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CM2000 > RAX200 > MR80 > 2x MS80 Direct & 4x MS60 Through GS305 switch
New Construction house, Finally have internet and can set up the network with the devices I have. Trying to figure out the best way to set up and configure to accomplish what I was looking to do. Seems like there may be a limitation that I wasn't thinking about when I planned this. (I honestly don't have the best understanding of networking or tech) The house is wired mostly with CAT6 cable, all terminations have been tested and confirmed.
The Network Map is:
CM2000 >
RAX200 > (Wireless Disabled)
Port 1 & 2 Aggregated - GS308 Switch Feeds all wired devices. TVs, Game Consoles & Computers.
Port 3 - GS305 Empty (Future home office/mancave)
Port 4 - Laptop Connection Port
Multi-Gig Port > MR80 (Wireless Access Point Mode)
Port 1 - MS80 Satalite (South Wall Floor 1)
Port 2 - MS80 Satalite (North Wall Floor 2)
Port 3 - GS305 Switch > (Fed with CAT6 House cable runs Cat 5)
Port 2 - MS60 Satalite (South East Attic Corner)
Port 3 - MS60 Satalite (North East Attic Corner)
Port 4 - MS60 Satalite (South West Attic Corner)
Port 5 - MS60 Satalite (North West Attic Corner)
The logic was that for the most part in the house you are in range of the signal strength from one of the MS80 System. When you aren't in good range for the MS80 the MS60 Umbrella would be able to fill in the gaps. But the main reason for the MS60s in each corner of the attic was to broadcast outside of the house. In testing walking around the house at the edge of the Front yard, Stone Patio, Back Walkway & Drive way Turn around I still get 25-30mbps download and 15-20mbps on my phone.
The wired network seems to be working great. every device is pinging 150+ download & 30+ upload. The Wireless network seems to be working great, Inside the house next to the router my phone pings 350+ Download & 40+ upload. The only thing is I can't get all 6 Satellites to function at the same time. They are all hardwired, so I'm not sure what the limitation is. None are daisy chained, but the 4 MS60 are all running on the GS305 switch.
The NightHawk App network map seems to be buggy. Even though I disconnected the power on a MS60. It still shows it being connected. All 6 & the Router will have the Solid Blue LED. But it will only ever show 5 Satellites. Unfortunately it is dropping the 2nd MS80 Satellite, So the North Side of the house has slow wifi.
Any advice on how to optimize this setup would be greatly appreciated. Ideally get all 6 Satellites up, but if it isn't possible at least get the network in the best possible configuration.
The app might not show them right as you've a few more than the recommended amount.
https://kb.netgear.com/000064360/How-many-satellites-can-I-add-to-a-Nighthawk-Mesh-WiFi-system
You can use more than the recommended amount but the app might not show it right.
Does it show up properly in the browser gui attached devices list?
how big is the home in square footage? 7x access points just seems like a lot and might be a little to much coverage.
btw, you have the cm2000 going to just the standard 1 gig internet interface and the switch setup using lan port aggregation? Thats what it reads like. And the GS308 doesn't support lan port aggregation. So I'm not sure exactly what you have doing with that.
You should have it cm2000---->rax multi gig port. Because none of the other devices are multigig.
Plus I'd leave the wifi on for the rax200 and just have a few devices close to it connected. Its got significantly better performance than the MK system.
3 Replies
The app might not show them right as you've a few more than the recommended amount.
https://kb.netgear.com/000064360/How-many-satellites-can-I-add-to-a-Nighthawk-Mesh-WiFi-system
You can use more than the recommended amount but the app might not show it right.
Does it show up properly in the browser gui attached devices list?
how big is the home in square footage? 7x access points just seems like a lot and might be a little to much coverage.
btw, you have the cm2000 going to just the standard 1 gig internet interface and the switch setup using lan port aggregation? Thats what it reads like. And the GS308 doesn't support lan port aggregation. So I'm not sure exactly what you have doing with that.
You should have it cm2000---->rax multi gig port. Because none of the other devices are multigig.
Plus I'd leave the wifi on for the rax200 and just have a few devices close to it connected. Its got significantly better performance than the MK system.
Thanks for the reply and helpful information!
The MS80 Satellite did show up on the RAX200 attached devices list but it didn't show up on the MR80 attached devices list which I thought was strange. I power cycled the MS80 while I had one of the MS60s powered off and it connected and is working now. Turned on the MS60 again and they are all connected and working.
The home is 4200 sq/ft so the MR80 and 2 satellites are enough for inside the house. What I was trying to do with the 4 in the attic corners is to cast a wider net for the wifi outside. The walls of the house are closed cell spray foamed with ZipR Sheathing, 1inch foam board with reflective foil and exterior siding is cement. So in the attic they are above the walls and just have to deal with a bit of open cell insulation plywood and shingles. The wifi reaches past where I wanted it to for parties and picnics.
100% thought that if I used 2 ethernet patch cords from the 2 aggregated ports into the GS308 switch it would give it two connections so twice the potential.
Thank you for the tip on the multigig port for the internet feed. I saw that in the settings but wasn't sure of the right way to connect.
The RAX200 is in the basement where all the wiring for the house is tied together on the electrical panel board. Ultimately the basement will be a gym & office/man-cave. So I do plan on using it in the future. Wasn't sure if having the two different wifi networks would cause issues. Plus the Basement is 9ft concrete walls with lots of steel, so a signal killer.
I'd still use the RAX in the basement. It can create interference for the MK system but if you have cement walls in the basement, its cut down quite a bit. Plus you can go in on the RAX and decrease the 2.4ghz/5ghz signal strength to help limit it to that area you're in. Its wifi is pretty darned capable and a flagship router like that is going to have much better wireless and wired speed capabilities than the MK system.
So i'd leave its wifi on, turn its broadcast strength down, and just use it for the man cave.
Your setup for the satellites should work with getting it above the eve's. Your roaming in the home might not work the best as you have way more coverage than needed. If you have issues with the roaming, you can also go in on it and turn down the broadcast power and then just turn it back up when you're having parties/picnics outside.