I’ve a new orbi RBK30 and I’m getting low speeds. Vast majority of devices are connecting to satellite and not router. I’ve done all the 30ft stuff etc. I’m on latest firmware on both router and satellite.My query is doesnthe router placement matter much. My tv is sitting atop a cabinet. The orbi is behind it but not inside the cabinet. Could this be causing an issue? Interfering or something? I have devices wired to it on shift cat5 cables so don’t have a huge amount of leeway.

Jarviss wrote:My query is doesnthe router placement matter much. My tv is sitting atop a cabinet. The orbi is behind it but not inside the cabinet. Could this be causing an issue? Interfering or something? I have devices wired to it on shift cat5 cables so don’t have a huge amount of leeway.My goodness, yes. Radio signals are attenuated dramatically by passing through metal (such as a TV). If "shift" is a typo for "short", it is time to get on Amazon and purchase a handful of Amazon CAT6 patch cables. They are really inexpensive.

3 to 6 feet distance is recommended between electronic devices. Farthese distance as possible when it comes to WiFi. Jarviss wrote:I’ve a new orbi RBK30 and I’m getting low speeds. Vast majority of devices are connecting to satellite and not router. I’ve done all the 30ft stuff etc. I’m on latest firmware on both router and satellite.My query is doesnthe router placement matter much. My tv is sitting atop a cabinet. The orbi is behind it but not inside the cabinet. Could this be causing an issue? Interfering or something? I have devices wired to it on shift cat5 cables so don’t have a huge amount of leeway.

Thanks all.I have repositioned it and it’s now 4 ft from anything. Clear of walls too. I still had speed issues. Did a live chat with Netgear last night. They had me change some things in router settings but ultimately I got cut off and it was too late to recommence.The last alteration was to reduce the MTU number.Still no difference. Nearly everything is defaulting to the further away satellite instead of the router and I’m getting 40ish on 5ghz WiFi connection to iPhone and about 35 feet from orbi router on the same flooor with no walls between the phone and router.My isp speed is 240/24 and I get 220 when connected iPhone to orbi and about 6 feet apart.This is actually worse that the isp provided virgin media hub 3. I thought I was buy a router that would allow faster speeds wotjought having to be sitting on the router.

IF you have Virgin Hub 3 then you already have a wifi router infront of the Orbi system.This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NATCouple of options,1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge 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=desktopJarviss wrote:Thanks all.I have repositioned it and it’s now 4 ft from anything. Clear of walls too. I still had speed issues. Did a live chat with Netgear last night. They had me change some things in router settings but ultimately I got cut off and it was too late to recommence.The last alteration was to reduce the MTU number.Still no difference. Nearly everything is defaulting to the further away satellite instead of the router and I’m getting 40ish on 5ghz WiFi connection to iPhone and about 35 feet from orbi router on the same flooor with no walls between the phone and router.My isp speed is 240/24 and I get 220 when connected iPhone to orbi and about 6 feet apart.This is actually worse that the isp provided virgin media hub 3. I thought I was buy a router that would allow faster speeds wotjought having to be sitting on the router.

I have the hub in modem only mode. The Ethernet port and the WiFi are all off and then Hub is then connected to the orbi.This is the way it should be done yes?

Router location | NETGEAR Communities

12 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Jul 03, 2019
Jarviss wrote:
My query is doesnthe router placement matter much. My tv is sitting atop a cabinet. The orbi is behind it but not inside the cabinet. Could this be causing an issue? Interfering or something? I have devices wired to it on shift cat5 cables so don’t have a huge amount of leeway.
My goodness, yes. Radio signals are attenuated dramatically by passing through metal (such as a TV). If "shift" is a typo for "short", it is time to get on Amazon and purchase a handful of Amazon CAT6 patch cables. They are really inexpensive.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Jul 04, 2019
3 to 6 feet distance is recommended between electronic devices. Farthese distance as possible when it comes to WiFi.
Jarviss wrote:
I’ve a new orbi RBK30 and I’m getting low speeds. Vast majority of devices are connecting to satellite and not router. I’ve done all the 30ft stuff etc. I’m on latest firmware on both router and satellite.
My query is doesnthe router placement matter much. My tv is sitting atop a cabinet. The orbi is behind it but not inside the cabinet. Could this be causing an issue? Interfering or something? I have devices wired to it on shift cat5 cables so don’t have a huge amount of leeway.
- Jarviss
  Aspirant
  Jul 04, 2019
  Thanks all.
  
  I have repositioned it and it’s now 4 ft from anything. Clear of walls too. I still had speed issues. Did a live chat with Netgear last night. They had me change some things in router settings but ultimately I got cut off and it was too late to recommence.
  The last alteration was to reduce the MTU number.
  Still no difference. Nearly everything is defaulting to the further away satellite instead of the router and I’m getting 40ish on 5ghz WiFi connection to iPhone and about 35 feet from orbi router on the same flooor with no walls between the phone and router.
  My isp speed is 240/24 and I get 220 when connected iPhone to orbi and about 6 feet apart.
  This is actually worse that the isp provided virgin media hub 3. I thought I was buy a router that would allow faster speeds wotjought having to be sitting on the router.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jul 07, 2019
    IF you have Virgin Hub 3 then you already have a wifi router infront of the Orbi system.
    This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
    Couple of options,
    1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge 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
    Jarviss wrote:
    Thanks all.
    
    I have repositioned it and it’s now 4 ft from anything. Clear of walls too. I still had speed issues. Did a live chat with Netgear last night. They had me change some things in router settings but ultimately I got cut off and it was too late to recommence.
    The last alteration was to reduce the MTU number.
    Still no difference. Nearly everything is defaulting to the further away satellite instead of the router and I’m getting 40ish on 5ghz WiFi connection to iPhone and about 35 feet from orbi router on the same flooor with no walls between the phone and router.
    My isp speed is 240/24 and I get 220 when connected iPhone to orbi and about 6 feet apart.
    This is actually worse that the isp provided virgin media hub 3. I thought I was buy a router that would allow faster speeds wotjought having to be sitting on the router.

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