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Forum Discussion
Orbi - why can't we change channels on satellites?
Wireless design best practice when installing multiple access points in an area is to have non-overlapping channels. So if you have 3 APs (RBR50, 2-RBS50) in an area, for 2.4 GHz, one AP would be cha...
That assumes optimum placement of APs operating on the same channel to avoid co-channel interference and excessive collisions. That is often not possible in real world installations. And that should not be the assumption by Netgear (just move the Orbi to an optimum location, not where you actually want it). Using the same channel does have the advantage of avoiding latency cost of channel switching when walking through the house, but most devices are stationary while in use.
In addition, in higher density housing developments and apartments, co-channel interference from a foreign WLAN near one Orbi could be different from the co-channel interference near a second Orbi.
So it would seem the best solution would be to allow the manual assignment of channels on the satellite.
jesus, wtf. Really?
If I had know I couldn't put the sats on different channels I wouldn't have bought this product. It makes absolutely ZERO sense to me and that's why I didn't even look for this "feature" when making my buying decision. The possibility of the whole network operating on the same channel didn't even occur to me (until I saw it), I assumed it would automatically configure itself to use the most reasonable channels on each sat to provide best connectivity.
What on earth?
I'm in a totally non-congested area, basically all channels are unused and my 3 orbis cram themselves onto ONE SINGEL channel?
I can't even start to understand.
And what's the supposed upside? Better roaming for old devices? Well, forcing their customers into making such a tradeoff is not what I would expect from a company that values their customers. Maybe in some circumstances it really *is* better to use a single channel, but that should be a CHOICE the customer makes, not the product... at least not in this price category.
I'm hoping netgear will fix this. It's only software after all...
This is not a defect or a bug. This is how extenders and repeaters work. They are connected to the main wireless AP and they connect to the same channels. There is no changing of the channels on extenders or repeaters. Chaning channels on the satellites would defeat the purpose of the satellites as they operate in this extender mode. The only mode that you can change channels on is in AP mode which satellites don't support. Again, this is by design for ALL extenders and repeaters which Orbi Satellites are designed.
If channels need changing, please change channels on the main Orbi router. Save settings and reboot the router and satellites. The satellites will reconnect to the new channels.
molec wrote:
jesus, wtf. Really?
If I had know I couldn't put the sats on different channels I wouldn't have bought this product. It makes absolutely ZERO sense to me and that's why I didn't even look for this "feature" when making my buying decision. The possibility of the whole network operating on the same channel didn't even occur to me (until I saw it), I assumed it would automatically configure itself to use the most reasonable channels on each sat to provide best connectivity.
What on earth?
I'm in a totally non-congested area, basically all channels are unused and my 3 orbis cram themselves onto ONE SINGEL channel?
I can't even start to understand.
And what's the supposed upside? Better roaming for old devices? Well, forcing their customers into making such a tradeoff is not what I would expect from a company that values their customers. Maybe in some circumstances it really *is* better to use a single channel, but that should be a CHOICE the customer makes, not the product... at least not in this price category.
I'm hoping netgear will fix this. It's only software after all...
I may have to rethink some things, but possibly I bought the wrong product. I thought we went beyond "extenders" and "repeaters" with those "smart wifi systems".
- I just wanted to add my experience with Orbi. I have the same model you do three units and they all use the same channel that I can see on my Wi-Fi analyzer. I have 62 devices connected a handful which are Nest cameras streaming uploading all the time to the cloud gigs of data and all products are working flawlessly! I average about 1 TB of network usage per month. As a a/v technician who installs ubiquity and other consumer and retail networks I can tell you the way orbi operates is absolutely phenomenal. Not only is it very strong Works indoors and outdoors and none of my products disconnect I will not question the basic laws of physics that say it shouldn't work on all one channel, but it does.
