NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Orbi Upgrade from RBR50 to RBR850 or RBR750
A post to comment, and perhaps generate conversation, on Netgear's lack of technology exchange to upgrade path. An example that I have is the Orbi RBK530 and that I would consider moving up to the R...
PeterSchneider wrote:A post to comment, and perhaps generate conversation, on Netgear's lack of technology exchange to upgrade path. An example that I have is the Orbi RBK530 and that I would consider moving up to the RBK850 or RBK750. To do so though I would need to buy a completely new package since there is no upgrade path (even the ability to purchase an exchange with credit for the existing hardware). Additionally, according to the conversation I had with support, the older satellites apparently can't connect as access points (even at their lower performance AC spec) with a wired or wireless backhaul.
There may have been a semantic issue in the discussion with Netgear support over the existing Orbi satellites. "Satellite" vs. "Access Point". An Orbi satellite is not technically what we think of as a WiFi access point. It will not connect to any brand of router. It only connects to Orbi systems as what Netgear calls a satellite. My understanding is that the existing satellites do indeed function with the new AX systems as long as they are connected with ethernet cable. The reason being that the WiFi radio chips in the older Orbi are not capable of the WiFi6 modulation used by the AX radio chips. When they do integrate as a satellite, of course they do not support WiFi6 capabilities.
Please share the results of your search. Do the WiFi6 versions of Asus ZenWiFi, TP-Liink Deco, Velop, eero, Google, etc. integrate with satellites from the previous 802.11ac systems? Do they offer trade-in credit?
(Just personally, I would not use automobile dealers as an example of pro-consumer behavior.)
CrimpOn, Will let you know how my research goes, if I remember to post back here. The habit is that once someone decides to leave they don't generally look back.
As for the automobile dealer, might have more to do with the ones I deal with, but the point is that automotive companies appear to think more about customer retention than Netgear does.
Be sure to visit the Orbi AX forum for additional information and support.
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/bd-p/en-home-orbi-ax
Good Luck.
