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Forum Discussion
HFox
Mar 22, 2021Aspirant
Big mistake re-networking with MK63
Just replaced a great working network with a MK63 and one additional satellite. I thought I was making life easier by gettting rid of the different network names, range extenders, access points in attics, etc. Instead, it all just got me more pain.
We're in a 4500+ sq. ft. house, so I thought the MR60 and 3 satellites would be ideal. Satellites are all located pretty strategically, none being more than 30-35 ft. from the router or each other. The biggest problem is that devices are attaching to just about the worst possible sat for their location. Almost nothing gets connected to the satellite that's closest to the device. Result is buffering problems on almost every streaming TV (4 of them), and things like our Ring doorbell connecting to the farthest satellite when the router itself is no more than 10 feet away.
Someone, PLEASE, tell me there's a simple way of getting devices to connect to the sat that actually makes any sense at all. I've tried disabling the devices in the stupid (as a brick) Nighthawk app and later re-enabling them, but that does absolutely nothing. They all just jump back on whatever sat they were previously conncected to. What does Netgear expect people to do - power off the entire network and every device, then one-by-one, boot up the MR60, then power up only the devices you want connected to the router, then repeat the process with each of the sats and other devices?? Really, Netgear? That would be totally asinine.
I really feel duped by Netgear and that I've completely wasted several hundred dollars for absolutely no gain. Please tell me I'm wrong and point me to some useful information before I drag every piece of this crap out to the back yard and melt it.
10 Replies
With mesh networks, you can actually have the satellites to close to the router/each other.
We usually recommend moving them further away because they need at least 30ft between router/satellites to properly roam.
- HFoxAspirant
Thanks for the reply. However, as I first stated, the satellites and router are all around 30-35 feet from each other. One of the satellites is closer to 40 feet from its farthest neighbor.
Also, I don't recall anything in the setup instructions or in the NightHawk app that said the satellites and/or router needed to be farther apart for any reason - only closer if there's poor signal strength (naturally)..
Also, I fail to see what having satellites further apart could possibly do to cause devices all over the house to connect to one or another of the satellites that are 50 or 60 feet from the device when there's a satellite just less than ten feet away. Something there just doesn't add up.
Lastly, I take it from the lack of inclusion in your reply, there actually is no way to correct this problem without resorting to some ludicrous task as the one I suggested?
As I said, BIG mistake taking down my previous network with the idea that the AX1800 Mesh system was going to make my life just a little easier. I suspect that in a small-ish home, possibly, the MR60 with one satellite might make some sense. Otherwise, one can PLAN on having the kinds of issues that I've encountered. Not a great selling feature.
1. this is the community forum where members of the public try to help out. We're not netgear.
2. I don't have a MK60/80 system so most advice on here is based on the orbi devices. they use different firmware but a lot of the same problem solving carries over. Which is where the distance recommendation comes from
3. You won't find many on here who're troubleshooting the MK systems. I'm one of the most frequent on here and again, I don't even have one or even tried on. So I'm forced to go off the standard recommendations on what can help with them.
4. Maybe the moderators can help out since there aren't many using the MK system helping out. DarrenM Christian_R Dustin_V
5. Or if its a new purchase, you have 90 days of free support from date of purchase. You can always contact support. Click on "mynetgear" at the top. Register an account and the device. From there you can see if you're still in your support window and contact them.
- in2ndoApprenticeI’m new to the mesh systems. But I think the problem is the dual band in the 63’s.
My place is nowhere near that big. And initially I bought those. Due to connection issues I exchanged it for the MK83’s and now everything gets full lines. With the 63’s about 1/4 of the devices on the 2g band specially, would only get the first dot that shows the wifi signal. Now everything that I can test the speed on. Is getting a constant 200 to 230 Mbps down. My service plan is up to 200 Mbps.- HFoxAspirant
Thanks for the post, in2ndo. I can think of only one thing to ask: how were you able to "exchange" your MK63 system for the 83? Netgear never offered any such solution for me after hours of worthless troubleshooting, even when I asked about it. If I had the option, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
- in2ndoApprenticeYour welcome HFox. I hadn’t realized how long ago you posted your concern. I only kept them for about a week. With how customer service has gone down the drain and support it’s been there since 30 years ago. I play and test all new equipment as soon as I get it and put it through as much as I can.
But you can probably sell it on eBay and get most of your money back if your return window has pass. I got my 63’s from Costco. And my 83’s from BestBuy with the exchange warranty. It is a little extra expense. But now days is well worth it.