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Forum Discussion
ORBI Wifi Problems
We have had the ORBI wireless system for nearly two years now. One Master and One sattelite. We have had CONSTANT problems with the wifi. We have had intermittent drops for devices, bandwidth iss...
Same issue here. I'm faily technical and have had too many problems. I have the RBR500 with with the RBS50 satellite as my house is ab out 1,400 sf on three floors. I have had a Ring doorbell for about 2 years and it was not always working consistently. I always assumed it was a doorbell problem so I finally decided to change it for a Nest Hello doorbell. That one worked well for a couple of days but then started dropping all the time, saying it was offline. I have been trying to troubleshoot the issue for more than 1 week and everything points to the WiFi which, when I do a WiFi analysis, seems to be going up, down, up, down, every 2 seconds. Since the new doorbell records 24 hours video, I assume it is more sensitive to this instability. In addition, I also bought a Nest Outdoor Camera and, when I place it just beside another camera I have on WiFi, it does not connect (while the other connects but has sometimes drop issues).
All in add, I'm also at the point of looking for a different mesh system. Because of my house configuration, the model and base are on the back of the house, on the 3rd floor (this is where the office is). The doorbell is outside the front door which is on the 1st floor, in the front of the house. I tried moving the satellite which is on the front wall on the second floor to the first floor but it seems like it is too far from the base (surprizing as there is no big wall in between, almost just two floors). So, I guess I need to find a system which allows me to have the base on the 3rd floor, a satellite on the 2nd floor and one on the 1st floor (that one would have to talk to the one on the satellite on the second floor). Does such system exist (daisy chain) or are all satellites connecting directly to the base (star configuration)? Would the Google Nest WiFi be better (considering I'm going with the Nest product for doorbell and camera)?
Thanks for any insight!
I installed an Orbi setup because too many complaints about "internet is slow" from my Netgear R7000. 2,000 sq. ft. on two floors with the router in one corner upstairs and the satellite in the middle downstairs. Been going strong for about two years. If I had the problems others do, I also would be looking for a different solution, BUT... this problem seems to me to be a lot like choosing any other product.
People who frequent this forum all have Orbi's. Unlike plemans , the R7000 and Orbi are all I have used for more than five years. I think the Deco M9 looks pretty hot - but he dumped it! We know all about what is lacking in the product we use every day, and almost nothing about any other product.
When I do get ready to look, my first step will be the user forums for the other products. (Dampened my enthusiasm for Velop pretty quick!)
Thanks CrimpOn , that makes a lot of sense. If I stay with the Orbi, the only solution I can think of is to get a second satellite to put on the ground floor where I seem to get a lot of interference (many wifi networks show up from our my house and even my garage door wireless keypad outside sometimes can't connect to the opener inside). But I'll have to use daily chaining to get to get the signal from the second floor's satellite to the one on the first floor as simply moving the only satellite I have to the first floor does not provide a good connection from the base.
Any experience with using daisy chaining? I read on one of those threads that it should be turned off when connecting devices like the Nest. So, I've worried that spending another 200$ might not get a result at the end. Also, is getting a second RBS50 the best option or can I go with the RBW30 (smaller & cheaper) or the RBS50Y in this scenario of a 3rd unit through daisy chain?
LucP wrote:Thanks CrimpOn , that makes a lot of sense. If I stay with the Orbi, the only solution I can think of is to get a second satellite to put on the ground floor where I seem to get a lot of interference (many wifi networks show up from our my house and even my garage door wireless keypad outside sometimes can't connect to the opener inside). But I'll have to use daily chaining to get to get the signal from the second floor's satellite to the one on the first floor as simply moving the only satellite I have to the first floor does not provide a good connection from the base.
Any experience with using daisy chaining? I read on one of those threads that it should be turned off when connecting devices like the Nest. So, I've worried that spending another 200$ might not get a result at the end. Also, is getting a second RBS50 the best option or can I go with the RBW30 (smaller & cheaper) or the RBS50Y in this scenario of a 3rd unit through daisy chain?
