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C660631's avatar
C660631
Guide
Oct 09, 2020
Solved

Connecting 2.4Ghz Cameras to Orbi Wifi 6 Mesh

Hi all, I know there have been many posst about this topic already, and I have reviewed each but it appears that my issue is unique.   I have a recently acquired Orbi Wifi 6 Mesh system that includ...
C660631's avatar
C660631
Guide
Oct 09, 2020

Thanks. I've reset them numerous times as if they were out of the box by resetting to factory default. 

 

I've also tried Channel 11 which didn't make much of a difference, but I'll try yoru suggestion. Note that the orbi app also shows networks per channel, is this info as reliable as the apps you mention ?

 

Also, my goal is get these working on the Guest wifi channel so that I have a seperate `VLAN' or network for the cameras segregated from the rest of the network. Do you see any issues there with 2.4Ghz?

 

Regards, 

Mstrbig's avatar
Mstrbig
Master
Oct 09, 2020
C660631 wrote:

Thanks. I've reset them numerous times as if they were out of the box by resetting to factory default. 

I've also tried Channel 11 which didn't make much of a difference, but I'll try yoru suggestion. Note that the orbi app also shows networks per channel, is this info as reliable as the apps you mention ?

Also, my goal is get these working on the Guest wifi channel so that I have a seperate `VLAN' or network for the cameras segregated from the rest of the network. Do you see any issues there with 2.4Ghz?

Regards, 

I have installed many RBK853 systems with no issues whatsoever. I've even used them to replace RBK53 systems, naming the SSID the same as old, and all devices except a few connect right back up. 

You can use the Orbi app WIFI Analytics to see your close neighbors WIFI channel usage. I would suggest using 1, 6 or 11 as they non-overlap. 

Setting up the cameras on the guest WIFI is no issue at all. You just have to point the cameras to the guest WIFI.

  • C660631's avatar
    C660631
    Guide
    Oct 09, 2020

    Thanks again, I had done all of those things, including keeping the SSID as the old Telstra Smartmodem AND the same WPA2-PSK password. That worked for all SmartModem swapouts in the past without a hitch, however when I did the same with the Orbi, each device needed to authenticate once more. 

     

    I then moved all three cameras to the Guest band but I still don't have fantastic results. The camera indoors is the most stable, the backyard not bad but still drops, and the front is terrible. I tried Channel 11 but I'll try the others. I notice that the bands keep changing and sometimes a channel that is bad becomes great and vice versa. You woudl think the best setting is AUTO and the intelligence of the tranmitter would know to make a seemless change, but that's not the case. 

     

    These are Shenzen Technology wifi cameras. They're cheap, but worked extremely well in the past on the Telstra SmartModem Gen II.

     

    Regards,

    • CrimpOn's avatar
      CrimpOn
      Guru - Experienced User
      Oct 10, 2020
      C660631 wrote:

      I then moved all three cameras to the Guest band but I still don't have fantastic results. The camera indoors is the most stable, the backyard not bad but still drops, and the front is terrible. I tried Channel 11 but I'll try the others. I notice that the bands keep changing and sometimes a channel that is bad becomes great and vice versa. You woudl think the best setting is AUTO and the intelligence of the tranmitter would know to make a seemless change, but that's not the case. 

       

      These are Shenzen Technology wifi cameras. They're cheap

      My vote is for "auto".  In a corporate environment, where IT has total control over every WiFi access point, it is common practice to lay out WiFi access points on channels 1, 6, 11 so that adjacent access points do not overlap.  Notice, however, that three non-overlapping channels is not enough.  (See the 4 color theorum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_color_theorem )  Alas, there are not four non-overlapping channels in the US.  (overseas maybe, but not the US)

       

      In a residential environment, all of the neighborhood WiFi systems constantly scan the 2.4G bands looking for "the best channel", and will change when it suits them.  If I scan the channels at 9am and find that channel 3 is the "best", by 10am it could be channel 7.  Picking a 2.4G channel is a crap shoot.

       

      Are these "cheap cameras" available on Amazon?  I'd love to buy one and see how it works on my Orbi.

       

      What is the point of connecting the cameras to the "Guest" SSID?

      • C660631's avatar
        C660631
        Guide
        Oct 10, 2020

        Thanks CrimpOn. I experienced the same with teh 2.4Ghz bands; always changing so setting to one always is not a long term strategy. I'll go back to Auto anyway after I tried Ch13 for the last 4hrs to no difference. Interesting it's only that one camera as the others are Ok. So maybe it is a signal issue even though the Orbi app says 91% signal to that area - which is stronger than the other two yet performs the worst.

         

        The cameras are avaialable on Amazon. I got them from Ebay. They're full PTZ so they're good value for the price and like I said, once they work. they're brilliant. They were fault free on the SmartModem so hopefully I'll work out what's happening on the Orbi also. 

         

        I even thought of installing a 2.4G repeater in close proximity and connect it to that up front whilst the repeater backhauls to the Orbi. It may stablise.