@Stephie 

 

This does sound to me like the Nodes are losing connection to each other.   Reading your details about a 2250 sq ft house, its a big ask for 2 nodes... If I was asked to spec up a solution I would have recommended at least 3, probably 4 nodes

 

I had a similar issue with a customer and a 3000sq ft house, they reported the same issue and adding extra nodes solved the problem.

 

Its worth bearing in mind that although the devices are capable of 'upto 5000 sq ft', that is in perfect scenario with no walls or interference of any type.  Microwaves, TVs, Phones, walls etc all interfere and cause this to drop dramatically. 

 

When I spec for customers its usually 500sq ft per node, this is to try and maintain a solid 5ghz connection.   Yes 2.4 GHz will go further than 500 but the speed drops massively and its generally saturated airspace, keep the nodes close to get the fastest rates on 5ghz

 

Your best start would be to install a signal or RSSI detector, see how much you lose from NODE 1 to NODE 2 - if this is -60db or higher then its really time for another node to be added in the middle.

 

I hope that helps! 

 

Philbert wrote

@Stephie 

 

This does sound to me like the Nodes are losing connection to each other.   Reading your details about a 2250 sq ft house, its a big ask for 2 nodes... If I was asked to spec up a solution I would have recommended at least 3, probably 4 nodes

 

I had a similar issue with a customer and a 3000sq ft house, they reported the same issue and adding extra nodes solved the problem.

 

Its worth bearing in mind that although the devices are capable of 'upto 5000 sq ft', that is in perfect scenario with no walls or interference of any type.  Microwaves, TVs, Phones, walls etc all interfere and cause this to drop dramatically. 

 

When I spec for customers its usually 500sq ft per node, this is to try and maintain a solid 5ghz connection.   Yes 2.4 GHz will go further than 500 but the speed drops massively and its generally saturated airspace, keep the nodes close to get the fastest rates on 5ghz

 

Your best start would be to install a signal or RSSI detector, see how much you lose from NODE 1 to NODE 2 - if this is -60db or higher then its really time for another node to be added in the middle.

 

I hope that helps! 

@Philbert 

 

Thank you for taking the time to reply. It's appreciated. I respect what you are saying here but perhaps more info from me might help. I'll start with this:

 

The cameras only work on a 2.4. Ive checked out signal loss etc and it's fine. 

 

Let me also tell you this:

 

My little Netgear N600,  yeah N600 little netgear, which is what this was replacing, has done a better job all by itself. It had one issue with one camera at the front of the house. I installed an extender as a temp fix - I hate extender as they often cause more trouble than they are worth. It's why it was a temp fix until I could decide on a mesh system to replace it. That little netgear and TP link extender (5 year old one I might add) worked fgairly well. The occasional issue with the extender as I expected but not too frustrating.

 

The split level is technically four floors, however I discount the basement as it's storage and not relevant. The deco unit is extaclty where the N600 was in the recroom and the second Deco is exactly where the extender was - upstairs in the dinning room. If I had to guess they are about 60 feet from eachother? I'd have measure to be honest. I'm not great with distances.

 

So I have to tell you if that's the solution. Yeah no. I work in a IT firm with net working guys. If I have to add another node when I live in a backspilt, nodes .. its not an investment I'm willing to make as if that little Netgear N600 and older TP link extender wroked better than this - there is a serious problem with this product. Very disappointing.

 

Tell me knowing that, that you really think a third will fix it? That would make little sense to me as it does to everyone in my office right now. 

 

I mean no disrepect and apprecaite you and your time but you also must conceed, knowing the additional info -  that can't possible be a reasonable solution.

 

Any other ideas?

 

Edit to add While I can also appreciate the max distance coverage of 5000 Sq Feet which again I can respect  - it should absolutly NOT be a big ask for them to do under 1/2 that.  If that's the case that's I would have to conclude that the 500 sq feet is a gross misrepresentation of the products capabilites. Not good.

 

Keep in mind that lost connection after a "daily" optimization was done. This is my 4th day with them. Wait I satand corrected They've been installed since the 27th. So this is day 3 with them. Sorry for the error there.

