Intermittent DNS Errors and WiFi Issues

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vajim wrote:

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IMHO....they have too many settings....you give people options and they are bound to screw things up.  Heck we still see people buying the Orbi and not understanding the Orbi is a router and you really don't need another router.

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Are you saying that customers should not be given options because some of them are too dumb? You can't be serious. 

If the customer doesn't know how to use a product it's really easy -  they should read the manual and learn. Or if they are too lazy to read they can always pay someone else who read the manual. 

In my opinion, Netgear REALLY missed the mark on Orbi.  Aside from the firmware/support issues, it's kind of idiotic to come out with such an advanced router, but dumb down the controls so much.

If they're concerned about novices messing with the settings, they can easily make the UI such that there are default "dumb" settings, and perhaps a walled off "advanced" settings section that requires some kind of intentional effort to get to.

A good example of this is the micro/travel routers by Gl-iNet.  They have basic settings to toy with, and in order to get to the more advanced settings (via Luci), you have to click on an "Advanced" option, then log in separately.

Returned my Netgear Orbi Wifi 6 RBK853 (EUR 1000) and bought the ASUS ZenWiFi AX XT8 (3-pack). It was 36% cheaper, and the router has much more configuration options. It seems like the mesh functionality is not as good as the Orbi, but it performs fine in our situation.

Asus has had some issues with the XT8 system too, especially with the Guest network, but most issues are fixed in the current firmware.

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RockGuitarist1 wrote:

I'm so glad it looks like a ton of other people are having this issue. Guess I need to dig through these 22 pages and hopefully find a solution.

Edit: Sounds like this issue will never get resolved and I am better off returning the ORBI and getting a different brand of Mesh network.

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if you're within the return window - send it back and stay away from netgear.

If you're happy with the Orbi, keep it.  Not EVERYBODY is having the DNS issue, and some are completely happy with it, just as some are completely unhappy with other brands as well.  It's a crapshoot on everything tech.

Just be aware of POTENTIAL problems that can occur.

It's like buying a car.  ALL car brands/models have deeply satisfied and deeply dissatisfied customers.  Some have frequent/major problems with a specific car, and some have absolutely no problem with the same vehicle for its entire life.

I actually did NOT have the DNS problem before I switched it to AP - I switched it to AP because of the the lack of controls plus QOS problems I was having with my wife's zoom calls that the Orbi could not control because of bufferbloat (completely cured by using the Asus for routing).

That's rough. Netgear lost me as a customer. I loved my nighthawk and after 7 years its finally going bad. I got until the 27th to drop this thing off at Kohls to get a refund so I am sure ill find a replacement for it sooner rather than later.

No, I am now using my old Asus N66U as router with Orbi AX as AP. The XT8 I stopped using because the AI Mesh wasn't performing good in terms of connectivity. Before this whole ordeal I used to have 2 Asus AC68 routers in AI Mesh (started of with one and expanded), but the AI Mesh experience wasn't good. So in terms of the whole mesh networking I would avoid Asus. However as a single router I can recommend Asus. Long time ago I used to have a Netgear router - complete junk - never again I said to want to use Netgear. The Orbi AX and the good reviews changed my mind to give it another go. And here I am - never again.

I saw they were pretty unhappy with the XT8. I just need something in my house with comparable speeds and range. Im paying for 200 down so I don't need blazing speeds or anything like that. Just want to get what I pay for via wifi, which is what the Orbi is doing now.

energieuses an XT8 as router and Orbi as AP - see his comments a few posts back about how the wifi part works compared to Orbi.  DongKnows also has a writeup about it, and it's on his list as one of the best wifi 6 mesh systems.

Orbi's wifi performance appears to be a little better, but the Asus may work perfectly fine in your situation.

I am currently considering either the ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 or the Eero Pro 6. Definitely going to go ahead and return this Orbi.

If you're taking cost into consideration, go wifi 5 because there actually isn't much use for a wifi 6 system - yet, unless you have a lot of clients to connect.

https://dongknows.com/best-wi-fi-5-mesh-systems/

If you want wifi 6

https://dongknows.com/best-wi-fi-6-mesh-systems/

Ignore the Orbis on the list now you know the problems.

Another reason to possibly skip wifi 6 for now is that 6E is coming soon.  But, again, there's actually not many client products that truly take advantage of ax yet.

