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Forum Discussion
Orbi router & satellite (RBK50) plus nighthawk X8 plus nighthawk extender ac1900
Good morning all- I’m currently using an orbi RBK50 system. The base station is in my office (upstairs), and the satellite is also upstairs in our game room. I have a PS4 and a few other devices wi...
I’ll have to check the additional details later tonight. I’m a few hours away from home right now.
I do know that the modem is the one that spectrum supplies with the gig internet package. I have a fully capable netgear docsis 3.0 (maybe even 3.1) modem, but for some reason they haven’t cleared it for their service (other providers that offer gig service allow that modem).
And the base and the satellite (both upstairs) are Around 25-30 feet away from one another. I could move the satellite unit farther away from the base unit, and maybe get the distance up to around 40 feet. That would require a bunch of cables running back to the entertainment center, but I’ve got enough of them to do it.
I’ve noticed that the connected devices downstairs sometimes drop out with my current configuration.
I could always just get another satellite unit for the orbi, but I’d really like to put the nighthawk router and possibly even the extender to use.
Would it be better to simply sell the nighthawk and extender, and use that cash for another orbi satellite unit? Thinking that may be easier.
Also, is there a way to use some of the older routers as access points? I’ll have to get the model #’s for those also, but it would be nice to use them to hard wire things in different parts of the main level.
Thanks for the quick response. I’ll post the model numbers and firmware later tonight when I’m home.
I do know that the modem is the one that spectrum supplies with the gig internet package. I have a fully capable netgear docsis 3.0 (maybe even 3.1) modem, but for some reason they haven’t cleared it for their service (other providers that offer gig service allow that modem).
And the base and the satellite (both upstairs) are Around 25-30 feet away from one another. I could move the satellite unit farther away from the base unit, and maybe get the distance up to around 40 feet. That would require a bunch of cables running back to the entertainment center, but I’ve got enough of them to do it.
I’ve noticed that the connected devices downstairs sometimes drop out with my current configuration.
I could always just get another satellite unit for the orbi, but I’d really like to put the nighthawk router and possibly even the extender to use.
Would it be better to simply sell the nighthawk and extender, and use that cash for another orbi satellite unit? Thinking that may be easier.
Also, is there a way to use some of the older routers as access points? I’ll have to get the model #’s for those also, but it would be nice to use them to hard wire things in different parts of the main level.
Thanks for the quick response. I’ll post the model numbers and firmware later tonight when I’m home.
Have you tried setting up the old Router in "Bridge" mode to the main Orbi router?
The old Router has better WiFi HW and range than typical WiFi devices. Bridge mode will enable all your devices to have wire connection to the old Router, i.e. my poor man Satellite. You can try to place the old Router at the current Satellite location and see if you get the same performance. If yes, then move the Satellite downstairs. Otherwise, put the old Router downstairs if that yields better performance. Good luck!
...just to add to my previous notes.
The best benefit of using old Router in Bridge mode (other than saving money) in Orbi setup is that we will get Daisy-Chain for free, which is much better than any range extender setup. Depending on the HW, you might only get 1/2 WiFi BW with range extender.
- Thank you re: bridge mode. And for your help in general.
Does that require hardwiring? I would assume it does. I could possibly run Ethernet wire from the office to the game room (basically an upstairs living room for those that aren’t familiar with the term), and do it by hiding it beside/under the floor’s trim. I don’t think I’ll be able to send it through the ceiling- though that would seem to be the more direct way to do it.
Anyone have any advice on thin/unobtrusive Ethernet wire? It would have to go in and around two door frames before it would get to the PS4. It would probably require 40-50 feet of Ethernet to run it around everything. I might be able to pull the carpet out to run it underneath- that would seem to be the better option.
It would be nice to use the nighthawk’s expanded capability with the PS4. Ive never actually had it hard wired to the nighthawk, only to the orbi satellite. I’ll have to check out bridge mode later tonight (I’ve never set an old router up that way).
Thanks again!Swiedeback wrote:
>> Does that require hardwiring?
No. It doesn't require wiring. Think of Bridge mode as another way to get separate Orbi's backhaul. Orbi's backhaul is just a private Bridge to all its Satellites. In this case, we just use the 2.4G or 5G as a 2nd backhaul.