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NETGEAR Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System with 3Gbps Speed (RBK50) – Discontinued by Manufacturer
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
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 | |
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Price | -9% $255.82$255.82 List: $279.99 | -8% $349.99$349.99 List: $379.99 | $325.10$325.10 | $199.99$199.99 | $351.02$351.02 | -5% $160.00$160.00 Typical price: $169.95 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Friday, Mar 22 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 20 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 20 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 20 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 20 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 20 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
WiFi signal | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
User interface | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
Tech Support | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
Easy to install | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | — |
Mobile App | — | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | — |
Sold By | Seven Hills Distribution | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Pro Wireless |
connectivity tech | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi Fi |
number of ports | 7 | 6 | — | 3 | 9 | 2 |
data transfer rate | 3000 megabits per second | — | — | 3000 megabits per second | 5400 megabits per second | — |
wireless standard | 802 11 BGN, 2.4 ghz radio frequency, 802 11 AGNAC | 802 11 AC, 802 11 A, 802 11 N, 802 11 AX | 802 11 AX | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B | 802 11 A |
frequency band class | tri band | tri band | tri band | dual band | tri band | — |
lan port bandwidth | 3 megabits per second | — | 5 ghz | 10/100/1000 Mbps | 10/100/1000 Mbps | — |
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
5,577
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
4,353
|
4.3 out of 5 stars
4,353
|
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
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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 | #33,406 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #174 in Whole Home & Mesh Wi-Fi Systems |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 22, 2016 |
Manufacturer | Netgear |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
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Orbi Home Mesh WIFI - My honest review afetr years of use
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Is The NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-band Worth it?
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Honest review of orbi home wifi router and extender
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HONEST review of NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System
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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 ease of setup and speed of the router. They mention that the setup is particularly easy, and the system came up without a problem. Customers are also happy with coverage, and performance. However, some customers have issues with the firmware. Customers disagree on ease of use, value, and connectivity.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers generally like the performance of the networking router. They say it works well enough for their needs, is stable, and reliable. They also appreciate the improved performance and the fact that it's affordable. Customers also say the smartphone application works pretty well.
"...Excellent performance- Easy access to settingsMINUSES:..." Read more
"...The bandwidth for the price ($279) seems good - not as expensive and fast as the new, $700 WiFi 6 hardware, but faster than the dumb range..." Read more
"...Device performance has been flawless...." Read more
"...My second AC4000 5G signals became very unstable. I did not have this issue with my first AC4000...." Read more
Customers generally like the coverage of the router. They say that the signal strength throughout the house is awesome, it provides superior coverage and performance, and it completely solved their WiFi problems. The router capability was nice, and the signal never goes down when walking around the house.
"...Orbi receives my enthusiastic recommendation for providing superior coverage and performance in our multi-floor home with a few dozen wifi-hungry..." Read more
"...Better WiFi Everywhere with 3 Gigabit Speed, Tri-Band Mesh WiFi, Easy Setup, Replaces WiFi Range Extenders]]..." Read more
"...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
"...One room away, my iPad had a weak connection to the extender, which is one floor up and one room over from the Verizon base station...." Read more
Customers find the setup of the networking router to be easy. They mention that the instructions are straightforward and easy to understand. The system came up without a problem, and the package is simple. It is user-friendly and affordable. Customers also appreciate the tools for setting up and testing coverage, and find it easy to manage device internet usage with the app.
"...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
"...It worked pretty well when I got it. The out-of-box experience was pretty good, although the printed instructions in the quick start guide didn't..." Read more
"...Better WiFi Everywhere with 3 Gigabit Speed, Tri-Band Mesh WiFi, Easy Setup, Replaces WiFi Range Extenders]]..." Read more
"...The setup was fairly straight forward. Depending on how your place in configured, you will spend more or less time with set up...." Read more
Customers like the speed of the router. They mention that the speeds throughout the house have been excellent, with a good fast connection. They also mention that you can test your speed, check your security levels, block or unblock, and that the wireless signal and speed is stronger and faster than ever. Overall, customers are satisfied with the speed and stability of the product.
"...satellite, each other, creating extensive coverage areas with minimal loss of speed or dramatic increase in latency, especially in comparison to..." Read more
"...-A mesh system that covers your whole home easily.-Consistent range and speed (if you have a home without concrete walls)...." Read more
"...in wifi transceiver of the modem (a typical FIOS unit) provided relatively adequate service on that floor; but on the first floor, the signal was..." 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
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the router. Some mention that it provided a much better connection throughout their house, while others say that the two satellites had ceased to communicate with the router/hub. Some customers also mention that network browsing did not detect the file share.
