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Forum Discussion
peteytesting
Sep 27, 2016Hero
Before you buy the orbi system - what you need to know performance and feature wise
hi guys i have started this post to clear up some misconceptions about the orbi system and where its aimed and what it can do first what it can do provide overall better wifi coverage by ...
- Sep 29, 2016
oh and i forgot
no usb functionality at this stage ether
there is a long list of things that ether will be added or may be added but no real ETA on when or if they will be implemented , only time will tell
pete
Jryan619
Jul 27, 2017Star
New user here, I just bought the two pack RBR50 and RBS50. I just had a question, why would you buy the Orbi and than not use it as a router? I thought the "magic" of this thing was all of the bands and how the router controls and disperses them. Also could you not just as easily leave the Orbi as the router and make your old router an access point?
st_shaw
Jul 27, 2017Master
Jryan619 wrote:New user here, I just bought the two pack RBR50 and RBS50. I just had a question, why would you buy the Orbi and than not use it as a router? I thought the "magic" of this thing was all of the bands and how the router controls and disperses them. Also could you not just as easily leave the Orbi as the router and make your old router an access point?
You are right that the magic of Orbi is in the wireless radios, and how Orbi uses them to cover a large area with WiFi. These are not router functions though.
Your concept of what a router does versus an access point is off. Google "access point versus router" and read up on it. There is some basic info at this link: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/thread/107106
- Jryan619Jul 27, 2017StarI will read up. The reason I wanted to know is because I have a TM-AC1900, which is actually a ASUS-AC1900 router but has been branded by t-mobile and also has their own firmware modification that puts priority on a wifi call. The reason I bought the Orbi is because we have almost 25 items and now we are streaming 4k and UHD. I was just thinking it might not hurt if I add that in the chain. My real concern is that since t-mobile made a change to firmware they have not had updates to it in over a year, while ASUS has had a bunch of security and functionality updated. The ASUS firmware is no longer recognized now that t-mobile messed with it.
- st_shawJul 27, 2017Master
Jryan619 Sounds good. Most "wireless routers" are actually a combination of a wireless access point, router, DHCP server, DNS server, and firewall. Running Orbi in access point mode will let another device handle everything but the first function.
If you have an existing router with special features, then you should keep the router and run Orbi in access point mode. That's how I use my Orbi. You get full access to the discriminating features of Orbi (WiFi coverage) in access point mode.
You should turn off WiFi on your existing router though, if it has WiFi.
- Jryan619Jul 28, 2017StarUnderstood. Only problem is that the t-mobile branded version has not had any software or firmware updates in over a year, and the exact same ASUS model has had several including critical security updates. Wouldn't I be just as good buying another satellite? I have full coverage now, and part of the reason for Orbi was to reduce clutter. It's not about the money it's about making my life easier. My new Set top box for Spectrum Cable is about the thickness of a deck of cards, and as wide as three packs. It has Velcro to stick to back of TV, but best of all it has a built in 3.1 doc cable modem. To me that is worth gold, getting two items off the shelf into one high performance gadget you don't see.