Wrong Country Code: AU in settings; US Broadcast

Thanks CrimpOn plemans. I have done some more homework based on your replies. Perhaps have spent far too much time on this.

A bit more information.

I have used the Mac Wireless Diagnostic tool to capture packet data and used Wireshark to find the relevant broadcast messages. 

This indicates that the router and satellite are broadcasting different Country Codes:

Basestation:

Tag: Country Information: Country Code US, Environment Any

  Tag Number: Country Information (7)

  Tag length: 36

  Code: US

  Environment: Any (0x20)

  Followed by info for channels 1 to 11.

Statellite

Tag: Country Information: Country Code AU, Environment Any

  Tag Number: Country Information (7)

  Tag length: 42

  Code: AU

  Environment: Any (0x20)

  Followed by info for channels 1 to 13.

So while I am using the Macbook to sniff the messages, I am pretty confident that the basestation and statellites are broadcasting different codes. 

A bit more detail on my situation and the symptoms

We have multiple devices connected to the Wifi. I have three teenage kids who "demand" perfect intenet connection for gaming and streaming. On the whole the coverage is solid for multiple devices and manufacturers.

The issue is with Macbooks at locations on the boundary between basestation and satellite. At locations where coverage is dominant from either basestation or satellite there does not appeart to be any issue.

After a short period of time the Macbook disconnects from the Wifi network and displays and exclamation mark on the Wifi icon in the menu bar. Service can sometimes be restored by toggling Wifi off an on. Although I now tend to tether the Macbook to a mobile device and use the mobile data. 

Other mobile devices (iPhones, iPads) seem to be okay. Although I don't have a different network to compare against.

I suspect the issue is a day-one issue, but something we have not noticed. The locations affected are places we have only recently started using. And I had initially thought the issue was due simply to interference resulting from similar signal strengths.

The reason for the problem - Apple MacOS

From my bit of research I understand that Apple uses the first or dominant 802.11d Wifi country code it sees when restarting to apply the relevant Wifi settings for that country. All good if that is the right country and the same country as the home Wifi is set to.

This process is automated and not configurable on the Mac. Apple's own advice if a different country code is identified when running the network diagnostics is to chat to the owner of the device and get it changed.

https://www.howtogeek.com/211993/how-to-fix-conflicting-country-codes-and-improve-your-macs-wi-fi/ 

The reason for the problem - Netgear Orbi

Again from my little bit of amateur sleuthing, I understand that the Orbi country or region is factory set and is not usually user configurable. 

While the country code drop-down box is available to me, this may have been something that I have modified using a Telnet instruction earlier in the process. 

If the ORBI country code is factory set, then any changes I think I am making to the country code may just be cosmetic. This would explain why the User Interfact says AU, the network interface says US. But that really is just a guess.

What may have happened to my base station

I suspect this is a day-one issue. It is possible that the basestation I purchased was a US destined box redirected from the US to Australia at some point in the supply chain. Who knows.

My options and what I plan to do

If there is no way to change the current ORBI basestation country code broadcast, I have a number of options. I could continue to live with the issue, I could change Wifi network technology, I could switch from Mabooks to say Windows, or I could upgrade the ORBI. This last option would at least give me a product that would be in warranty if I experience the same issue.

Now I'm off to do some more homework and thinking on the best option.