[Sorry for crossposting, I have no idea where my other message was posted] I have an Orbi RBK23 system: one RBR20 Router, and two RBS20 sattelites. I have always struggled with one sattelite: it has poor connection almost regardless of where I place it. Is it defective and needs to be returned to Netgear? If I login to orbilogin I always see my network map displayed as this daisy chain: Router --> Sat-1 --> Sat-2. The connection from Router --> Sat-1 is "Poor" (connection type: 2.4G), and the connection from Sat-1 --> Sat-2 is "Good" (connection type: 5G). If I look at the Orbi app, the network map changes every minute or so to Router --> Sat-2 --> Sat-1, and then back to Router --> Sat-1 --> Sat-2 (in contrast to the website interface on orbilogin.com). Sat-1 is always shown orange. I've drawn my house and the placement of the router and sattelites in the figure attached. Note that Sat-2 is on the middle floor, and Sat-1 is on the top floor (This is correct, and I checked this with the serial numbers on the sattelites). I have several questions: 1) on orbilogin.com it says my Router (ground floor) is connected to Sat-1 (on top floor). Shoudn't it automatically connect to Sat-2 (on middle floor) as it's obviously much closer to this sattelite and with the fewer obstructions (floors) between them? How can I fix this? 2) according to the orbi app, the network map is switching between two daisy chains all the time. Why is this happening, and can I fix this? FYI I've done factory resets, updated all firmware, power cycling (all devices off an starting up one at a time)... not sure what else there is to try.

Wout40 wrote:[Sorry for crossposting, I have no idea where my other message was posted] I have an Orbi RBK23 system: one RBR20 Router, and two RBS20 sattelites. I have always struggled with one sattelite: it has poor connection almost regardless of where I place it. Is it defective and needs to be returned to Netgear? If I login to orbilogin I always see my network map displayed as this daisy chain: Router --> Sat-1 --> Sat-2. The connection from Router --> Sat-1 is "Poor" (connection type: 2.4G), and the connection from Sat-1 --> Sat-2 is "Good" (connection type: 5G). If I look at the Orbi app, the network map changes every minute or so to Router --> Sat-2 --> Sat-1, and then back to Router --> Sat-1 --> Sat-2 (in contrast to the website interface on orbilogin.com). Sat-1 is always shown orange. I've drawn my house and the placement of the router and sattelites in the figure attached. Note that Sat-2 is on the middle floor, and Sat-1 is on the top floor (This is correct, and I checked this with the serial numbers on the sattelites). I have several questions: 1) on orbilogin.com it says my Router (ground floor) is connected to Sat-1 (on top floor). Shoudn't it automatically connect to Sat-2 (on middle floor) as it's obviously much closer to this sattelite and with the fewer obstructions (floors) between them? How can I fix this? Is Daisy Chained enabled? 2) according to the orbi app, the network map is switching between two daisy chains all the time. Why is this happening, and can I fix this? FYI I've done factory resets, updated all firmware, power cycling (all devices off an starting up one at a time)... not sure what else there is to try.What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too? What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? 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. https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many? One User Experience/Configuration:https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Most-Stable-Orbi-Configuration/m-p/1941087/highlight/true#M97026

Hi, thanks for your ideas! >> What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too? I live in the Netherlands and the ISP is called Ziggo and the modem is this one: https://www.ziggo.nl/klantenservice/wifi/modem/connect-box, they call it Eurodocsis 3.0 modem. The WiFi capabilities of the modem are turned off, otherwise default (automatic) settings. I can't tinker too much with it as the ISP is the owner of the modem. However I know the modem works and works well, and when connected through the modem's wifi (if turned on) or connected by cable I get great speeds. I also get good connection and speed from downstairs where the Orbi router is located (next to the modem). >> What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? Ground floor about 700 sq feet, middle floor 450, and top floor 450 sq ft. >> 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. https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite My house looks most like the midsize multistory one. It's wood structure, brick and mortar, and plasterboards and so on (80 year old house). The WiFi signal has to go through the floors, which are plaster boards, empty space, then wooden construction and wooden floors. The distance from router to middle floor sattelite is about 18 feet, and distance from middle floor sattelite to top floor sattelite is also about 20 feet, maybe 25. Do you think the distance from router to sattelite on middle floor is actually *too small*?>> Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many? Yes, quite a number nearby but not on my channel (#1), or their signal is really bad. (I've also tried different channels but haven't really noticed an change). My direct neighbors are fixed at 6 and 11 (at my insistence, to rule out that explanation). I just tested and I get only 25 Mbit/s download speed on the top floor (using https://www.speedtest.net) and that's without anyone else in the house using bandwidth. FYI I didn't understand why the router was connecting to Sat-1 (on top floor) even though Sat-2 (middle floor) was closer. As if Sat-2 is perhaps bad ouf of the box? So I've now switched the sattelites: I've rebooted the modem and then turned on router, then turn on Sat-1 on middle floor (connects, no problem/magenta/purple color, but is just normal), then turn on Sat-2 on top floor (connects, no problem). So in this new situation, Sat-1 is on middle floor and Sat-2 is on top floor. Now I see that Router is connected to Sat-1 with 2.4G and Poor backhaul status, whereas Sat-2 is connected to Sat-1 with Good backhaul status. So the router keeps connected to the Sat-1 one (but now I expected it too, because Sat-1 is now on the middle floor) but it's still a poor connection. I don't understand why, because it's not badly placed -- should I put Sat-1 in a different room and see if it helps?>> One User Experience/Configuration: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Most-Stable-Orbi-Configuration/m-p/1941087/highlight/true#M970... I've followed the instructions here but settings options on and off I don't see much of effect at all.

