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Is the Orbi Satellites compatible with Nighthawk RAX52.v2?
We have a 2100 sqft home fully prewire and I bought a Nighthawk AX6 router. I want to keep the same SSID . Can I hook up the Orbi Satellites to my Nighthawk router via ethernet port, without hooking up Orbi router?
We have a 2100 sq.ft. home fully prewire and I bought a Nighthawk AX6 router. I want to keep the same SSID .
AX6 is a marketing term describing more than one Nighthawk router. It would be helpful to know the actual model number of this router. When replacing one WiFi router with another, the common practice is to configure the new router with exactly the same WiFi credentials (SSID/password) as the one being replaced. This allows every device in the house to connect automatically to the new router and also allows the user to "go back" to the old router by simply exchanging the hardware.
It also would be useful to understand the reasoning behind the purchase. i.e. what prompted purchasing a stand-alone WiFi router to replace a mesh system of three access points.
With that Orbi Pro system now officially "End of Life", there may be more Netgear customers considering "what to do?"
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
The original RAX54S does not seem to be a "step up" from the Orbi Pro system. Alas, attempts to open the support page for RAX54Sv2 result in "404 - page not found".
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
Sorry I did not read the original post more carefully. As @FURRYe38 mentioned, Orbi satellites connect only to Orbi routers and there are restrictions on which routers each satellite is compatible with.
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
The Nighthawk supposes to cover 2500 sqft (we have 2100 with 3 levels). Our 3rd floor has poor wifi coverage. My TV is using ethernet connection, and we have ethernet connection in every rooms. Thank you for your help!
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
Should I try an extender and any recommendation? I have not heard any good reviews; mesh system seems to work better, but do not like an additional router. Thank you for your help!
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
I would recommend you take a look at NGs EAX series of wifi extenders. I would presume for that size of home, just one EAX series unit will help there.
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
Not sure if that unit has any kind of wireless extending abilities. I believe you need something to work with your RAX router that will connect to this routers wifi and help extend it's wifi in the home. Something like this would suggested:
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
EAX series are designed to be wireless connected to the RBR then extend the signal out. I believe the EAX series can work in AP mode however would be using different SSID name and channels and not integrate as in Extender mode.
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
I am an newbie at this. My fear the wifi extended signal won't be reliable and I am trying to avoid using another SSID. In theory, the PoE should work...
Re: Nighthawk RAX54.v2 with Orbi satellite without Orbi router
There may be confusion over how WiFi systems "work".
For a long time, WiFi routers such as the RAX54 were stand-alone units. They created a WiFi service area as large as the FCC limits on radio transmission would allow. The only way to cover more area was to add additional WiFi access points. These additional units could be connected to the router using Ethernet cable or over WiFi. Each unit created a new WiFi coverage area. The WiFi credentials for these additional units can be anything.
They can be exactly the same as the primary router credentials, or
They can be different.
When each WiFi device powers up, it scans the radio space for WiFi systems that are available and presents a list of them to the user to choose from. Sometimes, the device has already stored the password to some systems and has been set to "connect automatically" whenever it discovers one of these systems. This is what happens, for example, when a person comes home. The smartphone says, "Hey. I've been told to connect automatically to this system." and does it.
The problem with this method of expanding WiFi coverage is that each access point is unique. (no matter what credentials it is using) WiFi devices will not roam seamlessly between access points. Devices that are fixed in place (cameras, speakers, televisions, ovens, garage door openers, etc. etc. are not bothered by this. They never "roam". Mobile devices, however, can be annoying. As they get farther away from the original access point, their connection gets weaker (and weaker). Performance gets worse (and worse) Eventually, performance gets so bad that either the device drops the connection and begins to look for another, or the user gets fed up and tells the device to disconnect. Once disconnected, the device will look around and say, "here's a WiFi system that I know the credentials to. I'll connect to it."
I call this the, "Honey. The WiFi is so slow" problem. "You went upstairs (or came downstairs) dear. Did you remember to turn WiFi off and back on again?" Grrrrrrr.
Mesh systems solve this problem by communicating within the mesh and nudging devices to switch to another access point. Once connected to a mesh system, user devices can roam seamlessly from one access point to another.
This all has nothing to do with the WiFi credentials.
There is one situation where having a WiFi extender with different credentials solves a specific problem. Suppose that some device keeps switching from one access point to another. If a WiFi extender is set up with different credentials, then the device will have only one place to connect.
So, my concern is that by trying to save money by using an old technology, you may be sleeping on the couch.
