Orbi Wi-Fi System Review - The Best Mesh Wi-Fi

[@Ledzep17]

I am a techie. This is best review for people who are not cognizant of Networking. Congrats to you.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thanks! That means a lot.

[@svijayrao]

Detailed Review. Been using Orbi for 2 months now and very happy with the interface and coverage.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thanks. Ours is still working great as well.

[@FLVICTORY]

Thanks for posting your review it helped me decide even with some of the negative reviews on Amazon and other places. I bought the RBK50 pack with 2 satellites (RBK53?) and later added another (3rd) RBK40, yes 40, satellite for the basement. It connected immediately and works perfectly. I have 400mbps service from Spectrum and was considering the 1 gig service until I purchased this set up. I am getting readings on the app of over 400mbps speed and my Note 9 is showing 866 mbps speed. I am using it's wifi and ethernet wired to many devices, 46 in total with over a dozen cameras. I have not had a disconnect or connection problems with any device. I have had at least 3 updates that went smoothly despite reviews to the contrary. Using the 2.4 and 5g band is easily seen on the super app for this. I will say that I initially bought a refurb unit from an authorized dealer and it was not working, returned it and bought it again brand new with a 4 year extended warranty just in case. It is expensive but worth the money so far. My advice is to buy and be patient and read first the instructions first, and create a Netgear account beforehand. It is pretty much plug and play but you need to understand how some things connect and about the different accounts that are required. It uses a Netgear account and an Admin account and it seems like a third for reason now. I was using the wrong account log in info to complete the task and it was confusing at times because of not reading and understanding what it was asking for. The only other thing I would like to be able to do in the app is to assign a satellite to a specific device to get the best signal. Most of my devices that are using wifi are using the closest satellite but there are a few that use the most distant satellite for some unknown reason. I certainly recommend it and hope this post helps you make a decision.

[@GraithPhoto]

Absolutely great review. Very thorough and I appreciate you taking the time to put this together. I’ll be buying an Orbi to upgrade and replace an existing mesh system after going back and forth on other competing devices. Thanks again!!

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thank you and you’re welcome! Enjoy your Orbi.

[@Greg-vq9tu]

Fantastic review! Best I’ve come across so far. Well done 👍

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

[@secure808]

Awesome review! This by far was THE most helpful review of a device that I have been on the fence for over a year now. Thank you!

[@Jjcoolstuff]

You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful.

[@skeeterman7144]

My nighthawk is now sitting on the shelf after installing Orbi. Just incredible devise. The app is 2nd to none.

[@toms_cigarzs]

Just retired my Nighthawk today too. I partially blame this review. It's worth it though. Now I have wifi throughout my old concrete block home.

[@wakeywarrior]

I just got the Orbi, RBK50 with 2 satellites. It’s very good indeed. It’s reach isn’t as good as I’d hoped, it only stretches as far as the one third price Tenda I had with 2 satellites, but the speed and throughput is much better.

[@jls198623]

Just purchased the orbi rbk50, while had a few hiccups setting it up (firmware wouldn't update, it was still on the initial release) I'm very happy. Picked it up for $230

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Great! Glad you got a great deal and it’s working out for you.

[@rvmaxus]

Would like to ask you a question, we have Orbi home mesh 7500 sq. ft 3 unit system in 3500 sq ft home; however, our driveway and the gate is about 350 - 400 feet away from our home, do you think this outdoor RV will reach 400 feet from our garage? Thanks

[@rvmaxus]

sorry, I meant to say Outdoor Orbi .. Thanks

[@vernearase3044]

I have an RBK53 (router, two satellites) and despite the reputed wireless backhaul speed, can only achieve node-to-node speed - one on a gigabit ethernet RBS50 port, one on a gigabit ethernet RBR50 port - of 30-33 MB/sec. I actually had to haul a Synology DS 1817+ up from the family room to my office and plug it in to my RBS50 ethernet port to get a decent restore speed to my Drobo 8D. Doing the restore over the wireless backhaul would've more than tripled my restore time. Distance between nodes is probably 25-30 feet through a primarily wooden floor and allegedly get a great 5G connection. Everyone thinks of great speed as being out through the WAN port, but nowdays inter-device communication is becoming more and more important.

[@dalewimer679]

This was a very helpful video

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Great! I’m glad to hear that.

