NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
RBK43S versus RBS50Y
My ORBI router model number doesn't even show. Question is: since the ORBI RBK43S slightly helped inside and a bit outside of the house, will the RBS50Y help extend my signal to my out buildings and wireless cameras. That was the intent with the mesh system, but clearly, the reception to the cameras is closer by nearly 30 ft., the reception hasn't changed. Will the outdoor unit make a difference? I'd like to know before I spent another $300 and then return it. Should I have simply gone that route in the first place?
7 Replies
Can you make a rough drawing of the layout (pencil sketch) and indicate:
- Where the router and satellite are located
- Where the WiFi cameras are located
- The approximate distance to the cameras and "outbuildings".
I hate the fact that I spent $300 and have not gotten ANY better reception to my wireless cameras (despite the fact that the satellites are now physically closer) than I had with the Nighthawk. Yes, the WiFi reception within our home is a bit better, but that wasn't a problem. I also lost an ethernet export on the main router. How has any of this improved the situation. Answer: it hasn't one iota. In addition, I can't make any direct replies from my emails. The support system here is so insulated from direct communication, it's abysmal.
Incidentally, I did make a drawing, scanned it onto my email, but there's no place to drag or post it on this forum. The satellites are 30' and 20' feet respectively from the main ORBI hub router. The outbuildings are 150' and 225' respectively. I have one wireless camera on the building that is about 150'. The WiFi signal is at 2 out of 3 bars in strength. The ORBI satellite is now physically closer, in fact direct view through a window, yet the strength has not improved. It's remarkable that there hasn't been any improvement whatsoever. Perhaps you'll agree that for the $300 spent, was not in my interest. Question still remains as to whether or not the RBS50Y will improve the signal and no one has even attempted to answer that. As I've stated before, the return policy at BestBuy is terrible, so I'll probably purchase the RBS50Y at Costco, try it and then return it if it fails to deliver any better signal or keep it. Either way, I'll become the knowledgeable one on this forum and of Netgear support that was rather simple.
When creating a post, there is a button labelled "Browse..." in the lower left. That can be used to select a jpeg file to attach to the post.
In my mind, the relevant information was "150ft distant from the house". Regular WiFi access points, whether indoor or outdoor, do not perform well at long distances. If this situation was exlained to the sales person at Best Buy in terms of "will replacing my R7000 with an Orbi improve service to a building 150ft away?", then this does not reflect well on Best Buy.
The only solutions to distance that appear to work are (a) lay an ethernet cable (up to 300ft) or (b) use a "point to point" bridge. There will be some improvement with an RBS50Y simply because it is outdoors and does not have to penetrate the building wall, but I predict it will be a disappointment.
