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Ron67
Nov 07, 2024Aspirant
RBE771 Need to Connect Device to a specific satellite
I have a RBE771 with 2 satellites. My Ring doorbell is connecting with the Router on the IOT 2.4 network. Unfortunately, the Router is farther from the doorbell than one of the satellites, and often shows a poor to mediocre connection. Is there a way I can cause the doorbell to connect to the satellite, which is much closer and has few devices connected to it? I’d appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.
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This problem has annoyed owners of mesh WiFi systems for years. WiFi devices are in charge of the connection process. They survey the available WiFi systems, choose the most desirable, and associate with it. Devices designed to be mobile (or just better designed) continue to look for better connections. Alas, some devices appear to quit looking after they connect. When a mesh system is rebooted (after a firmware update, after a power outage, etc.) the router is often the first to broadcast a WiFi signal and these devices connect to the router and then quit looking before the satellites begin broadcasting their signals.
If the device is easy to access, the problem often can be handled by rebooting the device. (such as turn it off and then back on again) Ring doorbells are often hard wired and bolted to the wall, making it a serious effort to reboot them.
One solution is to provide a unique WiFi signal that the doorbell will always connect to. The TP-Link RE220 WiFi Extender sells for $15 on Amazon. It could be connected to the Orbi network at 5G and provide a 2.4G signal with a different WiFi SSID that the doorbell can be configured to use. If the RE220 is connected to the closest satellite, this should keep the doorbell happy. (If the RE220 displays the same behavior of connecting to the router, it could be put into Access Point (AP) mode and physically wired to the nearest satellite.)
It might be worth a modest expenditure just to find out if this "solves the problem" (or not).
- Ron67Aspirant
Thanks so much. I’ll see how this works out. I really appreciate the clear, concise response.
Customers have asked for a method to force devices to connect to a specific WiFi unit for at least 7 years. There simply is not a way to do it. (I would be fascinated to see a reference to any other mesh WiFi system that provides this feature. i.e. Amazon eero, Asus, Linksys, TP-Link, Ubiquiti, etc.)
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router 📡 and satellite(s)🛰️? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR 📡 and RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 🛰What is distances from device to RBR and RBS?
What channel configurations are currently set on the router?
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Ron67 wrote:
I have a RBE771 with 2 satellites. My Ring doorbell is connecting with the Router on the IOT 2.4 network. Unfortunately, the Router is farther from the doorbell than one of the satellites, and often shows a poor to mediocre connection. Is there a way I can cause the doorbell to connect to the satellite, which is much closer and has few devices connected to it? I’d appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.- Ron67Aspirant
My 2-story townhouse is 2450 sq ft. The router is on the ground floor at the rear; the satellite I’d like to connect with the Ring doorbell is about 40’ away, against the front wall, with the doorbell on the other side of the concrete block, less than 2’ from the satellite. The second satellite is upstairs in the middle of that floor. I have not had any issues other than this Ring device.
The router firmware is current,10.5.10.10. Revealing my limited expertise, I’m not sure what you mean by the channel configurations, or how I would determine that.The modem is provided by Spectrum, and the mfg. is not listed but is model ET2251. I have 1 Gig service. I’m also not clear on you question of the NG router’s connection.
Please let me know if I’ve failed to answer your questions. Many thanks.
What is the distance between the router 📡 and satellite(s)🛰️?
Maybe hard to get the device to connect to something closer, we can't control how devices connect based on noise, signal quality and distanced. Sometimes they will connect to remote or lower signals rather than close signals.
2' maybe too close between the device and that RBS. 6-12' from a device to a source wifi signal is recommended.
What happens if you turn OFF the closest RBS. Will the device connect to the other RBS?
Try power OFF of the RBR for 15 seconds then back ON leaving the RBS ON.That size of home, maybe having two RBS is too much, the RBR and just one RBS should work good.