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Forum Discussion
Nearby device will not connect to satellite
I have the main router on Floor 1, and the satellite on Floor 2, which is 5 feet from the front door. I have installed a Ring Doorbell on the front door. However, it only connects directly to the r...
It is usually necessary to power-cycle the device connected to the wrong Orbi. Try disconnecting, then reconnecting, the power to the Ring device, then refresh the Connected Devices list to see if it roamed to the correct Orbi. Portable devices like phones, iPads, laptops, watches etc will roam from one Orbi to another as you take them around your house.
This can be confirmed by referring to the BSSID MAC address of the connected Orbi when using an app like Network Analyser. (A MAC address is the Machine Access Code of a network device. It is a 12 digit code showing pairs of numbers separated by colons). Don’t worry about the 12 digit code itself, just note when it changes because that’s the point at which your portable device roams from one Orbi to the other.
By contrast, a fixed device, like a printer, smart light bulbs, a smart TV, and your Ring don’t roam around your house, so the Orbi they lock onto is sticky and won’t release the attached device unless you force it to “roam” by switching it off and on again.
The Netgear Genie’s Network Map is your friend here too. Touch the icon for each connected device on the map and look at signal strength. A good connection shows 100% unless it is a long way to your nearest Orbi.
So power your Ring device off and on again, ,view the outcome on the attached devices list on the Orbi web interface, and check it on the Genie’s Netwok Map
Good luck
Good ideas except that it is not easy to power cycle a ring doorbell (not sure about a light). The device has to be unscrewed with a special tool and removed from the wall in order to reset it. There is no on/off switch.
Power cycling is the best way to force a network device to see the nearest Orbi.
But here’s an alternative - try power cycling your Orbi Satellite. When it restarts it is likely to gather to it’s bosom all the devices within its range, including the Ring.
Whenever I power off the Satellite, then power it on again, it comes up with a logical list of nearby attached devices.
I do but a ring doorbell has a battery in it. It may be hardwired but the battery is still there and will last for months.
