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Bandwidth/Picture Resolution fade in and out
Not sure of the model...router is RBR40...triband. No questions seem to be quite like my issue. The Orbi Mesh is awesome but still has a issue I would like to understand. When watching TV, period...
Ask the ISP about disabling the wifi radios on the ISP modem. Most most have this ability to disable there radios.
Sounds like you have WAY too much wifi signals running about and is causing problems.
Orbi systems create two WiFi networks: one in the 2.4G band and one in the 5G band. They both have the same "name" (SSID) and password.
The Orbi 'app' or the Orbi web interface Attached Devices display will indicate which of the bands each device has chosen. (the device is in charge of how to connect).
I made some tests with using the 2.4 and 5ghz bands and using the Mesh networks. For the smart tv, all give a good picture but the 5ghz and mesh show the periodic resolution issues. The TV picture looks sharp with all three networks but sharpest with 5ghz and the mesh networks. I moved a wireless phone base to a new location and have started to watch the TV for the issue, in case the backhaul frequency was being compromised.
How does orbi know which fequency to use if a device can recieve either modem network frequency? It seems as if Orbi is periodically testing the 2.4ghz band and then reverting back to the 5ghz band. How does it know which is best? If there is a device on the 5ghz band and the another device is on the mesh network, is the beam forming function compomised?
I will continue to monitor the situation for a while to see if any of my manipulations have an effects.
Regards,
OldGuy
NewbyOldguy wrote:I made some tests with using the 2.4 and 5ghz bands and using the Mesh networks. For the smart tv, all give a good picture but the 5ghz and mesh show the periodic resolution issues. The TV picture looks sharp with all three networks but sharpest with 5ghz and the mesh networks. I moved a wireless phone base to a new location and have started to watch the TV for the issue, in case the backhaul frequency was being compromised.
This gives the impression that there is more than one WiFi network in the house. Is there?
NewbyOldguy wrote:How does orbi know which fequency to use if a device can recieve either modem network frequency? It seems as if Orbi is periodically testing the 2.4ghz band and then reverting back to the 5ghz band.
The Orbi system creates two WiFi networks, one on a channel in the 2.4G band and one on a channel in the 5G band. They are active at the same time and both use the same WiFi name and password. When a device powers on, it looks at the available WiFi networks, compares their capabilities with its own capabilities, and chooses which access point to use and which channel to use. The device chooses, not the Orbi.
Some devices have only a 2.4G radio chip and can only detect and connect to the 2.4G channel. Other devices have radios that can detect and connect to both frequencies. I suggested looking at the Orbi Attached Devices display (or the Orbi 'app' Connected Devices) to see which connection the TV and computer have chosen to use.
My cable modem supplies a dual band wireless network. The orbi router is attached by cable to the output of the modem and the orbi plus satellites forms the mesh which has a dual-freqency capable network. So, yes, I have three simultaneous wireless networks. I would have to suppress the wireless capabilities of the modem to have only the mesh. I don't think that is how the instructions for setting up the mesh are laid out. I have no way of suppressing the two cable modem wireless networks other than to surround the modem with a Faraday cage. At this point the Orbi app shows all three networks with strong signals everywhere I need to attach a device to the network. On network speed tests, I get a lot of variability from location to location and from time to time...re-tests over short and long time periods. My internet provider may be partially or completely at fault for the issues I am experiencing...but I have no way of testing that hypothesis.
Each device is set to access one of the three wireless networks. Maybe all devices should be set to access the mess network, but I have mixed the specific network access among the devices as well as set all devices to access one of the networks. The issue with the TV is present on the 5ghz and the mess network settings regardless of the mixing or matching of the networks across devices.
The resolution issue is relatively new. I had been using 4k Firesticks before switching to the smart TV internal wireless, but I switched because the Firestick was having buffering issues as well as the resolution issues. But, by disconnecting the firesticks, I still have the resolution issue but without the constant buffering.
I am looking for the perfect setup without dead spots and dropouts and without buffering and resolution issues. My cable system supplies a 200MHZ bandwidth and enough power to cover my 3000 sq ft home and the mesh has eliminated dead or weak spots, but not by a lot.
Sorry for the verbosity.
Regards,
OldGuy
NewbyOldguy wrote:I have no way of suppressing the two cable modem wireless networks other than to surround the modem with a Faraday cage.
I called my cable company tech support and had them turn off the WiFi on my cable box. Many cable companies allow access to their router for the purpose of changing the WiFi 'name' (SSID) and password and to do things like open ports. The old days when there were actual buttons on the box to control 2.4G and 5G WiFi seem to be long gone. If you can provide the specific model number of the cable device, we might be able to find the user manual on line.
There are strong opinions regarding the wisdom of having competing WiFi networks in one house. At the very least, it would be better to have the 2.4G WiFi on different channels. (Although modern WiFi systems scan the 2.4G band periodically and switch channels.) I am of the opinion that "I don't know." Logic says only one WiFi should be 'better'. But, people operate WiFii in the middle of a sea of competing WiFi networks (such as in apartment buildings).
If the tv resolution problem occurs on the cable system WiFi, that argues against the Orbi causing the problem. If you call the cable system to ask, "Why is my tv resolution changing? (or my 4K Firestick buffering), I would not mention the Orbi. "Well, there's your problem. Take that thing out!!!" To be fair to the cable system, I would probably reproduce the problem with the Orbi WiFi switch off. If it happens with no Orbi at all, then it's obviosly the cable company's problem.