NETGEAR Orbi 850 Series mesh internet or Wi-Fi is slow

The checks in more detail

Owners on NETGEAR's community report slow upload after some updates, and a rollback or a newer release fixed it, so check the firmware and NETGEAR's advisory about the auto-update on the 850 series. Test at the router and at the satellite, and compare with the internet plan speed. A gigabit WAN port limits a faster plan, so check the modem connection and the cable. Restart the system. Old client devices and busy neighbors also affect speed.

Test with the same device in both places so that the device is not the variable, and run the test several times because a single result can mislead. If your plan is faster than gigabit, remember the 850's WAN port is gigabit, so the plan's top speed cannot be reached through it, and a different router or a multi-gig model is needed. Owners also find that the 850's satellites run hotter when stacked in a cabinet or on a shelf with other equipment, and heat reduces throughput,

so give each unit space on all sides and keep it out of enclosed furniture; a unit that is warm to the touch in a closed cupboard benefits from being moved to open air. It is also worth restarting in the right order after any change: modem first, then the router, then each satellite, waiting for the lights to settle between steps. A satellite that comes up before the router can attach to a stale link and underperform until it is restarted, which owners sometimes mistake for a firmware fault.