Re: Orbi dropping connections

Appleuser2000 · ‎2020-04-03

I got new Orbi+1 Satellite and updated to latest to firmware after reading rave reviews. Unfortunately just couple of days in the Orbi Wifi signal disappears and I lose connection, the solution is to shutdown the device and restart. A less than pleasant expereince for a $400 brand new device.

For now I have shutdown MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Fast Roaming, and Daisy Chain Topolgy and drop 5GHz power to 75%. I read about Orbi dropout but that was supposedly fixed in firmware updates a couple of years ago. Whats the point of paying for these features if we are going to have not to use them to keep a stable connection?

My second issue is that the satellite will lose its connection with the main unit on reboot and have to re-sync each time the power is shut off.

Retired_Member · ‎2020-04-03

firmware?

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-03

What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router

What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?

Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Circle, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Set Short preamble instead of Long preamble modes. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).

Factory reset and setup from scratch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMw4ePACgc4
https://www.howtogeek.com/434350/how-to-factory-reset-a-router/

@Appleuser2000 wrote:
I got new Orbi+1 Satellite and updated to latest to firmware after reading rave reviews. Unfortunately just couple of days in the Orbi Wifi signal disappears and I lose connection, the solution is to shutdown the device and restart. A less than pleasant expereince for a $400 brand new device.

For now I have shutdown MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Fast Roaming, and Daisy Chain Topolgy and drop 5GHz power to 75%. I read about Orbi dropout but that was supposedly fixed in firmware updates a couple of years ago. Whats the point of paying for these features if we are going to have not to use them to keep a stable connection?

My second issue is that the satellite will lose its connection with the main unit on reboot and have to re-sync each time the power is shut off.

Retired_Member · ‎2020-04-03

@FURRYe38 wrote:
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router

What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?

Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Circle, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Set Short preamble instead of Long preamble modes. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).

Factory reset and setup from scratch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMw4ePACgc4
https://www.howtogeek.com/434350/how-to-factory-reset-a-router/
@Appleuser2000 wrote:
I got new Orbi+1 Satellite and updated to latest to firmware after reading rave reviews. Unfortunately just couple of days in the Orbi Wifi signal disappears and I lose connection, the solution is to shutdown the device and restart. A less than pleasant expereince for a $400 brand new device.

For now I have shutdown MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Fast Roaming, and Daisy Chain Topolgy and drop 5GHz power to 75%. I read about Orbi dropout but that was supposedly fixed in firmware updates a couple of years ago. Whats the point of paying for these features if we are going to have not to use them to keep a stable connection?

My second issue is that the satellite will lose its connection with the main unit on reboot and have to re-sync each time the power is shut off.

Appleuser2000 · ‎2020-04-03

@Retired_Member wrote:
firmware?

the latest as I have mentioned 2.5.1.8

Retired_Member · ‎2020-04-03

@Appleuser2000 wrote:
@Retired_Member wrote:
firmware?
the latest as I have mentioned 2.5.1.8

The are numerous problems with that one

go to download and look for a earlier version

Appleuser2000 · ‎2020-04-03

which earlier version is best?
Also, Netgear forces auto updates so if I use earlier one it will just auto update to this one

Retired_Member · ‎2020-04-03

i've been on v2.3.5.30 since October 2019 and for the most part all is well

ng only pushes firmware that is critical

BigRune · ‎2020-04-04

@Appleuser2000 If the Orbi is brand new I recommend you to return it if possible. The are a lot lf problems with previous fw versions also. I had similar problems on fwV2.3.5.30 that could not be configured away. There are countless similar topics in the community topic history and no clear solutions.

Bad software design, substandard routines for testing and release of new softwares makes Orbi totally unreliable and now, in the end of its product life cycle, it will probably never reach a stable state.

Spare your time, money and efforts and spend it on something that pays back instead :thumbsup:.

