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Forum Discussion
SXK80 Orbi sate how far apart from each other in rectangular building?
We have a long building about 410 feet, because we are extending it. So it is not in square shape, but long rectangular shape. Should I place the router and satellites about 50 feet apart from each o...
Installing two Orbi routers (base units, even if they are in Access Point mode) creates two separate WiFi networks. Because they are in Access Point mode, every device on the network will be in the same IP subnet. Even if both WiFi networks have exactly the same WiFi credentials (SSID/password), WiFi devices will not "roam seamlessly" between them. So, as a person walks farther and farther away from the office, the WiFi signal will get worse and worse until the point that the device "gives up" and looks for a new connection. "Aha! Here's one with WiFi credentials that I know!" The 802.11 standards that facilitate fast roaming will not function across more than one network.
As there will be Ethernet wiring down the length of this building with switches placed at various locations, I would suggest deploying one router plus a number of satellites. If the switches are "Daisy chained" down the building (to keep each Ethernet link well under 300ft.), each satellite can be connected to a different switch. There is no need to Daisy Chain the satellites. As far as the router is concerned, they are all connected over Ethernet. (The router knows nothing about Daisy Chain anyway.)
Distance between satellites is a fascinating question. Personally, I'd buy 2-3 100ft. Ethernet cables (under $20 ea. on Amazon) and see what happens when satellites are spaced 50' apart. Then 75' apart. Then 100' apart. How do WiFi devices behave as you roam around the space?
Thank you for your response. I am not clear on this portion of your comment:
> each satellite can be connected to a different switch. There is no need to Daisy Chain the satellites. As far as the router is concerned, they are all connected over Ethernet. (The router knows nothing about Daisy Chain anyway.)
Are you talking about Orbi satellite? I did not think they can be connected to a hub switch. I am confused. Orbi satellites are daisy chained wirelessly, right?
I am not too worried about walking users. I am more concerned about speed and stability when I daisy chain 3 or 4 Orbi satellites (+Orbi Router/AP)
stingray777 wrote:
I am not too worried about walking users. I am more concerned about speed and stability when I daisy chain 3 or 4 Orbi satellites (+Orbi Router/AP)
Netgear recommends no more than two satellites in a WiFi Daisy Chain:
https://kb.netgear.com/000062035/How-many-satellites-can-you-add-to-an-Orbi-WiFi-System
The reason is that all Daisy Chain WiFi transmission is on the same WiFi frequency and all WiFi is "one radio talks, everybody else listens". When data goes from the router to the first satellite, that satellite and every other satellite cannot talk. When it goes from the first to the second, the second satellite and the third satellite both have to listen. Going from two to three same thing happens. To make hops from satellite two to three (or four) means that the data has to be repeated over and over, eating up more and more bandwidth.
stingray777 wrote:
Are you talking about Orbi satellite? I did not think they can be connected to a hub switch. I am confused. Orbi satellites are daisy chained wirelessly, right?
Yes, Orbi satellites connect to the router and to each other over WiFi unless the user connects them with Ethernet cable: Here is one description by Netgear:
Ethernet connection is inherently Full Duplex, where data can flow in both directions at the same time. and it takes up zero WiFi bandwidth. What I envision is:
Router to switch #1 over Ethernet.
Switch #1 - one cable to satellite #1, another cable to switch #2. Other cables to whatever else needs service.
Switch #2 - one cable to satellite #2, another cable to switchc #3. Other cables to whatever else needs service
Switch #3 - one cable to satellite #3, another cable to switch #4. Other cables to whatever else needs service.
Switch #4 - one cable to satellite #4, another..... and so on.
If satellites provide adequate coverage with 75 ft. apart, it would take 4 total. If they cover 100ft (50ft. each with no overlap), then only three.
Thank you for the link!
I may take an ethernet cable to daisy chain the last satellites with a cable. Are you saying if 2 satellites are connected with each other with an ethernet cable, it is much better? Or maybe it does not matter whether wifi or cable? You specifically mentioned "in a Wifi daisy chain."
Now the example that you drew, was not super clear to me, sorry. Again, you are saying that satellites can be connected to switch hubs? Then that means each satellite can work as Access Point! In the example, "switch #1, #2, #3, #4" are these separate switch hubs, not not Orbi stuff? Or are you talking about ports on the back of Orbi router and satellites?
Also, the first line says "Router to switch #1 over Ethernet." That is Orbi router, which I will most likely use as Access Point, right?
I was probably affected too much by a previous comment in message #1:
I am going to have hub switches also, because the building is more than 300 feet long, and they are daisy chained to cover the whole 410 feet.
If the reason for switches in the building is only to cover the distance to the farthest Orbi satellite and there is no other equipment in this space requiring network connection, then there is no need for switches. The Orbi satellites can be connected from one to the next using the Ethernet ports on each satellite. This could be substantiated by lining them up on a table and using short Ethernet cables to connect from each one to the next.
In terms of performance, even with only one satellite performance will be better with Ethernet connection than WiFi. As the number of satellites in this "chain" grows, the performance difference will grow exponentially.
Another factor is "placement". Obviously satellites will provide more even coverage if located down the center line of the building. But each satellite requires electrical power, which may be located against the wall only at certain locations.
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