NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
RayanSF
Jul 12, 2017Tutor
Complicated Network Setup
This question assumes that Ethernet backhaul is supported. So currently my setup is like this: ISP modem (also used as the main router) ISP router connected to AP1 via Ethernet 1 ISP router conn...
- Jul 14, 2017
RayanSF Those are good reasons to change from your current setup. However, Orbi is not the solution for you if you already have wires in place and your priorities are seamless roaming, control, and monitoring. Orbi either falls short or does not include these features at all.
Yes, Orbi supports seamless roaming, but Orbi provides ZERO control over the radio channels used, or the power output, and that is a problem. Orbi provides nothing special as a router, and is very limited there also. Orbi's benefit is the wireless backhaul, which allows coverage where wires cannot easily be run. Orbi does that well, but there's nothing much past that, at least in the current firmware.
For what you want you should look at the Unifi series of wired access points and the Cloud Key controller. These provide complete control, comprehensive reporting, an excellent app for setup, testing, and monitoring, etc. There is no router included, so you'd need to use your existing router or add a new one with the features you want.
I have both Orbi and Unifi systems, so I know the capabilities of each.
st_shaw
Jul 13, 2017Master
RayanSF Yes you can use Orbi in AP mode with your existing router. However you cannot connect the satellites with an Ethernet wire. You wire the base Orbi unit to your router and the sats communicate with the base wirelessly.
If you already have a setup with two wired APs why would you even consider Orbi?