Netgear Orbi is a mesh WiFi network hardware series consisting of a main router and one or more satellite nodes. Roon users should take care to verify the following settings and conditions with their Orbi networks to make the most of their Roon ecosystem and prevent networking issues.
Try rebooting the main Orbi router
Rebooting will automatically update any outdated firmware and refresh conditions across the network. Be sure to refresh the main router and not just a mesh node - this can be performed in the Orbi app or physically by rebooting or unplugging the machine.
Connect your RoonServer machine to the main router with Ethernet
If your RoonServer machine is relying on WiFi or connected to a network node, consider rearranging your setup to connect with ethernet to your main Orbi router instead. With RoonServer hardwired to the main router via ethernet, you've eliminated WiFi interference with Roon's main connection to the internet.
Verify Line-of-Sight Between Nodes
Orbi nodes don't require a clear line-of-sight to connect to one another, but it can help reduce the impact of WiFi interference on Roon. Try placing Orbi nodes high up, and if possible, try to strategically bypass any metal, cement, or reinforced walls through which a WiFi signal might have to pass.
Uncheck "Disable IGMP Proxying" in the main Orbi router settings
This setting is usually available under the "Advanced" tab or similar.
Enable Multicast and IGMP Snooping in any Managed Switches
If you have additional managed switches in your network, you'll want to make sure they're passing multicast traffic to the mesh network correctly. The particular steps involved will vary significantly depending on the model and manufacturer of your non-Orbi hardware. If you are using a Netgear switch with your Orbi setup, you can generally follow these steps to verify these settings:
- Open a web browser from a computer that is connected to the same network as the switch or is connected to the switch directly through an Ethernet cable.
- Enter the IP address that is assigned to the switch.
The login page opens. - Enter the switch password.
The home page displays. - From the menu at the top of the page, select ADVANCED SETTINGS.
The PRESET MODES page displays. - Select Multicast.
- Enable or disable IGMP snooping by clicking the slider in the IGMP Snooping section.
When IGMP snooping is enabled, the slider displays blue. When IGMP snooping is disabled, the slider displays white. - Click APPLY.
Your settings are saved.