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Forum Discussion
Cascade / daisy chain set-up question for Orbie 960 6e mesh system.
My current set-up is: ISP Issued router ‘ modem for a Frontier fiber 2-gig connection. From the ISP’s router I have 4 Linksys EA9500 routers cascaded via CAT-6 cable in a daisy chain (1st router conn...
While the potential to use the 2.5G ports to cascade a number of 960 devices is attractive, the Orbi 960 product is not designed to create a 'seamless' network across multiple units. (That 'seamless' WiFi feature that the Linksys 9500 literature describes. https://www.linksys.com/nz/wireless-routers/traditional-routers/linksys-ea9500-max-stream-ac5400-mu-mimo-gigabit-wifi-router/p/p-ea9500/ )
A single Orbi 960 plus satellites creates one seamless WiFi network, but the router has only one 2.5G LAN port and each satellite has only one 2.5G port. That reduces the speed of the "daisy chain" to 1GB once it leaves the first satellite. (still one heck of a lot of bandwidth)
Some users report connecting the router 2.5G LAN port to a 2.5G switch with separate Cat6 cables running to different satellite 2.5G ports.
That may require additional Cat6 cables so that satellites 2 & 3 have separate pathways back to the 2.5G Switch.
A change from Linksys to Netgear is more than a simple hardware swap. Each company has a unique product features (and shortcomings). The culture shock of this type of change might be significant.
Thank you so very much for your prompt reply. The 2.5 gig switch is an interesting idea. I’ll have to figure out if I can make that happen. Again, interesting thought. And, if worse comes to worst, without the switch I’d still have a 2.5 gig connection inside the main house (Orbie router to satellite 1) with only the out buildings at 1-gig. I like that. Sounds like this set-up will work. Thank you again.
A 960 "Four Pack" retails for $1,999 (a substantial investment).
It might be worth a little time browsing through this forum to learn what customers are reporting with regard to the 960 product.
One obvious difference between the Orbi 960 and the Linksys is that the 'backhaul' 5G WiFi channel is not available to user devices, whereas the Linksys 9500 has separate 5G channels that can both be used by customer devices.
Even when the customer links satellites with Ethernet cable, the WiFi backhaul remains alive "just in case".