×

Introducing the Orbi 970 Series Mesh System with WiFi 7(BE) technology. For more information visit the NETGEAR Press Room.

Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
Reply

Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance

JonnieD
Aspirant

Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance

I have a 3000sq ft house, mainly on one floor with a lot of thick walls and separate rooms. The router is positioned at one end only, so I'm mainly having to daisychain my satellites. I currently have 5 and even then performance is not that good, and I'm finding that I don't get the coverage everyone says I should with my house size. The Orbi just doesn't work well through thick walls, and most are running at their limit. 

 

I've currently got a couple of satellites connected to a satellite closer to the router. My question is how does the daisychaining on Orbi work, am I losing a lot of performance by connecting one satellite to another?

 

How many satellites can you connect to another?

 

My total run down the house is over 80 feet, so its a challenge getting wireless everywhere. And I don't have any ability yet to connect the backhaul via eihernet.   

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance. 

 

Message 1 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance

What Orbi model do you have? 

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 📡

Message 2 of 9
JonnieD
Aspirant

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance

Thanks for the quick response FURRYe38 

 

What Orbi model do you have? 

RBR50 and RBS50 satellites (and 2 x V2 RBS50)

 

What Firmware version is currently loaded?

All running 2.7.3.22

 

What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

Its Virgin Media (UK) using their Super Hub 2AC in modem mode. 

 

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?

3000 sq ft

What is the distance between the router and 

 satellite(s)? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR and RBS

Mine won't get anywhere near 30 feet due to the thick walls (at least 2 or 3 walls to the first satellite). I've tried for hours trying to increase distances and can get nowhere near what people recommend. 

 to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 

I've looked at the netgear guidance, and that doesn't really tell me much. 

 

As I said, with my walls I'm really not getting the performance others are. And I don't see a way out of it short of wiring the house with ethernet, which is not possible at the moment. 

 

 

Message 3 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance


@JonnieD wrote:

Thanks for the quick response FURRYe38 

 

What Orbi model do you have? 

RBR50 and RBS50 satellites (and 2 x V2 RBS50)

 

What Firmware version is currently loaded?

All running 2.7.3.22

 

What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

Its Virgin Media (UK) using their Super Hub 2AC in modem mode. 

 

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?

3000 sq ft <This size of home you only need the RBR and 1 RBS, maybe two at most. 

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

Mine won't get anywhere near 30 feet due to the thick walls (at least 2 or 3 walls to the first satellite). I've tried for hours trying to increase distances and can get nowhere near what people recommend. 

 to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 

I've looked at the netgear guidance, and that doesn't really tell me much. 

 

As I said, with my walls I'm really not getting the performance others are. And I don't see a way out of it short of wiring the house with ethernet, which is not possible at the moment. 

 

 


 

Message 4 of 9
CrimpOn
Guru

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance

It would be helpful to know the composition of "thick walls". (Brick? Concrete? Stone?)

One floor houses sometimes are more amenable to Ethernet wiring than two-story buildings. (If the attic is accessible)

 

Having the ISP service at one end (or one corner) of a building leads to a lot of frustration.  I was surprised when my next door neighbor changed ISPs recently and the installer located the cable modem square in the middle of the house.  I was tempted to ask my ISP until I realized that over the years I have created my "IT Department" in that corner room: desktops, printer, switches, PoE cables to security cameras...... No way I can move all that now.

 

When dealing with WiFi coverage issues, I like to make a WiFi "Heat Map" of the building using a free app on an Android tablet. (I found carrying a laptop around the house a LOT more cumbersome.)

 

The answer to that original question of "Does Daisy Chain affect performance?" is "Yes, it does."

Every WiFi packet to and from a device has to be transmitted twice (or three times)  This ties up the 5G WiFi frequency used for backhaul because only one radio can use it at a time.  Back in the days when internet speeds were well under 100mbs, there was so much capacity in the backhaul that the ISP was the limiting factor.  With speeds now very much higher and there is so much streaming, Daisy Chain can become an issue.

Message 5 of 9

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance

So far no one has mentioned Powerline Ethernet as a way of extending your network.

 

This can create a wired connection between devices.Tour modem and router for example.

 

I have a powerline link between a modem and router (two separate boxes) and an Orbi router in AP mode. In your case, this could let you move the Orbi router to the middle of the house.

 

You could leave the Orbi in router mode and ignore the Virgin Super Hub. Or you could put that into modem/router mode so that it can provide wifi where the Internet enters the property. This can leave you with a slightly messy wifi environment with separate SSIDs, but most users won't notice it.  That works fine here. Wifi clients are pretty good at working out which source to latch on to.

 

Unless you have seriously fast Internet Powerline can usually manage that. It is only when you get to really fast  Internet connection that it begins to get in the way.

