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NETGEAR Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System with 3Gbps Speed (RBK50) – Discontinued by Manufacturer
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | NETGEAR |
Model Name | AC3000 Mesh WiFi System (RBK50) |
Special Feature | WPS,Alexa Compatible,Parental Control,Guest Mode,Internet Security,Beamforming,Access Point Mode, LED Indicator,QoS Remote Access, See more |
Frequency Band Class | Tri-Band |
Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11bgn, 802.11a/g/n/ac, 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency |
Compatible Devices | Gaming Console, Tablet, Smart Television, Smartphone |
Frequency | 5 GHz |
Recommended Uses For Product | Home |
Included Components | One (1) Orbi Router (RBR50)^One (1) Orbi Satellite (RBS50)^One (1) 2m Ethernet cable^Two (2) 12V/3.5A power adapters^Quick start guide See more |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi |
About this item
- Ultra-performance Mesh WiFi network blankets every inch of your home in super fast and seamless WiFi connectivity - room to room, wall to wall, floor to floor
- Eliminates WiFi dead zones and buffering - 5,000 square feet of consistent coverage - with speeds up to 3Gbps
- The most award-winning Mesh WiFi system on the planet: PC Mag, CNET, Wirecutter, Forbes, SmallNetBuilder
- Maintains speed even as more devices use your WiFi at the same time, thanks to patented tri-band technology
- NETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices with a 30-day free trial
- NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls promotes healthy Internet habits, fosters responsibility and builds trust with your kids (30-day free trial included)
Frequently bought together
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This Item NETGEAR Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System with 3Gbps Speed (RBK50) – Discontinued by Manufacturer | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | -19% $228.00$228.00 List: $279.99 | -9% $299.99$299.99 Typical: $330.00 | -15% $169.99$169.99 Typical: $199.99 | -28% $429.99$429.99 List: $599.99 | $387.28$387.28 | $1,499.99$1,499.99 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it Apr 2 - 3 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
WiFi signal | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.7 |
User interface | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 3.8 |
Tech Support | 3.8 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
Easy to install | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.2 | — |
Value for money | — | 4.1 | — | 4.1 | 4.0 | 2.8 |
Sold By | CoverZip | Same Day Shipping | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Lake AV | Amazon.com |
connectivity tech | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Ethernet, Wi-Fi | Wi Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB |
number of ports | 7 | — | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
data transfer rate | 3000 megabits per second | — | 3000 megabits per second | 1 gigabits per second | — | 22000 megabits per second |
wireless standard | 802 11 BGN, 2.4 ghz radio frequency, 802 11 AGNAC | 802 11 AX | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B | 802 11 AX | 802 11 A, 802 11 B, 802 11 G, 802 11 N, 802 11 AC | 802 11 BE, 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G |
frequency band class | tri band | tri band | dual band | tri band | tri band | tri band |
lan port bandwidth | 3 megabits per second | 5 ghz | 10/100/1000 Mbps | — | — | 10 Gbps |
From the manufacturer
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Tri-band WiFi Maximizes SpeedAn additional third band dedicated to your Orbi router and satellite frees up the other two bands for maximum speed to your devices |
Seamless Roaming EverywhereStay connected as you roam around home using a single network name. |
High Performance WiFiPerformance WiFi lets you stream HD movies to multiple devices and enjoy lag-free online gaming while still using all of your connected devices at the same time. |
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Essential Internet Security & Smart Parental ControlsNETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices. Smart Parental Controls provide a safe, online experience for your kids. Both include a 30-day free trial. |
Works with any Internet Service Provider Plan up to 500MbpsGigabit port on router gives you a fast wired connection to your computer, game box, TV or other high-speed device. |
Easy to Setup and ManageWith the Orbi app, you can set up your WiFi in minutes, customize your settings, test/monitor your WiFi speed and control your WiFi anytime, anywhere. |
