Anyone got Netgear Orbi?

[beachBOYken]

Hi

I want to replace my asus router sometime next year, and will look at wifi6, I have been looking at Netgear Orbi.

I have virgin media.

The 1st main orbi will be wired to virgin media hub 3, I have a patch cable that runs to back of house so I can use a network cable for that one as well, the 3rd orbi upstairs would just be connected wirelessly.

Is that an ok setup for someone that has Orbi?

 

[Firegod]

Hey, yeah I have the RBK752 kit (so 1x RBR and 1x RBS node). Which one are you looking at?

There are some complaints with the RKB75x latest firmware - but for me it seems OK. I do have to do a power down now and again but everyone is waiting on a new V4.x release to hopefully address the niggles.

Performance wise I'm well impressed. Our place is solid stone interior and exterior walls. I have the RBR (the Router node) in the loft and then the RBS (the Satellite node) down in the main corridor. Coverage is great inside and out. You can run into problems with placement if you have too many nodes too close together. I think Netgear say they need to be 30ft apart (however that doesn't account for things in the way, i.e. walls, obsticales, etc). Just something to bear in mind. I ended up turning the 2.4Ghz power down to 50% and left 5Ghz at 100% to cut down on problems with devices flapping between nodes. The 5Ghz backhaul works well.

We don't have a landline so all calls are done via WiFi calling. The Orbi had some issues initially with this but by reducing the RTS/CTS Threshold that fixed the problem (calls would go silent and then kick back in).

The app works well on my Android phone and the Bitdefender Armor security is nice to have (I just renewed it in black friday for 1 year for something like £20). And because you use Bitdefender Armor on the Orbi, if you do subscribe, you are allowed to install the AV product on your devices (phones, PC's, etc) for free. Comes under the same subscription.

Unforunately I can't comment on that setup as I just use the wireless connectivity. I'm patched in on the WAN port to my 5G Router. But the Orbi's are all wireless to one another.

 

[beachBOYken]

Hey, yeah I have the RBK752 kit (so 1x RBR and 1x RBS node). Which one are you looking at?

There are some complaints with the RKB75x latest firmware - but for me it seems OK. I do have to do a power down now and again but everyone is waiting on a new V4.x release to hopefully address the niggles.

Performance wise I'm well impressed. Our place is solid stone interior and exterior walls. I have the RBR (the Router node) in the loft and then the RBS (the Satellite node) down in the main corridor. Coverage is great inside and out. You can run into problems with placement if you have too many nodes too close together. I think Netgear say they need to be 30ft apart (however that doesn't account for things in the way, i.e. walls, obsticales, etc). Just something to bear in mind. I ended up turning the 2.4Ghz power down to 50% and left 5Ghz at 100% to cut down on problems with devices flapping between nodes. The 5Ghz backhaul works well.

We don't have a landline so all calls are done via WiFi calling. The Orbi had some issues initially with this but by reducing the RTS/CTS Threshold that fixed the problem (calls would go silent and then kick back in).

The app works well on my Android phone and the Bitdefender Armor security is nice to have (I just renewed it in black friday for 1 year for something like £20). And because you use Bitdefender Armor on the Orbi, if you do subscribe, you are allowed to install the AV product on your devices (phones, PC's, etc) for free. Comes under the same subscription.

Unforunately I can't comment on that setup as I just use the wireless connectivity. I'm patched in on the WAN port to my 5G Router. But the Orbi's are all wireless to one another.

Thanks, Im looking at the wifi6 ones (RBK353), unsure if I can get away with a set of 2 (router + 1 satellite) or router and 2 satellites. If I only need 1 satellite I may even go for the triband version.
Just unsure if having both on ground floor of house (front and rear) what the wifi signal will be like upstairs.
I guess it cant be any worse than my asus router (ac86u) in front room?

Im in a semi detached I was going to have the router in the front room where VM internet is and a satellite at rear in extension, but then I would not have anything upstairs so not sure how good the signal would be there.

The one in extension could be wired as I have a patch cable that runs down side of house, but if I needed 1 satellite upstairs, this would just be connected wirelessly, is that possible?
I presume the satellite that is network wired could be a lot more than 30ft from the router.

I gather if they are wireless the bandwidth speed would be cut in half?

