NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Looking for Stable & Reliable WiFi with Increased Speed
I'm considering replacing my current router/switch with either the RBK50 bundle (1 RBR50 + 1 RBS40) or RBK40 bundle (1 RBR40 + 1 RBS40). As I've not yet purchased, here are details which should paint...
On a different note, I'd like to add...
As one who's considering to purchase (still have not done so as of this post), the ability to temporarily turn Off a WiFi radio would be a key reason for me to follow through purchasing an RBK50.
My 2010 4th generation, AirPort Extreme (AE) managed through AirPort Utility (AU), allows easy, temporary turning Off a WiFi radio. ...This is particularly effective, as has been put forward in Exchange Ideas, regarding IOT 2.4 GHz devices.
Case in point: I have 4 x Koogeek Smart Plugs on my 2.4 GHz WiFi and in Koogeek's set-up instructions, it's specified to temporarily turn Off the 5 GHz to quickly complete the add set-up. When I installed my most recent Koogeek I forgot to temp disconnect my 5 GHz WiFi and as result, the add set-up stalled out. Upon disconnecting my 5 GHz, the add set-up (as well as subsequent, firmware update) was quickly and successfully completed. (And I easily used AU to turn the 5 GHz back On.)
So for those who say 2.4 GHz IOT devices should not see the 5 GHz (so, turning Off the 5 GHz is not necessary), there can be some issues easily overcome / avoided by having the ability to turn Off a WiFi radio. Reading resistance (in other Threads within this Forum) to this implementation, gives me pause about how Netgear approaches support to its router product line.
I would also add, the nature of my above thought also applies to separating the singular SSID into 2 SSIDs - 1 for 2.4 & 1 for 5 GHz WiFi. ...I get the fundamental design of MESH and its signal optimization; but there can be bona fide reasons, for a user wanting to custom name an SSID.
Providing robust customization in router management, should a cornerstone in Netgear's approach to improving, management implementation. Sensing there's a resistance, by Netgear, to these feature requests is like hearing "we do it this way; accept it."
Please forgive the nature of this post... But having perused this Forum since my first post, I've become very aware of 2 capabilities I would lose by changing my current, router installation. Yes, I doubt not I would gain improved, WiFi speed (...a great gain) and the hardware is robust; but I would lose two effective, management and customizing capabilities I currently have. Candidly this knowledge, which is about the RBR50's management - and not a concern about the hardware, has now got me straddled and stuck on the fence.
Your AE and other NON MESH/Smart Connect don't use same implementation as NG Orbi does. Even NG R series routers you can disable the wifi radios. However, Orbi doesn't allow this. Others have said you can in recent version of FW, supposidly disable the 5Ghz SSID from being broadcast, thus making the 2.4Ghz only available to devices. Something you can look for under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings. Let us know what you see.
The issue of IoT devices not seeing the 5Ghz, the device WILL NOT see it as it does not have the HW abilities to see or use 5Ghz. The main problem with these IoT devices is the Mfrs setup software process with having a dual band setup mobile device on a single SSID that there SW only allows for there software setup to be performed only on 2.4Ghz with the setup mobile device. The Mfr and there software are not taking into account that some routers, NON MESH and MESH with Smart Connect making both frequencies into 1 SSID, doesn't work for there setup software, they are of the frame of mind and thinking that older generation routers had two separate SSIDs for each frequency. Now days, most router mfrs are using the single SSID name. So there software and setup process do not take this into account for newer generation routers. Thus when it comes to Orbi, since the setup device is on 5Ghz since most mobile devices are dual band and like 5Ghz, there setup software doesn't allow the setup device to work across the two frequencies, even though there IoT device see's 2.4Ghz and the setup device is on 5ghz and on the same network, there software fails to allow for this kind of setup configuration. This is not a NG issue. This is a IoT Mfr issue.
Yes I agree that it would be a more robust system if NG would give users the abiltity to disable either radio, however doing this only negates the fact that IoT Mfr need to better designe there software to work in both cases were one can disable wifi radios or can not. Mfr need to stop passing the buck and just blaming NG or other router mfrs have have this single SSID configuration. Setup software could and should work in either configuration.