just got the Orbi rbk50 to try it out to see how it performs so my issue that it doesn't connect to satellite unless it close byso not sure why it has to be close i thought this was a system to use all over home my other router NETGEAR RAX50 so im trying bothof these systems out to see how they perform so im surprise the range on the rax50 is suppressing the rbk50 at the moment so any info or help thanks

bigmoe80 wrote: just got the Orbi rbk50 to try it out to see how it performs so my issue that it doesn't connect to satellite unless it close by By default, Orbi satellites connect to the router using a 5G WiFi signal. 5G has greater bandwidth than 2.4G and (typically) there are fewer 5G WiFi devices competing for the same bandwidth. However, 5G does not penetrate building materials as well as 2.4G. As the Netgear guide points out, when the satellite displays a BLUE ring light for two minutes (and then turns off), the signal is "Good". Amber means "Not Good Enough" and Magenta (sort of red) means no communication at all. https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite As a general rule of thumb, most users attempt to place the satellite approximately 30 ft. from the router and observe the ring light. If it turns BLUE, then maybe a bit farther away will work. Not BLUE, it needs to be closer. It all depends on the building dimensions and construction. In my case, 30 ft. would be in the middle of the living room. Nothing to place the satellite on and no electrical outlet to power it with. I wound up at about 25 ft. and it works great. Is 30 ft. close by?

ok thanks for advice i went throudh the setup twice and flashed white and then stop i guess it was trying to sync

and my house is a one level house

My practice with satellites is to first pair them in the same room as the router. That way, I can use the router web interface on my PC, handle the sync buttons on the two units, and watch the ring LED without running all over the house. Once the satellite is successfully paired, it can then be moved anywhere in the house, plugged in, and the ring LED observed. Orbi satellites will also connect to the router using Ethernet cable (no longer than 300ft.) If the satellite does not pair when sitting in the same room as the satellite, it may take a Factory Reset to clear out any existing configuration on the satellite (not the router).

ok im give that a try in the same room and see how it goes again and reply afterwards give me a few minutes if you would

orbi rbk50 help | NETGEAR Communities

14 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru
Oct 07, 2022
bigmoe80 wrote:

just got the Orbi rbk50 to try it out to see how it performs so my issue that it doesn't connect to satellite unless it close by

By default, Orbi satellites connect to the router using a 5G WiFi signal. 5G has greater bandwidth than 2.4G and (typically) there are fewer 5G WiFi devices competing for the same bandwidth. However, 5G does not penetrate building materials as well as 2.4G.

As the Netgear guide points out, when the satellite displays a BLUE ring light for two minutes (and then turns off), the signal is "Good". Amber means "Not Good Enough" and Magenta (sort of red) means no communication at all.

https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite

As a general rule of thumb, most users attempt to place the satellite approximately 30 ft. from the router and observe the ring light. If it turns BLUE, then maybe a bit farther away will work. Not BLUE, it needs to be closer. It all depends on the building dimensions and construction. In my case, 30 ft. would be in the middle of the living room. Nothing to place the satellite on and no electrical outlet to power it with. I wound up at about 25 ft. and it works great.

Is 30 ft. close by?
- bigmoe80
  Guide
  Oct 07, 2022
  ok thanks for advice i went throudh the setup twice and flashed white and then stop i guess it was trying to sync
  - CrimpOn
    Guru
    Oct 07, 2022
    My practice with satellites is to first pair them in the same room as the router. That way, I can use the router web interface on my PC, handle the sync buttons on the two units, and watch the ring LED without running all over the house. Once the satellite is successfully paired, it can then be moved anywhere in the house, plugged in, and the ring LED observed.
    
    Orbi satellites will also connect to the router using Ethernet cable (no longer than 300ft.)
    
    If the satellite does not pair when sitting in the same room as the satellite, it may take a Factory Reset to clear out any existing configuration on the satellite (not the router).
- bigmoe80
  Guide
  Oct 07, 2022
  and my house is a one level house

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orbi rbk50 help