Computer looses Internet access when I get into range of a new node

[Loooogical]

I have been having an issue with my MacBook Pro M1, that seems to happen when I walk from a place where I'm connected to the main node (downstairs), and upstairs (next to my second node). Instead of swapping wireless flawlessly, I often get the Wifi-symbol with a exclamation mark, meaning I'm not connected to the Internet. I have to disconnect the Wifi, and then reconnect again, to get back online (or wait a long time), and then I'm connected to the correct node in the second floor. Anyone else have experienced this?

[plemans]

Node tells us nothing. 

What modem do you have?

What router do you have? 
What firmware is on it? 

What are these "nodes"?

Details are key in helping out

[Loooogical]

Orbi Wi-Fi 6E system with one main unit and two satellites that are updated to the latest firmware.

My moden is not relevant, as the Orbi main unit never loses internett from the modem, it is only the computer that loses internet when switching from main unit to satellite.

[plemans]

Details are key. 

1. what actual firmware version is on the satellites and the router? Not the latest. the number

2. modems do matter. It might not in this case but its tough to know without knowing which you have

3. how big is your home? 

4. what are the interior walls made from? 

5. how far from the router is the satellite and whats in between them?

6. Are the satellites hardwired in or using the wireless backhaul?

[Loooogical]

Firmware is 6.3.7.5

Normal home 300 square meters, 100 square meters floors.

My moden is a Zyxel EX8825.

I didn't have this issue the first couple of months with the Orbi Mesh network, it has started happening lately. I can be five meters away from the satellite in the second floor, without it jumping from the main unit in my technical room in the floor below, but instead shows the exclamation mark and no internet connection.

[plemans]

the Zyxel is a modem/router combo device and can cause double nats. Some devices are more tolerant of double nats. 

A double nat happens when you cascade more than 1 router.
https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
Fixes? There’s 3 options but only use 1.
1. Put the modem/gateway in modem only/pass through mode. This disables its routing functions.
2. Leave the modem/gateway in router mode but put the Netgears IP address into its DMZ. This forwards the data to the netgear. You can either leave the modem/gateway’s wireless enabled or disabled. Just make sure its using a different wifi channel to prevent interference
3. Put the Netgear into access point mode. This disables its routing functions. Wifi/ethernet still works but it does disable some features.
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-NETGEAR-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-M...

There is actually a newer firmware for that satellite/router. 6.3.7.10

You can try installing that and doing a factory reset/new install process. Sometimes the reset helps with issues. 

[Loooogical]

The Zyxel is in bridge mode, so that is not the issue.

[plemans]

It wouldn't be the first time a device updated and broke it's bridge mode. Try one of the other options

[Loooogical]

The more I read, the more I realize there seems to be an issues with Apple products and Netgear systems. I'm just one of many having issues when switching between satellites it seems like. Restarting the computer for instance always fixes the issue (connects like it should), and often deactivating the Wi-Fi, waiting some seconds, and turning it on also works (but not always). Also just waiting for 5-10 minutes usually solves the problem by itself.

[FURRYe38]

How many RBS do you have deployed? 

For that size of home, only the RBR and 1 RBS would be needed. Having too much why could cause problems like this. 

https://youtu.be/UR0viMLISz4

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 wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 📡

[Loooogical]

I have 2 satellites and the main unit. One satellite is in a rental appartment behind a sound proof door on the first floor (was horrible signal in the rental when the door was closed). The second one is on the second floor, almost straight above the main unit, but there is a concrete plate separating the two floors. Sure, I can get a half decent signal in the second floor from the first floor unit, but not good enough that it should prevent the computer from easily jumping to the satellite that is literally five feet behind a plaster wall away.

[FURRYe38]

What happens if you turn the power on the RBR to 50%.

It's up to the client wifi device to pick and choose where it connects. Too much signal or wifi signal over lap can cause problems and confusion on which signal to pick. 

Sound like you have some building materials that are also playing a role in getting good signal coverage as well. You may want to look at some wired connections to the RBS instead of wireless. 

[Loooogical]

The satellites are hard wired. How do I turn down the signal of the main unit?

[FURRYe38]

Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

Are the RBS connected to the back of the RBR directly or is there a LAN switch in between? 

What CAT# cables are you using? CAT6 is recommended. 

[Loooogical]

Should I try to reduce only 5 Ghz, as that is mainly what the computer is connected to?

[FURRYe38]

Both radios.

[Loooogical]

Seems to have helped a bit, so I guess this might be somewhat of a temporarily "fix", hopefully Netgear can sort out a better solution for Apple products in a coming firmware update. Thanks anyways!

[FURRYe38]

It's up to devices to pick and choose where they connect too. Not much can be done here. So placement, distances and deployment is key here. 

[Loooogical]

Is there a way to tell Orbi that my computer should ONLY connect to the Bedroom satellite for instance, and never to the main orbi router, because I'm pretty sure that would fix the problem.

[Loooogical]

Or a way to disable the Wi-Fi signal of the main node, and only use the two satellites, that might also solve it.

[plemans]

No and No.

The device (phone/computer/pc) is the one that determines which to connect to. 

You can try setting the broadcast speed down on the orbi as they can have to much overlap. 

Or you can try going in on your pc (if its a windows device) and setting its roaming to aggressive. (through the device manager)

[Loooogical]

New question, how do I find the BSSID for the router and satellites? It doesn't seem to match up with the mac address, so I guess it is something else?  - Figured this one out.

And I think I found the reason behind this issue now. When I'm in my second floor, I still have a -63 RSSI from the base station, and a -50 from the sat on the second floor. So that is the reason it doesn't jump to the new one, and probably the reason something happens making it not able to decide on WiFi now and then and making my computer lose internet connection.

I guess it is not possible to turn down the Transmit Power Control for just the base station, and not the sats?

[Loooogical]

Think I will try to move the sat on the second floor to the third floor. Maybe that helps.

[Loooogical]

Yeah, problem seems to be that the system is too powerful so several of the sateliltes/base station is inside the treshold for the computer not to swap wifi, and then something strange happens after a while and it messes up and you loses connection. Not sure if it is Apple or Netgears fault, but I have put my system up for sale and will just buy Google Nest Pro if somebody buys it.

[FURRYe38]

Any progress on this? 

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@Loooogical wrote:

Think I will try to move the sat on the second floor to the third floor. Maybe that helps.

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