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Forum Discussion
Devices connecting to distant router instead of nearby satellites
Our school is having an issue where devices in our mesh network are sometimes connecting to the distant Orbi router/base rather than the Orbi satellite that is right in the room with them a few feet ...
Zakariyya wrote:
We have 1 router (RBR840) and 5 satellites (RBS850), one of which is connected as an access point. All of them are on Firmware version V4.6.14.5
Please provide more detail about "one of which is connected as an access point".
I am not aware of alternate methods of connecting Orbi satellites.
Are the devices which connect to the router rather than the nearest satellite:
- Mobile devices which are brought to the school, taken away, and then return again, or...
- Fixed devices which remain connected to the network 24/7
Thanks
Thank you for your willingness to help.
My apologies for not being clear. It is actually an additional router that has been set-up as an access point. More info on that here: https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point\
We did that because we had purchased two Orbi sets (router and 2 satellites) and used the extra router to extend the network.
In any case, that is not where the issue is. That extra access point is working fine and not interfering at all in the area where we have this issue. I have even disabled it several times, just to make sure it was not part of the problem.
Regarding the devices that are connecting to the router instead of the satellite nearby, they are Apple laptops that are essentially stationary throughout the day and then are taken home each night. I have monitored them closely and they connect to the satellite nearby most of the time, but probably 30% of the time they just switch over to the router even though they have a very weak and slow connection to it.
To provide additional detail, I have attached a map of our campus. The red dots are where the problems are. These locations are where devices are connecting to the router instead of the satellite that is less than 20 ft away from them. Everywhere else, coverage is good and the mesh system works great.