Retired_Member · ‎2020-04-04

@BigRune wrote:
@Appleuser2000 If the Orbi is brand new I recommend you to return it if possible. The are a lot lf problems with previous fw versions also. I had similar problems on fwV2.3.5.30 that could not be configured away. There are countless similar topics in the community topic history and no clear solutions.

Bad software design, substandard routines for testing and release of new softwares makes Orbi totally unreliable and now, in the end of its product life cycle, it will probably never reach a stable state.

Spare your time, money and efforts and spend it on something that pays back instead :thumbsup:.

Your best option is to stop performing manual fw updates. I too saw the numerous posts about 2.3.5.30. Then several months later it was pushed to me (oct 19). Problems appear to be gone. Yet the version numbering remained the same. Leads one to believe that all those who did the manual updates were actually beta testers.

so again stop performing manual updates less you want join join the beta testers club and live on the edge. You've been warned. FYI. All router makers have their share of fw problems.

BigRune · ‎2020-04-04

Well I purchased Orbi january '20 and it upgraded on setup. Suddenly starting to malfunction 3weeks in...

I dont understand the 'beta' discussion? Noone should be beta tester unless they participate in a beta program.

Orbi is just an old flawed product and I guess Netgear thinks all customers are potential beta testers.

Appleuser2000 · ‎2020-04-04

What other maker do you suggest for mesh system? Netgear Orbi is contantly getting praised and the product is a flagship, they released a new Wifi 6 Orbis. Its been out for sometime but there has been no real advances in technology really to make it old.

There is Ubiquiti but you have to wire the access points.

BigRune · ‎2020-04-04

@Appleuser2000 wrote:
What other maker do you suggest for mesh system? Netgear Orbi is contantly getting praised and the product is a flagship, they released a new Wifi 6 Orbis. Its been out for sometime but there has been no real advances in technology really to make it old.

There is Ubiquiti but you have to wire the access points.

Do your own research, with your own requirements 😀. Look into forums and communities. Do not pay too much attention to all sponsored router reviews flooding internet.

Lack of research made me buy Netgear Orbi (ouch! ). My following research online and IRL led me to a Ubiquiti Unifi solution. Unifi is a kind of SOHO/PROsumer networking with a lot of flexibility. I liked the new "Dream Machine" that made the entry to Unifi simple and decided to give it a try.

The Ubiquiri Unifi Dream Machine combines all standalone Unifi network parts needed. Actually delivering better performance to a lower price than buing separate Unifi parts, (Gateway, Cloud key, switch, access point).

UDM has a built in AP ("wired") that can connect additional Unifi AP wireless. I have not studied wireless downlinks as I have a Wired NanoHD access point on 2nd floor (works great 👍 ). Read more here : https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002262328-UniFi-Configuring-Wireless-Uplink

Retired_Member · ‎2020-04-04

@BigRune wrote:
Well I purchased Orbi january '20 and it upgraded on setup. Suddenly starting to malfunction 3weeks in...

I dont understand the 'beta' discussion? Noone should be beta tester unless they participate in a beta program.

Orbi is just an old flawed product and I guess Netgear thinks all customers are potential beta testers.

My concept of the beta testers came about (imho) because of all the whinning in here. NG used to push all firmware. Then folks whined stated they wanted a choice. So now all NG pushes are the firmware that contains critical updates. Which means all other updates are at your own risk. User beware. Download a non critical update and you are automatically enrolled in the beta program. You ask for it. So then they end up back in here complaining. Vicious circle.

in your case if NG upon install pushed bad firmware to you well at least you can't say it was your fault. Whereas on the other hand bad firmware usually is evident right away, not 3 weeks later.

BigRune · ‎2020-04-04

@Retired_Member wrote:
@BigRune wrote:
Well I purchased Orbi january '20 and it upgraded on setup. Suddenly starting to malfunction 3weeks in...

I dont understand the 'beta' discussion? Noone should be beta tester unless they participate in a beta program.

Orbi is just an old flawed product and I guess Netgear thinks all customers are potential beta testers.

