Orbi Wifi cutting out intermittently

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Ebbi

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Master Geek

#270015 19-Apr-2020 19:45

I have an Orbi RBR20 with a satellite currently configured like this: fibre ONT -> Spark-issued Modem/router -> Orbi in AP mode

About 2 weeks ago the Wifi signal kept dropping off every 30 minutes or so. I updated the firmware on the Orbi, and it seemed to have fixed the issue until yesterday where the wifi kept cutting off again.

I had a look at the Spark-issued modem and the internet and wifi light on that was off meaning that it had no internet connection.

I’m going to try using the Orbi as the router, but before I do I wanted to check: would the Orbi drop wifi connection if it stops receiving internet connection from the modem?

To me it seems odd that the Orbi is dropping wifi if the modem is playing up, but it could be normal for that to happen.

Thanks

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#2465756 19-Apr-2020 22:34

No it shouldn’t drop wifi if it loses its connection to the internet. Obviously nothing connected can access the internet but your devices will still show as being connected to your network.

Good idea to try the Orbi as your modem it’ll help to narrow down where the issue is.

allan

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#2465827 20-Apr-2020 08:47

There are some useful instructions on the PB Tech web site for configuring an Orbi as a router - https://www.pbtech.co.nz/NetgearISPSettings#sparkorbi

Ebbi

94 posts

Master Geek

#2467884 22-Apr-2020 14:14

Thanks a lot guys - both replies were very helpful.

I just made the change now, so will monitor how it's going.

I'm on Spark's Fiber Max Unlimited plan, which has a theoretical max speed of 900Mbps download and 400Mbps upload. I'm currently getting around 130Mbps download and 25Mbps upload. Is there a limitation with the Orbi, or a setting I'd need to change?

allan

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#2467931 22-Apr-2020 15:18

Ebbi:

Thanks a lot guys - both replies were very helpful.

I just made the change now, so will monitor how it's going.

I'm on Spark's Fiber Max Unlimited plan, which has a theoretical max speed of 900Mbps download and 400Mbps upload. I'm currently getting around 130Mbps download and 25Mbps upload. Is there a limitation with the Orbi, or a setting I'd need to change?

Someone better qualified than me will need to answer that. It's how I have my Orbi configured, but I'm only on Spark 100/20, so won't have got to the limits you are seeing.

Ebbi

94 posts

Master Geek

#2467940 22-Apr-2020 15:29

allan:

Someone better qualified than me will need to answer that. It's how I have my Orbi configured, but I'm only on Spark 100/20, so won't have got to the limits you are seeing.

Thanks allan 🤙

corksta

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#2467973 22-Apr-2020 16:33

Ebbi:

I'm on Spark's Fiber Max Unlimited plan, which has a theoretical max speed of 900Mbps download and 400Mbps upload. I'm currently getting around 130Mbps download and 25Mbps upload. Is there a limitation with the Orbi, or a setting I'd need to change?

I’m assuming that’s wireless? If so that’s low; I’m also Spark and get 350-450 down and 300-370 up wireless using an AmpliFi HD system. Can you test wired?

Ebbi

94 posts

Master Geek

#2467985 22-Apr-2020 17:07

corksta:

I’m assuming that’s wireless? If so that’s low; I’m also Spark and get 350-450 down and 300-370 up wireless using an AmpliFi HD system. Can you test wired?

Yes that's wireless. Unfortunately I can't test wired as I've got a Mac with no ethernet port (and don't have a dongle handy).

But after doing a few tests, upload speeds have a huge variation. Best I've got is 20mbps, but also got as low as 9mbps. Average is around 11Mbps. Ping is around 4-6.

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richms

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#2467986 22-Apr-2020 17:10

Those speeds are about right for 2.4GHz in an urban area, low for 5GHz.

What sort of speeds were you expecting from it?

Richard rich.ms

Ebbi

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Master Geek

#2467988 22-Apr-2020 17:17

richms:

Those speeds are about right for 2.4GHz in an urban area, low for 5GHz.

What sort of speeds were you expecting from it?

I'm on 5Ghz, so was expecting around half of the theoretical speed - similar to what corksta is getting.

richms

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#2467991 22-Apr-2020 17:20

I would suggest trying other channels. wifi isnt the only user of 5.8GHz, so those ones may have someones HDMI sender or something on it, the lower band is wifi only but very popular so congested as a result but seems to work better even when lots of networks vs the high channels when those are fighting off soemthing else on the band.

Richard rich.ms

corksta

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#2468017 22-Apr-2020 18:51

What channel is your Orbi operating on in the 5GHz range? You’re right, you should definitely be getting higher speeds than what you are on 5GHz.

How far from the router are you when testing? What’s the signal strength (in decibels)?

Ebbi

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Master Geek

#2468053 22-Apr-2020 19:56

corksta:

What channel is your Orbi operating on in the 5GHz range? You’re right, you should definitely be getting higher speeds than what you are on 5GHz.

How far from the router are you when testing? What’s the signal strength (in decibels)?

Channel is 36, but not sure how to test signal strength. I'm about 10 metres max away from the Router, which is in a different room (about 2 wood/gib walls separating the rooms).

Interesting:

When I test the speed using Speedtest.net on my MacBook Pro I get really varied results (downloads are as low as 60Mbps ranging up to a max of 130Mbps)

When I test the speed on my iPhone using the Orbi app, the connection is way better: Ping: 1; Download: 501Mbps; Upload: 380 Mbps.

When I look at the device list in the Orbi app, the iPhone is listed as 260Mbps Link Rate, whereas the MBP is 195Mbps if that makes any difference...

corksta

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#2468063 22-Apr-2020 20:12

What Speedtest server are you using? Channel 36 will give you higher throughput but less range. I’m assuming the Orbi is set to auto for the channels? Try 149 and see if that makes a difference.

allan

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#2468497 23-Apr-2020 11:27

As a matter of interest, what router connection speed does your Orbi report as being connected at? Web interface: Advanced / Setup / Speed test

Ebbi

94 posts

Master Geek

#2468508 23-Apr-2020 11:35

corksta:

What Speedtest server are you using? Channel 36 will give you higher throughput but less range. I’m assuming the Orbi is set to auto for the channels? Try 149 and see if that makes a difference.

For channel the only other options I have is 40, 44 and 48.

The interesting thing I've noticed is when I do the speed test through the Orbi app (which is powered by Speedtest.net), I get the high outputs like 500+Mbps, but when I do it using the standalone Speedtest.net app, the results are way lower - downloads average around 15MBps.

I just did a test on the app now, and download speed maxed out at 13.3Mbps using the WirelessNation Ltd server.

Running Speedtest.net on the MBP browser, I'm getting around 130Mbps download speed on the Spark server.

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