[@benny7617]

Excellent review have a few questions can I still use my existing router as well perhaps turn off the Wi-Fi on the existing router. Can I also hardwire each satellite unit in order to get better coverage in the area where they're located.

[@crand20033]

I just bought the RBR20 at Costco for $130. Very fast. My old router was the AC3000 nighthawk and that was causing frequent network disconnects and video buffering when using the Amazon Fire Stick.

[@rgj406]

Thank you. Very professional

[@53Oldude]

What is your opinion, I live in an Old home two story 3K sq. ft. real lath and plaster very dense. Do you think it will work in this environment?

[@francescocallari]

This is a great review. I have the RBR40 router connected to a wall satellite. I’m thinking about adding the RBK33 kit that has another RBR40 router with 2 additional wall satellites. Will I be able to configure the second router as a satellite? If so, do you have any recommendations on how to best configure them throughout the house? For example, the router is hidden in a remote room. Should the RBR40 satellite be closest to the router and then the wall satellites can connect to that?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I wouldn’t try to buy a router and make it a satellite even if it would technically work. You’d be better off buying a few extra satellites and pairing them with the existing router. It’ll work a lot better for you that way.

[@guygp61]

Great Review, Thank You. I came across your review while researching a wifi solution for a church. With the current Covid situation, they would like to stream their Sunday services to the homes of their older more vulnerable members. Also, the church is located in a rural area with little to no cellular service. So I expect that the use of WiFi Calling on ones phone would solve that problem by making the Guest network available to visitors. The main level of the church is a 5000 sqft rectangle with an equal size in the lower level (10,000sqft total). Since this is somewhat of a commercial environment, I'm looking at the Orbi Pro (SRK60) AC3000, which handle 2500sqft each. I'm interested in your thoughts on using 2 Orbi's on the main level in hopes the signal would penetrate the floor to to handle the lower level as well.... Kind regards GuyG

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Sorry for the late reply here. I’m guessing you’ve already made a decision by now. I’d say try it with Orbi and see how it goes. You can always add more satellites. Coverage depends mostly on the materials used in the building and other obstructions. Having WiFi for the church members is a great benefit especially if cellular service is poor.

[@samy.81]

Nice review, just ordered Google WiFi, as it was on promotion but will give it to my parents and thinking about orbi as it has way more settings. Just one question, I have a Netgear router and used a range extender to get the signal further, but every time I was on a video call and moved from the room where the router was to the room where the range extender was the call disconnected as it was trying to connect to the RE. Does this happen on a mesh ? Will the phone drop the signal just for a fraction even, trying to connect to the next AP? Thank you.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

That won’t happen with mesh. With your extender the router isn’t aware of the extender and they don’t work as well together. Mesh systems perform a handoff though and allow the device to move from unit to unit with no drop in the connection. It’s a much better setup. I’ve been on video calls while connected to my Orbi but not while moving through the house. I’ll give it a shot when I get time just to make sure there’s no drop at all and report back.

[@GerryJ08]

Great video. I have a question. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to using the Orbi cable modem router with satellite (CBR40) over the Orbi triband wifi router RBR20. I have a cable (from Shaw cable up here in Canada) that is plugged into the back of the modem/router Hitron CGNM-2250. I live in a 3 storey townhouse with 1800 sq/ft. Any insight or suggestions would be very helpful. Gerry Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

[@zackmarksberry9538]

Hey bro how did u go about getting a hold of netgear to do this review???

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I reached out via email through their website and eventually found the person who could work with me to get the review units. They were great to work with.

[@troyb6036]

Many are now saying the orbi gives trouble moving between the 2.5 and the 5ghz bands and sometimes connect them the wrong way

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I haven’t experienced that. Some people want control over which band a device uses and Orbi doesn’t offer that since it’s one SSID. When it’s best to use 2.4 it will and when it can use 5GHz it’ll switch. It handles this really well from my experience. My phone usually connects to the 2.4 first when I’m in an area and then within a few seconds it switches over to 5GHz and I get the faster speeds associated with that.

[@johnbunyan5834]

Good review. How many watts of power does each unit use, please ?

[@r.plante878]

Can you mix a Ethernet and wireless backhaul connection? For instance 2 Orbi’s inside connected via cable, then an outside unit using wireless connection back to the main router. THANKS!

