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Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

thebishop
Apprentice

Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Running 1.4.0.34 on both main Orbi and sattelite (main and sattelite are on different floors with wall between, perhaps 20-25 feet distance straight line).

 

I generally have "5 bars" of Wifi on all devices and a stable good connection, but I am seeing random wifi disconnects on all three mentioned devices (all running latest officially release Apple software - and all of them were rock solid with my previous Wifi and never dropped out). The iPad is wifi-only as is the Macbook Pro. My desktop iMac connected over ethernet seems to work ok though.

 

Searching here on the forum there seems to have been similar issues in the past with old firmware versions, I just want to bring up that this is still very much actual with 1.4.0.34 and I would be happy to provide debug information, but there arent much interesting in the log.

 

Anyone else having the same problems? Is Netgear on top of this, seems like a basic hygiene factor to not randomly drop the wifi connection.

 

The devices do reconnect after (a double-digit) number of seconds, but practically the connection is lost a few times per day causing a hickup.

 

Model: Orbi High-Performance AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi System (RBK50)
Message 1 of 147

Accepted Solutions
DarrenM
Sr. NETGEAR Moderator

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Hello Everyone

 

We have release firmware version 1.12.0.18 this firmware has fixes for disconnects and many more I posted the release notes below.

 

https://kb.netgear.com/000044171/RBR50-Firmware-Version-1-12-0-18

 

If you are still having issues after updating your Orbi unit you may want to factory reset the Orbi and test again. If you are still having disconnect issues or other issues with this firmware please create a new thread or contact our support team.

 

http://www.netgear.com/support/contact.aspx

 

Thanks

DarrenM

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Message 147 of 147

All Replies
dekka007
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Yes.
Message 2 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Let me quantify it:

 

Looking at two 25-minute episodes on HBO on the iPad, WiFi dropped out a total of 6 times last night - breaking the stream - then WiFi always reconnected within 5-15 seconds or so. This is sitting stationary with max Wifi signal strength. 

 

Running e.g. inSSIDer, there is zero overlap with regard to bands with the other (few) networks nearby (I am living in a house).

Message 3 of 147
JMU1998
Luminary

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

I saw a few posts from moderator in other threads that Netgear Engineering is aware of the iOS wifi drop issues.  hopefully a Firmware fix is in the works it is very frustrating. 

Message 4 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

That's great to hear, thanks - unfortunately it also seems to drop on macOS based laptops, not only iOS devices.

 

If anyone from Netgear reads this, I have it quite reproducble (at least on iOS) and would be able to help troubleshoot if you need it.

Message 5 of 147
theno
Aspirant

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Check this out as i was reading threat i found this. This guy Named seanrkelly71 on community fixed it.

You can try this out.

 

Firstly know that I had been experiencing pretty much every major issue reported on this site.  iOS drops, satellite disconnects and internet dropouts.  If have no idea which of the following sorted it for me, but my setup has been rock-solid for several days now instead of several issues every day.

1.  I ordered replacement router and satellite (told Amazon that the kit I had was deffective)

2. Turned down the power output for 2.4Ghz to 50%

3. Turned off Sky Q (satellite TV distribution for the home in the UK) wireless mesh network (operates at 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands)

 

Remember as well that when setting up Orbi to the internet via a PPPoE connection, to change the Connection mode to 'Always On' as default is 'Dial on Demand' and you will see disconnects if left like that.

 

Message 6 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

I don't think it is a hardware issue, but rather a software issue with the Orbis firmware - and I don't live in the UK and have that cable thingie... 😉

 

Perhaps it can be a software problem switching between 2.4 and 5 bands, but as I encounter this when sitting still with perfect rock solid signal, it sounds a bit unlikely at least... I am thinking of turing off the sattelite though to see if it is switching between main and sattelite that is the problem.

Message 7 of 147
anschmid
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

So I do have also a number of Apple devices including Macbook iPad, iPhones, Apple TV, etc and other devices and I have none of these Wifi drop issues in fact my Wifi is as stable as it was with my Airport Extreme just a lot faster.

 

Just to share these are my Wireless setting in Orbi that might help:

 

Basic - Wireless:

 

Screen Shot 2017-02-03 at 21.03.49.png

 

Advanced -> Wireless Settings:

 

Screen Shot 2017-02-03 at 21.04.43.png

 

Hope this might help! 

Message 8 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Unfortunately the screenshots doesnt show up in Safari or Chrome?

 

Good to hear of someone without the disconnects, perhaps it is the placement then... How close are your sattelite from the router?

Message 9 of 147
anschmid
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Strange I use Safari and see both screenshots in the forum?

 

Re the distance between my Orbi router and satellite is about 10m with two concret walls in between. I get about a 300 Mbps download/upload speed from a Macbook Pro connected to the Orbi satellite. Since my Internet is a 1 Gbps fibre this must be the backhaul link maximum of the Orbi system.

Message 10 of 147
TheEther
Guru

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

If you upload images directly to Netgear's forum, then there is a delay before others can see it.  The moderators have to approve the image for display.

