Wifi to Ethernet

In our store we have the RBR50 and RBS50 devices and these give us great coverage.

We have several areas with great coverage that are not near either the main unit nor the satellites where we have computers and printers and we want to convert the wifi signal to wired ethernet to a switch that connects to multiple computers, printers, and other wired devices.

We're assuming that some kind of access point or bridge would be needed to convert the wireless signal to ethernet, but we don't know what particular device to use. We're looking for device recommendations that convert wifi to wired that can support multiple computers, etc.

We cannot string wire from the main unit nor satellites in our case due to non-technical reasons (building leasing restrictions), so please do not advise us to connect directly to the main unit or satellites. :-)

CrimpOn
Jan 28, 2021
serverscience wrote:
To confirm: can we actually mix/match RBR50/RBS50 devices with other Orbi devices such as the RBS40V-200 and RBS20 devices? I had otherwise guessed that they wouldn't work together as they're not in the same series.
Absolutely. Any of the original "residential" Orbi satellites will sync with the RBR50 router. (not the "Pro", the AX, or the RBS10).
I like the RBS40V because of the $100 cost. (I have grown to like Alexa playing classical music, but that is entirely optional).

serverscience wrote:
An Orbi RBR50 is just on the other side of the wall from the room in which one set of workers are. This would be about 15 feet. So, for one of our locations, it might be problematic. For the other three, I think we're further than the 30' distance you mention.
30 feet is the recommended "starting point". If you start with a single RBS40V, try it in that location first and see what happens.

serverscience wrote:
Final question here: Do you have any higher-end device suggestions that fall into this category?
There are too many WiFi extenders to list. TP-Link's RE450 is a similar product.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-PCMag-Editors-Choice-Extender/dp/B010S6SG3S/ref=sxin_10_ac_d_pm?ac_md=3-2-QmV0d2VlbiAkNTAgYW5kICQ3NQ%3D%3D-ac_d_pm&cv_ct_cx=wifi+extender&dchild=1&keywords=wifi+extender&pd_rd_i=B010S6SG3S&pd_rd_r=9f54f073-d6ab-46d9-9337-55be0d283b65&pd_rd_w=qKCZJ&pd_rd_wg=l6UEU&pf_rd_p=db3c94d3-373c-4c30-836a-115f9871fd28&pf_rd_r=NXV7DZ40TFR4YNXQ2QZC&psc=1&qid=1611818649&sr=1-3-22d05c05-1231-4126-b7c4-3e7a9c0027d0
Many of these products are designed to plug directly into a wall outlet. I often choose to ignore that capability and plug them into an extension cord so that I can get them "off the floor" and in a location that makes the most sense from the aspect of (a) having a clear "view" of the WiFi system and (b) being near the devices I want to connect via an ethernet switch.
When using the Netgear EX3700, I chose to use the 5G channel to connect to my Orbi and disabled the user-side radios entirely. I imagine the TP-Link has a similar capability.

12 Replies

plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Jan 25, 2021
You could add another satellite that has ethernet ports. Then just connect a switch to it if you need more ports.
gr8sho
Virtuoso
Jan 27, 2021
You can think of the RBS50 as an Ethernet drop.
- serverscience
  Aspirant
  Jan 27, 2021
  The RBS50 is not near (and cannot be placed near) where there are computers and printers where people work. It is not feasible to place Ethernet cable from the RBS50 to that location.
  
  So, I'm looking for a hardware recommendation that will allow me to place a device at the work area that receives wireless signal and converts it to Ethernet that can go thru a switch to the cluster of computers and printers that are at that work area (several desks side by side). I can run Ethernet cable at the work area, but not to the RBS50 satellites nor to the RBR50 router.
  
  I'm also looking to ensure that the computers and printers are on the same subnet as the rest of the devices in the company.
  
  And, I have 4 such work areas that I'd like to do this same thing. Each of them gets great Wifi signal from the Orbi router or satellites.
  
  So, I'm not sure what kind of device I need. A bridge? An access point? If the Orbi's wifi signal can't be turned into Ethernet for each of these work areas, would I need to get some other set of devices?
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jan 27, 2021
    If your connecting the RBS as a satellited in the work area which is wirelessly connected to the RBR, then all you need to do is to connect a LAN switch to the back of the RBS, the LAN ports in back will connect to most any non manged switch, then you can connect any wired device to this switch.
    Thought distance between the RBR and RBS will be a factor. Not much more than 50-60 feet would be recommended between them.
    
    Thought bandwidth could be come a factor at the RBS having too many wired devices connected and all using lots of bandwidth.

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Wifi to Ethernet