When the eero app shows an Outdoor 7 as offline, the unit has lost either its power or its Ethernet link, because the Outdoor 7 has a single 2.5 Gigabit port that does both jobs. That makes the diagnosis shorter than for an indoor node. Walk to the other end of the cable first: the PoE injector or switch port that feeds the Outdoor 7 should show a link light, and a port that is dark means no power is leaving it.
The checks in more detail
Many people lose the Outdoor 7 after a power cut, a tripped outdoor outlet or a switch that was rebooted, and the cure is to restore power and give the unit two or three minutes to boot. eero says the Outdoor 7 needs PoE+ at 802.3at, so a switch that supports only 802.3af will show a link but fail to power it. Check the label on the injector or the port's power budget, since a switch with many cameras may have none left.
If power is good, test the cable. Outdoor runs suffer from water in the connector, a crushed section or a kink where the cable passes through a wall. Replace the patch cable with a short known-good one and try again, then move the unit to a different switch port. Make sure the other end reaches the eero gateway or a switch connected to it, and that no VLAN or filtering on a managed switch blocks it.
If the unit lights up but still shows offline, restart the gateway and wait, since an Outdoor 7 that cannot reach the gateway reports offline even when it is powered. A factory reset from the app or the reset button, followed by adding it again, helps when it joined another network or lost its settings. After it returns, check the firmware in the app and keep a note of the date. If nothing brings it back, the unit or its cable run needs service, and eero support can help.
Differential
Likely causes of “eero Outdoor 7 mesh node or satellite is offline”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
No power at the injector or switch
What separates it The port light is off
How to confirm Restore power and check the outlet
- 2
A switch that is not 802.3at
What separates it It links but does not power
How to confirm Use a PoE+ port or injector
- 3
A damaged cable
What separates it The link is lost
How to confirm Replace the cable
- 4
A gateway that is not reachable
What separates it The app says offline
How to confirm Restart the gateway
- 5
A lost configuration
What separates it It joined another network
How to confirm Reset and add it again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The injector or port light
- The PoE standard of the switch
- Whether the cable has been replaced
- Whether other nodes are online
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCheck the port light
ReversibleAt the injector or switch.
Confirm PoE+
Reversible802.3at.
Replace the patch cable
ReversibleWith a short good one.
Try another switch port
ReversibleOr injector.
Restart the gateway
ReversibleAnd wait.
Reset and add again
ReversibleIf it is lost.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Single port
- Power and data share it.
- Standard PoE
- 802.3af cannot power it.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it stays offline with good power and cable, contact eero support
- !If the cable is crushed or wet, replace the run
- !Ask an electrician about outdoor power
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Outdoor 7 offline?+
Power or cable at its single port.
Does it need a special injector?+
PoE+ at 802.3at.
How long should I wait after power returns?+
A few minutes.
Should I reset it?+
If it will not come back.