@Stephie 

 

I can only speculate on this, but generally, I have only installed 2x node Deco setups in houses ~1000 sq ft, 90% of the installs are 3 nodes regardless as its just easier.   Granted I live in Ireland where the house constructions are of of different materials, but I don't imagine it would double the range expectations with wooden structure.  

It would be best if you knew exactly the signal strength in db.   Between nodes try for a minimum of -67db    at the client side you can go as low as -75.  If you have an android device look at WiFi Analyser and that might help   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en

 

While I cant say with 100% certainty, from experience I think you need at least a 3 mode setup, would one of your colleagues do a quick wifi survey for you?  might help!

 

 

In terms of the netgear, mesh is different from repeating and therefore requires a lower -db loss (-65), when repeating you can go much lower than this into -80 or so, they also tend to be 2.4ghz which has a better range... Just different technologies and ways of operating.   The x60 is much faster, but that sadly comes with a decreased range due to the requirement for 5ghz... its a common issue for WiFi6 devices and even worse with WiFi6e

 

 

 

Philbert wrote

@Stephie 

 

I can only speculate on this, but generally, I have only installed 2x node Deco setups in houses ~1000 sq ft, 90% of the installs are 3 nodes regardless as its just easier.   Granted I live in Ireland where the house constructions are of of different materials, but I don't imagine it would double the range expectations with wooden structure.  

It would be best if you knew exactly the signal strength in db.   Between nodes try for a minimum of -67db    at the client side you can go as low as -75.  If you have an android device look at WiFi Analyser and that might help   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en

 

While I cant say with 100% certainty, from experience I think you need at least a 3 mode setup, would one of your colleagues do a quick wifi survey for you?  might help!

 

 

In terms of the netgear, mesh is different from repeating and therefore requires a lower -db loss (-65), when repeating you can go much lower than this into -80 or so, they also tend to be 2.4ghz which has a better range... Just different technologies and ways of operating.   The x60 is much faster, but that sadly comes with a decreased range due to the requirement for 5ghz... its a common issue for WiFi6 devices and even worse with WiFi6e

 

 

@Philbert 

 

Beautiful Ireland - where they make houses the way they were meant too! I'm in Canada. Cardboard cutouts. LOL Drywall. It's why that answer was probably so shocking to me. I would have understood if the houses were solid built but they are not. In your area - yup that would probably be the case as the houses were made to last and solid!

 

See and here is where it gets weird. The range is great. The camera that had a drama - signal shows 100% - with the netgear alone is was 20%. So I know the mesh is doing it's job range wise. (This is the main reason I bought this mesh andwhy I wasn't so worried about the channels when I discovered that.) The guys are work were not to happy about that as we are all control freaks but I had a very specfic need in mind so I was like meh no big. Until it might now have become a big as it is potentially the issue. We'll see though.

 

I can test the myself, no problem, and come back tomorrow with what I find tonight.

 

Tonight I will go all in and reset the untis and complete change the SSID and Password to give it a real shot that way.

 

Warning: I will cry while I reset all the wireless - you will hear me all the way over there - my tears will create a mini ocean - but this is being fair to the units. Then I will retest and see if things improve. :-) :-)

 

 

 

@Stephie 

 

Hey

 

Hopefully it will be ok for you, keep us posted on how you get on.

 

Just however be cautious when something reads as 100% signal, that's the 'Apple' way of doing things lol.    Let me explain!

 

Signal works in -db and this ranges from around -30 to -90

-30 to -45 is as strong as you can get, as there is always going to be some loss.. just the nature of wireless!   Some scanners read this as 100% signal, or EXCELLENT / 5 bars etc..

-50 to -65 is the normal range, should have no issues here.. again read as GOOD, 80% or 3/4 bars signal

-65 to -75 is weak signal, probably AVERAGE or 2 bars..

~-80 is pretty much dead air, you can get a signal but it ain't worth anything in real terms.   This would be 1 bar or POOR and drop outs will be frequent.

 

Apple products have always been REALLY bad for this, they set an artificial scale so you don't know exactly what the signal is really doing.

 

With that in mind just take a pinch of salt when it says 100% signal, as really it may not be.  Ideally if you can get some tool (wifi analyser for example) that will tell you the actual -db that is lot more helpful.   Power on the Main node and let it broadcast, position your analyser where the 2nd node would be a record the signal loss.   If its below -65 then look to move that closer to the master node.

