Orbi netgear Router Wont Let My Shark Ion Robot vacuum through the firewall

When referring to WiFi, iRobot are referring to a 2.4Ghz network on a single SSID (Service Set ID that identifies the network that can be seen by a wireless device). In other words a single modem/router possibly bristling with WiFi antennas, that broadcasts a 2.4Ghz WiFi network with a unique SSID. Most modem/routers also deliver a 5.0Ghz network, but Roomba won’t work with that. By the way, the 2.4Ghz network is heavily congested with connected WiFi devices, and other legacy devices like microwave ovens, cordless phones and baby monitors often use it too.

Modern houses with multiple rooms may have spotty WiFi when it comes from a modem/router located near where the internet cable enters the house. So next-gen WiFi is available, which uses multiple Access Points (network-connected devices that transmit and receive a WiFi signal evenly throughout the house. Imagine an open umbrella representing each Access Point (AP)). These could be called mesh networks, range extenders, satellites or even sentinels. Google WiFi, Linksys Velop, Netgear Orbi are examples. Such systems are designed to allow fast roaming between Access Points when highly mobile devices like laptops, iPhones and iPads move with the users. A new term, BSSID identifies Access Points and the attached devices called clients

When you physically move your laptop or mobile phone from one room to another, the BSSID you use can change because your device looks for the strongest signal as you move from the area covered by one access point to the area covered by another access point, but this does not affect the connectivity of your laptop or phone. I can open on my iPhone or laptop to, say, a You tube video and stream it, and open another app that shows the BSSID of the nearest Access Point. Then I walk from one end of my house to the other watching the video uninterrupted, whilst keeping my eye on the other app to see the BSSID change as I approach then leave the “umbrella” of each AP.

Therefore the laptop or the phone is aware of the BSSID and connects to the strongest signal automatically so there’s seamless connectivity, which is exactly what should be happening with Roomba, but instead it is tied to a single congested 2.4Ghz network’s SSID, ignoring Access Points as it moves around. If ever there was a need for maintaining continuity between the Roomba and the network, irrespective of the BSSID

It’s difficult to cover a topic like this without delving into the underlying technology and its jargon. Nevertheless, I do hope the essence of the issue I raise is clear.