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Forum Discussion
Orbi Router Firmware RBR50
What kind of firmware does the Orbi router use. Is it DD-WRT, or is it proprietary? If proprietary what are the configuration options for the user?
It's proprietary.
All our routers come with proprietary firmware, but you can install DD-WRT firmware on a number of our routers. There is a list of supported devices on DD-WRT's website. Orbi is not on this list.
Orbi is designed to provide Whole Home Wi-Fi. This is an exciting new product that we've put a huge amount of work into to get it right. As I've read a beta tester mention publicly well over 80% of our beta testers found this worked for them out of the box and that was back on beta firmware on which you'd expect there to be problems.
If you want the features of DD-WRT and don't already have a router that could run that you could e.g. get a R7000 and put DD-WRT on that. Connect the Orbi router to the R7000 and put the Orbi router in AP (Access Point) mode to avoid double NAT. Use the DD-WRT router for the router side of things and Orbi to provide whole home Wi-Fi.
When the Orbi router is in AP mode you can still connect the satellite to it.
Can you use a VPN service such as PIA or Express VPN with Orbi?
Simple answer = No!
Orbi is nothing more than a very high quality Accesspoint with basic router functions.If you are looking for anything beyond that, you need to look elsewhere such as ASUS/Merlin, DDWRT, Tomato, etc.Netgear is trying to turn themselves into the “Apple" of the WIFI world. Good looking, and high quality, products that heavily lack features found on all competing products.ASUS would surely be the “Android” of the WIFI world. Suggest you go with ASUS.Returned my Orbi last week. Went with my original setup of ASUS RT-3200s. They work great, they are hardwired via ethernet, and have every possible feature you could ask for. I am sure ASUS will soon release a MESH WIFI product.