NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Outdoor camera connects to Orbi RBR 80 feet away rather than RBS 8 feet away
I have an outdoor camera that used to connect to my RBS 850 that is just 8 feet away, next to a window inside a bedroom. This is the behavior that I expected, using the Orbi mesh. Then a few wee...
Bingo ! That was it.
It seems that the outdoor camera did connect to the router during the factory reset, and kept its allegiance to this connection after the satellites were brought-up.
So, lesson learned is... When performing a factory reset on an RBR that has satellites, make sure that any device that is likely to be considered a stationary device (like a camera) is powered down/off before the reset is started. Then, once the router is back online, and all the satellites have been brought up and synced, THEN power up/on any cameras or other stationary-type devices. These devices will likely connect to the preferred/optimal satellite (or router, if applicable).
Special thanks to FURRYe38 and CrimpOn for helping to solve this issue.
Just the 2.4Ghz
OK - I set it to 50%, and one of the two outdoor cameras disappeared from the mesh. So, I reset the 2.4 channel to 100%, and both cameras are back up on the mesh. However, the original problem still exists... the camera that is right near the satellite prefers to connect to the router that is far-away, and the signal strength is a bit too low to accommodate well the camera's dataflow.
I am considering to unplug that camera from its battery, and then try to sync it with the preferred satellite, in close quarters.
How does this sound?
dishonorablebas wrote:
I am considering to unplug that camera from its battery, and then try to sync it with the preferred satellite,
in close quarters.That sounds like a wonderful experiment. There is a hypothesis that WiFi devices have different internal programming.
- Devices that are intended to be mobile appear to be programmed to search constantly for a "better connection".
- Devices that are expected to remain in one place may be programmed to search for a WiFi connection that they know the password to, connect to it, and stop looking. When a mesh system is rebooted, the router typically begins broadcasting the WiFi SSID before the satellites. If a device detects the router first, it may connect to the router before the satellite signal is available. Restarting the WiFi device is a method to determine if this is happening.
Before moving the camera, I suggest restarting it in the current location.
Good suggestions. I think you are probably right, because when I factory reset the router, I did not unplug the outdoor camera battery, and this may have synced that device with the router, rather than the satellite(s).. I'll unplug it (in-place) shortly, and see what happens.
Please comment on the results. Over the years, "Device connects to wrong Orbi unit" has been one of the top issues. Users plead for a method to force devices to connect where they think best (a feature apparently provided by some brands of WiFi router) and Netgear's response has been consistent: It's up to the device to pick the connection, not the WiFi system.
You left the 2.4Ghz at 100%, To get them to connect to the closer RBS, you'll need to set the 2.4Ghz power to 50%, can leave 5Ghz at 100%. This should help keep the cameras connected to the closer RBS in future as well.
Power cycling the cameras can help if needed.
dishonorablebas wrote:
OK - I set it to 50%, and one of the two outdoor cameras disappeared from the mesh. So, I reset the 2.4 channel to 100%, and both cameras are back up on the mesh. However, the original problem still exists... the camera that is right near the satellite prefers to connect to the router that is far-away, and the signal strength is a bit too low to accommodate well the camera's dataflow.
I am considering to unplug that camera from its battery, and then try to sync it with the preferred satellite, in close quarters.
How does this sound?
