NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Satellites for RBE771 connect but don't work
I have been fighting this problem for weeks. I have an Orbi 97 system
RBE771 with 2 satellites. The computer connected directly to the Router via WiFi has great speed and the router itself test gets 84mbps/34 which is good for my radio frequency service. The problem I am having is that anything connected to the satellites don't work. The dashboard says satellite is connected via Ethernet in the dashboard and it is "GOOD", and the computer connected to the satellite via Ethernet assigned IP addresses via DHCP, and shows it is connected to the router, and the computer connected to satellite by WiFi is also assigned an IP but they cannot access the internet, nor can I log into the router dashboard via the satellite because of the glacial speed. It may take up to 2 minutes for a webpage to appear.
I am at a loss. This problem started about 3 months ago and has been intermittent. Like yesterday I finally got 40Mbps using Wifi or Ethernet on the satellite but today, I got nothing.
I have run continuity tests on all cables from the router to satellite and they are good.
The firmware on all devices is current.
Please help. Netgear wants to charge me $99 to fix this setup that is under warranty (BAD vibes and I will not be recommending Netgear to any of my clients )
35 Replies
What brand and model# is this PC your using? MacBook Pro M4, MacBook Pro 2020, Mac Studio M1
What brand and model# is the ethernet and wifi adapter in this test PC your using? Direct Ethernet to Studio, Using an Anker USB C to Ethernet adapter when trying to connect directly.
What speeds do you pay for UP and Down from the ISP that you should be getting? 80 / 10
Are you seeing to spec speeds with a ethernet PC connected directly to the ISP modem there with out the RBR being online? Yes
What happens if you use the wireless backhaul to connect Satellite 2 to the RBR? Do you mean when RBS is connecting wirelessly only? As stated above, my speeds drop dramatically if I am connecting or try to connect to the RBS, even if I can get a throughput connection. The fact that my original set up in my house had the wireless RBS and my laptop not being able to pass through to the internet when connected to the RBS is what caused this whole investigation in the first place.
One possibility is that the ethernet backhaul is negotiating 2.5 gbps, but the cable actually can't carry that reliably. Even with a new Ethernet cable it should be able to connect at 2.5G but it does not.
Even with a new Ethernet cable it should be able to connect at 2.5G but it does not.
In your case, I am worried about the cable that runs between the RBR and Satellite 2. Which I don't think you've changed.
o you mean when RBS is connecting wirelessly only? As stated above, my speeds drop dramatically if I am connecting or try to connect to the RBS, even if I can get a throughput connection. The fact that my original set up in my house had the wireless RBS and my laptop not being able to pass through to the internet when connected to the RBS is what caused this whole investigation in the first place.
I mean disconnecting the ethernet cable that runs between the RBR and Satellite 2, and connecting the laptop to one of the satellite LAN ports. I haven't seen any reports here that suggested you'd tried that. Your initial post said the dashboard said the satellite was connected with ethernet.
Okay, So I disconnected the RBS 2 and connected the laptop to it using ethernet and adapter and got 45 Mbps which is roughly the same speed I get via wifi connected directly to the RBR
What the USB adapter connecting at?
Does thie USB C to Ethernet adapter support up to 2.5Gb speeds?Anker USB C to Ethernet Adapter, Portable USB C Type-C 1-Gigabit Network Hub, 10/100/1000 Mbps,Network Adapter for MacBook Pro, iPad Pro 2019/2018, ChromeBook, XPS, Galaxy S9/S8, and More
Okay Test: Satellite 2 directly connected to Router via Ethernet about 25-30 feet away.
Laptop connected to:
- Ethernet to Satelite: 18 Mbps
- Wifi to RBS: 7.5 Mbps
- Turned OFF RBS and then connected
- Ethernet directly to RBR: 84 Mbps
- Wifi to RBR: 54 Mbps
So even though close and wired, the speed drop using a satellite is very bad. I had the laptop in the same location for all tests. And when the RBS was 50 feet away and only connected via WIFI Mesh to the RBR, if I connected to the RBS, my laptop speed dropped to stall speed.
I changed a cable in the distant RBR in the office as got 8Mbps via Ethernet So definitely a slowdown due to distance, but I used to get 50Mbps.
This Wfi 7 system was supposed to be an upgrade from my ORBI50 but while the router is great, the satellite system is much worse. It seems like too much congestion between the router and its satellites.
Any software setting that could cause this obstacle?
Okay Test: Satellite 2 directly connected to Router via Ethernet about 25-30 feet away.
