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Forum Discussion
devices connect to a far satellite
I recently bought a 3 pack RBK53S-100NAS from costco and set it up. I have a main router in basement and the other two satellites on 1st and 2nd levels. I noticed that the devices connect to a far or...
arunvk wrote:I noticed that the devices connect to a far orbi unit. I was expecting devices connect to the nearest unit for maximum speed. even devices that dont move around like my tv, google home in 1st level will connect to the 2nd level unit. sometimes devices in basement connect to the upper level units.
This phenomenon of devices connecting to a different Orbi unit than "they should connect to" is in the "Top 5" questions raised on the forum. One solution that has been suggested is to have the device "forget" the Orbi WiFi connection, restart the device and connect again. This is based on the fact that the Orbi router WiFi signal "comes up" first and devices may connect to the router before the satellite(s) are active and then "stick". This obviously does not account for a device that chooses a "far away" satellite over a closer router.
All this is complicated because (as far as I can tell) we have no information about how devices choose a WiFi access point when there are several available, and even several with the same name (SSID). Is it by signal strength? Is it by some negotiation with the access point? Is it whichever access point responds first? If someone can point to a document detailing the connection process, I really want to read it.
Since the phenomenon is causing performance issues, it might be worth investigating the observed signal level of the various Orbi access points at the device location. You mention the Orbi "app". For each device the app reports (a) which access point it is using, (b) the frequency band, and (c) the "Link Rate". One thing I like to do is carry my Android phone to various locations and look at the signal strength of each Orbi access point. I use WiFi Analyzer by Kevin Yuan, but there are many other such apps. Where I sit right now, the signal strength of my Orbi's is:
Access Pt Channel Strength
Router 2.4G Ch 9 -39dBm
Satellite 2.4G Ch 9 -51dBm
Router 5G Ch 48 -38dBm
Satellite 5G Ch 48 -73dBm
It's no surprise my phone is connected to the Router at 5G. If you log into the web interface of the router and satellites and bring up this web page (http://<ip of Orbi>/hidden_info.htm) you can learn the WiFi MAC address of each of the 2.4G and 5G radios.
With model 50 Orbi's on each level, there may be other ways to address some of the problems. A slight change in location might improve connections. Or, "fixed devices" like televisions might be connected with ethernet cables.
Sorry if I have rambled on and not been helpful.
CrimpOn wrote:
arunvk wrote:I noticed that the devices connect to a far orbi unit. I was expecting devices connect to the nearest unit for maximum speed. even devices that dont move around like my tv, google home in 1st level will connect to the 2nd level unit. sometimes devices in basement connect to the upper level units.
This phenomenon of devices connecting to a different Orbi unit than "they should connect to" is in the "Top 5" questions raised on the forum. One solution that has been suggested is to have the device "forget" the Orbi WiFi connection, restart the device and connect again. This is based on the fact that the Orbi router WiFi signal "comes up" first and devices may connect to the router before the satellite(s) are active and then "stick". This obviously does not account for a device that chooses a "far away" satellite over a closer router.
All this is complicated because (as far as I can tell) we have no information about how devices choose a WiFi access point when there are several available, and even several with the same name (SSID). Is it by signal strength? Is it by some negotiation with the access point? Is it whichever access point responds first? If someone can point to a document detailing the connection process, I really want to read it.
Since the phenomenon is causing performance issues, it might be worth investigating the observed signal level of the various Orbi access points at the device location. You mention the Orbi "app". For each device the app reports (a) which access point it is using, (b) the frequency band, and (c) the "Link Rate". One thing I like to do is carry my Android phone to various locations and look at the signal strength of each Orbi access point. I use WiFi Analyzer by Kevin Yuan, but there are many other such apps. Where I sit right now, the signal strength of my Orbi's is:
Access Pt Channel Strength
Router 2.4G Ch 9 -39dBm
Satellite 2.4G Ch 9 -51dBm
Router 5G Ch 48 -38dBm
Satellite 5G Ch 48 -73dBm
It's no surprise my phone is connected to the Router at 5G. If you log into the web interface of the router and satellites and bring up this web page (http://<ip of Orbi>/hidden_info.htm) you can learn the WiFi MAC address of each of the 2.4G and 5G radios.
With model 50 Orbi's on each level, there may be other ways to address some of the problems. A slight change in location might improve connections. Or, "fixed devices" like televisions might be connected with ethernet cables.
Sorry if I have rambled on and not been helpful.
Yeah this is a mystery to me to. I'm like OP where I have my router in the lower level of my house then a sattelitle on the first and secound levels. Yet for some reason I notice at times that my ASUS ROG will connect to either the sattilite on the first or second level of my house. Even though my laptop is just in the next room from the router and is closer too, I usually fix this by just putting my laptop to sleep and then open it in the room where the router is and let it connect back to the main router. I don't have daisy chain enabled either since my house is only just 2100 sqft and the sattleties can connect to the router eaisly. Still it boggles the mind why this happens.