NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
RBS40V US version compatibility with RBK50 UK version
Hello there, I bought NETGEAR Orbi (RBK50) in 2018, which came with 1 Router and 1 Satellite. I purcahsed it from Amazon UK during Black Friday with a good shipping price since my country have si...
hsnsm wrote:Hello there,
I bought NETGEAR Orbi (RBK50) in 2018, which came with 1 Router and 1 Satellite. I purcahsed it from Amazon UK during Black Friday with a good shipping price since my country have similar electrciry standards with UK.
I am looking to expand that and add one more Satellite but I see the prices very high on Amazon UK even though it is a Black Friday offer. I saw a very good deal on RBS40V but on Amazon US. Would that work with my UK version of Orbi?
The RBS40V should be entirely compatible with the existing Orbi package. Of course, the electrical plug will be for US 120v. I own an RBS40V and the power supply is labelled "100-120v 50/60Hz". You will need an adapter for UK style electrical outlets.
There have been many (many) posts regarding Orbi power supplies. Some are clearly labeled 120/240v, while others are labeled 100-120v. Several posters have reported using the power supplies marked 120v in countries where the outlets are 240v. Netgear, of course, is totally silent on this issue.
My perspective is that in this age of globalization and switching power supplies it makes no sense to engineer separate power supplies. Just change the plug configuration to match the country. If it was specifically designed only for the US/Canada market, then why does the label read "50/60 Hz". Canada and US are all 60Hz.
Sorry for the rant.
CrimpOn wrote:
My perspective is that in this age of globalization and switching power supplies it makes no sense to engineer separate power supplies. Just change the plug configuration to match the country. If it was specifically designed only for the US/Canada market, then why does the label read "50/60 Hz". Canada and US are all 60Hz.
My guess is that it may be down to a regulatory/certification issue.
The electrical bits inside the thing is the same wherever you buy it. The labels differ depending on where you are.
That may be because the law lays down what the labels should say, or because it costs money to get something through the certification process that would allow them to use a global label.
CrimpOn wrote:Sorry for the rant.
Keep on ranting. I am with you all the way on this one.
This is especially justified in the case of Netgear, which does not sell replacement adapters. Not what I would call user friendly.
My experience is that US labelled stuff works fine in the UK. I have received several items intended for the US. I have yet to have one go bang on me.