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem. Each one is handled differently in the settings. However, unless you’re obstructed from connecting them wirelessly I’d just do that. It’s just as fast as wired on the smaller units and with the largest units the wireless backhaul is even faster than wired.

[@nancysatovsky2835]

I purchased an Orbi router with 1 satellite which covers 3500sq. ft. I have Comcast internet. My home is 5200 sq feet. I receive good wifi from my Comcast router throughout the entire house with rare and infrequent wifi issues in lower level. Comcast router is on main floor. I thought I might extend wifi & eliminate any wifi issues in Lower Level. My question for you....the. blue light on both the main Orbi router and plug in satellite only stay on during set up. Once connected the blue ring disappears. Am I correct, that the blue lighted ring on each unit will disappear once the router and satellite are connected and verified after set up is complete.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Yup, that’s right. The light only comes on for a minute or so when it initially powers up or if the signal strength changes significantly. For instance if your internet goes out it will light up purple.

[@cyclest9300]

Can I connect a switch to one of the ethernet port of the router increasing the number of ports and plug more devices via ethernet cable and use the satellite for wireless devices?

[@jimw544]

Great eval! thanks much. I just had the phone wires and jacks in my house changed out for data plugs (RJ45). The wire if cat5e. Planing on using 4 Google Wifi pucks and wiring them thru the cat5e phone jacks. Now I wonder if I should go with Orbi and forget the wire/phone jacks. Can I wire the Orbi and would I gain or loose?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

You can hard wire the Orbi units as well. However the only reason to do so on the larger kits is if the units are blocked from connecting wirelessly. If they can connect wirelessly then that’s actually faster than wired on the larger kit.

[@jimw544]

that's what I thought. bye bye google.@@Jjcoolstuff

[@theflyerpr40d]

Hello, Have you tested it with the Ethernet? Have the main and then connect the PC to the satellite with the wire what speed do you get and how far from the main was the satellite any wall in between? Thanks.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Just tested this for you. Laptop is in airplane mode so definitely using the Ethernet connection. Speed was 230M just like on WiFi. Satellite is at least a ceiling and two walls away. The Orbi satellite can definitely deliver max speeds over the Ethernet ports.

[@TheDanielTruong]

Thanks for the great review. I am ready to switch, how I do have so many Ring products, and I heard Ring does not do well with Mesh network. Has any of your clients have issues with Ring door bell?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I don’t personally know anyone that has Ring. However, I did read on the Netgear forums of the issues you speak of and it looked like several people had successfully enabled workarounds regarding what channels are available and using static IPs that seemed to help. Let me know how it turns out.

[@caseymuni4097]

that is true if Ring is 2.4Ghz only. You would have to reduce 5Ghz output to 25% to initially connect the bell. I have over 50 wifi devices and some of them with 2.4Ghz only that trick was necessary like my Skybell

[@FLVICTORY]

I have about a dozen or more Ring products and it works just fine. I had to delete and re-add a couple of the oldest cameras for some reason. Ring was helpful.

[@wahtakk5684]

Question: Is this one has the same features with Google Wifi that you can pause the internet for the kids during bedtime or homework time? Or manage the time for the kids to use the internet? I really don’t know what to buy but all I want is to manage or limit the kids for using the internet at night or from connecting to the wifi at night without losing my own wifi connection. I need wifi 24/7 for my self but for the kids I want something that I limit them from connecting to the wifi during bedtime. Can you help me choose one? Thank you!

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Netgear doesn’t have that built in to Orbi by default but it integrates with Disney’s Circle. The free tier allows you to filter sites, pause the internet per device, and see device history. The paid tier is $5 a month and allows you to set specific bedtime hours, time limits, and off time. You can read more about it here meetcircle.com/netgear

[@juggernaut6663]

u still have that lg washer?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Yup, it’s still going strong!

[@jamalcharles6508]

I want to know if it works in other countries because my wifi is trash and i need beter wifi many people say it work anywhere

[@dcgirl5717]

Do you know how the current models would work with the new wifi 6?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

It will but not until later this year. See their press release at www.netgear.com/about/press-releases/2019/NETGEAR-ANNOUNCES-ORBI-MESH-WI-FI-SYSTEM.aspx

[@ricardomfreitas]

Is the power adapter from RBR20 (AC2200) dual voltage? I saw a video that the guy shows the power adapter is 100-120V. If you can see it for me... I'm from Brazil and I want to buy one of it in amazon, but I want to have sure that it is a universal voltage. Thank you.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I don’t have that specific model but the power supply for my RBS50 says the input is 100-240V but my Orbi Voice says 100-120V. I would imagine that it would differ from region to region and you should just make sure you buy one locally.

