Which Orbi system to buy

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ben79nz

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#243601 20-Dec-2018 09:28

Hi team. First post here so please be nice :)

I am deciding to which Netgear Orbi system to get in the boxing day sales and hoping for some advice.

Question: Does the AC2200 RBK23 version of the Netgear Orbi limit the potential internet speeds that UFB provides.

Situation. 2 story house with Chorus ONT in the attached garage. I have UFB fibre. We have 3 TV's, 3 Chromecasts, 2 mobiles, 2 laptops, 2 Alexa, 1 Vodafone TV STB (requires cabled ethernet).

I am deciding whether to get the RBK23 AC2200 , or RBK50 AC3000 set up. I think both would provide the coverage I need but just wondering about the speeds.

I would prefer to buy the RBK23 for aesthetic reasons (a 2nd satellite also makes it a little easier to connect to wired STB), but I am wondering if the throughput would be a bottleneck for the potential internet speeds that UFB provides.

Thanks in advance for any insight into this.

michaelmurfy

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#2148219 20-Dec-2018 10:00

I have not tested Orbi on a Gigabit network but I'm sure it'll be totally fine.

Also consider the Ubiquiti AmpliFi which IMO is better (and looks better too).

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ben79nz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2148309 20-Dec-2018 11:55

thanks for the reply.

Yes Amplifi was in the mix but I understand the satellites don't have Ethernet ports? happy to be corrected.

I need a satellite to connect to my Vodafone TV STB via ethernet - which is no where near my ONT

gehenna

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#2148310 20-Dec-2018 11:59

ben79nz:

but I understand the satellites don't have Ethernet ports? happy to be corrected.

Correct, but you can also use multiple routers as the satellites. Arguably better performance that way, more expensive though.

ben79nz

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Wannabe Geek

#2148362 20-Dec-2018 13:23

yes i think that would make it prohibitively expensive.

i think the AC2200 Orbi system will be ~$399 on boxing day.

Paul1977

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#2148383 20-Dec-2018 13:44

I'm looking into mesh possibilities for a friend and am leaning towards Amplifi. The problem with Orbi is they don't seem to sell the additional mesh APs in NZ if you need more.

It's a bit of a pain that the Amplifi meshpoints don't have ethernet ports, but if you can use a router as a satellite meshpoint (as @gehenna says) it isn't all that much more expensive.

Amplifi 3-pack (1x router + 2x meshpoints) = $598.99

2x Amplifi routers + 1x meshpoint (all purchased separately) = $736.97

But if you think you might only need two wifi points:

2x Amplifi routers = $517.98 (Orbi RBK50 is $559.99 and this is just the router and a single satellite)

EDIT: These are current pricing, no idea which (if any) will have good Boxing day pricing.

michaelmurfy

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#2148427 20-Dec-2018 15:07

I didn't actually know you could use AmpliFi routers as satellites - that is good to know! They do cover a bit more than the Orbi on their own IMO so this may be a viable solution.

Paul1977

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#2148432 20-Dec-2018 15:14

michaelmurfy:

I didn't actually know you could use AmpliFi routers as satellites - that is good to know! They do cover a bit more than the Orbi on their own IMO so this may be a viable solution.

I'm just going by what @gehenna said, I haven't tried it myself.

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gehenna

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#2148450 20-Dec-2018 15:59

https://www.reddit.com/r/AmpliFi/comments/6auf3m/2_amplifi_hd_routers/

Just shows up as a 2nd router on the main Amplifi app, like the satellite normally would.

Senecio

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#2148457 20-Dec-2018 16:14

michaelmurfy:

I didn't actually know you could use AmpliFi routers as satellites - that is good to know! They do cover a bit more than the Orbi on their own IMO so this may be a viable solution.

That is exactly what I have done. I didn't need the base router plus 2 satellites to cover my house and I wanted Ethernet back haul to the second AmpliFi router so I could use it to distribute Ethernet through the games room to a couple of consoles and a Shield TV.

So I bought 2 AmpliFi routers connected them by Ethernet and configured the 2 unit as a repeater. The result is Ethernet distributed to the most important rooms of the house (lounge and games room) and a house and yard covered in a single seamless Wifi network over Ethernet back haul. It works brilliantly, is rock solid in performance and cheaper than using a USG + switch + two UAP-AC Pro's. Not to mention far easier for me to manage as a Networking beginner. I would encourage anyone who only needs 2 AP's and can run Ethernet between them to go down this route rather than the AmpliFi mesh pack.

Paul1977

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#2148486 20-Dec-2018 17:00

Senecio:

michaelmurfy:

I didn't actually know you could use AmpliFi routers as satellites - that is good to know! They do cover a bit more than the Orbi on their own IMO so this may be a viable solution.

That is exactly what I have done. I didn't need the base router plus 2 satellites to cover my house and I wanted Ethernet back haul to the second AmpliFi router so I could use it to distribute Ethernet through the games room to a couple of consoles and a Shield TV.

So I bought 2 AmpliFi routers connected them by Ethernet and configured the 2 unit as a repeater. The result is Ethernet distributed to the most important rooms of the house (lounge and games room) and a house and yard covered in a single seamless Wifi network over Ethernet back haul. It works brilliantly, is rock solid in performance and cheaper than using a USG + switch + two UAP-AC Pro's. Not to mention far easier for me to manage as a Networking beginner. I would encourage anyone who only needs 2 AP's and can run Ethernet between them to go down this route rather than the AmpliFi mesh pack.

I don't think that is quite what the OP has in mind. I don't think he has cabling in place between where the router and meshpoint need to go.

I think he would need the first router configured as the meshrouter and ethernet switch, then the 2nd router functioning as a meshpoint and ethernet switch (but not ethernet link beteen the two Amplifi devices).

It sounds as if the Amplifi can do it this way as well though.

michaelmurfy

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#2148494 20-Dec-2018 17:51

I also posted a review to the D-Link COVR 2202 (https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=21956) which could be worth considering since the satellite unit has Ethernet also.

gehenna

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#2148496 20-Dec-2018 17:58

Paul1977:

It sounds as if the Amplifi can do it this way as well though.

Yep it can, by all accounts on the Amplifi forums and some Reddit posts I've seen.

l43a2

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#2148506 20-Dec-2018 18:40

Another vote for Amplifi

mdav056

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#2148570 20-Dec-2018 21:47

Big upvote for the Orbi. I installed an RB40 and satellite over a year ago on 100/20 fibre, and (1), it's been rock steady, haven't had to touch it; (2), the ac wifi gives superb speeds, same as ethernet connection, i.e., 100/20. One upstairs, one downstairs, in a large house, and coverage is complete.

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blakamin

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#2148582 20-Dec-2018 22:08

Also look into TP-Link Deco M5.

Ethernet backhaul if needed, AP mode, router mode, the ability to plug a switch into the other gigabit port of every single one of them...

Great WiFi performance. Can get signals throughout a cottage with 14" thick stone walls (plus the rest of the house...165m2), and into my shed 50 metres away (I have a Google Home in there and a Ring Spotlight Cam on the wall).