Yeah, that is exactly what the Orbi AX is. A very expensive AP. I personally would also stay away from Netgear if there would be a better solution. I feel it is very bad of Netgear to ignore its customers and this problem, which is pretty much affecting everyone. I just think the majority isn't aware. Meanwhile the support department is busy keeping customers busy by resetting their routers / or pointing the problem to something else - blaming the ISP router/modem is also a populair thing / and swapping (RMA) the device until the 90 day support window runs out. Meanwhile the main issue is with the Netgear firmware. For this reason alone I would skip Netgear and all of its products - and just blacklist this entire company.

So you can try out some other brand. Just know that as an AP the Orbi AX works pretty good. 

I'm not sure what to do at this point. Using it as an AP just makes it a very expensive AP. I'd much rather just have a working mesh network instead of having a more advanced configuration.

No - Orbi alone is the s*ckiest solution.  If you're going to keep the Orbi, only use it as an AP.  For routing, I don't thinks I've used anything worse.  As an AP to a more capable router, it works great, as it's better than most for wifi capability.

I personally recommend an Asus router, because it has a great combo of routing ability, controls, features, coupled with a great UI.

When I move on (probably in a couple years), I'm going back to Asus.  Either whatever their mesh system is at that point, or AiMesh, which is actually VERY good as well, but I got suckered in to trying Orbi.

I'm personally never going with Netgear in the future.

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RockGuitarist1 wrote:

Sounds like no matter what I choose it will never be nearly as good as just running the Orbi alone.

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Well, using a single Asus router - as router - and the Orbi AX as access point actually gives you way more options. The Orbi AX is really limited in terms of configuration and options. The Asus is king in that department, it just fails in mesh networking. Just just need to make sure that the router is capable in handling good speeds over the lan ports (wan-lan throughput). But this would be the same case for the Orbi AX. 

Sounds like no matter what I choose it will never be nearly as good as just running the Orbi alone.

I run my Orbi as AP after my old Asus RT-AC68U, and it works great for me, but my incoming is only 100mbps.  I don't know what the WAN to LAN throughput is on the 68U, so I don't know how it would work if you have gig service.

I can also say that the controls and QOS with the Asus is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than the Orbi (the reason why I switched to AP.  The Orbi UI is REEEEEEAAAAAAAALLY dumbed down compared to Asus.

In addition, AiProtection (equivalent to NG Armor) is free for life with Asus, and if you need parental controls, that's free with Asus as well.

If you are within the return window you can try some other brand. I unfortunately was way paste my return window. Just know that the Orbi AX as access point work pretty good - that I can recommend - if you can ignore Netgear just don't giving a **** about its customers. I am unable to recommend something better. I thought the Asus XT8 would be, but that was overall just a disappointment. 

I have the RBR750 and an old Nighthawk laying around that this Orbi was supposed to replace. Should I just run the Orbi in AP mode even though I am still on my return window or should I return it and buy something worse?

No, there isn't. And yes the prices are ridiculous. Which makes it even more ridiculous that Netgear doesn't fix the issue for the Orbi AX. You need to check what your total cost would be with the RBK752 + additional router (you might be able to use the one from your ISP - just disable the wifi) versus the Orbi AX pro. 

Just understand and acknowledge that Netgear really doesn't care when making this decision. This statement has been made before by others well over a year ago, based upon the same findings/conclusion. It is what it is.

Sheesh. Is there really no Netgear mesh network out there on WiFi 6 that is working and not $700+?

I have also the Asus XT8. Bought it after becoming to frustrated with the DNS issue that the Orbi AX has.The XT8 is faster, has way more configuration options. However, the wifi signal is less and the XT8 also doesn't manage devices moving between satellites well. I had instances that devices would connect to the 2,4 Ghz band for example, and because the 2,4 Ghz range is greater would stick to the particular satellite, instead of it connecting to the much faster 5 Ghz band. So overall this caused the wifi experience - speed - to be much lower. Later on I experienced random connectivity issues. Asus with their AI Mesh is not up to par with the wifi experience you with Netgear.

So I opted once again to reinstate my Orbi AX, this time as access point, and use an old Asus N66U router as the main router. Best of both worlds.

If it is within your price range you could check out the Orbi AX pro. They fixed the DNS issue over a year ago for this device. However, I can imagine you also being frustrated with this issue and not wanting anything to do anymore with Netgear.

Any suggestions on mesh networks that aren't plagued with issues? I'm returning the RBR750 as we speak.

Indeed, as access points the Orbi AX, at least for me, performs very good (best wifi I experienced up to date). However you need another router - not Netgear - as router - in front of the Orbi AX. 

• Orbi AX as router = no go / return it / use it as paper weight - the DNS issue is simply annoying.
• Orbi AX as access point w/ another router  = good.

Any recommendations? I am still within the return window. I need something a little stronger than a single Nighthawk router.