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Forum Discussion
Adding 2nd satellite brings down network intermittently
I've had my Orbi and 2 satellites for years with no problems when they operated in Access Point mode. Last September, Google Fiber replaced their modem/router with a modem and I changed the Orbit to...
Each satellite is connected by wire to the Orbi router directly and not thru a switch. One satellite (which has been stable by itself) has some stuff connected to it by wire (an LG TV, a Denon Receiver, and a Chromecast with Google TV) directly by wire thru its ports, no switch. The satellite I try to add has nothing connected to it by wire except the Orbi router. And the network goes down intermittently whether that satellite is connected to the Orbi by wire or by wifi. Everything else wired to the Orbi router goes thru a TP Link TL-SG1024S switch. But I repeat.... the satellites are wired directly to the Orbi router and not thru the switch. And I had the same problems with a Netgear Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS324). The Orbi router is connected directly to Google Fiber's modem. The satellites are connected to the Orbi router by star. Same results with unstable network when I turn off Daisy Chain option. Same results with multiple satellites (I have extras) and multiple Orbit routers (I have extras).
So what happens if you turn OFF the 1st RBS and then leave the newer added RBS ON and running?
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and 📡 satellite(s)? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR and RBS📡 to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 📡
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update?
What is the model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
The bottom line is that with two satellites connected directly to the Orbi router by WIRE (and even by WiFi as I found during an accidental test by WIFI when I left a wire disconnected), when both satellites are turned on, when one is showing good the other is showing config sync or disconnected. If I turn off the first one the second one shows good. If I turn off the second one, the first one shows good. The Orbi router does not work with two satellites at the same time. And I've tried it with 2 different Orbi routers and 3 different satellites. I don't think the size of the house is relevant but it is about 5000 square feet and each Orbi is on a different floor and we are talking mostly wired testing. And yes I tried factory resets of the routers and satellites and all are running same latest firmware that Netgear posted.
I have to wonder, how many people own two Orbi satellites and don't know that one isn't working because they never look at the app or the Orbi web site.
I never had this problem when using the Orbi router as an Access point instead of as a router. (Google Fiber replaced their modem/routers with modems last September.) I also was using an Orbi router as an access point for a while instead of a using a second satellite. Didn't have a problem then either. Problem is using two satellites. Doesn't work.
A few days ago I replaced my Netgear Orbi with a combination of Google Wi-Fi and Google Nest Wi-Fi. Problems have disappeared. Network does not go down. Two wired Google Nest points and one wired Google Wi-Fi points working well connected by wire to Google Wi-Fi router. But here is the interesting thing. Just received a long post of complaints on my phone that people are having similar problems with the Google stuff as I had with the Orbi stuff. So far I've had no problems. But I have to wonder if ISP's have changed something recently that is messing with some mesh systems in general.