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Devinefamily4's avatar
Devinefamily4
Aspirant
Jul 28, 2022

RB50 router v satalite

I have RB50 router & 2x satellites. The system works fine but I need to add another ‘satellite’ in a garden room. I purchased a new box thinking it was a satellite but bought a router instead.
Can I use the router as a satellite and connect to my existing satellite?
How would I do this? Tried adding satellite using app but will not let me do it.
Any advice please?

3 Replies

  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jul 28, 2022

    RBRs can only work as main routers or in wired AP mode. Can't be used as a satellite. 

  • CrimpOn's avatar
    CrimpOn
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jul 28, 2022
    Devinefamily4 wrote:
    Can I use the router as a satellite and connect to my existing satellite?

    Netgear's decision to not allow RBR products (routers) to function as RBS products (satellites) has frustrated customers since the beginning.  The actual hardware for the "50" product is identical.  Other manufacturers chose to make their products interchangeable, but Netgear did  not.  In the case of this specific model (RBR50), some very clever person found a "hack" which transforms the router into a satellite.  Internet search will turn up links to the process. I, myself, have never tried it.  Netgear doesn't offer any support.  It would certainly void the warranty, but there's no warranty on used equipment anyway.

     

    So, FURRYe38 is correct.  Unless you want to go "down the rabbit hole", you're stuck.  You can run an Ethernet cable to the garden room and deploy this unit in Access Point mode.  It will remain a separate WiFi network, so devices will not "roam" seamlessly between the main system and that unit.

     

    Bummer.