Laptop connected to:
Ethernet to Satelite: 18 Mbps
Wifi to RBS: 7.5 Mbps
Turned OFF RBS and then connected
Ethernet directly to RBR: 84 Mbps
Wifi to RBR: 54 Mbps
So even though close and wired, the speed drop using a satellite is very bad.What happens if you use the wireless backhaul to connect Satellite 2 to the RBR?
One possibility is that the ethernet backhaul is negotiating 2.5 gbps, but the cable actually can't carry that reliably.
An alternative test (if you have a gigabit switch you aren't using) is to put the switch between the satellite and the RBR, and see if that makes any difference.
I ran into a similar performance issue with my own 870 system - the WAN cable was 5e, and it was getting packet loss when the connection negotiated to 2.5 gbps. It wasn't that easy to swap the cable, so instead I put a gigabit switch on the path. That improved the performance.
What brand and model# is this PC your using?
What brand and model# is the ethernet and wifi adapter in this test PC your using?
What speeds do you pay for UP and Down from the ISP that you should be getting?
Are you seeing to spec speeds with a ethernet PC connected directly to the ISP modem there with out the RBR being online?
Firmware Version
V10.5.20.7_2.2.48The network equipment is Cambium (used to be Motorola - spun off). Radio Frequency from a Tower powered by Spectrum
The router goes from an ethernet cable to a patch panel for Cat 5. Don't see a brand.
The satellite in question is about 75 feet from the router (dashboard says the wired connection is good). Now, I had a second one in the opposite direction about 40 feet from the router with 1 wall in between connected via mesh. The problem with it was that if my laptop connected to it, the speed became glacial. When I turned it off and connected directly to the router, my speed returned to normal.
I have set channels as you have suggested.
It seems to me that the problem is some kind of communication problem between the router and its satellites. But rebooting all doesn't seem to fix it.
If you have CAT5 lan cable then this maybe one cause of the issue. Older generation CAT5 was only rated for 100Mbps. The 770 series is rated for 2.5Gb port speeds which is good with at least CAT6. Best is CAT6A.
Firmware Version
V10.5.20.7_2.2.48
The network equipment is Cambium (used to be Motorola - spun off). Radio Frequency from a Tower powered by Spectrum
The router goes from an ethernet cable to a patch panel for Cat 5. Don't see a brand.
The satellite in question is about 75 feet from the router (dashboard says the wired connection is good). Now, I had a second one in the opposite direction about 40 feet from the router with 1 wall in between connected via mesh. The problem with it was that if my laptop connected to it, the speed became glacial. When I turned it off and connected directly to the router, my speed returned to normal.
I have set channels as you have suggested.
It seems to me that the problem is some kind of communication problem between the router and its satellites. But rebooting all doesn't seem to fix itIf you have CAT5 lan cable then this maybe one cause of the issue.
Which is one reason why I suggested measuring the speeds from the router directly to the laptop
It seems to me that the problem is some kind of communication problem between the router and its satellites. But rebooting all doesn't seem to fix it.
What speeds are you seeing when you connect your laptop directly to the cable(s) going between the router and the satellites?
Netgear wants to charge me $99 to fix this setup that is under warranty
Netgear offers 90 days of "complimentary support" with a purchase, which is intended to help the customer get the product installed and working correctly. After those 90 days, there are only two Netgear options:
- within 120 days, sign up for Extended Warranty and Support at $49.99 for two years, or
- after 120 days from purchase, sign up for Premium Support at $99.99 per year.
https://www.netgear.com/home/services/prosupport/
This is why many of us participate in the Community Forum.
Continuity tests are not a reliable way of testing Ethernet cables. Brand new Ethernet cables are so inexpensive it is a good idea to have several on hand. (I also 'went big' and purchased a 50ft and a 100ft Ethernet cable so that I can connect almost anything in the house directly to the router or one of the satellites and thus bypass in-wall wiring completely. Under $20 on Amazon.)
I would purchase and replace the main cable, but I have it running underground.
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?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended.
How are the RBS connected to the RBR? You say via ethernet? Is this ethernet connection directly behind the RBR or is there some kind of LAN switch or LAN patch panel in between the RBR and RBS?
Brand and model# of the LAN switch if using one.
Connect on RBS directly behing the RBR with out any lan switch or patch panel in between to test connection behind the RBS with a wired PC.
Brand and model # of the ethernet adapter is this PC.
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 🛰
Does this happen with the RBS turned OFF?
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
