RBK50 Mesh Router and 1 Satellite

The short answer is, "Maybe, but it depends."

Internet speed is a complicated issue.

• The Internet Service Provider (ISP) contracts to deliver a certain speed.  There are several ways to verify that this (in fact) happening.  Such as:
  • Use a feature on the router to measure speed.  Orbi routers include a version of Ookla Speed Test as part of the router software.  The Orbi web administration and the Orbi 'app' are able to activate this router software and report the results.
  • Another method is to connect a computer's Ethernet port directly to the ISP device and run Ookla Speed Test from the computer.  Alas, many customers no longer own a computer with an Ethernet port, which makes this a bit awkward.  (Yes, there are Ethernet to USB adapters on Amazon for under $15US, but no everybody has purchased one of those.  Like, whatever would possess a person to do that if they are not a computer nerd?  -oops.  Too Much Information)
•  If the Orbi router reports a speed close to one gigabit, then there are more measurements.  (An RBR50 router has a gigabit Ethernet WAN port that is connected to the ISP device.  It is physically impossible to measure a full gigabit speed because of overhead inherent in Ethernet technology.  Something slightly under 1GB is possible, such as 950 or so.)
• A device connected to the Orbi router with WiFi can achieve a speed related to the WiFi capabilities of the device.
  • A device connected to the 2.4G WiFi channel will be lucky to measure 300Mbps if it is within (literally) a few feet of the router.
  • A device connected to the 5G WiFi channel may achieve a 'connection' at up to 866Mbps, which will translate into a Speed Test measurement of maybe half that.
  • WiFi is affected by distance and building materials.  Move 10 ft. away from the router, and the speed drops. Move 20 feet away, and the speed drops even more.
• Devices connected to an Orbi satellite have an added problem that each data packet must be transferred across the router-satellite backhaul WiFi link.  The same distance factors that affect device speed with increasing distance also affect the backhaul WiFi link.  The farther units are apart, the slower the speed.

If the user has devices which support WiFi6, (sometimes called WiFi ax), then the maximum possible speed is greater than devices that support only WiFi5.

The Orbi 50 product supports 802.11ac (WiFi5).  If the user has devices which support WiFi6, then "Yes. Updating to an AX system will allow for higher internet speeds."