RBK50 | RBK50V | RBK752 | RBK852 | RBK853 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars
15,429
|
4.1 out of 5 stars
539
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
5,605
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
4,363
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
4,363
|
Configuration | 1 Router + 1 Satellite | 1 Router + 1 Satellite with Built-in Speaker | 1 Router + 1 Satellite | 1 Router + 1 Satellite | 1 Router + 2 Satellites |
WiFi Speed | WiFi 5 - AC2200 (Up to 2.2 Gbps) | WiFi 5 - AC3000 (Up to 3 Gbps) | WiFi 6 - AX4200 (Up to 4.2 Gbps) | WiFi 6 - AX6000 (Up to 6 Gbps) | WiFi 6 - AX6000 (Up to 6 Gbps) |
WiFi Coverage | Up to 5,000 sq. ft. | Up to 4,500 sq. ft. | Up to 5,000 sq. ft. | Up to 5,000 sq. ft. | Up to 7,500 sq. ft. |
Recommended # of Devices | Up to 25+ | Up to 25+ | Up to 40+ | Up to 60+ | Up to 60+ |
Best for Internet Provider Speed Tier | Up to 200 Mbps | Up to 500 Mbps | Up to 2.0 Gbps | Up to 2.5 Gbps | Up to 2.5 Gbps |
Tri-Band Dedicated Backhaul | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Wired Gigabit Ethernet Ports (Router + Satellites) | 4 (4 + 0 + 0) | 6 (4 + 2) | 6 (4 + 2) | 9 (5 + 4) | 13 (5 + 4 + 4) |
Smart Speaker With Amazon Alexa | --- | Harmon Kardon 35W Speaker, Alexa Built-in with 4 Microphones | --- | --- | --- |
Network Security | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, Guest WiFi Secure Access | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, Guest WiFi Secure Access | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, Guest WiFi Secure Access | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, Guest WiFi Secure Access | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, Guest WiFi Secure Access |
Advanced Technology | Tri-Band, Smart Connect - One WiFi name, Beamforming, MU-MIMO | Tri-Band, Smart Connect - One WiFi name, Beamforming, MU-MIMO | Tri-Band, Smart Connect - One WiFi name, Beamforming, MU-MIMO | Tri-Band, Smart Connect - One WiFi name, Beamforming, MU-MIMO | Tri-Band, Smart Connect - One WiFi name, Beamforming, MU-MIMO |
What's in the box
Product information
Product Dimensions | 6.4 x 3.1 x 8 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 3.92 pounds |
ASIN | B01K4CZOBS |
Item model number | RBK50-100NAS |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #27,613 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #163 in Whole Home & Mesh Wi-Fi Systems |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 22, 2016 |
Manufacturer | Netgear |
Warranty & Support
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HONEST review of NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System
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Orbi Home Mesh WIFI - My honest review afetr years of use
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Product Description
FAST WHOLE HOME SYSTEM
Bring fast, secure, and reliable internet to your entire family with the NETGEAR Orbi Home WiFi System. No more WiFi boosters or extenders necessary. The Orbi WiFi Router and Satellite extend high performance WiFi to your property from the basement to the backyard. The system smartly manages your WiFi so that each device's access is optimized and never interrupted.
Up to 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF COVERAGE
From the home office to the basement to the pool, this wireless internet system covers every inch of your home with a strong WiFi signal. Unlike router and repeater combinations, Orbi covers the whole home with a single WiFi network and name, enabling seamless indoor/outdoor and room-to-room connectivity.
TRI-BAND TECHNOLOGY
Award winning and patented Tri-Band Technology provides Orbi with a dedicated backhaul connection between the router and the satellite, so the system can manage multiple network connections without compromising speed. Watch movies and TV, play video games, download music, books, and more.
QUICK & EASY SETUP
Selected as Editors’ Choice by PC Magazine, Orbi works with your current internet service provider and sets up in minutes right out of the box. Use the Orbi app or any web browser to create your entire home’s secure WiFi network in minutes. No personal info, account creation, or hands required with the new Amazon Echo Alexa skill and our intuitive and preconfigured system.
GUEST CAPABILITY
Allow guests the opportunity to access WiFi while protecting your network and password. Easily create a network to service visitors, and Orbi handles everything else. You'll rest easy knowing that your information is safe from security breaches, viruses, malware, and network worms.
