NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Devices connecting to distant router instead of nearby satellites
Our school is having an issue where devices in our mesh network are sometimes connecting to the distant Orbi router/base rather than the Orbi satellite that is right in the room with them a few feet ...
Thank you for your interest in helping.
Here is a map of our campus with locations and distances of everything. The red dots are the problem areas where staff are occasionally experiencing terrible internet. When I take a look at what they are connected to, it is the distant Router instead of the satellite that is just a few feet away. This happens about 30% of the time.
I can try turning down the power output of the Router. It is currently connecting to distant satellites nicely (125 ft line of sight) so I am a little worried that I will lose that distance, but I will see what happens.
But still, it seems like there should be a way to make sure the devices connect to the satellite nearby which have a nice powerful signal in that area. When they connect to the router, I can see that it has a super weak signal. Any other insights, tips, or advice would be appreciated.
So with users in Building A, those devices are connecting to the router in the main building?
Might also turn OFF SAT1 in the main building. Possible too much wifi signal here.
It's up to wifi devices to pick and chose where they connected too, even IF the signal maybe at a low level from the router.
90 and 125 feet is possibly too far in distances...
Let us know if setting 50% on the RBR changes anything.
FURRYe38 wrote:So with users in Building A, those devices are connecting to the router in the main building?
Yes. It is really odd since the main building router is so far away, but their device is picking that super weak connection over the very fast and strong satellite one nearby.
FURRYe38 wrote:Might also turn OFF SAT1 in the main building. Possible too much wifi signal here.
Sat 1 is on the 1st floor and the router is on the 2nd floor with some thick walls in between. With Sat 1 off, we are left with very poor signal from the router on the 1st floor.
FURRYe38 wrote:90 and 125 feet is possibly too far in distances...
It is a long distance but the Orbi router is reaching the satellite successfully. Pretty impressive actually. The direct line-of -sight from the router to Sat 3 is helpful. The 90 ft from Sat 2 to Sat 4 has no issues.
FURRYe38 wrote:Let us know if setting 50% on the RBR changes anything.
Will do. I am no longer there for today, so I will try it out tomorrow or the next day.
Thanks for your help!