RBK 40 - 1 of 2 satellites is not connected to main Orbi router

Question

Hello; I was looking to find an optimal channel setting and when I was reviewing my connected devices, realized that one satellite (#1) is connected to the main Orbi router. The second satellite (#2 in our basement) is connected to the first satellite, not the main router. This does not seem correct. Please advise and if my hunch is accurate, how do I ensure that satellite #2 is connected to the main Orbi router? Thanks in advance, David&nbsp;

CrimpOn · Answer

Dway&nbsp;wrote:one satellite (#1) is connected to the main Orbi router. The second satellite (#2 in our basement) is connected to the first satellite, not the main router. This does not seem correct.First, what seems "correct" to humans is not often what computers decide on.&nbsp; My guess is that when the second satellite powered up, it decided the signal from satellite#1 was better than the signal from the router and connected to it.&nbsp; There is a simple way to prevent satellite#2 from connecting to satellite#1:On the Orbi web interface, select the Advanced Tab-&gt;Advanced Setup-&gt;Wireless Settings.&nbsp; About half way down the web page, uncheck the box "Enable Daisy-Chain Topology".&nbsp; (I don't know if the router will reboot automatically or not.)&nbsp; Then, restart each of the satellites.&nbsp; This setting tells the router that satellite connections are only directly to the router.&nbsp;Be prepared for satellite#2 to be unhappy about this.&nbsp; If the "ring light" does not eventually turn BLUE, then the router/satellite connection is not "Good".&nbsp;Good Luck

Dway · Answer

&nbsp;CrimpOn&nbsp;wrote:Dway&nbsp;wrote:one satellite (#1) is connected to the main Orbi router. The second satellite (#2 in our basement) is connected to the first satellite, not the main router. This does not seem correct.First, what seems "correct" to humans is not often what computers decide on.&nbsp; My guess is that when the second satellite powered up, it decided the signal from satellite#1 was better than the signal from the router and connected to it.&nbsp; There is a simple way to prevent satellite#2 from connecting to satellite#1:On the Orbi web interface, select the Advanced Tab-&gt;Advanced Setup-&gt;Wireless Settings.&nbsp; About half way down the web page, uncheck the box "Enable Daisy-Chain Topology".&nbsp; (I don't know if the router will reboot automatically or not.)&nbsp; Then, restart each of the satellites.&nbsp; This setting tells the router that satellite connections are only directly to the router.&nbsp;Be prepared for satellite#2 to be unhappy about this.&nbsp; If the "ring light" does not eventually turn BLUE, then the router/satellite connection is not "Good".&nbsp;Good Luck&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Thanks for your reply. Satellite #2 has had its ring light go from purple to blue to unlit and seems to cycle fairly regularly. So, to your&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;point it may already be unhappy. Is the diabled daisy chain topology the recommended set-up? Thanks again, David&nbsp;

CrimpOn · Answer

Dway&nbsp;wrote:&nbsp;Thanks for your reply. Satellite #2 has had its ring light go from purple to blue to unlit and seems to cycle fairly regularly. So, to your&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;point it may already be unhappy. Is the diabled daisy chain topology the recommended set-up? Thanks again, DavidOnce the ring light turns blue for 10 seconds, it should remain off from then on.&nbsp; Your ring light does not stay off?&nbsp;My own personal belief (with no documentation to back it up) is that Netgear ships the Orbi router with Daisy Chain "Enabled" for a reason.&nbsp; A lot of Orbi customers take it home, plug it in, and never look at the management interface.&nbsp; People who own only smartphone and tablets may only open the "App", which does not access any of the advanced settings.&nbsp; That way, someone can get another satellite, plug it in, and chances are it will connect and work.&nbsp; They don't care about topology, just "Can I get to Facebook?"&nbsp;There are telnet commands which will show the exact status of the "backhaul" links.&nbsp; (At some point, you may hit a point of "diminishing returns" in terms of poking around the Orbi.)

tomschmidt · Answer

Your satellite #2 may be too far away from the router to get a good backhaul signal, so it bound its backhaul to satellite #1 since it was a stronger signal.&nbsp; As mentioned, Daisy Chaining is enabled by default so that a network will work if layed out like this:&nbsp;&nbsp; Router &lt;-&gt; Sat#1 &lt;-&gt; Sat#2&nbsp;Typically, a satellite works best if it is about 30 feet from the router (or another satellite for daisy chaining), depending on the wall construction (i.e. concrete blocks signals much more than a wood frame wall).&nbsp;Another layout referred to as "Star configuration" is layed out like this:&nbsp;&nbsp; Sat#1 &lt;-&gt; Router &lt;-&gt; Sat#2&nbsp;Having Daisy Chaining enabled allows both of these configuration to work, which is why it is enabled by default.&nbsp; If you choose to disable daisy chaining, then each satellite has to be close enough to the router to bind the backhaul to it.&nbsp;Note that the above all assumes you are using a WiFi backhaul rather than a wired backhaul.

Dway · Answer

I have not changed any settings, and I was going to report that my backhaul status for both satellites was good. But, when I just looked, both satellites were attached to the main Orbi router and the backhaul status of #1 was good and #2 was poor. All of this is with daisy chain topology enabled. The light on the basement satellite cycles - purple - blue - off and this may happen with greater/lesser frequency (not sure why). Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, David

Forum Discussion

RBK 40 - 1 of 2 satellites is not connected to main Orbi router

5 Replies