"...channel between router & satellite Router is pre-paired with satellite unit No cloud management required Has a decent amount of..." Read more
"...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..." Read more
"...because it has successfully extended my internet and provided a much better connection throughout my house and its perimeter...." Read more
"...Internet connection is stable. I dont recall i have any disconnection or issue. Just make sure you check and update its firmware once awhile...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the product. Some mention that it's worth the price if they can get the performance they want, while others say that it is pretty pricey. They also complain about the cost of adding satellite units that you don't buy with the router. Overall, the opinions are mixed, but the product is a good option for those looking for a top-line wireless router.
"...The bandwidth for the price ($279) seems good - not as expensive and fast as the new, $700 WiFi 6 hardware, but faster than the dumb range..." Read more
"...Like other solutions of this type, it's relatively pricey" Read more
"...My two cents, it's worth every penny." 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 are mixed about the ease of use of the networking router. Some mention that the app is super friendly, while others say that it's horrible. The app works great to set up the system and monitor the network, but it doesn't show all the features. The interface is nice, and it has more features than the Google Wifi. However, some customers have reported issues with the app and the admin interface. The mobile app and browser interface are not consistent, and the router could not detect the printer.
"...The Netgear app was very helpful in notifying you on the condition of your router, connection to the satellite, and signal strength...." Read more
"...The first parental control app that balances ease of use with options for more advance settings that I've seen...." 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
Customers are dissatisfied with the firmware of the router. They mention that the auto firmware update has not worked, the printer needed a firmware update before it would work reliably, and there is no dedicated app. They also mention that updating the firmware was not easy and that the satellite had a bit of a problem with the download.
"...I new that the main issue of the Orbi was the firmware download...." Read more
"...Updating the satellite was a bit worse. It wouldn't even register an update was available, nor would it check...." Read more
"...The firmware update appears to be broken...." Read more
"...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..." 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 had bought a TP-Link RE-205 range extender, and that sort of helped, but it has some issues. Mainly, if you extend both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, it needs to be power cycled every few days because it gets into a state where it can't connect to the base station after a while(!). If you extend a 2.4GHz network but only allow 5GHz clients to the extender, it works OK, but the range is poor since 5GHz doesn't penetrate walls as well. One room away, my iPad had a weak connection to the extender, which is one floor up and one room over from the Verizon base station. Finally, since it's a second WiFi network, a wired device on the extender's network cannot be reached from a wireless device on the main network (that the extender is extending). So I have to make sure to be on the extender's wifi network to reach that wired device that's connected to the extender. That severely limits where in the house I can be when using that wireless device, since the extender's network has to be 5GHz in order for the extender to be stable.
After some research I bought the Netgear Orbi RBK50, consisting of two oval towers, one of which is the base/router, and the other of which is the satellite. The things that made me buy it: (1) It comes with only one satellite, but you can buy additional ones if you need better coverage. (2) It supports wired backhaul. My first floor has an unused Ethernet cable that runs under the house and pops up in the living room (the router used to be there), so I could have the router in the back plus a wired satellite in the front if necessary. (3) The bandwidth for the price ($279) seems good - not as expensive and fast as the new, $700 WiFi 6 hardware, but faster than the dumb range extender I have now. (3) I've had Netgear hardware before and it worked pretty well, so I didn't expect this to be as flaky as the TP-Link range extender, which as I mentioned above needs to be power cycled about once a week to keep it working (!). (4) The styling is subtle, unlike the hideous Netgear Nighthawk XRM570.
It worked pretty well when I got it. The out-of-box experience was pretty good, although the printed instructions in the quick start guide didn't match up with the Android Orbi app at all. 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. I guess they tested with people who memorize passwords or write them on post-it notes or something, but lots of people use password managers so it's disappointing that the app gets lost when you switch to another app and back a couple of times. Still, going through the setup wizard a few times was sufficient to get it all working.
Now that's it's set up, the WiFi coverage and speed are outstanding. I am so glad I bought this kit. So far I don't need a second satellite; the one satellite is covering the whole front of the house successfully, and measured bandwidth on my iPad at the front of the house is 300-500Mbps, with a strong and stable signal. A laptop connected to the satellite via wired gigabit Ethernet gets similar bandwidth-test numbers. I am very happy with this setup now.
The only reservation I have now is that the Orbi app doesn't let you configure much. For example, I can't find a way to change the address range; it's 192.168.1.x and I guess that's the only option.