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Extending RBR50 + 2 RBS50 satellites
The setup works well within my house. However I have just installed an external WiFi attached camera attached to the house.
The signal the camera receives is weak which I believe could be improved by an extender positioned in close proximity to the camera. From reading posts within the community it seems any Netgear Extender prefixed EX would be suitable for this purpose and be compatible with my Orbi setup.
Could somebody confirm this or recommend a suitable extender?
Thanks in anticipation.
Yes. Any brand of WiFi Extender should work. One key is to create a unique WiFi SSID for the network created by the extender so that the camera will connect only to the extender and not accidentally connect to one of the Orbi units with a lower signal level.
If there is ever a power outage, the Orbi router will begin broadcasting a WiFi signal before any of the Orbi satellites and some WiFi devices may reboot (after the outage) and connect to the router before satellites with a stronger signal even begin broadcasting. Mobile devices appear to be programmed to continue searching for a stronger signal, and users have reported that some devices make a decision quickly and quit searching.
4 Replies
Yes. Any brand of WiFi Extender should work. One key is to create a unique WiFi SSID for the network created by the extender so that the camera will connect only to the extender and not accidentally connect to one of the Orbi units with a lower signal level.
If there is ever a power outage, the Orbi router will begin broadcasting a WiFi signal before any of the Orbi satellites and some WiFi devices may reboot (after the outage) and connect to the router before satellites with a stronger signal even begin broadcasting. Mobile devices appear to be programmed to continue searching for a stronger signal, and users have reported that some devices make a decision quickly and quit searching.
CrimpOn, many thanks for your prompt response and suggestions. What you suggest re a different ssid makes sense as I am aware the camera does search for the strongest signal and therefore giving it a different ssid ensures it connects to the extender. For confirmation, would EX6150 or EX6120 be suitable?
I bought a Netgear EX3700 in 2020 and do not remember having any problems with it. All of these "low end" products are designed to plug directly into an electrical outlet, which is sometimes not convenient and might not be a great location in terms of WiFi signal.
I have a "thing" about wanting permanent devices to have specific assigned IP addresses (all the cameras together, all the speakers together, etc.) and my dim memory is that some WiFi extenders change the MAC address of devices. I had carefully made entries in the LAN Setup table and then found devices connected to the WiFi extender had different MAC addresses. Not a big deal, but came as a surprise. Do not know if the current products do that today.
Fortunately, if you get one of these and it doesn't work out, you're not out a fortune. (I have spent more than $30 on a bottle of wine at a restaurant.)
I went for the EX6120 on eBay for $15! It has done the job. Thanks for your help.