 

[Firegod]

Thanks, Im looking at the wifi6 ones (RBK353), unsure if I can get away with a set of 2 (router + 1 satellite) or router and 2 satellites. If I only need 1 satellite I may even go for the triband version.
Just unsure if having both on ground floor of house (front and rear) what the wifi signal will be like upstairs.
I guess it cant be any worse than my asus router (ac86u) in front room?

Im in a semi detached I was going to have the router in the front room where VM internet is and a satellite at rear in extension, but then I would not have anything upstairs so not sure how good the signal would be there.

The one in extension could be wired as I have a patch cable that runs down side of house, but if I needed 1 satellite upstairs, this would just be connected wirelessly, is that possible?
I presume the satellite that is network wired could be a lot more than 30ft from the router.

I gather if they are wireless the bandwidth speed would be cut in half?

I would agree and go with the tri-band version especially if you have a quick internet link and bandwidth heavy usage / multiple devices. You don't want to be sucking precious bandwidth from your operating band - just for backhaul (if connected wirelessly). And yeah, I think personally I'd try for the 1x Router and 1x Satellite initially with the Orbi as you can easily buy another Satellite should you find a dead spot, however the quoted sq.ft coverage of the tri-band models is pretty decent (quoted coverage up to 5+ bedrooms and 4,000 sq.ft for the RBK752 kit).

For info my bro lives in a detached 3 bed with just a normal crappy ISP router in the corner of the living room downstairs and he gets WiFi upstairs no problem so the Orbi units (being superior and quite large) shouldn't have an issue if 1x is downstairs and the other is upstairs. Obviously all houses are different.

Yeah that 30ft figure is their quoted distance for placement but if wired between the two units it could be further away. But I mean 30ft (9m) is quite a distance. I use mine wireless and don't have mine that far apart (mainly due to the stone construction) but also because you have to remember the backhaul channel needs have good connectivity with the other unit and I believe the backhaul channel is always 5Ghz (so even if you had them far apart and had good 2.4Ghz connectivity, you might find the backhaul being 5Ghz changes from "Good" status to "Poor" status in the GUI). So because I have mine closer together I reduced the 2.4GHz power but left 5GHz at 100% (as 2.4Ghz travels easier through obsticales and was causing flapping /mega node overlap).

Just looking the kit I have (RBK752) is £389.99 at Netgear and also from the Rainforest company and might serve you well. You could always return it via the Rainforest company if you weren't happy due to their extended returns. But do what you feel is right and what works for you.

 

[beachBOYken]

I would agree and go with the tri-band version especially if you have a quick internet link and bandwidth heavy usage / multiple devices. You don't want to be sucking precious bandwidth from your operating band - just for backhaul (if connected wirelessly). And yeah, I think personally I'd try for the 1x Router and 1x Satellite initially with the Orbi as you can easily buy another Satellite should you find a dead spot, however the quoted sq.ft coverage of the tri-band models is pretty decent (quoted coverage up to 5+ bedrooms and 4,000 sq.ft for the RBK752 kit).

For info my bro lives in a detached 3 bed with just a normal crappy ISP router in the corner of the living room downstairs and he gets WiFi upstairs no problem so the Orbi units (being superior and quite large) shouldn't have an issue if 1x is downstairs and the other is upstairs. Obviously all houses are different.

Yeah that 30ft figure is their quoted distance for placement but if wired between the two units it could be further away. But I mean 30ft (9m) is quite a distance. I use mine wireless and don't have mine that far apart (mainly due to the stone construction) but also because you have to remember the backhaul channel needs have good connectivity with the other unit and I believe the backhaul channel is always 5Ghz (so even if you had them far apart and had good 2.4Ghz connectivity, you might find the backhaul being 5Ghz changes from "Good" status to "Poor" status in the GUI). So because I have mine closer together I reduced the 2.4GHz power but left 5GHz at 100% (as 2.4Ghz travels easier through obsticales and was causing flapping /mega node overlap).

Just looking the kit I have (RBK752) is £389.99 at Netgear and also from the Rainforest company and might serve you well. You could always return it via the Rainforest company if you weren't happy due to their extended returns. But do what you feel is right and what works for you.

So just to confirm it’s ok to have them a fair distance apart if they are wired, in my case it would be about 65ft. I also want to try and get away with both the router and satellite downstairs, router at front and satellite at rear of house, so hopefully the WiFi will be still strong upstairs.

I take it the router also gives off a wifi signal and you can tell what devices are connected to which via the app?

