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Feature Request: Orbi Satellite Ethernet Backhaul
As good as Orbi looks on paper I don't understand Y you would cut yourself so short and not support Eithernet backhaul for the satellites, I have 5 locations needing a system like this but without support for Eithernet backhaul I will have no choice but to use either Eero or Luma. Is adding Eithernet backhaul even possible with the curent hardware only having to add it threw firmware or would a new hardware design be needed? There are many of us asking for this, Please update me on this and please push this reqwest to the top.
Everyone please vote this much needed feature up.
Let me acknowledge that our customer base has been clamoring for this feature for a while, and we are trying to be responsive to their needs. To provide context on why it's taking a while to get it out, during the first quarter, the Orbi Engineering team was focused on bringing out the two new products (RBK30 & RBK40) to market. Now that it's accomplished, we're actively working on bringing this feature and a couple of other interesting, market-requested features to you.
Orbi Product Team
251 Replies
because the orbi is designed as a whole home WIFI solution
if you have ethernet already installed you would not buy this over a decent wireless access point
i believe it may be planned for the orbi to get such function but its not what the orbi is aimed at market wise
Ethernet backhaul is mandatory - please add.
Requesting wired backhaul, please add this feature! This feature would turn Orbi into the best wifi/wired solution for many many users that have a mix mash of devices. Which is everyone these days.
Why not, i need a whole home WIFI and whole home WIRED Solution! It really makes no sence not to have this feature.
Hirrdgoon wrote:Why not, i need a whole home WIFI and whole home WIRED Solution! It really makes no sence not to have this feature.
then buy the right device , that being access points and a router
orbi is not designed to do ethernet backhaul and i dont think it will ever get it
maybe the next generation of orbi
- Please tell me: what products do you recommend for wireless access when your whole house is wired for ethernet but has got many wireless dead spots?
the answer is any wireless access point you can purchase as you can connect as many as you need to get the whole home covered by wifi
many use the ubiquiti unifi wireless AC access points that can be mounted to walls or ceilings
but netgear also have wireless access point solutions as well
you just need a separate router at where the ethernet cable converge to control and connect the various acces points to
Not even close to being a comparable solution that a real integrated system would offer. Having multiple WAP's having to be managed individually for band management, SSID's and the other multitude of features and settings is beyond most consumers, not to mention the inherent bandwidth limitations and latency issues that come with WiFi mesh networking. Talk about stacking tolerances.
Honestly, I think that Ethernet backhaul, especially with the availability of PoE support is the best option, the new devices scan's the network (after picking up DHCP address obviously) detects the "master" reports in, downloads settings and other information and configures itself is the best option.
You can then get one thing that is sorely missing with your separate WAP theory. Propper, integrated roaming, this will pay for itself in fewer hassles created easily.
Well I would love to be able to recomend Netgear Orbi for your setup but without Eithernet backhaul I would recomend Open-Mesh, They have a hand full of options. I have used there MR1750 and absalutly love it.
Google WiFi and Linksys Velop both offer automatic Ethernet backhaul as well as wireless backhaul. The Linksys Velop offers a seperate dedicated 5 GHz radio just for the backhaul. I have deployed both of these systems successfully with Ethernet and wireless backhaul. I was surprised by the effectiveness of the Google WiFi APs when using the shared wireless backhaul, I didn't expect much from it. The Google WiFi is cheaper too. Both the Google Wi-Fi and Linksys Velop systems are true mesh networks, which is nice.
OpenMesh (now owned by Datto) APs such as the A60 work with Ethernet or wireless as well, but are more commerically oriented than these home mesh networking devices. I like the OpenMesh devices and CloudTrax hosted controller software for business applictions or more flexible and complicated home WiFi systems.
Best,
Jeff
Just returned my RBK50 to Amazon. Unfortunately it didn't worked in wireless, the connection between router and satelite was to far... waiting for a firmware update or a new version with bakhaul ethernet (Finger crossed)
I have Eero, but still use MoCA for backhaul. So many devices on wireless trying to keep the experience as best as I can.