[@brucejones6552]

Thanks for the great review...i want to use a Cable off the satilite to pilg in my tv in another room I bought the ac2000 do I need to get the larger sat bow with 4 gig ports...also wear a lav mike or and you will be Rockin it big time Audio is 1/2 the gig...again thanks in advance for your response

[@Jjcoolstuff]

It depends on which model you bought. There are a few that use AC2200. As long as it’s not the plug mounted satellite (RBW30) then you’ll be ok. Even the smallest RBS20 has two Ethernet ports to support what you’re describing. Thanks for the feedback. I’ve since bought a new mic and realized what I was doing wrong with my other mic. The next video should be MUCH better.

[@paulfeaman620]

Does the RBW30 connect to the RBR50?

[@birdiephelan]

How far is your tree house from your home? I have a detached garage about 250’ from my home and was wondering if this would work.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

The treehouse is only about 75’ away. Netgear says to not place a satellite farther than 70’ away, however mine connected up very strong. 250’ is probably too much though. You’d have to run an Ethernet cable to connect the satellite or use a wireless bridge device.

[@Thebadone560]

Also I am worried that I have to change/make a new account with the Orbi. When I just want to keep my Xfinity account and everything. What I have seen from researching is that I need to unplug my Surfboard, take the battery out, and then change the ISP or something. When I already have an Xfinity account too.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I think you’re over thinking it. Nothing should change with your Xfinity account. The service still terminates on your surfboard modem and then is handed off to Orbi.

[@michaelmilburn3813]

I just got this router on sale at Walmart it is a router it's got a little brother called a satellite this satellite can be put in a another room for a Wi-Fi connection for anyone that don't know this is called a mesh system it works great download the app update the firmware do a simple setup and you will be surfing and no time just be patient it takes time make sure not to block your router or your satellite with any objects up high is ideal for any signal higher the better like a bookcase or entertainment center in a large home highly recommend

[@DeeBowers]

I am considering the AC3000; the router and two satellites . My home is only 3700 sq feet. I know I do not need two satellites but will it cause interference. (only $20 more for the second satellite.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

You’re thinking about it rightly. If you’re referring to the Costco deal that’s happening next week that’s a phenomenal deal. I have a friend that has a house about the same size as yours and we’re picking that set up for him as well. In fact, because I’m testing the Orbi Voice right now I have two satellites in my house, which is around 2,300 sq ft, and it’s working great.

[@stdjao14]

You will love it! Just bought one and looking at 485 mgbs/second on the my satellite in my room a whole floor up from the router. I’m paying for 400.

[@jamalcharles6508]

Does orbi work worldwide

[@Thebadone560]

Hey JJ, I am posting this because I am having issues with knowing how to set up my Orbi RBK43 with my already existing router/modem combo. I have the Arris Surfboard which I purchased with seperately for my plan to have all three (Internet, Cable TV, and Phone). What I have researched is that the only way to connect the Orbi with my existing router is to make the Orbi into an Access Point through the settings. I totally understand that, but I am worried that when I do that there will only be one SSID, which before I'd have my 2.4GHz and my 5GHz. I hope someone can tell me how to set up my Orbi to my Arris Surfboard and everything. Thank you!

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Yes, with Orbi is there only one SSID regardless of if it’s in router mode or AP mode. It handles the 2.4 and 5 seamlessly for you. I personally would try to see if there’s a way to put your surfboard in modem only mode. Then the Orbi would be more fully functional. But if not, AP mode should work fine and don’t be alarmed by having only one SSID. That’s the beauty of it. But definitely make sure the wireless radio is turned off on the surfboard if it has WiFi as well.

[@Thebadone560]

@@Jjcoolstuff Thank you for the information/help!

