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Orbi 770s wheres the transmit power option?
The documentation says there should be an option to control transmit power.
Number 1 rule of setting up wifi is balancing the power transmission. Just because my device can hear the router screaming at 20dbm on the top floor doesnt mean the router can effectively hear it trying to talk back at 10dbm downstairs.
To force the devices to use the closer satellites I need to adjust the power. This is wireless 101 where is the option?
Yes it was scrapped before launch.
Most of the User manuals are templates for all Orbi systems and not really tuned for each Orbi model. Ya they should be. Orbi AC, AX and AXE have the power controls which reflects in the UM. BE systems don't. I don't think NG will bring it back. Unless it's a major issue causing problems for lots of users, I wouldn't look for it to return.
13 Replies
https://www.reddit.com/r/orbi/comments/1kfrygc/cant_find_setting_to_reduce_the_transmit_power_on
In what world would there ever be a valid a reason to remove the ability to control the transmit power? What version did they remove it in? Hopefully I can at least downgrade back to sanity.
To force the devices to use the closer satellites I need to adjust the power.
Why do we think this is true? Shouldn't the device default to the stronger signal (i.e., closer satellite)? It's unfortunately still complex and uncontrollable because clients (phones) may be resistant to switching connections as you walk around your house.
Regardless, does it really matter as long as your phone has strong internet connectivity? I think we are getting to obsessed with speed tests and peak speeds when it's all way more than we need to browse and stream influencer videos.
Because im a network engineer and it is true I've dealt with and planned around this for years in enterprise environments. Devices tend to latch onto the first AP they associate with and will hold onto for as long as they can. To fix this we use things many tools transmit power being one of them. Ideally you want the AP to have the same transmit strength as the weakest device thats using it. That's typically going to be around 10-12 dbm. Otherwise you get to asymmetric communication links where the device can "hear" the AP just fine but the AP can barely "hear" the device. To force the device to roam it has to no longer be able to "hear" the AP that it is currently associated with.
The best analogy I can think of is if you are trying to have a conversation with someone using a bullhorn that is 50 feet away but you can only respond to them at normal speech volume. You can hear them just fine but they can barely make out what you say and you will have to repeat what you said alot for them to hear it.
So a full wifi bar on a phone does not equate to optimal settings as wireless is a two-way communications. You will notice symptoms of this particularly with laggy connections, hanging connections, etc despite having a "full wifi signal".
So in short to explain forcing the device to use the closer satellite with my above analogy, by lowering the transmit power I take the bullhorn away from the guy 50 feet away and the device will then associate with the person standing 10 feet away that can actually hear them.
Orbi BE systems have never had power adjustments. Was removed before they released.
Also it's up to devices to pick and choose where they connect too. Some devices will not lock on to a stronger signal even though there locked on to a weaker signal. How they handle that is on the Device Mfr. User can force this by disconnecting or disabling the wifi radio on the device for 5 seconds then re-enable it and usually the device will lock on to the stronger signal.
I have around 60 IoT devices/lights/cameras all around the house it would be infeasible to have to go and physically power them off and on 1 by 1 unfortunately. Imagine if the Orbi had a simple disconnect client option to force it from the GUI, but for a company that can't even let you control the power I know that is far too much to ask. Maybe I'll have to hook up one of my enterprise APs and mark the IoT SSID as rogue AP to punt all the devices off temporarily.
So this manual from June 2024 was before their release date? https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3533577/Netgear-Orbi-770-Series.html?page=67#manual
None of the BE consumer systems from Netgear have had this.
This is the manual that I was referring to. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3533577/Netgear-Orbi-770-Series.html?page=67#manual
These are the models I have. RBE770 and RBE771 which this manual covers. You are saying the scrapped it before launch?
Yes it was scrapped before launch.
Most of the User manuals are templates for all Orbi systems and not really tuned for each Orbi model. Ya they should be. Orbi AC, AX and AXE have the power controls which reflects in the UM. BE systems don't. I don't think NG will bring it back. Unless it's a major issue causing problems for lots of users, I wouldn't look for it to return.
Even the main netgear one still shows it in there. I've had the rbe773 since release and haven't seen transmit power controls
So seems to me this is an oversight that they need to fix.
Hello orbiisweaksauce ,
Welcome to the NETGEAR Community!
I understand that you would like to manage the transmission power on your RBE771/770. Unfortunately, Transmit Power control is not available on the Wi-Fi 7 Orbi Mesh systems.
Best,
Kevin
Community Team