 

A good test would be to have the nodes close to each other in say, next room on same floor...??  basically closer than they are now.. see if it improves and holds solid, if so that's your issue sadly

 

Sadly 5ghz is a shorter wavelength with higher amplitude so therefore is far more susceptible to interference, simple plasterboards will drop -5db per sheet which is annoying.  However, if you want the speed you need the shorter wavelengths, therefore shorter ranges.   My own house for example is 1400 sq foot and I have 3x EAP245s positions directly above each other on the 3 floors, and these are cabled together.

 

@Philbert 

 

I have to say how much I appreciate your taking the time with me on this. I am beginning to think it's a lost cause though. Which deeply saddens me.

 

Me an hour ago. *&^&%$#*%#(# GRRRRR AHHHHHHHH GRRRRR MURDEROUS RAMPAGE lol

 

Me now.. sigh... I surrender. *gets a shot of Vodka and then pours herself some tea*

 

Okay so here we go...

 

Got home. Tried rebooting both devices - FAIL

Tried resetting the MESH slave? - FAIL

Reset both - Big fail. Darn thing couldn't find the default wireless on the unit. That was when I began becoming murderous.

 

30 minutes later rebooting everything. Updating phone. Rebooting the phone. Turning on and off the wireless.... still Default not showing up.

 

Reboot and reset again... nadda.

 

Walked 10 feet away... it finally showed up. Reset up devices.  I this point did not change the wireless SSID etc as planned as I simply can't deal with that right now as my patience is not there right now to do it. This should not be rocket science. I do this daily for clients. (Not a mesh - this is my first.) This is not hard and it's not suppose to go like this. I may not be a high level tech. (I only do tech at work once a week and as a back up if busy - but I'm not uneducated either.) I suppose I'm in the middle somewhere.

 

This is how bad it got: I went and got a measuring tape. Not kidding. I did. The units are just under 31 feet apart. So see what I mean about me judging distance? lol The only thing between them is ONE drywall wall and upstairs wood stairs. That's it.

 

With fear I optimized it as the network showed congestion. AGAIN all looks ok.

 

I logged into the web interface portion: what VOODOO is this:

 

2.4GHz Wireless:

Enable:

On

Channel:

7

5GHz-1 Wireless:

Enable:

On

Channel:

161

5GHz-2 Wireless:

Enable:

Off

Channel:

 

This device is not a tri-band whatttt? Why is it trying to make me insane. That third 5G was not there yesterday. What madness is this?

 

Reboot...

 

Now normal.

 

I think I'm going to go insane.

 

---

 

Yes I sadly have an Apple iphone. Not my choice. Computers at home all PC. Apple at work but I'm dealing with home so thank goodness for that.

 

I have an old android tablet somewhere with wifi analzyer on it already. I am familiar and love that APP. Was devastated when I found out it's not available for iphone.

 

I understand the signal should be -80 and 20 over the closest wireless on the same channel the for the signal to be stable. This is why they should put the channel control in this sucker. It's also why I should be able to separate the wireless frequencies if needed. I love that it's suppose ot be smart and take over that for me - but it's not working smart enough.

 

okay checked optimization and again - congestion and again had to optimize it. I'll find the tablet and charge it and check the Wifi An on it. I don't think it's going to reveal any real issues but the lack of being able to change that channel.

 

 

 

:-(

 

 

2nd update:

 

Okay after resetting the Nexus 7 cause I've not used it in years...

 

Okay it's a channel issue. It's bouncing around (as are a few others) like a drunken lunatic as well. (Even when I am sitting still)

 

Is there a way to post images here? I think there is - I will explore tomorrow as brain dead ATM.

 

I feel a bit less insane. I'm exhausted. I have no idea how to combat this without the ability to set a channel. It's doing serious battle no wonder it's all sorts of freaked out.

 

The main DECO is attached to a modem/ router (AIO) and the router portion of the unit is on - however, -the channel it's using isn't overlapping the DECO at all. The location of that AIO from the ISP is approximately 20 - 21 feet (measure it lol) in the next room from the main deco unit and in the opposite direction of where the 2nd Deco is upstairs. I do have full control over that I believe. It's set to banded and I can separate those bands if I need too.

 

Okay bedtime. My brain hurts now. *ouch*