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Forum Discussion
Help needed with Orbi RBK50!
Hello everyone. I have a three bedroom apartment that is approx. 1,500 square feet. The only [active] coaxial hookup is in one corner of the apartment. It's not an ideal spot, but it's what I have to work with. I am planning on getting the RBK50 (router + one satellite). I wanted to use the satellite to hard-wire my entertainment system (TV, Bose system, PS4, etc.). I am worried that if I do that, the rest of my place won't have ample coverage.
My wife and I are expecting our first child in a few weeks and we purchased an Arlo Baby. I am especially concerned that there won't be ample coverage for the video/audio streaming that the Arlo Baby will require.
I've attached a floor plan of my place. The star is where the router has to go. S1 is where I'd like the satellite to go. S2 is where I would put a second satellite (if necessary). The baby's room is the 10' 12'4" room in the bottom right corner.
My questions for you all are:
1. Do I need a second satellite?
2. If I do, is my proposed layout ok?
3. Could adding a second satellite hurt my performance at all?
Thanks, in advance, for your help!
22 Replies
1. Do I need a second satellite? No, the router alone can cover around 30 feet. Since you have the router at one end and need a satellite at the opposite end, this will work fine. I have a similar placement.
2. If I do, is my proposed layout ok? No need for S1. Put base at Start and a satellite at S2. 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials.
3. Could adding a second satellite hurt my performance at all? Yes. You can't have too many over lapping wifi sources to close together.
I would stick with the Router where it has to be and use pass-through (those with a power socket built in e.g. Devolo dLAN 1200) Powerline Adpaters to hard wire your TV, PS4 etc - via a simple unmanaged switch (e.g. THIS) if necessary. Then place S2 where it gives you the best overall coverage.
The powerline adapters idea is a good one. I have NETGEAR PowerLINE 1200 Mbps, 1 Gigabit Port (PL1200-100PAS). I would simply connect that to to my router and a switch, and then wire the components to the switch, right?
FURRYe38 wrote:
1. Do I need a second satellite? No, the router alone can cover around 30 feet. Since you have the router at one end and need a satellite at the opposite end, this will work fine. I have a similar placement.
I think you're confusing the minimum recommended distance between router and satellite with WiFi range. The WiFi range of both Router and satellite is far greater than 30ft. Of course the range in the apartment setting of the OP will depend on many factors, the main one being wall construction.
Yes, just simple information as the OP was asking about a 2nd satellite and for the size home he has, doen't need a 2nd satellite.
Building matierials are a given. However to some don't take this into account or unaware of the impact of building materials.
AC641 wrote:
FURRYe38 wrote:
1. Do I need a second satellite? No, the router alone can cover around 30 feet. Since you have the router at one end and need a satellite at the opposite end, this will work fine. I have a similar placement.
I think you're confusing the minimum recommended distance between router and satellite with WiFi range. The WiFi range of both Router and satellite is far greater than 30ft. Of course the range in the apartment setting of the OP will depend on many factors, the main one being wall construction.
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem?
thebahlfam wrote:
Hello everyone. I have a three bedroom apartment that is approx. 1,500 square feet. The only [active] coaxial hookup is in one corner of the apartment. It's not an ideal spot, but it's what I have to work with. I am planning on getting the RBK50 (router + one satellite). I wanted to use the satellite to hard-wire my entertainment system (TV, Bose system, PS4, etc.). I am worried that if I do that, the rest of my place won't have ample coverage.
My wife and I are expecting our first child in a few weeks and we purchased an Arlo Baby. I am especially concerned that there won't be ample coverage for the video/audio streaming that the Arlo Baby will require.
I've attached a floor plan of my place. The star is where the router has to go. S1 is where I'd like the satellite to go. S2 is where I would put a second satellite (if necessary). The baby's room is the 10' 12'4" room in the bottom right corner.
My questions for you all are:
1. Do I need a second satellite?
2. If I do, is my proposed layout ok?
3. Could adding a second satellite hurt my performance at all?
Thanks, in advance, for your help!
The modem is an ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 Cable Modem.
Be aware of your ISP modem model. Its not a great modem:
thebahlfam wrote:
The modem is an ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 Cable Modem.
* Update *
I was wrong about where the router has to go. I got the RBK50 and installed the router in the living room where the only live coaxial hookup is (S1 in the attached diagram). I set up the satellite on the other side of the property in the master bedroom (S2 in the attached diagram). The Arlo Baby monitor in the baby's room (bottom right room) is connecting to S1, but only at 2/3 bars. The performance on the baby monitor is quite bad.
Two questions:
1. Based on the fact that it's not connecting at 3/3 bars, would an add-on Orbi wall plug (RBW30) in the baby's room make sense?
2. The Arlo Baby monitor's manual says to connect it to the 2.4 GHz signal. However, it is connecting to the 5 GHz signal. Is there a way for me to "force" this device, and this device only, to connect to the 2.4 GHz signal?
What is the distance between the babys room and the main router? The camera looks like the distance is well with in range.
You can lower the power output of the main router on the 5Ghz radio from 100% to 25% save settings then try a reboot on the camera to see if it connects to the 2.4ghz radio.
Possible that your camera could be not working well?
What are your Download/Upload speeds for your Internet connection? I would start looking at the Arlo Baby Monitor. With your system set up as descibed go into the baby's room with a phone, laptop etc and measure the speed you get in a similar position to the Baby monitor using something like Speedtest.net.
I presume that would be the case...