[@JosueHernandez-hg9ii]

Very Informative video, Invest in a lavalear mic though

[@CrazyUncleDrew]

I had the Nighthawk for years and recently upgraded (so I thought) to Google WiFi. Had that for a month and it was horrible. Constantly dropping connection, low speeds throughout a 2000SQFT home with most of the connections on the main floor. I returned the Google WiFi and bought the ORBI and for the first week it seemed okay but then constant WiFi drops. Nothing I could do to get connection speeds above 200mbps even though I top out at 600. I returned it. I’m now back to my 5 year old Nighthawk and it hasn’t failed me since. These MESH systems are junk and those that love it aren’t using it like a power user does. Most people that love it seem to be the type that don’t know much about WiFi and are beyond excited when they get a connection in their basement even though the connection speed is a fraction of what they should be getting... As long as they can stream, their happy. I want speed and what I’m paying for and Google WiFi and ORBI could not do that. I’ll be sticking to the NightHawk routers.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Sorry it didn’t work for you. Hopefully you didn’t watch this review and think I was excited about only getting a fraction of the speed in the far corners of my house. My house is blanketed with max speed everywhere. Granted my max speed is around 230mbps so it’d be interesting to see if I had the same experience if I had 600mbps available.

[@CrazyUncleDrew]

@@Jjcoolstuff No I didn't get that impression. I've just noticed that alot of reviewers or even comments on the Orbi whether on KZbin or sites like Amazon that praise the coverage are people who are just excited they can browse the web or stream a movie from the next floor up or down. Where I'm more concerned about getting close to my download speed more than anything else. With the Orbi, I could not get near the Max speed which was confusing and did all the tricks and still didn't cover the house very well. Just not sold on Mesh right now. Went back to my NightHawk and all working great again until I find a better solution.

[@cyrilstevenson5833]

If You like that then TRY the TP LINK AC5400 TRI Band Its got Mu Mimo for downloading movies in quick time. Itys 300 here in Australia but would be only US200 in the US.

[@bradogden5926]

How much was it on Black Friday?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

The best deal I’ve seen by far on Black Friday is Costco. They had the larger RBR50 with two of the larger RBS50 satellites for $100 off which made it $300. That’s cheaper than one router and satellite (RBK50) on Amazon!

[@DANGYOGI]

Great review, I recently bought the RBK50 twin pack though Verizon FIOS for $356.00 I want another satellite unit, but they want me to buy it from them, they said it wont work unless I buy it from them something about hardware or something other wise. is this true? its a hundred dollar cheaper than buying whole new set from them $256.00, also i want the outside unit, and they don't offer it yet. thank for any of your help in advance

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Sounds like a confused or dishonest sales person to me. All Orbi satellites can work with all Orbi routers. They might have meant you can’t buy an eero or google WiFi satellite and get it to work? I would just buy it from wherever it’s cheapest and it’ll pair up with your existing set no problem!

[@DANGYOGI]

No no what they said was I couldn't buy it from best buy, I had to buy it from them in order for it to work with Verizon Fios system, but here's the kicker, the extra satellite is only $100.00 dollar cheaper than the whole set, I've already shelled out $350.00 something dollars, is this true or false?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I think it’s false. I’ve never heard of that. Any Orbi satellite bought from any retailer should work with any Orbi router.

[@lilic724]

Will I be able to use same ssid with Orbi , don’t wanna conect all my devices again it will take me all day

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Absolutely! It comes setup with a secure SSID and password that’s easy to remember, but you can definitely set your own SSID and password so all your devices reconnect automatically.

[@jdmulloy]

Wired gigabit backhaul will still be faster than the 4x4 radio even in ideal conditions where it connects at 1733 since wifi is half duplex and wifi has tons of extra overhead. Still if you can do wired backhaul the Orbi probably doesn't make sense given it's price and the fact that with wired backhaul you're paying for a 4x4 radio you wouldn't be using.

[@patmanwainwright3423]

Thanks for the review i have heard good thing about the speed i am tossing between Orbi and google wifi so my Question is with the kids how complected is it to block the naughty child's internet without affecting the rest of the family?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I’d start with something easy like Cisco Umbrella Family Shield that I mention in the review. That’s free and is going to block stuff that no one should be visiting. Beyond that you’ll need a paid solution like Disney’s Circle. It allows you to regulate things on a device by device basis and integrates well with Orbi.

