouble here, then I'll go ahead and update. 

I have passed this on to NG for review. 

thanks.

[FURRYe38]

Read the 1st NOTE here:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WiFi-6-AX-and-WiFi-6E-AXE/New-RBR850-RBS850-Firmware-Version-4...

Your fine. 

[chewywater]

Read the 1st NOTE here:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WiFi-6-AX-and-WiFi-6E-AXE/New-RBR850-RBS850-Firmware-Version-4...

Great, thanks. I'll do the upgrade and see what happens. 

[chewywater]

OK I just did a couple things

First, I took one of the satellites and moved it right next to the router to see if proximity had any effect. Result: malfunction is exactly the same, doesn't matter how close the satellites are to the router. 

Second, I manually updated the firmware on both the satellites and then the router to V4.6.8.5_2.1.9 . Then power cycled everything.

I'll check the logs tomorrow morning and report. 

[FURRYe38]

👍

[chewywater]

After updating the firmware to V4.6.8.5_2.1.9 I'm fairly sure there is still malfunction. 

There was one flurry of ip assignments to satellites early in the am that lasted 10 minutes. Then the router started continually assigning the same IP address to another device on the network, and that went on for 6 hours straight. 

Maybe I'll do another factory-reset, but this problem has survived a factory-reset before, so I'm not very confident. 

I have a (non-wifi) printer next to the router. Maybe I'll turn it off for the day and see what happens. 

[FURRYe38]

Ok, please try a reset. 

Turn off any unnecessary devices as well. 

Printer shouldn't cause anything but to be sure. 

Make sure distances between devices and the RBR or RBS is 6 feet at least apart. 

[chewywater]

Turning off printer didn't make any difference. 

I did a factory reset on the router and both satellites, setup the router again, and then power cycled the router and satellites. Both satellites synced to blue. Backhaul status is 'good' for both satellites.

I reserved IPs again for the satellites.

I'll check the log again tomorrow and report back. 

If it's still malfunctioning I'll get the hardware replaced tomorrow. 

[chewywater]

Finally replaced my hardware with another set. 

This seems to have fixed the problem with satellites being continually assigned their IPs  for now. I see a similar problem with another device on my network continually getting its IP assigned, but at least that doesn't cause others to get bumped off the satellites. 

I'm going to take a break from this problem for a while. Then I need to update firmware again, and get the log to show more than 4 hours of data. 

I wonder if the original problem could have had to do with a clock mismatch between router and satellites?

[FURRYe38]

What FW version is loaded on the new system? 

[chewywater]

What FW version is loaded on the new system? 

New hardware has Firmware Version V4.6.3.16_2.0.51

Can I skip the intermediate versions and install the latest? 4.6.8.5? 

Please let me know, thanks. 

[FURRYe38]

Yes you can go directly to v.5.

If you do, remember, RBS first, then RBR lastly. 

[chewywater]

Yes you can go directly to v.5.

If you do, remember, RBS first, then RBR lastly. 

Great, thanks.

I'm a little worried about making any changes though. I don't want that problem to return. 

[FURRYe38]

Then let the system be for now. IF it's working. Let's not fix it. 

[chewywater]

Then let the system be for now. IF it's working. Let's not fix it.

OK. thanks.

[FURRYe38]

Be sure to save off a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
https://kb.netgear.com/000062080/How-do-I-back-up-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System