Hi, ive been reading up...My virgin hub 3.0 doesn't quite cut it 3 floors up.I've got ex6120's and ex6130's - thinking i could daisy chain them.. I cant!So... I'm now tied between a new r8000 router and an ex8000 extender (both tri-band), or Orbi rbk50/53.My question is... If i go for the Orbi (works out slightly cheaper, and reviews are slightly better) - especially the rbk50 (rbk53 isn't quite so competitive), can i then extend (with the ex6130) from the satellite, or would the extender still 'connect' back to the router?Thanks in advance...

Excellent.Thanks. That was another question i had - can't it be a router behind the virgin router... In a DMZ or such... And yes it can!Thank you very much for your help

Orbi satellites will only connect to is main base router. The EX unit will not be needed if you decide to go with the Orbi system. Whats the size of your home? SqFt?

Thanks for the answer.I know the satellite will only connect to the router.My question is, with a 'single ssid network' would an additional extender extend from the satellite (as it would be physically closer to the satellite), or sync all the way back to the router?Not sure what the house is in square footage - 4 bed, 3 storey modern semi/town house. Living room and kitchen on ground floor. 2 double bedrooms on first, and 2 double on second.Virgin comes in behind the tele, in the corner of living room, but I'm going to cat5 from that to the bottom of the stairs, where i would put the new router, putting virgin in modem only.Then satellite probably on top floor - due to suitable places to plug it in... But if the router isn't powerful enough to get to the top floor to 'feed' the satellite, it might have ti go on the first floor... Which raises my question about extending the satellite with an extender...

The extender would connect to either satellite or router. I have a 5000sq ft home, Use the base router at one end of the house and 1 satellite at the other end. 40 feet in between. I have great coverage and performance. I would highly recommend trying the Orbi out with Just one satellite. Placement will be key of course. No closer than 30 feet in between the router and satellite and between satellites if you get two satellites.

Thank you.Is it really that good?I think I'm likely stuck with rbk50 (router and 1 satellite) for now. Simply down to Amazon currently selling it at £250, whereas the rbk53 is £400 - an extra £150 for another satellite - which i believe you can pick them up for anyway.So no saving on buying that bundle from the start.Does the single SSID really work? And hand off between router and satellite when wondering round the house? That's the main issue at the moment - with multiple extenders, even though they're the same SSID, devices stay connected to a single extender - eventually being too far from it to work, despite staying connected to it. Kids go mental over it!!! I, on the other hand, just disconnect and reconnect WiFi, because i know what its doing - they refuse to listen!!!

orbi and wifi extenders | NETGEAR Communities

13 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Jul 31, 2018
Orbi satellites will only connect to is main base router. The EX unit will not be needed if you decide to go with the Orbi system.

Whats the size of your home? SqFt?
- marknt
  Tutor
  Jul 31, 2018
  Thanks for the answer.
  I know the satellite will only connect to the router.
  My question is, with a 'single ssid network' would an additional extender extend from the satellite (as it would be physically closer to the satellite), or sync all the way back to the router?
  Not sure what the house is in square footage - 4 bed, 3 storey modern semi/town house. Living room and kitchen on ground floor. 2 double bedrooms on first, and 2 double on second.
  Virgin comes in behind the tele, in the corner of living room, but I'm going to cat5 from that to the bottom of the stairs, where i would put the new router, putting virgin in modem only.
  Then satellite probably on top floor - due to suitable places to plug it in... But if the router isn't powerful enough to get to the top floor to 'feed' the satellite, it might have ti go on the first floor... Which raises my question about extending the satellite with an extender...
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jul 31, 2018
    The extender would connect to either satellite or router.
    
    I have a 5000sq ft home, Use the base router at one end of the house and 1 satellite at the other end. 40 feet in between. I have great coverage and performance. I would highly recommend trying the Orbi out with Just one satellite. Placement will be key of course. No closer than 30 feet in between the router and satellite and between satellites if you get two satellites.

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orbi and wifi extenders