 

You can, instead, upload the image to an image hosting site and then inline the image using the following HTML:

 

<img src="<imageURL>">

Replace <imageURL> with the URL to your image.  You have to use the HTML editor mode instead of Rich Text.

 

I can see your image, but it's virtually unreadable.  You should post a bigger picture.

Message 11 of 147
anschmid
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Ok got it. I can't edit my previous post now so let me re-post the pictures in LARGE.

 

Basic - Wireless:

 

Screen Shot 2017-02-03 at 21.03.49.png

 

Advanced - Wireless Settings:

 

Screen Shot 2017-02-03 at 21.04.43.png

Message 12 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Thanks anschmid - I have the exact same settings except for MU-MIMO and implicit beamforming (which are off by default from the factory, I did enable them initially just as you, but then disabled them when I had the disconnects so now they are back to factory defaults again).

 

Best way to reproduce is just to view a streaming movie from e.g. HBO Nordic - WiFi connection will be lost within 20 minutes as clockwork, at least once.

Message 13 of 147
Tingyunliu
Star

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

I have exactly the same issue. I think the drop is from the satellite, but I really don't know what happened. I was quite happy when I first saw the fast speed, then it's quite frustrating seeing the disconnect to my I devices. I'd very much appreciate if Netgear support can reply here and let us know that they are aware of this issue and something is being fixed. Or I should just return the machine?
Message 14 of 147
anschmid
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

It's quiet interesting that some people have all this disconnect while for others it's working perfectly fine.

 

Could somebody who has the problems try to just disconnect and delete their Wifi settings and then reconnect to the Wifi new entering the password again?

 

I have seen issues on MacOS and iOS before where devices remeber certain parameters about the network. If you just put a new router there and use the same Wifi SSID the client connectiong might think it's still on the old network with some stored parameters. Hence I'd recommend to delete the exising Wifi entry ont he device and re-join the new Wifi network from scratch.

 

Hope this wil help!

Message 15 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Thanks, not sure what those wifi parameters would be that could cause this behavior, but easy enough to do, so I just did it, let's see if it can help...!

Message 16 of 147
genobkk
Star

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Even worse on my note 3 constantly dropping. wifi drops out no bars totally disconnects then back again and yes it does it on iPad or, iPhone 7 plus just note 3 is much worse. Really sorry I bought the thing, yes it get great wifi over my place but it does not work properly.  I have to reboot whole systems every few days no internet at all but base unit now showing disconnected plus if you manually input DNS sometimes this will cause the internet not to work at all. It is a very buggy system, not worth the money. I have been using for a few months and no firmware update that fixed any of these issues, it looks like a much deeper issue with this device that adviously was rushed to market before it was ready. If I could get my money back I would return it 

Model: Orbi High-Performance AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi System (RBK50)
Message 17 of 147
anschmid
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

I have to disagree with you. This is the best Wifi system I ever bought and it works flawless! Our config might be different but i cannot agree with you that the system just doesn't work because it works for me!
Message 18 of 147
Tingyunliu
Star

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Using the same ssid was exactly what I did. So far, this happened to me on my iPad Air and iphone7/6. Just reset the network on These devices. Will see how it goes. Thanks for the tip. Btw, Apple TV seem to be ok. No wifi dropping.

For others:
1. If you have this problem, does this only happen to you iOS devices?
2. If you have this problem, do you use the same ssid for your iPhone/iPad?
Message 19 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Ok, I tried removing it and readding the SSID and it still drops. I dont think it is the clients really - as someone else had problems with their Note3, so the answer to 1. is "No".

 

I have seen drops on both new iOS and new macOS devices (we don't have any non-Apple devices to try with).

 

It really seems to be an Orbi problem and I once again offer to help Netgear engineering with any troublehshooting they might need, I can fully reproduce the problem here and would be happy to run with any additional debug logs required to help pinpoint the reason.

 

Message 20 of 147
Tingyunliu
Star

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

I agree this is caused by Orbi as I didn't see the issue with my previous AirPort Extreme.

It just happened to me while typing. iPhone pop up a window and ask "please select a wifi". iPhone show no wifi, LTE only. But my wifi is in the "please select a wifi" window. Selected it, immediately, everything back to normal, and it shows full wifi signal strength. Speed test 100M+. But why did that happen????

I reset the whole network setting on my iPhone. So it did not work...
Message 21 of 147
Tingyunliu
Star

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

Really hope netgear can help somehow.
Message 22 of 147
Tingyunliu
Star

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

what firmware do you use?  thnaks.

Message 23 of 147
thebishop
Apprentice

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

The latest available - V1.4.0.34.

 

Message 24 of 147
Tingyunliu
Star

Re: Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently

I still have the "drop" issue. In another thread, NetGear support said they were aware of it and Eng is working on the issue.

However, can someone help me understand, if this is a firmware issue, why some don't experience the "drop" issue?
Message 25 of 147
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