- NETGEAR Orbi AC3000 Home WiFi System
- WiFi Router and Satellite Extender - High-Performance Tri-Band Technology
- 5,000 Square Foot Range
- RBK50.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance, ease of setup, speed and coverage of the networking router. For example, they mention that it functions superlatively, it requires little to no intervention and that it provides superior coverage and performance. That said, opinions are mixed on connectivity, value, and app.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the performance of the router. They say it functions superlatively, and the smartphone application works pretty well. They also say the results are positive so far, and that it works terrific in a very large home. The base and satellite continue to operate reliably.
"...Excellent performance- Easy access to settingsMINUSES:..." Read more
"...The new firmware is, in fact, working great. Per my earlier review, when this system is working, it is hard to beat. The new firmware is killing it...." Read more
"...Orbi: 240.61 down, 12.42 upA solid performance improvement on the Orbi. It's like the tiles, walls and pipes weren't even there...." Read more
"...2 - Speed is a 4 out of 53 - Consistency is a ZERO. Now to be fair I am not sending this back today...." Read more
Customers find the setup of the networking router to be simple and straightforward. They also appreciate the user-friendly UI and the fact that it requires little to no intervention on their part. Customers also mention that the package is simple, and the system comes up without a problem.
"...The package is simple. In the box are the two nearly identical routers, two power supplies, quick start guide, and a flat white network cable...." Read more
"...At first, all was good. The setup was particularly easy...." Read more
"...There is a quick setup guide, which is what I did first then thought it was connected to the Internet and I'd then download the app to finish...." Read more
"...Better WiFi Everywhere with 3 Gigabit Speed, Tri-Band Mesh WiFi, Easy Setup, Replaces WiFi Range Extenders]]..." Read more
Customers like the speed of the networking router. For example, they mention it has excellent coverage, consistent speeds of 350 mb+ down everywhere, and improves the overall internet performance of all clients connected to it. They also say that it speeds up downloading and uploading, and that it SMOKES.
"...satellite, each other, creating extensive coverage areas with minimal loss of speed or dramatic increase in latency, especially in comparison to..." Read more
"...This Orbi system has fast speeds everywhere even at the farthest reaches of my property. Compared to old-fashioned range extenders, it's like magic...." Read more
"HOLY CATS! This thing SMOKES, as in it's blazing fast and punches a wifi signal through all my walls, pipes, plaster, counters, cables and whatnot..." Read more
"...Device performance has been flawless...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the coverage of the router. They mention that it provides fantastic coverage, cured coverage issues, and provides superior coverage and performance in their multi-floor home. They also say that the 5 GHz coverage is way broader than prior single router, allowing all their wirelessly.
"...Orbi receives my enthusiastic recommendation for providing superior coverage and performance in our multi-floor home with a few dozen wifi-hungry..." Read more
"...Functionality always restored quickly, and my overall coverage was so much improved that I was very happy...." Read more
"...I went to all my rooms and was getting fantastic coverage. Even on the 2nd floor on the far end of the house...." Read more
"...Asus RT-AC68U router in my 4 story 4000 sqft home and the coverage results are excellent...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the blind spot of the networking router. They mention that it eliminates dead zones and provides fast speeds.
"...Our lot is about 5500 square feet. No dead spots anywhere in the house and we have super fast speeds throughout the house...." Read more
"...There is no dead spots in my house anymore, so I am satisfied...." Read more
"...I can nearly watch a 4k stream out there!There are no dead spots at all in the house...." Read more
"...that I could get the same speed 60 Mbps throughout the house with no dead zones...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the router. Some mention that the signal strength throughout the house is awesome, and it completely solved their WiFi problems. The multiple Ethernet ports increase connectivity between your devices, and the router capability was nice. However, other customers say that their wireless connection was always a nuisance, weak, and significantly diminished. Some customers also report disconnect issues and issues with their WiFi devices picking the wrong signal.
