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Forum Discussion
Is the netgear Orbi app useless
I’ve been playing around with the orbi rbr 10 model. So far the speed and latency are very good for my setup. I downloaded the netgear orbi app. The app shows you a lot of info but you can’t seem to be able to modify the network much in the app. For example, changing dns. It seems like you have to log into router login.net to be able to change a lot of settings. Am I missing something with the app?
4 Replies
Orbi app is mostly a read and review status and turn access ON and OFF and check speeds is about it. All the advanced configurations can only be done at the WEB UI. They can't pack everything into the app or it be fairly large in size.
The title says it all. Compared to other vendor smartphone apps, the Orbi 'app' is pathetic. With so many customers these days not possessing a desktop computer or even a laptop computer with an Ethernet port, it provides the ability to "plug this thing in and have WiFi."
- From my WiFi scans, it appears that a significant number of customers do zero configuration of their WiFi systems. (there is lots of WiFi in my neighborhood with names such as "BELKIN-84sk" or "ATT%^65". There are even some "ORBIxx" systems.
- For many customers, all they want to do is make their new WiFi match the previous WiFi SSID/password so they do not have to reconfigure WiFi devices. The app does that.
- Plus, the app provides a quick way to check on some basic things from anywhere. (Cute: Anywhere Access rather than Remote Access).
So, "useless", definitely not.
Where I fault Netgear is the schizophrenia:
- All of the 'advanced' functions can be done only with the web interface. (such as the setting DNS).
- But there are specific functions that can be done only with the Orbi app. (Armor, Parental Controls, Access Control if the customer has activated Parental Controls, Remote Access).
Plus, the 'app' seems to break all the time.
"Unless"? Definitely not. Something to be enormously proud of..... hardly.
As an alternative connection method to getting to the Orbi WEB UI, Users don't have to have a laptop with ethernet, can connect to any router system via wifi if its working normally.
Though for laptops with out built in ethernet ports, USB to Ethernet adapter are inexpensive these days.
