Mesh systems

[Robert M]

Space,

Definitely stubborn about my POV but I’ll change it when facts and experience give me reason to change it. In this case, fact and experience have taught me my perspective on this is solid. Most people want their Internet service to just work and the wifi to cover their entire home and don’t care about configurations and gee-whiz features. Ask them about WiFi 6 or other newer tech and such and you’ll get a blank stare. That’s why much of what Sarcany is bringing up doesn’t matter.

Robert

[Sarcany]

Robert M wrote: Most people want their Internet service to just work and the wifi to cover their entire home and don’t care about configurations and gee-whiz features. Ask them about WiFi 6 or other newer tech and such and you’ll get a blank stare. That’s why much of what Sarcany is bringing up doesn’t matter.

"Most people" won't care about bridging to avoid double-NAT.

If you're at the point where double-NAT is a problem, you're at the point where you should consider these things.

[Robert M]

Sarcany,

This goes back to what I said before. The average person isn’t going to care as long as everything just works. Modem-router plus mesh system in bridge mode just works. Done. You think the person whose home needs a fast internet connection and solid wifi coverage is going to care about the more advanced stuff? Nope!

.Robert

[Sarcany]

Robert M wrote:
This goes back to what I said before. The average person isn’t going to care as long as everything just works. Modem-router plus mesh system in bridge mode just works. Done. You think the person whose home needs a fast internet connection and solid wifi coverage is going to care about the more advanced stuff? Nope!

Bridge mode is "advanced stuff."

Low-end Netgears don't even have the option.

If you're not bothered by it, don't worry about setting anything to bridge.

If you're sophisticated enough that its of concern, consider setting up the modem/router from your ISP as a bridge instead of setting your WiFi router in brige/AP mode, or set up your ISP's modem/router to treat your WiFi router as a DMZ.

...

Back to the OP:

Going to say this again in case this got lost in the discourse...

It will be to your benefit to disable the AT&T box's WiFi radios regardless of whether you keep the Orbi or replace it with another system. WiFi interference could explain the symptoms and at the least you'd be eliminating this variable while you do your detective work to isolate the problem.

If it turns out the the Orbi is flaking out and you want to replace it, you might look into the TP-Link Deco P9 system. In addition to working as ordinary mesh satellites, they can use your power-lines to carry the signal to satellites, allowing you to have a strong signal without worrying about placing satellites in line-of-site with the base-station. The one problem with powerline systems is that they need good wiring to work optimally.

[Spiff]

Thanks, all. I’m with Robert on one thing. I wanna plug and play and forget it. Sarcany, I have tried the TP link system. Does not work in my house. I have three or 4 different add ons and the wiring just does not carry a signal. I am going to try to reset the Orbi system. Turning off the modem wifi is going to be tricky as I do not have a computer capable of linking by Ethernet to the modem to access it.

However, I will move the two systems further apart. Hope that helps.