i get great speed right next to the satellite but it tanks when i move to the other side of the room, what's wrong?

— asked by Morgan

Quick answer: This is classic symptom of the satellite's placement. You're likely in a 'dead zone' between the satellite's signal and the router's signal, and your device is stuck on a weak connection instead of roaming properly.

Diagnosis

This is classic symptom of the satellite's placement. You're likely in a 'dead zone' between the satellite's signal and the router's signal, and your device is stuck on a weak connection instead of roaming properly.

How to Fix It

Reposition the satellite. It should be about halfway between the router and the problem area, not at the edge of it. The goal is for your device to always have a strong signal to *one* unit, not a medium signal to two.

If That Didn't Work

Your device may have poor roaming logic. On the Orbi, go to Advanced > Setup > Wireless Setup and temporarily disable 'Fast Roaming' and '802.11k/v' assistance. This can force devices to reconnect more aggressively to the stronger signal.

Heads Up

Mesh systems aren't magic. If the satellite is in a closet or behind a metal object, its signal is crippled. Placement is 90% of performance.

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