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Forum Discussion
Orbi RBR50 Satellite speed / damage question
We have had both the base Orbi rbr50 and a satellite for a few years. We spaced the satellite about 55 feet away from the base and while it some degradation it worked fine for our house. We have a 300kbps service wired into the base router. .
As of the past two months that satelitte performance has gone way down to maybe 35 to 45 kbps speed for the satellite. Base still performs at or near 300. No re-syning etc. has made any difference. All software is up to date.
I would like to know how I test the satelitte to see if there has been some damage to it. I could:
1) wire it to the base, but I'm not sure that would prove anything (on a temporary basis) ( also we are in the south so no basement to run cable)
2) change the channel on the backhaul. Not sure I should do this and not sure what if any performance change would result.
3) change some other setting, but I reviewed all of them and see nothing that would help
4) spend more money for another satellite if I could find one. (rather not put money into an older tech.)
Moving it closer is not an option bc we have needs beyond the satelitte (and away from the base)
Any thoughts of how I can troubleshoot this?
Thanks.
2 Replies
Move the RBS closer to the RBR, say 30 feet. Turn OFF the other RBS while testing the one RBS.
Swap RBS with each other and see if problem follows the RBS or remains at the one remote location.
BH Channel is set by the RBR. Can't be user changed.
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update? A complete pull of the power adapters for a period of time after the factory reset then walk thru the setup wizard and setup from scratch with a wired PC and web browser. https://kb.netgear.com/22697/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-router-using-the-router-web-interface
Recommend setting the default DHCP IP address pool range to the following after applying and a factory reset: 192.168.#.100 to 192.168.#.200.
https://kb.netgear.com/24089/How-do-I-specify-the-pool-of-IP-addresses-assigned-by-my-Nighthawk-router
https://kb.netgear.com/25722/How-do-I-reserve-an-IP-address-on-my-NETGEAR-router
I would power OFF the ISP modem for 1 minute. Factory reset the Orbi router and power it off. Power ON the ISP modem and let it sync. Then power ON the Orbi router and walk thru the setup wizard again using a wired PC and a web browser.
Press the back reset button for 15 seconds then release.
https://kb.netgear.com/31486/How-do-I-reset-my-Orbi-system-to-factory-default-settings
https://kb.netgear.com/000062081/How-do-I-erase-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System
rick9004 wrote:
Moving it closer is not an option bc we have needs beyond the satelitte (and away from the base)
Any thoughts of how I can troubleshoot this?
It is indeed frustrating when something that has worked for years no longer does and the user is not aware of anything that has changed.
What are these needs that are beyond the satellite?
(Hint: if these are devices that do not move, such as cameras, speakers, pool controllers, etc., then perhaps the satellite could be moved closer and those devices connected to an ordinary WiFi extender which can connect to the satellite in the new location.) Also, if these needs are 2.4G devices, maybe they can still reach the satellite at a new location.
It is probably worth giving it a try. i.e. if moving the satellite to approximately 30-35 ft. does not improve performance, then the issue is moot. i.e., if performance remains poor with the satellite closer to the router, then moving the satellite is not the solution.
rick9004 wrote:
As of the past two months that satelitte performance has gone way down to maybe 35 to 45 kbps speed for the satellite. Base still performs at or near 300.
Is "kbps" a typo? How is speed being measured?
