I see this issue has been raised and there doesn't seem to be an answer. I have ring cameras all around my house and I have an Orbi base station and 3 satellites. The cameras all have poor signal and it seems most of the time they dont even connect to the satellite that is within feet from them but rather they connect to the base which is fairly far away. Is there a way to fix the signal issues as well as what the devices connect to?

Try turning off Beamforming? Beamforming can increase the range and hence prevent a device from moving to another access point. Some devices have a setting similar to "Roaming Aggressiveness". The less aggressive, the more it will hang on to a weak signal. The more aggressive the higher chance it will move to something "better". Maybe your devices have a similar settings? One thing to remember is that this is not necessarily the fault of the Orbi. It is the device that decides what to connect to. All the Orbi access points are saying is "You can connect here".

Have you tried using the Ring App to "Change the WiFi Network" and then have it select the Orbi (again) from the list of available networks?Or, do a "reset" on the Ring and set it up again? This issue of devices connecting to an Access Point that even the dumbest human knows is inappropriate remains one of the top mysteries. Solving it would improve the Orbi experience immensely.

I have done both multiple times as well as change a ton of settings within the orbi GUI and nothing helps. Thanks though.

How about this: go to the Orbin web interface, Advanced Tab, Advanced Setup, Wireless Settings and turn the 2.4G transmit power down to 25%. That will reduce the power output of all Orbi radios. THEN try to connect the Ring Doorbell to Orbi. Maybe the Ring thought the router WiFi signal was "poor, but good enough" and reducing power will make it prefer the satellite. The Attached Devices page will show if it changes to a satellite. Afterward, turn the power back up as far as you need to get good service throughout the house.

I did see this somewhere else on the community and change it to 25% but didn’t try rejoining them after I did it. I will try reconnecting them tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks again

Cameras and other devices not connecting to satellites

23 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Nov 21, 2019
Have you tried using the Ring App to "Change the WiFi Network" and then have it select the Orbi (again) from the list of available networks?
Or, do a "reset" on the Ring and set it up again?

This issue of devices connecting to an Access Point that even the dumbest human knows is inappropriate remains one of the top mysteries. Solving it would improve the Orbi experience immensely.
- rp17
  Guide
  Nov 21, 2019
  I have done both multiple times as well as change a ton of settings within the orbi GUI and nothing helps. Thanks though.
  - CrimpOn
    Guru - Experienced User
    Nov 21, 2019
    How about this: go to the Orbin web interface, Advanced Tab, Advanced Setup, Wireless Settings and turn the 2.4G transmit power down to 25%. That will reduce the power output of all Orbi radios. THEN try to connect the Ring Doorbell to Orbi. Maybe the Ring thought the router WiFi signal was "poor, but good enough" and reducing power will make it prefer the satellite. The Attached Devices page will show if it changes to a satellite. Afterward, turn the power back up as far as you need to get good service throughout the house.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Nov 21, 2019
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.

What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?

Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
Try disabling the following and see:
Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).
rp17
Guide
Dec 02, 2019
These satellites seem to be almost useless. I have a smart plug in he's from a satellite and it still is connecting to the main router. There doesn't seem to be any reasoning for the connection and it makes using this almost impossible. I'm seconds away from eating the $400ish dollars I've spent on all this equipment and buying something else
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Dec 02, 2019
  What didn't help?
  Please give feedback to the questions presented so we can get a better idea if your configuration and settings please.
  rp17 wrote:
  These satellites seem to be almost useless. I have a smart plug in he's from a satellite and it still is connecting to the main router. There doesn't seem to be any reasoning for the connection and it makes using this almost impossible. I'm seconds away from eating the $400ish dollars I've spent on all this equipment and buying something else
chadarooskie
Aspirant
Mar 04, 2020
Did you ever find a solution to this problem??? I am having the same issue. It will be connected to the Satellite (which is not 5 feet from the Ring spotlight cam) and have great signal.. then out of the blue it will connect itslef to the main Orbi Router and have harly no signal.
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Mar 04, 2020
  What Firmware version is currently loaded?
  
  What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router
  
  What happens if you turn down the power output on the RBR from 100% to say 50%. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings. Camera should remain connected to RBS...unless the RBS happens to be rebooted or power cycled. Then the camera may reconnect to the RBR. Which in this case you'll have to reboot the camera or RBR while leave the RBS ON.
  chadarooskie wrote:
  Did you ever find a solution to this problem??? I am having the same issue. It will be connected to the Satellite (which is not 5 feet from the Ring spotlight cam) and have great signal.. then out of the blue it will connect itslef to the main Orbi Router and have harly no signal.
- rp17
  Guide
  Mar 04, 2020
  I never fixed the issue. I tried everything suggested and still it jumps back and forth. I just deal with it because it seems to work ok the majority of the time
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Mar 04, 2020
    Did you try reducing the power out put on the RBR to see if this helps any?
    rp17 wrote:
    I never fixed the issue. I tried everything suggested and still it jumps back and forth. I just deal with it because it seems to work ok the majority of the time

Forum Discussion

Cameras and other devices not connecting to satellites