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Wifi extender for Orbi RBR50?
I have stability problems with one pair of Sonos speakers wifi connected to my network. All other Sonos speakers in various locations throughout the house work fairly well. My system is an Orbi RBR50...
I would expect the WiFi signal strength standing about 3-4 feet from an RBR50 to be in the range of -32dB to -35dB. A reading of -45dB seems a bit low. (but still "excellent") a reading of -75dB counts as "not good".
If the problem has disappeared, then moving the speaker 12 feet appears to be the solution.
Thanks for the replies.
Not sure I'd characterize coverage throughout the house as "good", certainly not great. Using the Orbi app wifi analyzer, I found that signal strength standing in front of one of the ethernet connected satellites was 84%, -45dBm. DK if that is what I should expect or not. When I moved 32 feet to the problem speakers in the kitchen (straight shot, no walls in between) signal strength dropped to 48% -75dBm. Moving one of the two kitchen speakers 12 feet closer to the satellite, still in the kitchen, the reading was 48% -65dBm.
I just started playing music on all Sonos pairs, all playing including the kitchen with the 12 foot closer speaker. So, proximity to the closest satellite seems to help.
I posted a detailed description of my network setup on the Sonos community site, and could duplicate it here if you think it would help. The main takeaway is about the wifi stats and the fact that (so far) there hasn't been a dropout having moved one of the two kitchen speakers 12 feet closer to the satellite.
I would expect the WiFi signal strength standing about 3-4 feet from an RBR50 to be in the range of -32dB to -35dB. A reading of -45dB seems a bit low. (but still "excellent") a reading of -75dB counts as "not good".
If the problem has disappeared, then moving the speaker 12 feet appears to be the solution.
"If the problem has disappeared, then moving the speaker 12 feet appears to be the solution."
I agree but we don't have my wife's vote. The previous position was less obvious.
I'll continue to monitor it, and if the problem returns, I'll probably add a fourth RBS50, which would have to be wifi connected to the network. There's no way to keep it close to the problem kitchen area ethernet connected. And don't tell my wife, but to get the best performance, that would probably have to join the speaker on her kitchen counter.
Fingers crossed, thanks for the comments.
I remain puzzled about the reported WiFi signal levels. One day last fall I ran an extension cord outside and set an RBR50 on the back of my pickup truck. Then opened an Android Heat Map app on a tablet and measured the signal level as I walked farther and farther away down the sidewalk. The results are in the drawing below. My intention was to do the experiment at both 100% transmit power and 25% transmit power, but in all the excitement I just did it once and forgot to record which power level it was. (I think it was at 25%). Neighbors were beginning to comment, "sure you're alright there?"
Anyway.... at 10 ft from the truck, the app recorded about -46 dB and the signal level did not drop under under -60dB until at least 30-40 ft. It was above -70dB until well over 100ft away. I have no idea how precise this app is, or how much depends on the orientation of the tablet, etc.
If it ever warms up, I'll go back outside and repeat the experiment. Maybe next time I'll even walk around to see if signal level is affected by the orientation (front on, to the side, etc.)
The point is: There's really nothing between the Orbi satellite and the Sonos speaker?
I misspoke saying nothing is between the satellite and the speaker. No walls but the satellite is behind a flat screen tv to allow for an ethernet connection in the same area. There may be some interference because of that, but the same is true for the 2nd floor satellite, also behind a flat screen, and there the signal strength is higher.
After seeing your graphic, I re tested and got better numbers while standing 5 feet from the downstairs satellite. Around -39 to -41dB, which drops to around -55dB when I stand in front of the closest speaker in the kitchen. Walk 12 feet further to the paired kitchen speaker and there it's around -65dB.
All that said, the music continues to play with one of the two kitchen speakers 12 feet closer. Time to apply the "If it ain't broke..." rule, my wife's objections to the kitchen speaker placement, notwithstanding.
One more question for you. The Orbi wifi analyzer gives a dB and percent number. What is the percent figure telling me?