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My satellite has a poor connection to the RBR850 router
I just noticed on my computer's Netgear interface that my satellite has a poor connection. So I checked the android Orbi app to see if I could find the problem. The Orbi showed I have a 5GHz connection, ver. 4.6.14.3. Now that’s strange because I’m running a backhaul from the RBR850 router. It’s set up as a router with only one satellite. All devices to the satellite show a weak connection, but they are connected without dropping.
I was told to do a factory reset on the satellite, then connect my cat6 cable to the two units and press sync. Somehow it went back to the wireless setting.
Did I do something wrong or do I need to do another factory reset to try it again? Disconnect the cable press reset on the satellite, reconnect the cable, press sync on the router, then sync on the satellite.
Does the cell phone app show your connection strength? Is there anything else to try?
I moved the satellite in the room with the router to monitor both the router And satellite. While plugging and unplugging I noticed that the plug on the satellite wasn't setting the connector like it should. So I used another plug on the satellite . Now it shows a good connection and it's wired. I thought it would show better than a "good" connection, being wired straight from the router. Anyway looks like my problem was the connector in the satellite. I did look at the ethernet continuity tester. Mine does look like one of the 2-piece $30.00 tester, and the real tester was at $1600.00. Just wanted to think everybody for their help
4 Replies
nitehawk747 wrote:
I just noticed on my computer's Netgear interface that my satellite has a poor connection. So I checked the android Orbi app to see if I could find the problem.
Do I understand correctly that the Orbi administrative web site (http://orbilogin.net ) Attached Devices page showed the satellite status as "5GHz Poor"? The Orbi app simply presents the router information in a more colorful, more "modern" format. The information should be the same.
If this is the case, then the link between router and satellite is almost certainly over WiFi, and not a great connection.
nitehawk747 wrote:
Disconnect the cable press reset on the satellite, reconnect the cable, press sync on the router, then sync on the satellite.
There is no process to enable wired backhaul. The router and satellite check periodically to see if a wired connection exists and will switch automatically when one is found. Likewise, when that check discovers that the wired link is not there, they will switch back to WiFi backhaul. The user has no control over this activity.
In general, people on the forum recommend this practice regarding wired backhaul:
- With the satellite in the same room as the router, power up the satellite and sync it with the router.
- Observe that it indeed does sync. (Blue light. Attached Devices shows a good connection. - which may take several minutes to appear).
- Connect a router LAN port to a satellite LAN port with an Ethernet cable.
- Observe that after a period of time, Attached Devices shows that the connection is now 'wired'.
(The frequency of checking for a wired link is not documented and I have not sat and done it enough times to form an estimate of how fast it happens.) - Relocate the satellite to the desired location. Connect it to Ethernet. Power it up.
If the satellite showed 'wired' when connected directly in the same room, but never switches to a wired backhaul in the desired location, there is almost certainly something wrong with the cable path.
- A kink, stretch, or break in the cable itself.
- One or more RJ45 connecters crimped incorrectly.
- One or the other Ethernet patch cables not perfect.
My satellite is at least 45 feet apart away from the router, with lots of corners and wood in between each other. I'm using a purchased premade cat6 cable connect directly to the router . The router has a cat6 to the modem. I used a cable checker to test the cable after I ran the cable to the satellite area. I'm off tomorrow, so I'll have time to move it back into the router room , connect it , and re sync them together again and see if it goes back to wired or Wi-Fi. I'm not using a satellite internet service so I have great connection and speed. I also thought the problem is in the cable, so I checked it again. It still shows the cable and connectors are good. I even wiggled the cable on both end while the testing was going. Hopefully , tomorrow I'll have more answers.
This sounds like a good plan. If I understand correctly, the concept is to:
- Temporarily relocate the satellite close to the router.
- Use another Ethernet patch cable to verify that the satellite will change from WiFi to 'wired' backhaul connection.
- Then... It is not clear to me whether that premade Cat6 cable is embedded in the building structure. I actually purchased a 100ft Ethernet cable from Amazon for testing situations like this. (The family groans and makes unpleasant remarks when I string it through the house, up the stairs, etc. "Oh,Dad!")
One of the issues with ordinary "Cable Testers" is that they can determine if the copper wires are physically connected, but they cannot determine if the cable meets the requirements for a specific level of performance. Witness the difference in costs:
- Search Amazon for "Ethernet continuity tester" and there are products starting at under $10 US.
- Search instead for a device that will qualify the cable for gigabit use and the price will be over $1,000!, such as
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007RTPBQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B0007RTPBQ&pd_rd_w=DJlHg&content-id=amzn1.sym.f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_p=f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_r=RWFBW3MJ5GB8EE1N6KB7&pd_rd_wg=LMSwo&pd_rd_r=d48479f9-ef2a-485a-bc78-3f17cb1b424e&s=industrial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQVFTVkcySjIxUjRLJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzIxMjY4MjlXUTdHVjJCRUgzOCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTE1MzEzWUI0U0RUU0JGQVZZJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1
I moved the satellite in the room with the router to monitor both the router And satellite. While plugging and unplugging I noticed that the plug on the satellite wasn't setting the connector like it should. So I used another plug on the satellite . Now it shows a good connection and it's wired. I thought it would show better than a "good" connection, being wired straight from the router. Anyway looks like my problem was the connector in the satellite. I did look at the ethernet continuity tester. Mine does look like one of the 2-piece $30.00 tester, and the real tester was at $1600.00. Just wanted to think everybody for their help
