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Forum Discussion
RBR/RBS 10 Wifi Speeds decreased recently
I'm using and have been using #RMR10 with two #RBS10 satellites. Recently, WiFi speeds have really dropped. I have not made any changes in physical location of the units. Product was purchased new about 18 months ago.
Firmware is v.2.7.3.22, which is latest as far as I can tell.
Orbi app shows download speeds from the router at >900Mbps (run several times). Typical download speeds for computer or phone connected by Wifi are under 200Mbps, often under 100Mbps (also run several times). Download speeds on my phone are better near the satellites than near the router, much better.
An older computer on a wired connection to the router is seeing speeds above 500Mbps.
The router has been powered down (unplugged) and restarted several times after waiting about a minute. Once I also powered down both of the satellites before restarting all.
It is broadcasting on channel 157, and there are several other nearby devices broadcasting on that same channel (neighbors' Wifi I'm guessing), but I don't seem to have the option to change that channel.
As noted, this is a recent change in performance (no change in walls, furniture, electronics, etc.).
Suggestions are appreciated.
CO_Hiker
3 Replies
A firmware update was published in December of 2022:
https://kb.netgear.com/000064896/RBR10-RBS10-Firmware-Version-2-7-4-24
(Although my guess is that the specific firmware version may not be significant.)
The RBR10 product is a Dual Band mesh system (similar to the original Google Mesh) which achieves lower cost by including fewer components. It uses the same WiFi radios/antennas to support both User WiFi connections and WiFi connection between router and satellites. Channel 157 is used in much of the world (and channel 108 elsewhere):
WiFi performance is always related to physical distance between the WiFi access point and WiFi device.
If may be that there are more (and stronger) WiFi systems nearby which are competing for channel 157.
Thanks, CrimpOn.
Neither the app nor the router site wants to auto-update to that version you listed. Yes, I can do it manually, but in reading the update notes, like you, I don't think it will impact this issue.
If channel 157 is becoming something like an industry standard for 5g, one would think that these devices would be able to co-exist without the degradation I have seen recently. Or we'd have an easy option to change the channel.
CO_Hiker
When the 5GHz frequency band allowed unlicensed use, it had so much bandwidth compared to the original 2.4GHz WiFi band that little attention was placed on the actual capability made available. Regulation of radio frequencies varies from country to country:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels#5_GHz_(802.11a/h/n/ac/ax)
In the US, there are only two parts of that spectrum that can be combined to for 80 megabits of bandwidth
They are 5150-5250 (channels 36-48) and 5735-5815 (channels 149-161). All the rest of that huge frequency spectrum is restricted in one way or another. (As you have noticed) the result is that most residential WiFi systems use only these two frequencies. Tri-band systems typically use one for User devices and the other for communication between WiFi access points. Dual band systems pick one or the other.
There is so much capacity that in most situations, several WiFi systems can indeed share the same frequencies.
It's not clear (to me) that increased competition is the only factor contributing to your speed decline. But... I have no other explanation (sigh).
