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Forum Discussion
Combine WiFi 6 RB 850 system with my old RB 50
I have a two year old Orbi RB 50 system, with one router and three satellites. It works good, but there are some areas of the house (and especially garden) that have bad or no coverage. So I just bought a RB 850 system with one router and two satellites.
Now I'm thinking about the best way to install this? Are there any special things I should care about? Replace the RBR50 with the RBR850 is given, and put one of the new satellites in my office feels also given.
But then what? Just spread them around the house?
Are they talking good to each other, or do I need cables?
The house is built 1926 with a large chimney in the middle, that I have found out is blocking a lot of the signals. There are four floors to cover.
Tia,
Andreas
10 Replies
I would set them up as you did before to see if the AX provides better coverage. I'd also try testing the satellites in different spots. Sometimes things in the walls can block that wireless backhaul so trying different locations might make things work better.
The subject line implied a desire to combine the new and old systems. Alas, that is not really an option.
The radio chips in the 850 series are a different (newer) model than the chips in the original Orbi design (from 2016) and offer the newer 802.11ax capability which is used to increase the speed of the satellite to router (backhaul) transmission rate. Thus, the original satellites will not integrate with the newer router.
Service to outside areas typically involves locating a satellite at the exterior wall, often placed in a window to reduce the amount of material the WiFi signal must penetrate. This may force a decision of which is more important: (a) better coverage to inside areas, or (b) increased coverage outside?
Aha, I assumed that those should be backward compatible. I see now that they are, via cable...
Hmm.... So now I'm thinking: Should I return the RB 850 (they are still shrinkwrapped) and buy more RBS50's, or should I go with new 850 system (It's still a lot of money, and soon the next standard will probably arrive)? 🤪
