I'm really bummed that the wireless backhaul channel is non-configurable. There are two devices that are close to my house that cause interference and renders my wifi network practically unusable when setting sattelite up wirelessly (the whole reason i bought this system). I had to set the satellite in a location that has a wired drop but not where I want it. Netgear really needs to update the firmware to allow backhaul management. I don't suppose anyone has tried to change the backhaul channel via telnet?

TheDarkSide wrote:......So how to I use "config get wla_2nd_hidden_channel"?From browser go to the router's debug page (http://192.168.1.1/debug.htm). Use your router's IP address or http://orbilogin.com/debug.htmEnter admin as user name and your router’s management passwordTick "Enable Telnet" optionUse Telnet from a computer attached to Orbi to connect to your Router telnet 192.168.1.1 and enter admin and the same password as aboveEnter the following commands:To read the existing channel: config get wla_2nd_hidden_channelTo change the channel to e.g. channel 108: config set wla_2nd_hidden_channel=108

I am having the same issue I believe. I believe the backhaul channels are in the upper 5 GHz range which is causing the interference with my Nakamichi Shockwafe rear speakers which are running in the same channel range. No sure how I can make sure that my rear speakers are attached first and then set my satellites. Have you recieved any guidance from Netgear or anyone else on this?

Great question and I do not believe so. They have specifically indicated that I should not use the upper 5 GHZ channels since that is where the speakers run at. That said, they seem to indicate I should turn off my router and satellite. Turn on my speakers, allow them to connect and the turn on my router and satellites and then use the "Channel Finder" feature (no sure what this) [channel scanning equivalent] to search for non-congested Wifi frequency to establish the backhaul channel. But I do not believe Orbi has an option to control the backhaul channel. I guess the main question would be if I do what they indicate and turn on my speakers first and then my router, will this channel location be maintained going forward and be static or will things move as I turn things off and on? In the end, I wonder if I turn off my satellites when I am watching a good movie will that do it and then there should not be any interference?

OK, I will try that. What a pain. I hope that once the speakers have picked and then Orbi has picked it will all stay put and not move. I will try it and get back you. :)

TheDarkSide wrote:OK, I will try that. What a pain. I hope that once the speakers have picked and then Orbi has picked it will all stay put and not move. I will try it and get back you. :)Orbi uses mostly DFS channels for the backhaul so it will be difficult to keep it on the same channel unless you live in an area completely free from radar signals.You can check the starting channel in your Orbi by enabling telnet in Orbi Router and check the following:> config get wla_2nd_hidden_channel You can also change the starting channel, the channel that Orbi will start with after restart as a backhaul channel as follows:> config set wla_2nd_hidden_channel=108 ==> This will change the backhaul channel to 108 (5530–5550 MHz)> config commit

Wireless Backhaul Channel | NETGEAR Communities

20 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru
Sep 21, 2019
Depending on what country you are in, the Orbi backhaul channel does "hop around", usually to avoid weather radar. In the US, there are pretty strict limits on finding a contiguous group of channels to create the bandwidth Orbi needs for backhaul.

There is a really nice description of Orbi radio channels in this post:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Understanding-Orbi-Radio-Fronthaul-Backhaul/m-p/1671092

There was also an extensive discussion of Orbi backhaul channels in this post:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/5Ghz-channels/m-p/1538610
TheDarkSide
Guide
Oct 20, 2019
I am having the same issue I believe. I believe the backhaul channels are in the upper 5 GHz range which is causing the interference with my Nakamichi Shockwafe rear speakers which are running in the same channel range. No sure how I can make sure that my rear speakers are attached first and then set my satellites. Have you recieved any guidance from Netgear or anyone else on this?
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  Oct 20, 2019
  Can you change the channels of these speakers to use a different channel?
  The wireless back haul is mean to be there for any RBS that gets connected via wireless. IT's how Orbi works and NG doesn't seem to respond to any other configurations regarding it. I presume it may come from the chipset Mfr rather then NG and chipset Mfrs implement how the wireless radios work. It's just up to NG to implement and imploy them in to there firmware.
  
  Be if you can get the speakers to change channels if at all possible. Keep them far appart from the Orbi wifi.
  - TheDarkSide
    Guide
    Oct 20, 2019
    Great question and I do not believe so. They have specifically indicated that I should not use the upper 5 GHZ channels since that is where the speakers run at. That said, they seem to indicate I should turn off my router and satellite. Turn on my speakers, allow them to connect and the turn on my router and satellites and then use the "Channel Finder" feature (no sure what this) [channel scanning equivalent] to search for non-congested Wifi frequency to establish the backhaul channel. But I do not believe Orbi has an option to control the backhaul channel.
    
    I guess the main question would be if I do what they indicate and turn on my speakers first and then my router, will this channel location be maintained going forward and be static or will things move as I turn things off and on?
    
    In the end, I wonder if I turn off my satellites when I am watching a good movie will that do it and then there should not be any interference?
- schroederboat
  Initiate
  Mar 25, 2020
  im having the same issue thats bringing me here... nakamichi sound issues/? anyone find resolution>

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Wireless Backhaul Channel