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Forum Discussion
RBS50 weak signal
I was using Netgear's handy little WiFi Analytics Android tool to map out the signal strength in various parts of my house, and I found that the signal strength in my bedroom is only 86%. What makes that odd is that I was sitting next to the satellite. The satellite was connected to the mesh, so the signal strength should have been 100%.
Does this mean that my phone was stuck to a connection to one of the other satellites (or the router)? Is there some threshold that triggers the device to be handed off to another unit?
5 Replies
It is possible that the phone is connected to the Router instead of the Satellite. (Perhaps they are a little too close together?)... I also think that when you get very close to either the satellite or router then the signal strength does drop due to near field effects, this is normal.
If you're using the latest firmware (2.0.0.74) then you can tell which devices are connected to the router or satellite in the "Attached Devices page"
If you turn off wifi on the phone then re-enable then it should connect to the stronger signal.
There is a new option in the Advanced wireless settings that enable "Fast Roaming", that should encourage your phone to switch between router and satellite more aggressively.
I do have fast roaming enabled. I will test this again, being careful to turn WiFi off and on. My phone may well be latched onto another satellite or the router. That's why I was wondering what the threshold might be for triggering a handoff.
- My phone seems to prefer a 5MHz connection even if there's a stronger 2.4Mhz signal available. I can tell that, because my phone can tell me the MAC address it's attached to. My sleuthing hits a bump there, because l can't find the MAC addresses for the router or satellites' 5Mhz band shown anywhere. I'll have to start disconnecting pieces of the gear one by one.