I will also go for the one you mentioned if I decide to get it.

Thanks

 

[Firegod]

So just to confirm it’s ok to have them a fair distance apart if they are wired, in my case it would be about 65ft. I also want to try and get away with both the router and satellite downstairs, router at front and satellite at rear of house, so hopefully the WiFi will be still strong upstairs.

I take it the router also gives off a wifi signal and you can tell what devices are connected to which via the app?

I will also go for the one you mentioned if I decide to get it.

Thanks

Yeah should be fine - here is the Netgear article on backhaul over Ethernet - https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/Wh...and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System - and here is an interesting post - https://community.netgear.com/t5/Or...ng-ethernet-backhaul-with-RBK752/td-p/1991176 - just because of one part in particular where it says the RBS must be sync'd wirelessly first to the Router node, before you pop the Ethernet in to change it over. Good point to know in this case. And obviously make sure FW is up to date as well.

This person has the exact same question as you - running one node at one side of the house and the other node at the far end. About 50ft between the two nodes. From their findings anything around 60ft should be fine. - https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Distance-Between-Router-and-Satellite-Max/td-p/1219131

Yes both the RBR and RBS send out a WiFi signal for you to connect to under one joined SSID. The Orbi works out if it is best to connect you on 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz (do not split the channel, leave it joined as people report performance glitches when they seperate it out. Keep it default). Then when you roam about the Orbi will hand you off between the better node, so either the RBR or the RBS (Satellite). And yep, the app shows you which node you are connected to, and on what band, etc. Quick example below.

Hope this all helpes.

EDIT: And obviously you get all this info and more from within the Router GUI / interface as well.

 

[beachBOYken]

Yeah should be fine - here is the Netgear article on backhaul over Ethernet - https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/Wh...and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System - and here is an interesting post - https://community.netgear.com/t5/Or...ng-ethernet-backhaul-with-RBK752/td-p/1991176 - just because of one part in particular where it says the RBS must be sync'd wirelessly first to the Router node, before you pop the Ethernet in to change it over. Good point to know in this case. And obviously make sure FW is up to date as well.

This person has the exact same question as you - running one node at one side of the house and the other node at the far end. About 50ft between the two nodes. From their findings anything around 60ft should be fine. - https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Distance-Between-Router-and-Satellite-Max/td-p/1219131

Yes both the RBR and RBS send out a WiFi signal for you to connect to under one joined SSID. The Orbi works out if it is best to connect you on 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz (do not split the channel, leave it joined as people report performance glitches when they seperate it out. Keep it default). Then when you roam about the Orbi will hand you off between the better node, so either the RBR or the RBS (Satellite). And yep, the app shows you which node you are connected to, and on what band, etc. Quick example below.

Hope this all helpes.

EDIT: And obviously you get all this info and more from within the Router GUI / interface as well.

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated.

I have a few last questions if possible.

If the satellite needs to be synced first via wireless before I connect to ethernet, would it matter if I done it next to the router in front room before i moved it, might struggle with the distance otherwise if I placed it out back and tried syncing.

Also whats the support like with regards to firmware/security updates.

Thanks again

 

[beachBOYken]

I might hold off for a while, the latest firmware is putting me off, as like you said it seems to have issues for a few people, for the money these cost I don't fancy taking the risk. Will keep my eye on the netgear community, see if future firmwares fix the issues some have.

 

[beachBOYken]

Bit of an update.

I was put off the orbi due to reading various issues with the latest firmware.

I have taken a chance with the Amazon eero pro 6 as they were on offer the other day, so purchased 2 for now, which will hopefully be enough, can always get another if needed when they are on sale again.

I really wanted a simple solution, having had asus for 10+ years now and using merlin firmware I just wanted to not worry about the vast array of settings to fiddle with. reviews are generally fine for the eero as well. Might not be the best, but for simplicity it ticks all the boxes hopefully.

 

[Firegod]

Bit of an update.

I was put off the orbi due to reading various issues with the latest firmware.

I have taken a chance with the Amazon eero pro 6 as they were on offer the other day, so purchased 2 for now, which will hopefully be enough, can always get another if needed when they are on sale again.

I really wanted a simple solution, having had asus for 10+ years now and using merlin firmware I just wanted to not worry about the vast array of settings to fiddle with. reviews are generally fine for the eero as well. Might not be the best, but for simplicity it ticks all the boxes hopefully.

Good stuff!