I've used the orbi in both daisy chain, star configuration, and with a hardwired backhaul. All worked fairly well. The hardwired backhaul is the best but I did use daisy chain setup to cover my garage and its worked quite well. You don't have to get the RBS50 or RBS50y but it is something to keep in mind that the other versions don't use the 1733mbps backhaul but use the 866mbps. So put them at the end of the chain to prevent bottlenecking in the middle.
I've used nest to with daisy chaining and it was able to sustain a decent connection. I do have over congested 2.4ghz in my area and this causes some issues with my Iot devices that are only on 2.4ghz. I usually dont' recommend using the auto setting for 2.4ghz but its made my 2.4ghz more stable and functional. this isn't always the case so try both auto and manually setting channels.
I'd also report that I've used quite a few different mesh systems. they all have plus's and minus's but usually if a system is having issues related to house structure, wireless interference, etc----then they are all going to have the issue. I've found the main difference is stability. They've all went through periods of instability as firmware gets worked out. If I had to go for my top 3?
1. orbi (some times gets a bad firmware but stable)
2. Arris (not as much firmware updates but stable. less features though. Faster but I'm using the AX so not a fair comparison.)
3. Tp-link M9plus (not as many updates, stays fairly stable, lower overall hardwired speeds and wireless speeds)
To all of you who are having issues with your Orbi setup:
My company installs several different brands of Mesh systems, with no issues whatsoever. They run smooth, have wide and fast WIFI and handle dozens of wired and wireless devices.
The many brands of mesh systems are all pretty much the same and you won't find any brand that you will be happy with if it doesn't fit your environment, and it is not configured properly. It also doesn't matter what forum you go to, you will hear complaints from people, probably because they don't know how to configure the system properly or have faulty equipment.
Realistically if a mesh device is not defective, then the issue is usually, (not in any order), ISP modem issue, improper configuration settings, channel interference, cabling, network switches, 3rd party devices, 3rd party DNS server usage, Static Internet IP settings, brownouts, improper distancing of satellites, bad power supply, and more.
Some of the problems OP's blamed on the Orbi:
Slow all around internet - fix - cat5 cable connecting ISP modem to Orbi
Satellites show poor connection - fix- move them closer
Orbi router keeps flashing white - fix - hard reset
Can't reset Orbi router or satellite - fix - hard reset
Terrible coverage - need larger system for sq footage
No Internet - fix - Let your ISP dictate the IP address, Subnet Mask and Gateway unless you paid for a static IP.
There are many more I can list, but I hope you get my point.
The Orbi system is one of the most reliable systems we use, and we install them more than any other brand. They are also more powerful than many other brands with faster speeds and faster backhaul channels. I personally came from a Velop system and was very happy. However I'm happier with the Orbi system because my WIFI speed is close to what I pay for, it handles my cameras way better, has more features and is all around more powerful.
And for those who may ask, NO I don't work for Netgear, nor have any affiliation with them. I just sell, recommend and install their product because it's that good.
Here is the thing though Mstrbig, what some are saying. and i am saying. is it did work good and now it is not great. Or at least that it what is happeneing to me. I am just here reading after googling and came upon this post. I have had my Orbi setup for years. even bought it for many as X-mas gifts telling them they will be so happy. Mine was flawless for years. No matter where i was in my house i had full bars on my phone. but now all of a sudden it is not as great. I am not as tech savy as the rest on here. I am talking about watching you tube or Videos on twitter, etc. Some stream and play flawlessly. and then the next will lock up every two seconds. some won't even load to play. that never happened before. it has always been great. it is now Decemeber of 2020 and i want to say i noticed that is started getting crappy about 4 to 6 month ago. i just lived with it. the other day i was in the room with the main sattelite. in the actual room. And my wifi showed like 2 bars. when 6 months ago i had full bars no matter where i was in my house. I think i need some setting changed or something. i just did normal setup years ago. didn't manually change any settings or anything. Buit again, it was perfect for years!!! i do all the updates when they show up in the app. i have had multiple computers and phones in the past 6 months and they all do the same. so it is not them(or should not be them. i have killer Charter internet. i pay big bucks for faster speed. i have one of those Motorola Surfboard routers. Which i read are great? .
here is my setup. i was wondering if i couild screeshot my settings and if anyone could look and tell me if i do have something wrong? but you would have to tell me what tio screen shot.