Do you know if the modem is working in router mode or modem only mode? If it's in router mode, This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAThttps://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NATCouple of options,1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop

"My house looks most like the midsize multistory one. It's wood structure, brick and mortar, and plasterboards and so on (80 year old house). The WiFi signal has to go through the floors, which are plaster boards, empty space, then wooden construction and wooden floors. The distance from router to middle floor sattelite is about 18 feet, and distance from middle floor sattelite to top floor sattelite is also about 20 feet, maybe 25. Do you think the distance from router to sattelite on middle floor is actually *too small*?" Yes, 25 feet is too close. 30 feet or more is recommended. If you can't place the RBS farther out, you can try turning down the power output of the RBRs wifi radios from 100% to 50% and see if this changes anything. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

RBK23 satellite bad connection, continuously switching connections in network map (crosspost?)

4 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Oct 27, 2020
Wout40 wrote:
[Sorry for crossposting, I have no idea where my other message was posted]

I have an Orbi RBK23 system: one RBR20 Router, and two RBS20 sattelites. I have always struggled with one sattelite: it has poor connection almost regardless of where I place it. Is it defective and needs to be returned to Netgear?

If I login to orbilogin I always see my network map displayed as this daisy chain: Router --> Sat-1 --> Sat-2. The connection from Router --> Sat-1 is "Poor" (connection type: 2.4G), and the connection from Sat-1 --> Sat-2 is "Good" (connection type: 5G).

If I look at the Orbi app, the network map changes every minute or so to Router --> Sat-2 --> Sat-1, and then back to Router --> Sat-1 --> Sat-2 (in contrast to the website interface on orbilogin.com). Sat-1 is always shown orange.

I've drawn my house and the placement of the router and sattelites in the figure attached. Note that Sat-2 is on the middle floor, and Sat-1 is on the top floor (This is correct, and I checked this with the serial numbers on the sattelites).

I have several questions:
1) on orbilogin.com it says my Router (ground floor) is connected to Sat-1 (on top floor). Shoudn't it automatically connect to Sat-2 (on middle floor) as it's obviously much closer to this sattelite and with the fewer obstructions (floors) between them? How can I fix this? Is Daisy Chained enabled?
2) according to the orbi app, the network map is switching between two daisy chains all the time. Why is this happening, and can I fix this?

FYI I've done factory resets, updated all firmware, power cycling (all devices off an starting up one at a time)... not sure what else there is to try.
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
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.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite

Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?

One User Experience/Configuration:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Most-Stable-Orbi-Configuration/m-p/1941087/highlight/true#M97026
- Wout40
  Aspirant
  Oct 29, 2020
  Hi, thanks for your ideas!
  
  >> What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
  
  I live in the Netherlands and the ISP is called Ziggo and the modem is this one: https://www.ziggo.nl/klantenservice/wifi/modem/connect-box, they call it Eurodocsis 3.0 modem.
  
  The WiFi capabilities of the modem are turned off, otherwise default (automatic) settings. I can't tinker too much with it as the ISP is the owner of the modem. However I know the modem works and works well, and when connected through the modem's wifi (if turned on) or connected by cable I get great speeds. I also get good connection and speed from downstairs where the Orbi router is located (next to the modem).
  
  >> What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
  
  Ground floor about 700 sq feet, middle floor 450, and top floor 450 sq ft.
  
  >> 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.
  https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite
  
  My house looks most like the midsize multistory one. It's wood structure, brick and mortar, and plasterboards and so on (80 year old house). The WiFi signal has to go through the floors, which are plaster boards, empty space, then wooden construction and wooden floors. The distance from router to middle floor sattelite is about 18 feet, and distance from middle floor sattelite to top floor sattelite is also about 20 feet, maybe 25. Do you think the distance from router to sattelite on middle floor is actually *too small*?
  
  >> Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
  
  Yes, quite a number nearby but not on my channel (#1), or their signal is really bad. (I've also tried different channels but haven't really noticed an change). My direct neighbors are fixed at 6 and 11 (at my insistence, to rule out that explanation).
  
  I just tested and I get only 25 Mbit/s download speed on the top floor (using https://www.speedtest.net) and that's without anyone else in the house using bandwidth.
  
  FYI I didn't understand why the router was connecting to Sat-1 (on top floor) even though Sat-2 (middle floor) was closer. As if Sat-2 is perhaps bad ouf of the box? So I've now switched the sattelites: I've rebooted the modem and then turned on router, then turn on Sat-1 on middle floor (connects, no problem/magenta/purple color, but is just normal), then turn on Sat-2 on top floor (connects, no problem). So in this new situation, Sat-1 is on middle floor and Sat-2 is on top floor. Now I see that Router is connected to Sat-1 with 2.4G and Poor backhaul status, whereas Sat-2 is connected to Sat-1 with Good backhaul status. So the router keeps connected to the Sat-1 one (but now I expected it too, because Sat-1 is now on the middle floor) but it's still a poor connection. I don't understand why, because it's not badly placed -- should I put Sat-1 in a different room and see if it helps?
  
  >> One User Experience/Configuration: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Most-Stable-Orbi-Configuration/m-p/1941087/highlight/true#M970...
  
  I've followed the instructions here but settings options on and off I don't see much of effect at all.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Oct 29, 2020
    Do you know if the modem is working in router mode or modem only mode? If it's in router mode, This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
    https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NAT
    Couple of options,
    1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
    2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
    3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop

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RBK23 satellite bad connection, continuously switching connections in network map (crosspost?)