"...Now here is where I got really impressed. Not only did a strong signal in every corner of my house, I went through into the backyard at the..." Read more
"...They're typically fine for same-room roaming, or maybe even going to the next room if your walls are thin, but if you have high data bandwidth needs..." Read more
"...Unfortunately, its color light-based syncing wasn't working the way the quick start guide indicated, staying on the syncing process way too..." Read more
"...Better WiFi Everywhere with 3 Gigabit Speed, Tri-Band Mesh WiFi, Easy Setup, Replaces WiFi Range Extenders]]..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the networking router. Some mention that it's worth the price if they can get the performance they need. The bandwidth for the price ($279) seems good, while others say that the product is pretty pricey and the add-on satellites are priced crazy high. The expandable system, why is it so cost prohibitive to expand it, and this isn't a cheap solution.
"...My two cents, it's worth every penny." Read more
"...Like other solutions of this type, it's relatively pricey" Read more
"...And they are also quite hefty in comparison to the Nighthawk.2) The aesthetics of the units are great...." Read more
"...Housing layout and materials are more important. Add-on satellites are priced crazy high and are often hard to find in stock, if you are at all..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the app. Some find it excellent, helpful, and great. They also say the interface is great and the mobile app is okay for casual non-tech folks. However, others say the app is horrible, useless, and could use a little work.
"...controls by MAC Firmware upgrade is buggy IOS app is terrible Support isn’t great unless you tell them you are returning it..." Read more
"...The Netgear app was very helpful in notifying you on the condition of your router, connection to the satellite, and signal strength...." Read more
"...Also, the Orbi app got confused part of the way through the setup process while I was trying to add the password to my password manager app...." Read more
"...Not only that but through their super friendly app...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews from the United States
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I've been using a Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-band Gigabit Wifi Router (R8000) in my home for almost two years (starting late 2014). I specifically bought that relatively expensive router because of its beam forming technology and promise of greater range and coverage. While it proved a worthy upgrade over my previous router from nearly two years before that (starting late 2012), an Asus RT-AC66U Dual-band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router (itself an upgrade over a previous router, and so on and so forth), it was not without its flaws.
Because of the way the Nighthawk distributed its bands, it needed two network names. While in most cases this was not an issue since both networks usually communicated with each other as if they were one, sometimes devices on one network segment wouldn't talk well with devices on the other network segment. And of course, because of the frequency, some devices would only work with one network or the other. Finally, while the 5.8 GHz band was the fastest, it was also of course the frequency that would lose range the soonest, often requiring my device (usually a smartphone) to drop one network and connect to the other.
Perhaps more frustrating though was that regardless of network or band, there were still a few dead spots in my house. We have a three story home, and my cable modem is located in our mostly finished basement, so there was little flexibility in placement of the router, which needs a hardwired connection to the Xfinity cable modem. While the added power of the Nighthawk improved overall range and speed over my previous solutions, I still had a few notable dead spots, like in the bathroom and laundry room areas on the main floor.
While I was considering range extenders, like the Keewifi kisslink Wireless Smart Router/Range Extender/Repeater (which I actually own), the downside to those is that they typically require their own network name, meaning I'd have a third network name to think about, plus there's a performance hit. While said performance hit is relatively modest, it's still there.
Enter mesh networking. Solutions like eero, Luma, Securifi Almond, and the recently announced Google WiFi, among others, all work on the idea of a centralized router and one or more satellites. These satellites communicate with the centralized router over a dedicated channel, and, with more than one satellite, each other, creating extensive coverage areas with minimal loss of speed or dramatic increase in latency, especially in comparison to traditional repeaters. While all those solutions are or seem nice, I decided to go with the company with the greatest home networking experience and the promise of only needing a single satellite for my size home. As such, I ended up choosing the Netgear Orbi AC3000 Tri-band Wifi System (RBK50).
The package is simple. In the box are the two nearly identical routers, two power supplies, quick start guide, and a flat white network cable. Perhaps the first thing you'll be struck by is that these routers are not particularly small. In fact, in comparison to the competition, they're rather large at almost 9 inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. If you plan on making one of these devices part of your home decor, you may need to think twice about this particular solution and go with one of the other options. For me, though, my main concern is performance.
