Ethernet backhaul kills entire network

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FURRYe38wrote:

How is the network set up? Can you give us a diagram? 

Any swtiches being used in the mix? 

Does the System work with out any ethernet connected? 

What other devices are connected? 

 

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I have switches everywhere. I think 7 or 8 total. I don't have a diagram, and it would take me a while to make one. The main router is in the middle of my sprawling 4800 square foot house, constrained to be there due to the Comcast cable connection. It connects to a switch in my structured wiring cabinet, which connects to all the other switches in the house.

Because the house is wired, every one of my devices with an Ethernet jack is wired. The only wireless devices are portable ones, like phones & tablets, and those which lack jacks, like a Harmony (remote control) hub. I have about 20 network devices total.

My network has been working OK for over 5 years, but with random old access points that I'd accumulated over the years. 2 Asus routers (1 used as a WAP) and a really old Netgear WAP. Wired performance has been fine, but WiFi has sort of been decaying over the years, with roaming from room to room being a pain point.

I found that placing the Orbi satellites where the 2 WAPs used to be killed my network until I unplugged them from Ethernet. I moved them a little closer to the router and now they work, but I would prefer wired speeds.

I tried to use the iOS Orbi app to install, but it gave me an error, saying it did not support my new Orbi hardware. So I went manual. This became difficult when the router and paired satellite updated their firmware without asking. Then I had to update the unpaired satellite's firmware manually. What should have taken a half hour took over 3 hours until my brain realized the problem was the wired connections to the Orbi satellites.

Any ideas?