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Forum Discussion
Orbi satellite dropping connection
Right to the point: my Orbi system has 2 satellites and 1 main tower. The internet drops/slows down (to the point where internet browsing is not possible) 2-3 times per day randomly without warning o...
Good point...
-3x Apple TV 2nd gen; chamberlain IQ garage door; 2x Android TV (older OS); Amazon FireStick; MacBook Pro (late-2013 High Sierra); MacMini (High Sierra); Intel Windows 10 PC; 2x Google Home Mini; 4 iPads (OS11.2); 3 iPhones (OS 11.2); HP LJPro M252dw (wireless); Sony Bravia (LAN connected); Xbox One (wireless); 3x Nest CamPro; Nest 3rd gen thermostat;
I should mention that when I reverted to an older firmware on the router and satellites, I created a new network that only had my laptop and phone connected, and it still crashed. My plan was to slowly add other devices until I was able to isolate the offending device, but I’m starting to think the issue involves the router’s ability to maintain an IP address. My connection seems to time out without satellites, and when the satellites are connected its a very short duration before a drop - as if there is an almost immediate IP conflict that crops up.
-3x Apple TV 2nd gen; chamberlain IQ garage door; 2x Android TV (older OS); Amazon FireStick; MacBook Pro (late-2013 High Sierra); MacMini (High Sierra); Intel Windows 10 PC; 2x Google Home Mini; 4 iPads (OS11.2); 3 iPhones (OS 11.2); HP LJPro M252dw (wireless); Sony Bravia (LAN connected); Xbox One (wireless); 3x Nest CamPro; Nest 3rd gen thermostat;
I should mention that when I reverted to an older firmware on the router and satellites, I created a new network that only had my laptop and phone connected, and it still crashed. My plan was to slowly add other devices until I was able to isolate the offending device, but I’m starting to think the issue involves the router’s ability to maintain an IP address. My connection seems to time out without satellites, and when the satellites are connected its a very short duration before a drop - as if there is an almost immediate IP conflict that crops up.
I run Spiceworks Network Monitor on a PC hard wired to my network. I have it set to regularly ping the management IPs of the Orbi router and two satellites and email me when they immediately go down. The upstairs satellite (not showing any strange colour so it is operating normally) is farthest away from the basement level router. My Orbi router/satellites auto-upgraded to the latest 2.1.1.16 a week ago and the CPU is 8% (router) and 16-19% (satellites). It's great Netgear finally allows custom NTP server. Not so great that there is so little logged in the logs. I noticed a few days ago, my iPhone - connected to the upstairs satellite, could no longer load a web page - while I was reading a website that required periodic loading of more scrollable content. My iPhone was unable to ping out to anything. But the Network Monitor showed no loss of network on the management IPs. So my iPhone lost its Wifi connection to the satellite. It came right back after switching to Cellular and then back to Wifi.
I am not sure how I can track my iPhone disconnections. Perhaps I can setup another Network Monitor for my iPhone wifi IP address.
You guys sure are making me nervous about the Orbi system I just bought a few days ago. I picked up the RBR50/RBS50 combo from Best Buy. I have everything set up and it seems to be working just fine. I speed tested using my Samsung Galaxy S7 have had some great measurements and just ok the very next test. There are times when I get 90+% signal strength but the speed registers sub 20mbps (and even 5mbps at times). I figured it was an app issue since it wasn't really predictable.
I definitely get extended range and I can even get a signal in my shop, which is a seperate building. The satellite has to go through two brick walls and cellulose insulation. It's connected on the 2.4 band. I was surprised. I listened to music for a few hours in the shop today and even streamed some video. Then...drops. I couldn't get connected reliably again. I assumed it was because my family got home and everyone started firing up their devices and streaming. It happened about the same time they all got home.
Anyway...I've got an RBW30 coming next week from Amazon. I'm going to put it in the shop so I can daisy chain to the satellite and extend my wifi out to the shop for a stronger signal. I had already ordered it before the drops start happened today. We'll see how I come out next week. I'm on firmware 2.0.0.74 right now. I updated it when I initially set it up but it doesn't show a new version of firmware available on the web interface even though there is one available on the Netgear site.
What makes me nervous is everyone is saying they had their Orbi's for X months and then all of a sudden drops started. I certainly don't want to get outside the return window and start having issues. I'm contemplating a pre-emptive return and trying Eeros or Google Wifi. The whole point of me getting a new system was to get internet in my shop. I had a Nighthawk that was working flawlessly before in my 4200sqft house. It just couldn't quite reach out to the shop and an EX7000 extender was not working well for me.
- Keep us posted... hopefully the RBW30 works as expected. I’m having good luck with Google WiFi, but you do see a drop in performance as it extends out from the router (220mbps to 180mbps for sat#2, which is closer, and 115mb for #3, which is upstairs across the house - 4,500sq ft).
If Orbi can keep a connection for you, it should have the best performance because of the third band being used as a dedicated backhaul and the daisy-chaining, which allows the satellites to communicate through each other versus having to each communicate directly to the router, which most of the mesh WiFi systems do. From what I’ve read, Velops is the next best alternative to Orbi, but you do find some complaints on message boards there too (but nothing like this).
For what you’re trying to do, think you’re on the right path, but Velops, or painfully, a buried cable to the shop, would likely be your best alternatives. If you were able to hard-wire, Google becomes a good alternative as it would use your wired Ethernet for full speed and as the backhaul, which would give you what you’re looking for.
... just my two cents... good luck!Yeah, I'll post my findings here with regard to the RBW30.
I had thought about a buried cable for a hardwired connection. It'd really be ideal and, like you said, the Google unit for ethernet backhaul would be great. I really have no idea how I'd drop the cable down the wall from my house. Fishing it through packed cellulose would be a nightmare, I imagine. Then there's the airgap and the brick to get through. And then I know there's a drain pipe from my pool right in the path of where I'd want to run it across the yard to the shop. Ugh.