Following the quick start guide, I unplugged the network cable that goes from from my Nighthawk to my cable modem and plugged it into the correct port on the Orbi. I then powered on the Orbi and let it set itself up with my modem. Of note is that there are only three NIC ports available on the main router, and I had four cables plugged into the four ports on my Nighthawk. Fortunately, I was able to plug the extra network cable into a powerline router (which I may phase out at some point since only a printer makes use of it now) and plug that into the port on the Orbi. Finally, I used the USB 2.0 port on the Orbi to power my SmartThings hub, which of course also took up one of those NIC ports.
With that out of the way, it was time to place my Orbi satellite. I intended to place it below my standing desk on our main floor so my desktop computer and Surface Pro 3 dock could make use of the (four) NIC ports on the satellite. Unfortunately, its color light-based syncing wasn't working the way the quick start guide indicated, staying on the syncing process way too long.
I tried moving the satellite to another part of the main floor, but it still wouldn't sync correctly. Finally, I moved it down to the basement to see if I could get any sync at all going. Fortunately, I was able to, so everything was at least shown to be working correctly. I moved it back to under my standing desk and it repeated the several minute syncing process, and this time it worked just fine.
The Orbi comes preconfigured with a random default SSID and password, but you're prompted to change it to whatever you want after you login either via a desktop or mobile browser. I chose my Windows 10 desktop.
While again, I had a few struggles initially, setup via Chrome on my desktop eventually went smoothly. I named the network the same as the primary name of my previous Nighthawk network so most devices would automatically see it (about the only ones that were on the 5 GHz network and wouldn't know about the main network were my two Xbox Ones, which I was able to switch over without incident). There were of course firmware updates for both routers, but that too installed without issues.
My first performance tests on my desktop proved fruitful. With that out of the way, I walked around the house with my Apple iPhone 6 Plus, and, sure enough, even with a momentary drop in one bar of full signal strength as I walked about (which quickly returned to maximum), I had zero dead spots. The main floor bathroom and laundry area was perfect, and I even took a stroll in our backyard, again, with full signal strength at places the previous router could only dream of. Browsing on the mobile browser was as speedy as I ever experienced it.
Although I've only been using the Orbi for a few days, I feel confident in saying that mesh networking is the clear solution for anywhere range and performance with existing single routers are currently issues. And the Orbi works exactly as the marketing materials say it does, which is a big plus.
Naturally, if I come across any performance or other issues as more time passes, I'll post an additional review, a part 2, sooner rather than later. For now, though, the Orbi receives my enthusiastic recommendation for providing superior coverage and performance in our multi-floor home with a few dozen wifi-hungry devices.
PLUSES:
- Covers a large area (up to 4000 square feet)
- Can be expanded with more satellites to cover an even larger area (up to 2000 additional square feet per satellite)
- Excellent performance
- Easy access to settings
MINUSES:
- Relatively large routers that you may not want prominently displayed in your main living spaces
- Initial setup is not necessarily seamless
- Like other solutions of this type, it's relatively pricey
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
I've been using a Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-band Gigabit Wifi Router (R8000) in my home for almost two years (starting late 2014). I specifically bought that relatively expensive router because of its beam forming technology and promise of greater range and coverage. While it proved a worthy upgrade over my previous router from nearly two years before that (starting late 2012), an Asus RT-AC66U Dual-band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router (itself an upgrade over a previous router, and so on and so forth), it was not without its flaws.
Because of the way the Nighthawk distributed its bands, it needed two network names. While in most cases this was not an issue since both networks usually communicated with each other as if they were one, sometimes devices on one network segment wouldn't talk well with devices on the other network segment. And of course, because of the frequency, some devices would only work with one network or the other. Finally, while the 5.8 GHz band was the fastest, it was also of course the frequency that would lose range the soonest, often requiring my device (usually a smartphone) to drop one network and connect to the other.
Perhaps more frustrating though was that regardless of network or band, there were still a few dead spots in my house. We have a three story home, and my cable modem is located in our mostly finished basement, so there was little flexibility in placement of the router, which needs a hardwired connection to the Xfinity cable modem. While the added power of the Nighthawk improved overall range and speed over my previous solutions, I still had a few notable dead spots, like in the bathroom and laundry room areas on the main floor.
