Orbi RBK53 - I need WiFi coverage beyond range of router

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bmeighan wrote:

Thanks for the responses. Just to clarify and/or add more details:

 

Perhaps I'm confused by the "backhaul" terminology. I read this to be the data from the satellites that is transmitted back to the Orbi router. I understand that through a firmware update the backhaul can be Ethernet wired. But does backhaul also mean that the Orbi router can communicate TO the satellite by way of Ethernet cable? I'm trying to solve for the problem that my guest house is beyond the range of WiFi signal but does have Ethernet to the main house. I also don't want the performance degradation that comes with extenders. So, can the Orbi satellite work in the guest house if it is wired to the Orbi router? (I seem to recall reading that an ethernet wired Orbi satellite cannot be used as an access point.)

 

Another suggestion provided here was to purchase another Orbi router and connect it in the house in access point mode. While this is an expensive solution, it does sound like it will work (but don't want to if satellite will work).

 

With regard to the last paragraph, I assume one of my old routers (like an Apple Airport Extreme) can serve as an access point too, right? To configure that as an access point, do I do that through the Orbi software or by using Apple's Airport Utility?

 

Thanks for the feedback.

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Don't read too much into the marketing-speak.  Backhaul is bi-directional.  You can plug your satellite into Ethernet in your guest house and your guests will access the Internet via WiFi as if they were in the main house. The SSID will be the same as in the main house.

I would not recommend buying a second Orbi system for the guest house, unless the guest house is very large and requires multiple APs to cover it.  How large is the guest house?  How many floors?

You configure your old router as an access point via your old router's user interface. You do not set it up via the Orbi.

There is confusion about extenders, in part because there are multiple types of extenders.  Some extenders simply receive the existing WiFi signal and rebroadcast it on the same channel.  These suffer at least 50% degradation in throughput, because they share the same channel.  Other extenders take the existing WiFI and rebroadcast it on a new channel.  These are better, but they use more channels so are more prone to interference with nearby WiFi systems.  Orbi functions similar to the latter extender.

Using your old Airport Extreme in AP mode in the guest house sounds like the best approach here, unless it cannot cover the required area. The Airport Extremes are very good and fast routers.  Possibly faster than Orbi.