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Forum Discussion
Jules0205
Mar 18, 2024Aspirant
RBR850 Satellite Issues
Hi, I am struggling with my Netgear RBR850. I would be very grateful if anyone was able to help. My ideal set up is as follows: -Router (and broadband modem connected via ethernet) in my sittin...
- Mar 18, 2024
A satellite will prefer a 'wired' connection every time over a WiFi connection. The satellite has no concept of anything 'beyond' that first link.
I would disconnect the Ethernet cable connecting the two satellites.
p.s. If this was an older building with wooden floors and open basement, then drilling between basement and ground floor is almost trivial.
CrimpOn
Mar 18, 2024Guru - Experienced User
A satellite will prefer a 'wired' connection every time over a WiFi connection. The satellite has no concept of anything 'beyond' that first link.
I would disconnect the Ethernet cable connecting the two satellites.
p.s. If this was an older building with wooden floors and open basement, then drilling between basement and ground floor is almost trivial.
- Jules0205Mar 18, 2024AspirantThank you very much, have tried that and perversely it seems better!
I also had my eye on the new Orbi 970. Would that be an appreciable upgrade?
Thinking:
-10gbps in from modem (have 3gbps fibre but my current set up maxes out at 2.5gbps
-Better range/more powerful WiFi from ground floor to basement
-better connection from router to satellite 1 (that powers 5-6 devices via Ethernet)
-better WiFi on the 1st floor and 2nd floor (which has no satellites)
Or is my current set up already close in terms of quality/speed?
Thank you very much- CrimpOnMar 18, 2024Guru - Experienced User
More powerful? Doubt it. Radio transmission power signals are strictly limited in every country. That concrete basement just kills WiFi signals.
Seriously? A human person would be able to detect the difference between a 2.5Gbit and 3.0Gbit internet speed?
The major difference between the 850 and the 970 products are:
- Support for the 6GHz frequency band. (Known as WiFi6E) This frequency band is almost totally 'empty' because there are so few products that support it and so few home WiFi routers that support it. A WiFi6E connection would be blazing fast because (a) the total lack of interference, and (b) the 6GHz band supports wider WiFi channels for faster communication. Provided that the WiFi6E device is close enough to the router/satellites to connect at 6G, it would be 'cool'. (Remember, 5G WiFi is affected by distance and building materials more than 2.4G. And 6G signals are affected more than 5G. It's physics.)
- Support for WiFi7. This new standard is available on a few devices, with more expected as the year goes along.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/14/24038284/wi-fi-certified-7-products-list-wi-fi-alliance
With my zero devices which support WiFi6E or WiFi7, the choice for me is easy.
- Jules0205Mar 18, 2024AspirantThank you very much! Entirely fair comments. Maybe I was getting greedy! I’m getting 2.5gbps into my Orbi and I’m getting around 300-40mbps over WiFi with my phone/laptop etc. in the same room as the router (and modem). I was speculating the 970 might get me “closer to” what’s coming into the Orbi (ie the 2.5gbps currently or the 3gbps if I had a >3gbps Ethernet in on the orbi). Sounds like that’s not necessarily the case. My simple logic was the orbi is nearly 4 years old so perhaps the very latest WiFi for a 2023 gen MacBook Pro and iPhone might make a difference in terms of WiFi speed.
Thank you again for your time