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Need Basement Help
- Due to COVID constraints my wife has begun teaching her classes from home via Google Meets. She set up a nice work area in our finished basement, but had trouble with our WIFI there. After reading here of others' success with ORBI Outside in the basement I purchased the unit, synced it, and placed it in the basement on her work desk. Simply put, it isn't helping. While the app shows that it's connected to the router and system and her laptop is connected, she still gets error messages saying, "Move closer to router." Our system is the ORBI RBR40 router with 2 satellites plus the aforementioned ORBI Outside unit. Listing this in the MODEL box above was not an option, so I got as close as I could. This is an expensive bust right now. Can anyone help?
- It won't allow me to use channel 36. Each time I attempted to do so the number in the box went back to 40. I've set the 5G devices variously at 40, 44, and 48. Doesn't seem to make an appreciable difference.
31 Replies
Basements are not good locations for the main host RBR router. All that concrete and steel will cause problems. Main or 1st level floors are recommended.
What Orbi model do you have?
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?Any RBS installed as well?
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 📡Ensure the laptops wifi adapter drivers are updated as well.
- The router is on the main floor, next to the modem. Only the ORBI Outside satellite is in the basement.
The ORBI Outside satellite is more than 30 feet from the router.
My router is an RBR40 with 2 satellites and the added ORBI Outside. The house is roughly 3,500 square feet. The modem router has been disconnected.The error message is coming from Google Meets, correct?
What this sounds like is the connection between Orbi router and the RBS50Y satellite is too weak.
There is no benefit of placing the satellite "on the desk" with the computer if the link between router and satellite is weak.
WiFi is affected dramatically by material. It could be just your luck that the WiFi link between router and satellite is having to penetrate 20 floor joists. Or be directly behind an HVAC duct that is hidden above the ceiling.
I would try relocating the satellite close to the router and still maintain either a clear line-of-sight or have few obstacles between the satellite and teaching PC.
