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Forum Discussion
pup0975
Sep 17, 2017Star
Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi
I'm considering buying a device (AmbientWeather Weather Station) that says that it only works on the 2.4ghz wifi and if you have a dual band router, you need to turn off the 5ghz radio. I already hav...
ncrich
Dec 31, 2018Aspirant
Glad to hear that. Most devices connect but a few cannot. Depends on the particular device.
FURRYe38
Dec 31, 2018Guru - Experienced User
IT does, some devices may or may not meet or be compatible with Orib or MESH networks. IT's up to the devices Mfr to ensure that they are compatible and can work well with most wifi networks.
- ncrichDec 31, 2018Aspirant
A bit dificult to accomplish since the device is many years older than the Orbi router. It worked fine with the Netgear AC1700 6320 dual band router so it seems that Netgear Orbi is not backwards compatible as one would expect in the industry.
- FURRYe38Dec 31, 2018Guru - Experienced User
Thats the thing though. As time goes on, wifi and specs and the HW get updated or improved while older HW doesn't and development stops on older HW. Thus changes made for the newer or incoming HW, probably makes the older HW not as compatible anymore. Of course the NG 6320 worked, probably in same development cycle and timeframe as the older HW. This is the other issue. Legacy HW will probaby be more problematic gong forward, working with newer generation wifi. Mfrs set a time frame of development and keeping there products up to date, then they stop giving a End Of Life status at some point. This is industry wide.
- ncrichDec 31, 2018Aspirant
I retired from the commercial software industry where backwards compatibility was a paramount consideration and demanded by commercial customers. I believe that the 802.11 standards also require backwards compatibility. Without it progress would create chaos.