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Forum Discussion
Solved
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
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- Returned my Orbi system yesterday. Can't get a signal through the reinforced concrete walls. If they'd come with ethernet backhaul I'd be a happy camper now :-/
- This is not 'solved'. Tell your community admin that there are better metrics to track than the number of solved/unsolved feature requests and that you ne d a better platform which has more that two states for a request (solved/unsolved)
I'm confused. I have a separate structure that requires a satellite Ethernet connection. Is "backhaul" only a function of the satellite or does the router itself make this not possible. I was told by support that I can use my existing Airport Express via Ethernet but I am having a heck of a time getting it to work. Every time I try to update the settings on the Airport Express to extend my Orbi wireless network it disconnects everything on my network from the internet (wireless signal still works but the Orbi is not picking up the internet from my gateway). I'm thinking of trying a different wired access point. If it's just a matter of the satellite not supporting ethernet, shouldn't it work if I just hook up, say, a Netgear WAC510 or any other access point that provides an ethernet port for connecting to a router???? If so, is there any disadvantage to doing this?? Would this create a different SSID for the wired access point?? (that would be a deal killer).
I've been pulling my hair out over this for over a week. I would be ecstatic if someone knowledgable could clear this up for me.
Thanks.....
- Orbi doesn't support what you are trying to do. Eero likely does. Return orbi and give eero a shot.
WDS usually only works between APs running the sand firmware on the same hardware. At least that's how you get the best results.
jeffreywest wrote:
Orbi doesn't support what you are trying to do. Eero likely does. Return orbi and give eero a shot.
WDS usually only works between APs running the sand firmware on the same hardware. At least that's how you get the best results.Thank you! Would the Linksys Velop work also? Any other good recommedations? Is there any particular reason to favor Eero over Velop?
Thanks for your reply.
I have eero now and am somewhat hopeful that Orbi will add ethernet backhaul in time for me to return it. I wanted something simple to manage and that would 'just work' with my >50 wireless devices so I decided to give eero a try. I'm highly technically proficient but I dont want to spend my time futzing with wifi constantly. Eero has a nice management app for ios as well which I like. You can see which devices are connected to which satellite and the app is easy to use.
One thing I don't like is that it doesn't have 'band steering' or the ability to have device X always connect to 5Ghz, not 2.4Ghz. My iphone regularly connects to 2.4G which isnt a big deal, but theres only one SSID so this will happen from time to time.
Sorry for confusion. I returned it about 5-10 days afterward (back in January)...to COSTCO. They now have a $75.00 off offer on the 3-pk or RBK 50's. I'm thinking about trying it again (Yes, I'm STUPID, but it REALLY worked when it DID work!) in hopes that they may have issued a new hardware REV. or at least a fimrware update that actually IMPROVES something! :( Thoughts??
ImNoOne wrote:Sorry for confusion. I returned it about 5-10 days afterward (back in January)...to COSTCO. They now have a $75.00 off offer on the 3-pk or RBK 50's. I'm thinking about trying it again (Yes, I'm STUPID, but it REALLY worked when it DID work!) in hopes that they may have issued a new hardware REV. or at least a fimrware update that actually IMPROVES something! :( Thoughts??
Waste of time in my opinion. Don't do it. Netgear has apparently designed this product for a very specific use case and decided to prioritize a cheaper lower performing version of it to attempt to compete with cheaper competition without recognizing the others have a broader market thanks to greater feature set as you rightfully brought up. I would fire the marketing and product management guys who wrote the business case for this if I was Netgear.
- I gave up on waiting. The google wifi is cheaper and works a treat. Sorry Netgear, I felt releasing without this feature really tricked a lot of people into expecting something we assumed was there. Every other system has this, and it's not really complete without it. :(
- truepudding - great post and thank you. I ordered 3 uniquiti APs today. They arrive Sunday. Looking forward to setting them up and experimenting. st_shaw - thanks to you as well for the info and replies.
- This thread has and SHOULD continue to grow to show support for ethernet backhaul. As a developer myself, I typically watch threads to see how many users are requesting features. When enough people ask for it, it validates (to Netgear) that their customers want this. If the thread goes dead, then nobody else wants it and they won't build the feature. I follow this thread and hope Netgear does eventually speak up or patch this, because I like their brand and their products.
Thank you Melliott716 - your comment validated how I felt as well.
peteytesting if you don't care about this thread and you think it's a waste of time, that's fine. You don't have to follow and just say mean things - it doesn't add any value to the topic. Yes, I did expect the feature. As I said before, most other competitors (almost every) have this feature. If you get a burger at every restaurant and one doesn't have a bun, you will be disappointed even though it only said hamburger on the menu.