While I was considering range extenders, like the Keewifi kisslink Wireless Smart Router/Range Extender/Repeater (which I actually own), the downside to those is that they typically require their own network name, meaning I'd have a third network name to think about, plus there's a performance hit. While said performance hit is relatively modest, it's still there.
Enter mesh networking. Solutions like eero, Luma, Securifi Almond, and the recently announced Google WiFi, among others, all work on the idea of a centralized router and one or more satellites. These satellites communicate with the centralized router over a dedicated channel, and, with more than one satellite, each other, creating extensive coverage areas with minimal loss of speed or dramatic increase in latency, especially in comparison to traditional repeaters. While all those solutions are or seem nice, I decided to go with the company with the greatest home networking experience and the promise of only needing a single satellite for my size home. As such, I ended up choosing the Netgear Orbi AC3000 Tri-band Wifi System (RBK50).
The package is simple. In the box are the two nearly identical routers, two power supplies, quick start guide, and a flat white network cable. Perhaps the first thing you'll be struck by is that these routers are not particularly small. In fact, in comparison to the competition, they're rather large at almost 9 inches tall, 7 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. If you plan on making one of these devices part of your home decor, you may need to think twice about this particular solution and go with one of the other options. For me, though, my main concern is performance.
Following the quick start guide, I unplugged the network cable that goes from from my Nighthawk to my cable modem and plugged it into the correct port on the Orbi. I then powered on the Orbi and let it set itself up with my modem. Of note is that there are only three NIC ports available on the main router, and I had four cables plugged into the four ports on my Nighthawk. Fortunately, I was able to plug the extra network cable into a powerline router (which I may phase out at some point since only a printer makes use of it now) and plug that into the port on the Orbi. Finally, I used the USB 2.0 port on the Orbi to power my SmartThings hub, which of course also took up one of those NIC ports.
With that out of the way, it was time to place my Orbi satellite. I intended to place it below my standing desk on our main floor so my desktop computer and Surface Pro 3 dock could make use of the (four) NIC ports on the satellite. Unfortunately, its color light-based syncing wasn't working the way the quick start guide indicated, staying on the syncing process way too long.
I tried moving the satellite to another part of the main floor, but it still wouldn't sync correctly. Finally, I moved it down to the basement to see if I could get any sync at all going. Fortunately, I was able to, so everything was at least shown to be working correctly. I moved it back to under my standing desk and it repeated the several minute syncing process, and this time it worked just fine.
The Orbi comes preconfigured with a random default SSID and password, but you're prompted to change it to whatever you want after you login either via a desktop or mobile browser. I chose my Windows 10 desktop.
While again, I had a few struggles initially, setup via Chrome on my desktop eventually went smoothly. I named the network the same as the primary name of my previous Nighthawk network so most devices would automatically see it (about the only ones that were on the 5 GHz network and wouldn't know about the main network were my two Xbox Ones, which I was able to switch over without incident). There were of course firmware updates for both routers, but that too installed without issues.
My first performance tests on my desktop proved fruitful. With that out of the way, I walked around the house with my Apple iPhone 6 Plus, and, sure enough, even with a momentary drop in one bar of full signal strength as I walked about (which quickly returned to maximum), I had zero dead spots. The main floor bathroom and laundry area was perfect, and I even took a stroll in our backyard, again, with full signal strength at places the previous router could only dream of. Browsing on the mobile browser was as speedy as I ever experienced it.
Although I've only been using the Orbi for a few days, I feel confident in saying that mesh networking is the clear solution for anywhere range and performance with existing single routers are currently issues. And the Orbi works exactly as the marketing materials say it does, which is a big plus.
Naturally, if I come across any performance or other issues as more time passes, I'll post an additional review, a part 2, sooner rather than later. For now, though, the Orbi receives my enthusiastic recommendation for providing superior coverage and performance in our multi-floor home with a few dozen wifi-hungry devices.