 

Another advantage of Powerline is that you can use it to connect things that don't move around the house, like TVs and media toys.

 

Message 6 of 9
JonnieD
Aspirant

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance


@FURRYe38 wrote:

@JonnieD wrote:

Thanks for the quick response FURRYe38 

 

What Orbi model do you have? 

RBR50 and RBS50 satellites (and 2 x V2 RBS50)

 

What Firmware version is currently loaded?

All running 2.7.3.22

 

What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?

Its Virgin Media (UK) using their Super Hub 2AC in modem mode. 

 

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?

3000 sq ft <This size of home you only need the RBR and 1 RBS, maybe two at most. 

 

You've just repeated Netgear's sales spiel!

The 3000sqft coverage can only be possible in ideal conditions, which my house clearly does not fall into. I only have to switch off the closest Satellite's to prove that. Look at any technical reviews of the RBR50 and you'll see that it gets nowhere near those ideals once you start having to transmit and receive through brick, concrete and metal. 

 

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

Mine won't get anywhere near 30 feet due to the thick walls (at least 2 or 3 walls to the first satellite). I've tried for hours trying to increase distances and can get nowhere near what people recommend. 

 to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
https://kb.netgear.com/31029/Where-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite 

I've looked at the netgear guidance, and that doesn't really tell me much. 

 

As I said, with my walls I'm really not getting the performance others are. And I don't see a way out of it short of wiring the house with ethernet, which is not possible at the moment. 

 

 


 


 

Message 7 of 9
JonnieD
Aspirant

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance


@CrimpOn wrote:

It would be helpful to know the composition of "thick walls". (Brick? Concrete? Stone?)

One floor houses sometimes are more amenable to Ethernet wiring than two-story buildings. (If the attic is accessible)

 

Having the ISP service at one end (or one corner) of a building leads to a lot of frustration.  I was surprised when my next door neighbor changed ISPs recently and the installer located the cable modem square in the middle of the house.  I was tempted to ask my ISP until I realized that over the years I have created my "IT Department" in that corner room: desktops, printer, switches, PoE cables to security cameras...... No way I can move all that now.

 

When dealing with WiFi coverage issues, I like to make a WiFi "Heat Map" of the building using a free app on an Android tablet. (I found carrying a laptop around the house a LOT more cumbersome.)

 

The answer to that original question of "Does Daisy Chain affect performance?" is "Yes, it does."

Every WiFi packet to and from a device has to be transmitted twice (or three times)  This ties up the 5G WiFi frequency used for backhaul because only one radio can use it at a time.  Back in the days when internet speeds were well under 100mbs, there was so much capacity in the backhaul that the ISP was the limiting factor.  With speeds now very much higher and there is so much streaming, Daisy Chain can become an issue.

 

Many thanks for this, and useful info re the daisy chaining. I suspected that was the case, so I want to tray and avoid any more than one Satellite in a chain. I'll experiment moving them around to see what I can do. My latest experiment trial saw two daisy chains coming from one Satellite, that can't be good for performance!

 

My walls are mainly concrete and brick, with some metal lined (insulation) thrown in for good measure. I could possibly make one long run from the router to the other end of the house via the attic, that might be possible and would help greatly. 

 

The idea of a heat map is a good idea, I'll try that. 


 

Message 8 of 9
JonnieD
Aspirant

Re: Router / satellite positioning - for highest performance


@michaelkenward wrote:

So far no one has mentioned Powerline Ethernet as a way of extending your network.

 

This can create a wired connection between devices.Tour modem and router for example.

 

I have a powerline link between a modem and router (two separate boxes) and an Orbi router in AP mode. In your case, this could let you move the Orbi router to the middle of the house.

 

You could leave the Orbi in router mode and ignore the Virgin Super Hub. Or you could put that into modem/router mode so that it can provide wifi where the Internet enters the property. This can leave you with a slightly messy wifi environment with separate SSIDs, but most users won't notice it.  That works fine here. Wifi clients are pretty good at working out which source to latch on to.

 

Unless you have seriously fast Internet Powerline can usually manage that. It is only when you get to really fast  Internet connection that it begins to get in the way.

 

Another advantage of Powerline is that you can use it to connect things that don't move around the house, like TVs and media toys.

 


 I will look into a Powerline ethernet link, thanks for that. Do you have any recommendations? The last time I tried one (8 odd years ago) it was pretty pants, but I'm sure they're improved now. I could at least use that for a wired backhaul, that would improve speeds into the furthest satellites here. 

Message 9 of 9
Top Contributors
Discussion stats
  • 8 replies
  • 1785 views
  • 0 kudos
  • 4 in conversation
Announcements

Orbi WiFi 7