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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 su...
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
The main reason I could think of to provide it, is to make it user friendly.
I haven't set up the ubiquiti unifi AP's, but it looked like a lot of low level telnet sessions are required due to the UI not being very complete.
Also, ubiquiti's setup I believe requires a radius server to do roaming, and you have to do a lot of backdoor commands to get it to work.
I might take a stab at going that route and bring these orbi units back. Was just hoping to save time. Which the orbi definately does. And it works pretty good for what it does.
I'll probably go and purchase a set of unifi AC1300 AP's and set them around the house and see if I can set that up and do some wifi tests.
It looks like the Unifi 802.11AC AP's are $133 each, x 3 = $366, please cost of cloud key (83.95), plus cost of USG (108.99), for a total cost of $558.94 for enterprise grade equipment.
So the netgear stuff is cheaper, so if they could implement ethernet backhaul that would be AWESOME.
xantari wrote:
The main reason I could think of to provide it, is to make it user friendly.
I haven't set up the ubiquiti unifi AP's, but it looked like a lot of low level telnet sessions are required due to the UI not being very complete.
Where did you see that? All of the basic setup should be doable through the UniFi Controller software, which is GUI based.
Also, ubiquiti's setup I believe requires a radius server to do roaming, and you have to do a lot of backdoor commands to get it to work.
I don't believe this is correct.
I might take a stab at going that route and bring these orbi units back. Was just hoping to save time. Which the orbi definately does. And it works pretty good for what it does.
I'll probably go and purchase a set of unifi AC1300 AP's and set them around the house and see if I can set that up and do some wifi tests.
It looks like the Unifi 802.11AC AP's are $133 each, x 3 = $366, please cost of cloud key (83.95), plus cost of USG (108.99), for a total cost of $558.94 for enterprise grade equipment.
So the netgear stuff is cheaper, so if they could implement ethernet backhaul that would be AWESOME.
The Orbi can only support link speeds up to 867 Mbps towards devices, so the Unifi UAP-AC-LITE would be the comparable unit. These are $77 each. Unless you live in a gigantic house or have concrete/brick walls, you shouldn't need more than 2 of them.
You can run the UniFi Controller software on a PC, so the Cloud Key is optional. The USG would only make sense if you don't have a router. If you get the USG, then you don't need the Cloud Key, because it has the Controller software built into it.
The UniFi Controller minimally needs to run it once just to set up the APs. It only needs to run continuously if you want to collect statistics or to do some more advanced features. Otherwise, the APs can run fine on their own.
So, the cheapest option is to get 2 UAC-AC-LITES for a total of $154 or 3 for $231. Personally, I would skip the Cloud Key and run the UniFi controller on a PC. If you need the USG, then your costs go up to $262.99 or $339.99 with 2 or 3 UAP-AC-LITEs, respectively. In all cases, this is less than an Orbi.
I admit, UAC-AC-LITES are tempting, even the PRO version is. Unfortunatly, outside the U.S these devices are double the price. For example I would require 3 of them, and the controller, which ends up being about the same as Orbi.
If orbi added the wired backhaul in the future, it would be the better option as its a standalone router with more ethernet ports.
This is totally an options though, I am actually thinking about switching reguardless of price.