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Forum Discussion
eriklindgren
Mar 24, 2020Tutor
Orbi i NOT a mesh system!
My Orbi system: RBR50 +2 RBS50 +1 outdoor satelite RBS50Y Have had plenty of problems with wifi during the years, big house with concrete walls. The only system that have worked without problems ...
- Mar 24, 2020
eriklindgren wrote:Can I inperpret this answer as that the Orbi is NOT a mesh system but a hub-and-spoke system?
Absolutely. That is what I said. In the sense that you define, it is NOT. It is very definitely a hub and spoke system.
CrimpOn
Mar 24, 2020Guru - Experienced User
eriklindgren wrote:If it is true, Netgear marketing of the Orbi is really a scam! How can you call it a mesh system if it is not?
Can anybody confirm whether this is true or not?
In my experience, marketing terms are not nearly as precise as one might hope. Is Netgear's Orbi a "mesh" in the sense that every device can be configured to connect to the internet and every device establishes links to every other device? NO. All of the promotional material from Netgear shows clearly how the "router" is connected to the internet feed and the "satellites" are connected to the router in a star or "Daisy Chain" manner. There is nothing deceptive about the description of what it is. I certainly knew going in what I was purchasing.
Orbi (in my opinion) can be called a "Mesh" because the entire system acts as one large WiFi network, with the same SSID/password and devices can move seamlessly from one unit to another (and back) without the connection dropping. But what the marketing department calls something may be a way to attract my interest, but I'm certainly not going to spend money on it until I read up on how well it meets my needs.
What I find more "deceptive" is the way the WiFi industry has decided to label products by adding together the maximum theoretical bandwidth of every radio into a single term, such as "2200" or "3000". What a crock. Only devices (literally) next to a WiFi access point can come even close to connecting at those speeds, and how does the "backhaul" link contribute to anything useful to customers?
- eriklindgrenMar 24, 2020Tutor
In my experience, marketing terms are not nearly as precise as one might hope. Is Netgear's Orbi a "mesh" in the sense that every device can be configured to connect to the internet and every device establishes links to every other device? NO. All of the promotional material from Netgear shows clearly how the "router" is connected to the internet feed and the "satellites" are connected to the router in a star or "Daisy Chain" manner. There is nothing deceptive about the description of what it is. I certainly knew going in what I was purchasing.
In a mesh network satellites communicate with each other and does not have to go through the router. That is the whole point with a mesh network.
- Retired_MemberMar 24, 2020
eriklindgren wrote:In my experience, marketing terms are not nearly as precise as one might hope. Is Netgear's Orbi a "mesh" in the sense that every device can be configured to connect to the internet and every device establishes links to every other device? NO. All of the promotional material from Netgear shows clearly how the "router" is connected to the internet feed and the "satellites" are connected to the router in a star or "Daisy Chain" manner. There is nothing deceptive about the description of what it is. I certainly knew going in what I was purchasing.
In a mesh network satellites communicate with each other and does not have to go through the router. That is the whole point with a mesh network.
so when are you going to get a true mesh system?
- FURRYe38Mar 24, 2020Guru - Experienced User
There maybe differences in MESH networks when it comes to Enterprise/Business and Home Consumer class HW as well. Home class HW will not probably every see what business class HW sees in regards to real MESH. For the home, MESH or Hub and Spoke. It's just all symantics. The satellites do communicate with each other when using Daisy Chain, more like piggy back of each other. Ya, the RBS requires the use of the RBR router. Most Home class "mesh" systems do.
- Retired_MemberMar 24, 2020
FURRYe38 wrote:For the home, MESH or Hub and Spoke. It's just all symantics. The satellites do communicate with each other when using Daisy Chain, more like piggy back of each other. Ya, the RBS requires the use of the RBR router. Most Home class "mesh" systems do.
well stated, and at the end of the day I doubt my streaming devices cares.
IMHO...if the nit/nat decison between the Orbi or a true mesh hinges on the above, then perhaps there are underlying problems in the system at hand.