Re: How to test/confirm strength/quality of satellite connection to main router?

gobananasnet · ‎2020-10-19

Orbi RBR53S and how to test the signal strength to the router. Both of our satellits read backhaul "Good" but sometimes it drops off. What is the best way to run a test on these? Thanks

FURRYe38 · ‎2020-10-19

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?

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 wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite
https://kb.netgear.com/31030/What-do-the-LEDs-on-my-Orbi-mean

What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
https://kb.netgear.com/19668/Link-Rate-and-Transfer-Speed

I believe there is a telnet command to check the link rate on the RBR and RBS:

@CrimpOn

CrimpOn · ‎2020-10-19

@gobananasnet wrote:
Orbi RBR53S and how to test the signal strength to the router. Both of our satellits read backhaul "Good" but sometimes it drops off. What is the best way to run a test on these? Thanks

Use the Orbi debug page to turn on telnet. (http://orbilogin.net/debug.htm)

Use a telnet program to connect to the router.

(There is a telnet program built into Windows which can be enabled from the Programs and Features control panel. Click on "Activate Windows features. I personally use the free program PuTTY. There are many (many) telnet programs for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Pick the one you like.)

telnet to the router and type this command: satelliteinfo wifi

I have two satellites. This is what the command shows:

root@RBR50:/# satelliteinfo wifi
[
{
"mac address" : "A0:04:60:xx:xx:xx",
"hop" : "1",
"bridge mac" : "A0:04:xx:xx:xx:xx",
"backhaul conntype" : "5GHz",
"backhaul rssi" : "-68",
"backhaul macaddress" : "A0:04:60:xx:xx:xx",
"backhaul phytxrate" : "780",
"backhaul phyrxrate" : "780",
"backhaul parentmac" : "A0:04:60:xx:xx:xx"
},
{
"mac address" : "14:59:C0:xx:xx:xx",
"hop" : "1",
"bridge mac" : "14:59:C0:xx:xx:xx",
"backhaul conntype" : "5GHz",
"backhaul rssi" : "-59",
"backhaul macaddress" : "",
"backhaul phytxrate" : "866",
"backhaul phyrxrate" : "650",
"backhaul parentmac" : "A0:04:60:xx:xx:xx"
}

Notice one has an RSSI (signal strength) of -59 and the other -68. (-59 is "bigger" than -68)

Is this what you are looking for?

gobananasnet · ‎2020-10-21

Great detailed response. Yes, that's the numbers I'm looking for. What would be considered a good number to have? All our Ring devices show their RSSI numbers. When they get -60 they start having connection issues, but when they are -50 -40 -30 -20 they perform well, even when oddly the Orbi settings page 192.168.1.1 often seems to drop them even when they are operational, so odd. Thanks

CrimpOn · ‎2020-10-21

@gobananasnet wrote:
What would be considered a good number to have?

An interesting question. My approach would be Google searches. For example:

https://helpcenter.engeniustech.com/hc/en-us/articles/234761008-What-is-RSSI-and-its-acceptable-sign...

It looks(to me) like anything better than -70 is "good enough", but this is far outside my competence level.