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RedMoose's avatar
RedMoose
Aspirant
Nov 27, 2018

Using a RT-AC68U Asus as an access point for an Orbi (RBK50)set-up?

First - I am not super techno saavy. I just want to make sure I have good coverage in a 4000sf 2 story house. I just got the RBK50. I am going to put one up stairs (all bedrooms are upstairs), and one unit downstairs. I am replacing an Asus RT-AC68U, but is that compatible to use as an additional access point in the garage area? Any help is appreciated. 

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  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru
    Nov 27, 2018

    Is the garage attached to the house or separate? 

    The orbi you have should cover the house and then some including the garage if it's attached. 

    The distance between the router and satellite(s) is 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials.

     

    I have a 5000sq ft home with just the base router and 1 satellite at the opposite end from the router. 40 feet in between. Great coverage including in my garage. 

     

    Having additional Wireless APs can cause problems. I would go with what you have with the Orbi if possible. Placement is key. 

    • RedMoose's avatar
      RedMoose
      Aspirant
      Nov 27, 2018

      Garage is attached. If you are covering that much area with the same setup, then I think you are right - less hardware = less problems. Thank you!

  • RocketSquirrel's avatar
    RocketSquirrel
    Luminary
    Nov 27, 2018

    I recommend continuting to use the Asus as your router. Put the Orbi router into AP mode and turn off the Asus's WiFi radios. Then the Orbis will talk WiFi to each other better than the Asus would, and the Asus will route better than the Orbi would.

     

    This is my setup. AC68U as router and 3 Orbis for WiFi.

    • CrimpOn's avatar
      CrimpOn
      Guru
      Nov 28, 2018

      I did a similar thing.  Some of my security cameras were not happy because of where I put the router and satellite.  So, I put my old Nighthawk R7000 in the garage as an access point, connected to the Orbi over Powerline adapters.  The cameras are now happy.  Of course, I set up a different SSID just for these devices.  i.e. my Orbi WiFi has all the Orbi features and the R7000 access point does not - but I don't care.  I don't use WiFi outside of that corner of the house.  If I had it to do all over again, I probably wouldn't have purchased 5G wireless security cameras and wouldn't have needed WiFi in that location.  (Could have used PoE cameras with a switch and Powerline.  But all that stuff happened after the cameras went up.)  Or, maybe I could have tried moving the satellite around.  Once "things worked", I quit fussing with it and moved on to other projects.