[@patmanwainwright3423]

@@Jjcoolstuff Thanks for getting back to me. I can block or pause users with Google in the app easily so i'll go that way but thanks maybe when he's older i'll try Orbi.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Circle does more than pause or block. It can set screen time limits and filter content as well. The content filtering is the biggest issue. To be clear, I haven’t used Disney’s Circle so it may not be as good as advertised.

[@comment6864]

what about the frequent dropping of connections? Is that the case or not? Reviews seem mixed. I often work from home and my conferencing needs are making me look for a replacement for my old but flawless apple express, simply because i pay for and now need higher speeds than what it gives me. However! In this scenario reliability is just as important, if not more, as strength and speed. All this performance is little use if i get kicked out of an important meeting because my connection just decided to drop. With the apple router for all practical purposes this simply never happens. I have heard eero is the most reliable, however i am really miffed by its mandatory cloud reliability. This leaves me few choices among the mesh options (which i want for future expandability). Can the Orbi replace my apple express without losing the reliability?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I haven’t had this issue at all with any of the devices in my home. Out of all the people I’ve recommended Orbi to, only one has had a bad experience and it was related to his devices losing connection. He called Netgear support and after having him factory reset the units he hasn’t had any issues. Interestingly enough, he too was switching from an Apple Express router. He’s much happier with the coverage he gets with Orbi now though.

[@02stampede]

You really know your stuff. You do this for a living don't you?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thanks! Yes I do. 😊

[@rtgorge6085]

My sister had terrible time with Orbie support, screwed and out $400.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

The support may not be that great, but when setup correctly, the devices have always worked pretty much flawlessly for me. Maybe she could find a local tech person to set it up for her?

[@greghicks8961]

Do you know how many units you can use together?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

I wasn’t able to find an official max from Netgear. Some mention that it’s limited to 3 satellites. Others in the forums say they have it working with up to six satellites. At 2,500sq ft per satellite you’d have to have a gigantic house to need that many satellites though!

[@greghicks8961]

Thank you for the response. It is a gigantic house with the cable line coming into an old underground garage that was converted to a theatre room, so half the problem is where the line comes into the house. Another problem is it is a three-story home. Then they have a guest house about 300-400 feet away that also needs internet. There is a line running from the main house to the guest house, which leads me to another question, do you know if Orbi can use mixed backhaul, some as wifi and some wired? My idea would be the router in the basement (old garage), another one in the basement as not much signal gets out of that room (and no way to rewire everything out of that room) one on the second floor one outside of the main house for the pool area and one in the guest house via ethernet. Any thoughts? Thank you again for your quick response.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Wow, that’s a tricky one. I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t mix wired and wireless backhaul. I would try the basement first with just the router. I’d be really surprised if it needed an additional satellite down there. After that I’d probably do one satellite per floor. The outdoor Orbi by the pool like you suggested and a hardwired Orbi in the guest house like you suggested. However, 300-400 feet is borderline for how far you can run Ethernet. You may need a booster to make that work well. Also keep in mind that the speed will be degraded some at the far ends of the house since the satellites aren’t talking directly back to the router but rather have to jump back through other satellites. But all that should be really fast so it should still be a good experience that you probably won’t notice unless they have really fast Internet. Lastly, one person in the forums mentioned that when he got past three satellites he had to power off the other satellites to add a fourth and fifth satellite. I’d pair them one at a time all in the basement and then deploy them and see if they light up blue or amber. Monitor it through the router’s web interface and make sure it can see them all. Sounds like a fun and challenging project. Definitely let me know how it turns out.

[@greghicks8961]

JJCoolStuff I will absolutely let you know the outcome. Ill be getting the 3 pack from Costco as it seems to cover the most area 7,500 sqft. Ill try to do a video if I can. Thank you for the advice!

[@exnokiafanboy]

This is more of a sales pitch than a review

[@Jjcoolstuff]

How so? I really like the product and think it’s better than the competition. How else should I represent it?

[@srdjr6760]

Just some constructive criticism...if you want to do tech reviews and be taken seriously, you need to a much better job with the audio of your videos.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thank you! This was not my best quality for sure. 🤦‍♂️ I was trying something new with the audio to try to prevent echo and it backfired big time! But I had already spent so many hours putting this together I couldn’t imagine doing it all over. I have since bought a new mic and the next video should be MUCH better. I really do appreciate the help though! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback.

