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Forum Discussion
Orbi Satellite issues...or is it me?
I am having an issue since I purchased it actually and I am finally reaching out for help. I am technical but this issue is stumping me. I have a 3 level home where my Orbi Router is on floor 1...
OrbiOwner34 wrote:I decided to add a wired backhaul. Cable tests perfectly.
So my problem is when i check on the connection status I see that the satellite is still connecting over 5G. The instructions suggest it should flip to the cabled connection and I dont see how I have any control over this myself.
Correct. The owner has no control over which backhaul the satellite uses. 'Normal' behavior is to use a wired backhaul because it gives better performance. How was the cable tested?
There are two easy tests that can be done:
- Temporarily bring the satellite next to the router and connect it with a regular ethernet patch cable.
It takes several minutes to switch from WiFi to wired backhaul.
If the satellite does switch, then something about the cable path between router and satellite is 'not right'.
Is there a switch of some kind in the mix? A patch panel? - If there is a device with a gigabit ethernet port on it (laptop?), connect that device in place of the satellite.
It has to be a gigabit port.
Does the device connect?
Then open the Orbi web interface, Advanced Tab, and click on the blue box "Show Statistics".
The LAN port that the device is connected to should show 1000M/Full.
If it does not, then the cable path is suspect.
A lot of the time, there is nothing wrong with the actual ethernet cable, but one of the RJ45 terminators is crimped incorrectly. When I run ethernet cables, I always leave extra because I sometimes have to cut off connectors and put on new ones.
Thank you, great feedback.
I used a cable pair tester. I connected a laptop to it and I tested Internet speeds but I think based on your description I should try it again. I will also use a different patch cable and bring the Orbi closer and see if it switches when with different cable. I dont disagree that needs closer examination.
As for being too far, that is what I thought and the reason I ran the cable to backhaul that service so it could dedicate the wireless to serving clients not keeping an established connection to the router. The thing is the devices see eachother perfectly via wifi and the Orbi satellite backhaul status is on 5G and is "good".
Any pointers on my second problem? My devices seemingly only connect to the router. Even though the satellite appears to be operating fine they dont want to prefer that when i am closed to that device than the router. Even absurdly closer.
Thanks for the quick reply!
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.
OrbiOwner34 wrote:Thank you, great feedback.
I used a cable pair tester. I connected a laptop to it and I tested Internet speeds but I think based on your description I should try it again. I will also use a different patch cable and bring the Orbi closer and see if it switches when with different cable. I dont disagree that needs closer examination.
As for being too far, that is what I thought and the reason I ran the cable to backhaul that service so it could dedicate the wireless to serving clients not keeping an established connection to the router. The thing is the devices see eachother perfectly via wifi and the Orbi satellite backhaul status is on 5G and is "good".
Any pointers on my second problem? My devices seemingly only connect to the router. Even though the satellite appears to be operating fine they dont want to prefer that when i am closed to that device than the router. Even absurdly closer.
Thanks for the quick reply!
