Ethernet Backhaul Issues

Thank you, everyone! I truly appreciate you taking the time to help me troubleshoot. Here are some answers to your Qs:

PollyJones,

• I bought a Klein Scout Pro 3 cable tester & toner. All cables are good.
• But… They’re all Cat5 cables. ☹️

FURRYe38,

• The FW on the Orbi is the latest: 7.2.8.8 
• The switches are connected to the RBSes with Cat5, in various rooms.
• The Orbi router’s “Internet” port connects to the XB8’s port 2
• The Orbi router’s “2.5 Ethernet” port connects to Switch #2’s port 16.
• The Orbi router's “Ethernet port 1” port connects to Switch #1’s Port 16.
• The distance between the router & RBSes varies (from 12 feet to 40 feet to 3 stories above).
• I also have a phone line, coax cable, security system plugged into the XB8.
• Don’t know the channel configs

FrumpyGrandpa,

Thank you for confirming and emphasizing that. My two switches are not connected directly to the Xfinity Gateway (XB8).

Garwoofoo,

That sounds like exactly what’s happening to me & I resigned to use the wireless backhaul for now, too. 

PollyJones & FURRYe38,

I’d like to note that I’m a novice, so I’ll keep answering, learning, & investigating but I might not be able to follow all your questions. I’ll start by learning how to configure my modem to work in bridge mode first.

I have a friend who suggested that buy multiple Ubiquiti U7 Pro wall APs @ replace all of Orbi RBSes.

Another friend suggested I run Cat6a cable in the basement crawlspace & move all the RBSes down there, but that seems silly to me.

I wish there was a way to replace the cables using the existing cable runs, but there are just way too many right turns to make this feasible. (My friend also tells me they’re probably stapled to the walls.)