PLUSES:
- Covers a large area (up to 4000 square feet)
- Can be expanded with more satellites to cover an even larger area (up to 2000 additional square feet per satellite)
- Excellent performance
- Easy access to settings
MINUSES:
- Relatively large routers that you may not want prominently displayed in your main living spaces
- Initial setup is not necessarily seamless
- Like other solutions of this type, it's relatively pricey
I purchased this product about 6 months ago. I have a system with a router and two satellites. At first, all was good. The setup was particularly easy. Some users reported occasional drops on ios and android devices which they attributed to the Orbi. I experienced some drops, but nothing particularly troublesome and who knows if it was the Orbi. Functionality always restored quickly, and my overall coverage was so much improved that I was very happy. Eventually, Netgear pushed a firmware update, and my measured wifi speeds dramatically decreased with distance away from the router. Logging in to the router, it was clear that the two satellites had ceased to communicate with the router/hub. Every effort to wipe, reset, and resync the system was useless. Tech support should have been aware of the firmware problem within a day or so but continued to obliviously suggest doomed-to-fail efforts to reset and resync. Eventually, after 4 or 5 hours of escalated phone support, the support technician acknowledged what should have been completely obvious, there was a firmware problem, and there was no ETA on the fix. On my last call, I was told it "should be about a week." That was about 4 days ago, but I am not holding my breath.
As it stands, with the new firmware, my system is not a mesh network at all. It is a single access point with two dead satellites. For weeks now, the Orbi has done nothing more than the cable modem/router it replaced. It is possible to manually roll back the system to older firmware. After a roll back, all is in order and running great. What is really infuriating is that Netgear, in its wisdom, configured the Orbi to auto update firmware in a manner that cannot be turned off or blocked. So, you can roll back the firmware and have a working mesh system that breaks itself in a day or two after auto updating. Netgear support advised that preventing users from stopping the auto update was a feature for easy operation. Thanks for that Netgear. A big ol' rock is also easy to operate and is as useful to my network as the Orbi satellites.
You will see some good reviews here. Aside from shills, those are understandable. The hardware once worked terrifically, and some users claim the newest firmware works for them. Don't believe it. Maybe you will get lucky, but my experience is that Netgear pushed firmware that made my system completely non-functional then hid from the problem while I wasted hours on support calls. Even if you get lucky, do you want to deal with a company that forces autoupdates of broken firmware? You don't. If you are still tempted, take a look at the Orbi message boards maintained by Netgear. You will see almost a month of upset users postings with no meaningful response from the company. Netgear could simply disable autoupdates or push the older firmware while it works on a fix. For whatever reason, this company prefers a strategy of radio silence.
I believe that Amazon should delist this product, at least while so many users continue to report that it is not functioning for any aspect of its intended purpose.
UPDATE: After posting this review, Netgear replaced both of my satellites. Counterintuitively, this seems to have fixed my system. It has only been up and running for a few days. I have experienced a couple of wifi drops, but I have not reached a conclusion as to whether I expect this to be a frequent problem. There is still no new firmware, there is still no way that I can determine to get around the firmware auto updates, and there are still apparently folks with non-functioning systems posting in the forums. I would like to see Netgear address these issues. If my system stays functioning well for a fair period of time, I will definitely up my one star review. When it works, it is a FLAMETHROWER. If Netgear fixes the underlying issues with the firmware in a way reproducible for all users, it would really be a top-notch product.
UPDATE (12/22/17): I am changing my initial 1-star to a 4-star. The new firmware is, in fact, working great. Per my earlier review, when this system is working, it is hard to beat. The new firmware is killing it. I used conventional range extenders before, and there was always a huge drop in performance with the extenders. This Orbi system has fast speeds everywhere even at the farthest reaches of my property. Compared to old-fashioned range extenders, it's like magic. The satellites, which once did not work at all, are suddenly very stable. I also just received the firmware push including the Circle parental control feature, and that is a really great surprise added bonus. I do think users of network products need more control over firmware, and the several weeks I spent with a non-functioning system due to a push of bad firmware really prevents me from a full 5-stars at this point. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from that experience, but it is going away. I am loving this system today. I am happy with the purchase and would recommend it to others.