My concept of the beta testers came about (imho) because of all the whinning in here. NG used to push all firmware. Then folks whined stated they wanted a choice. So now all NG pushes are the firmware that contains critical updates. Which means all other updates are at your own risk. User beware. Download a non critical update and you are automatically enrolled in the beta program. You ask for it. So then they end up back in here complaining. Vicious circle.

in your case if NG upon install pushed bad firmware to you well at least you can't say it was your fault. Whereas on the other hand bad firmware usually is evident right away, not 3 weeks later.

NG cloud solutions probably have something to do with the problems.... Remote variables... I'd like to see an architecture view on Orbi from NG.

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-04

You can try Voxels FW for Orbi:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Voxels-FW-available-for-50-series-Orbi-only-available/m-p/1883...

You can revert back to stock FW if it doesn't work out for you.

ALso be sure to try a factory reset and setup from scratch on your current v2.5.1.8 version. I and others have working systems on v2.5.1.8. Good last resort step to try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMw4ePACgc4
https://www.howtogeek.com/434350/how-to-factory-reset-a-router/

Good Luck.

@Appleuser2000 wrote:
which earlier version is best?
Also, Netgear forces auto updates so if I use earlier one it will just auto update to this one

BigRune · ‎2020-04-04

@FURRYe38 , are you for real? Do you think installing a custom fw is an acceptable solution 🙄

Appleuser2000 · ‎2020-04-05

@FURRYe38 wrote:
You can try Voxels FW for Orbi:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Voxels-FW-available-for-50-series-Orbi-only-available/m-p/1883...
You can revert back to stock FW if it doesn't work out for you.

ALso be sure to try a factory reset and setup from scratch on your current v2.5.1.8 version. I and others have working systems on v2.5.1.8. Good last resort step to try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMw4ePACgc4
https://www.howtogeek.com/434350/how-to-factory-reset-a-router/

Good Luck.
@Appleuser2000 wrote:
which earlier version is best?
Also, Netgear forces auto updates so if I use earlier one it will just auto update to this one

Are you sure Voxel will not brick my Orbi? Are you sure I can revert back? Do you use Voxel?

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-04-05

Yes. I have Voxels loaded on my RBR50. Working great. I believe CrimpON has it loaded as well as a few others. His FW ensures that some other behind the scence packages are more up to date and his FW is more flexible in regards to advanced settings if users have a need. Applying the FW is the same as manually applying FW wtih stock FW. Download the .zip file. Unpack. Apply to the RBS first then the RBR lastly. I recommend a factory reset and setup from scratch after initial installation.

For any reason you don't like his FW or it doesn't work, you can revert back to NG stock FW at any time using same process as above.

You can check out other users posts and experience over on the SNB forums as well:

https://www.snbforums.com/forums/netgear-ac-wireless.53/

This is only for the 50 series Orbi!!! He does not develop FW for any other model.

This is for users who are mainly out of warranty with there systems.

However if in warranty systems are not working well, even after all troubleshooting as been exhausted, you can try Voxels FW to see if this changes anything, if not, users will need to revert back to stock FW and proceed to official NG support and ask about the RMA process.

@Appleuser2000 wrote:
@FURRYe38 wrote:
You can try Voxels FW for Orbi:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Voxels-FW-available-for-50-series-Orbi-only-available/m-p/1883...
You can revert back to stock FW if it doesn't work out for you.

ALso be sure to try a factory reset and setup from scratch on your current v2.5.1.8 version. I and others have working systems on v2.5.1.8. Good last resort step to try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMw4ePACgc4
https://www.howtogeek.com/434350/how-to-factory-reset-a-router/

Good Luck.
@Appleuser2000 wrote:
which earlier version is best?
Also, Netgear forces auto updates so if I use earlier one it will just auto update to this one

Are you sure Voxel will not brick my Orbi? Are you sure I can revert back? Do you use Voxel?