NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Wifi extender for Orbi RBR50?
I have stability problems with one pair of Sonos speakers wifi connected to my network. All other Sonos speakers in various locations throughout the house work fairly well. My system is an Orbi RBR50 router with three Orbi RBS50 satellites, all ethernet connected. Is there an Orbi specific extender, and if not, would a Netgear extender work with Orbi? Would either help the dropout problem?
I would expect the WiFi signal strength standing about 3-4 feet from an RBR50 to be in the range of -32dB to -35dB. A reading of -45dB seems a bit low. (but still "excellent") a reading of -75dB counts as "not good".
If the problem has disappeared, then moving the speaker 12 feet appears to be the solution.
10 Replies
do you have good coverage throughout the home other than the sonos?
Sonos devices are notorious for issues with mesh systems.
I'd check with their forums and see if there's any optimal settings.
Like I know that if you have a sonos bridge, they prefer it attached to the primary router and not a satellite. That type of thing
A total of four Orbi units will cover quite a large area. It would help to have more information about these "dropouts".
In response to the specific question: " Is there an Orbi specific extender, and if not, would a Netgear extender work with Orbi?", the answer is:
- Orbi satellites are (by definition) the Orbi specific extenders. So, no, there is not an "extender" specific to Orbi systems.
- Any WiFi extender, from any company, will function as an extender when connected to an Orbi system. Netgear, TP-Link, etc. etc. The difference between "extenders" and "satellites" is that devices roam seamlessly between Orbi satellites. They do not work this way when connected to WiFi extenders. For a WiFi speaker that remains plugged into electricity in one spot, it might actually be a solution to connect it to a WiFi extender which broadcasts a different WiFi SSID than the Orbi network. If only that speaker is connected to this WiFi extender, then it will never attempt to connect to anything else.
Thanks for the replies.
Not sure I'd characterize coverage throughout the house as "good", certainly not great. Using the Orbi app wifi analyzer, I found that signal strength standing in front of one of the ethernet connected satellites was 84%, -45dBm. DK if that is what I should expect or not. When I moved 32 feet to the problem speakers in the kitchen (straight shot, no walls in between) signal strength dropped to 48% -75dBm. Moving one of the two kitchen speakers 12 feet closer to the satellite, still in the kitchen, the reading was 48% -65dBm.
I just started playing music on all Sonos pairs, all playing including the kitchen with the 12 foot closer speaker. So, proximity to the closest satellite seems to help.
I posted a detailed description of my network setup on the Sonos community site, and could duplicate it here if you think it would help. The main takeaway is about the wifi stats and the fact that (so far) there hasn't been a dropout having moved one of the two kitchen speakers 12 feet closer to the satellite.
I would expect the WiFi signal strength standing about 3-4 feet from an RBR50 to be in the range of -32dB to -35dB. A reading of -45dB seems a bit low. (but still "excellent") a reading of -75dB counts as "not good".
If the problem has disappeared, then moving the speaker 12 feet appears to be the solution.
"If the problem has disappeared, then moving the speaker 12 feet appears to be the solution."
I agree but we don't have my wife's vote. The previous position was less obvious.
I'll continue to monitor it, and if the problem returns, I'll probably add a fourth RBS50, which would have to be wifi connected to the network. There's no way to keep it close to the problem kitchen area ethernet connected. And don't tell my wife, but to get the best performance, that would probably have to join the speaker on her kitchen counter.
Fingers crossed, thanks for the comments.
