Issue with New Laptop on Orbi

What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

Be sure the wifi adapter drivers are up to date on the laptop. 

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

https://kb.netgear.com/19668/Link-Rate-and-Transfer-Speed

Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

Also try turning down the power output of the RBRs wifi radios from 100% to 50% and see if this changes anything. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings. help steer the laptop to 5Ghz radio maybe. 

Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Circle, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Set Short preamble instead of Long preamble modes. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).

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WPJoe wrote:

When I open the Device Manager I noticed that this new laptop is not showing as a Laptop (with the icons used in Device Manager).  Instead its showing as "Network" with the Antenna icon.  

 

Does this matter?  Could this be causing an issue?

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This is annoying, but not functional.  The Orbi "app" has struggled with displaying device types correctly.  Depending on which Orbi router you have, Netgear claims to have improved the device recognition software with the latest release of firmware.  Whether that is worth taking a risk that updating firmware will "do bad things" to the router is a matter for the customer to decide.  You should be able to "correct" the display be selecting the icon yourself.

Concerning the laptop.

• Does it appear to work correctly with other WiFi routers?  If it does not connect to other WiFi at 5G, then something is wrong with the laptop.
• You might consider trying to fool the laptop into connecting at 5G and hope that it will "stick". This requires using the Orbi web interface with a web browser (because the "app" does not provide access to the features needed).

Using the web interface, navigate to the Advanced Tab, Advanced Settings, Wireless Settings and uncheck the box "Broadcast SSID on 2.4G" and click "Apply".  (It takes about 2 minutes for this to happen.  Seems like an eternity.) Every device currently connected to the Orbi will remain connected.

On the laptop, open the network selection (lower right), click on the Orbi network, disconnect, and "Forget" the Orbi.

Look at the list of available WiFi SSID's.  The Orbi will appear, but only the 5G radio will be broadcasting the SSID.  Enter the password and connect.  The laptop should now be connected at 5G.  If it does  not, then something is wrong with the laptop.

If it did connect at 5G, then return to the Orbi web interface, check the box "Broadcast SSID on 2.4G", "Apply", and wait (and wait).

The "payoff" will be when you restart the laptop and it connects to Orbi at 5G.