I concur, ethernet backhaul is much needed. I have 1-gig ethernet throughout the entire house. But I need wireless for 8 wireless only devices in my home, and also to provide guest access to the internet.
The way this is currently designed, is that it is stealing bandwidth away from those devices when it could otherwise be using that bandwidth to service my wireless devices.
Please netgear, implement this feature. Your competitor unifi, with their super cheap enterprise level wireless access points are going to beat you to the punch, at half the price.
According to the Orbi manual (very last page) the backhaul has a theoretical maximum of the following:
5 GHz Back haul: Max 1733 Mbps
I purchased the Orbi router with 2 satellites. Those three devices share one 1 gigabit ethernet port on my switch, since the satellites communicate only over the 5ghz backhaul (maxes out at 1733 mbps), which effectively limits the maximum throughput of the whole system to 1 gbps because everything ultimately communicates via the 1733 mbps 5ghz backhaul with the router. Remember the router is connected via 1Gbps ethernet port to the switch. So the limit is actually 1gbps for the whole system.
Now imagine if the 2 satellites, rather than communicating through the backhaul could each independentaly use their own 1 gig ethernet connections to my switch. I have effectively trippled the maximum throughput to 3 gbps (1 gbps for the router base station and 2 gbps for the satellites (1 gbps per satellite)).
Manuel is located here: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK50/Orbi_UM_EN.pdf
So yes, the backhaul using dedicated switch port is far superior to current method employed.
Please request it here in idea exchange there is petition on going for it more voices more attention it gets
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Idea-Exchange-For-Home/Netgear-Orbi-Wired-Sattelite/idi-p/1145210
- Incidentally I've recently begun testing my Open-Mesh 3 x MR1750 AP (each running 6.2 Beta firmware) configuration in my home environment vs Netgear Orbi. OM supports Ethernet backhaul. Surprisingly I've found Orbi to be noticeably more reliable as follows:
- Orbi throughout exceeds Open-Mesh even though OM is connected via gigabit Ethernet and Orbi is wireless backhaul
- The signal coverage of the Orbi main and satellite units are better than even my 3 OM APs (despite adjusting the OM radio output strength)
- band steering capability of Orbi is more reliable than OM's still in beta.
- handoff - while neither support seamless roaming, my client devices seems to travel more seamlessly between Orbi main and satellite than between OM MR1750s
Granted, Open-Mesh offers many commercial grade benefits, these findings were positive. For those wanting to be able to connect the satelites by ethernet - make sure you up vote the suggestion here:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Idea-Exchange-For-Home/Netgear-Orbi-Wired-Sattelite/idi-p/1145210
That is where Netgear look for feedback on features to add and their relevant priority.
- Ethernet backhaul could help those that have less than ideal situations where they cannot put the router in the middle of the house but instead at say one end and they want Wifi to the other end. It isn't always about cost for some people. Not everyone wants to spend hours/days/weeks troubleshooting router and satellite placement when they could use Ethernet backhaul to connect the systems while still using it for whole house wifi. The alternative with several access points may be cheaper but more of a hassle for 85% of the population.
Since all the competition are offering wired backhaul I am sure it will be included in a future Firmware if Netgear want to remain competitive with others with the Orbi
it doesnt have to as they all dont have the wifi coverage or throughput orbi has and that is its point of difference
- Let me make a quick correction before everyone gets all up in arms. Satellite placement will need need to be taken into account to get blanket wall to wall type coverage to wifi devices. Using the backhaul with Ethernet just elongated the degradation you may get by having to may obstacles between floors or walls or whatever or locations etc.
- Well that's amazing! Thanks for listening and looking into it.
I am not sure why you are arguing against it? Why would you not want this, unless you didn't have the means to implement it? Also looking around, it seems to be the most wanted feature to the point that Netgear responded above you.
Not every customer will have the full speed of the backhaul working perfectly, it does not make sense to cut those people out.