[@srdjr6760]

Actually, I should have checked out some of your other videos first. But, yeah, this one audio wise, was pretty weak. Very informative though....thank you.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

You’re welcome! And I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to comment on the audio. I have an Orbi Voice Satellite on the way and will be reviewing it soon. Be sure to check that out once it’s posted. I guarantee the video will have better audio (although the bar is pretty low if I’m honest!)

[@trashdumpster]

His audio was just fine on my Mac. Plus the idea of the video is the information which was OUTSTANDING. Nice job.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thanks! I appreciate that.

[@peshtigomark]

Hey JJ, Whats up ? You have a talent...Use it. Where are you ?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thanks Mark for the encouragement. I hope to get back at this eventually (and even bought a new mic and some nice lighting!) but my day job has been too hectic recently.

[@OrionQuest7]

Wow thank you for explaining the differences between the several Orbi models! How fast and reliable is it for you with a wired connection to a RBk50 satellite? I've an original PS4 which can only connect to the 2.4GHz wireless band which is really poor for online gaming. I also have gigabit internet so I'm hoping to get +200Mbps via a wired connection to a satellite **fingers crossed**

[@Jjcoolstuff]

You’re welcome! Depending on where you place your satellite, you should be able to hit max speeds of 1.7Gigabit on the wireless back haul link. Meaning that the PS4 hard wired to a satellite unit should be able to run at the full gigabit speed of your internet connection (assuming the PS4 internals can keep up with the networking hardware. Some other users claim the PS4 tops out around 260Mbps even though the network is gig). Pretty exciting! In summary, internet to Orbi router is gigabit, router to satellite is 1.7 gigs, and satellite to PS4 is gigabit.

[@OrionQuest7]

Thank you for that simple bandwidth breakdown between my devices I am super hyped for this router now!

[@scottware8210]

I am a novice to this stuff and have been trying to compare the mesh systems. I really think I want the Orbi but am a little worried about some reviews I have seen saying that internet connection keeps dropping. I am also trying to figure out which model to get. I. Currently just have a router in the basement that won't connect to my back main floor bedrooms, was thinking I should get the 2200 with 3 units but have seen videos where the 3000 with 2 units(1 satellite works fine). My house is about 1800 ft on main floor with full basement. I also want to replace my spectrum supplied modem, any recommendations on that?

[@enajarro21]

@@scottware8210 I hear the same

[@scottware8210]

I tried the Orbie and it seemed to work great, reception in my back bedrooms on my android phones, streaming good on the tv. When my kids got home with their I- phones they could not connect and then all out of the blue my laptop would not get internet. I say they couldn't connect but what was really happening is that they connected to the Orbie but still could not get wifi. Called customer service and tried many things but gave up and took it back.

[@tonyburner6372]

you work for netgear?or this is sponsored video?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Neither. I do networking for a large enterprise company and as a result get called on by friends, family, and coworkers to help with IT issues at their homes. I first setup Orbi for a few executives in my company and was blown away with how well it worked. I then recommended it to friends and continued to receive nothing but positive feedback. So I reached out to Netgear and they were willing to supply the hardware for me. The video isn’t sponsored though. Thanks for asking.

[@DragonKastle]

Yes, please, fix your sound problem . Awful.

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Thanks. I’m on it 😉

[@TomColontonio]

Junk! Was getting 2mb connection standing next to a satellite lol I have a 1gb connection Xfinity After 5 hours back in the box! Returned

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Something’s not right there for sure! Did you try plugging directly into the main router to see what speeds you could get? What speeds did you get when wirelessly connected to the router? Had you upgraded the firmware to the latest version? I’ve seen some small hiccups with a new install but never anything like that. It’s a shame you’ve already sent them back because if you could figure out the issue they should scream with a 1Gbps internet connection!

[@TomColontonio]

We updated and everything. Im thinking I had a bad unit? How could this even be possible?

[@Jjcoolstuff]

No kidding! So are you going to give it another shot or have you moved on to another solution? Orbi is going to be your best bet at getting that 1Gbps speed on a mesh system.

[@Amberlodge1]

Man the volume was so low I gave up

[@Jjcoolstuff]

Sorry! Huge mic problems on this one. I’ve since bought a new mic that’s much better quality.

[@user-er3th6wv6y]

I can't hear you on my laptop, went to a different video