Hello, So I bought the Nighthawk Mesh Wifi 6 with 1 satellite about 1.5 years ago and I'll be honest it has given me troubles since day 1. The connection is strong and stable for periods of up to a week or 2 and then it would go roug and it can be hard to get a stable wifi download speed. It always connects just fine but the download speeds is always waivering. It got so bad this week that I couldn't even watch Netflix or Amazon Prime and it just sits there buffering. I did my usual unpluggin the model and router and let it all reset and then I check my devices and everything seems to work fine for about 15 minutes and then the download speed beginning waivering again. Like I am down to 15 Mbps download and I have 200Mbps internet plan that I pay for. Has anyone else had problems with this unit and if so what did you do to get the wifi connection steady? I have even moved the satellite all around my home and still no improvement. Do you think these are just bad? Should I upgrade to a different router and satellite? It would suck to since I just bought these not that long ago but if it fixes the problem I will. I'm at the point of throwing these out on the road and letting someone run them over lol! Its literally that frusterating becasue I had to continuelly reset the modem and router everyday. Anyways please let me know how you can help. Also everything is up to do. All firmware is up to date as well. My IP has confirmed I have 100% service and that checks out wired as well so its defintely the MR60. Thanks for any help before I toss them to the curb.

A couple things to check. Does the issue happen with devices that are connected to the satellite? Or devices connected to the router? or both? Does it happen to only wireless devices? Are wired devices stable? what modem/gateway do you have?

I'd start at square 1 for testing. . For testing, power off the satellites and just see if devices are stable (might not be fast) if connected directly to the router. that'd be key for me to figure out if I was in your shoes because if its not stable with just the router, the satellites aren't going to be stable either because its a dual band system without the dedicated backhaul the tribands have.

There are some known issues with series X consoles. MS networking has never been that good. Seen some posts about Series X causing networking issues. Can you ethernet connect the xbox and test?

You have 2 satellites? Since its stable with just the router, try firing up one (just one) of the satellites. Maybe use that to hardwire in the xbox. see if thats stable. If its not, try swapping satellites. Maybe the problem can be isolated to a specific satellite or device.

Something to keep in mind with the MK60 set. Its a dual band set and doesn't have the dedicated backhaul the triband setups have. So if a device is connecting through the satellite, its going to take a roughly 50% speed hit because it doesn't have that dedicated backhaul (unless you hardwire in the satellites for a wired backhaul). That happens because the satellite has to use the same chip to go router<---->satellite and then satellite<---->devices. And they can't do it at the same time. From the sound of it you have a 200mbps plan? and you're going to get some speed loss because of distance/obstructions with the satellite. so hitting 90 mbps over the satellite on wireless is pretty reasonable if you're starting from a 200mbps plan. Wired you should be faster speeds because the satellite is only going router-----satellite and isn't have to rebroadcast the data over wifi.

Nighthawk mesh Wifi 6 MR 60 and satellite

18 Replies

plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Oct 07, 2021
A couple things to check.

Does the issue happen with devices that are connected to the satellite? Or devices connected to the router? or both?

Does it happen to only wireless devices?

Are wired devices stable?

what modem/gateway do you have?
- Nightrider23
  Guide
  Oct 07, 2021
  Hello!
  Appreciate the reply. So here my answers to your questions.
  
  A couple things to check.
  Does the issue happen with devices that are connected to the satellite? Or devices connected to the router? or both?
  It seems to happen to both.
  Does it happen to only wireless devices?
  It only happens to wireless devices.
  Are wired devices stable?
  Wired devices are stable!
  what modem/gateway do you have?
  I have the Netgear Nighthawk CM1200. The modem and the router and satellite were installed at the same time about 1.5 years ago.
  - plemans
    Guru - Experienced User
    Oct 07, 2021
    I'd start at square 1 for testing. .
    
    For testing, power off the satellites and just see if devices are stable (might not be fast) if connected directly to the router.
    
    that'd be key for me to figure out if I was in your shoes because if its not stable with just the router, the satellites aren't going to be stable either because its a dual band system without the dedicated backhaul the tribands have.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Oct 07, 2021

What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and 📡 satellite(s)? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR and RBS📡 to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.

What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?

Basements are not recommended placement locations for main wifi routers. Concrete and steel will cause problems with wifi singal coverage. This could be one root cause.
- Nightrider23
  Guide
  Oct 07, 2021
  Hello,
  
  I appreciate the help. Here's my answers to your questions:
  
  What Firmware version is currently loaded?
  MR60 Firmware Version: V1.0.6.116
  Satellite Firmware Version: V1.0.6.116
  What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
  Modem is a Nighthawk CM1200. Everything was installed together 1.5 years ago brand new.
  What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
  Roughly 2000 Sq Ft. Include a main floor, 2nd floor and basement.
  What is the distance between the router and 📡 satellite(s)? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR and RBS📡 to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
  The modem and router are on the 2nd floor and the satellite is on the main floor in the livingroom at about 30ft from what I just measured right now.
  
  What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
  Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
  I'm not sure what channels I'm on. My guess is its on auto because I didn't change any settings from the inital setup. There are only 1 other wifi that pops up when I search for my router so not really much traffic in the area. Also I usually run about 14 devices across 2.4 and 5Ghz. 10 on 5Ghz and 4 on 2.4Ghz.
  Basements are not recommended placement locations for main wifi routers. Concrete and steel will cause problems with wifi singal coverage. This could be one root cause.
  Modem and router on the the 2nd floor and I only have 1 device that jumps on the internet once in a while in the basement.
  
  I would say the items that have the most problems from my devices is usally my garage door opener and Xbox Series X. The crazy thing is I can get 200Mbps on my iphone at times and then go over to my Xbox and its only showing 10Mbps and I'm standing right next to the Xbox with my iphone. Its unfortunately really doesnt like my Xbox for some reason. I literally couldn't even stream netflix on the xbox because it wouldn't go higher than 10Mbps download but then I try to fire it up on my iphone and it works. So there's definetly something going on. Also should say that I just installed the Xbox Series X which replaced my xbox one.
  
  Appreciate the help,
  
  Chris

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Nighthawk mesh Wifi 6 MR 60 and satellite