Laptop not connecting to nearby pod

I have a Windows 11 laptop in an upstairs bedroom above the garage on the opposite side from the XFi gateway on the main floor. I got an Xfi pod and put it in the hallway outside the bedroom. The laptop will not connect to the pod, but will insist on an incredibly weak connection to the gateway. I’ve tried restarting the gateway and pod and resetting the WiFi on the laptop including ipconfig /release and /flushdns.

(Separate but related issue): I’ve tried connecting the pod by Ethernet to another upstairs room where there’s a Jack but it only connects by WiFi.

Any ideas?