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Forum Discussion
carlsson
Jul 25, 2022Star
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 bou...
CrimpOn
Jul 25, 2022Guru - Experienced User
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?
carlsson
Jul 26, 2022Star
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)? đ€Ș
- FURRYe38Jul 26, 2022Guru - Experienced User
Orbi AC series RBS is NOT compatible with Orbi AX systems, wirelessly or via ethernet.
- carlssonJul 26, 2022Star
According to this post though, it works: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WiFi-6-AX-and-WiFi-6E-AXE/AX6000-RBS50-Satellite-s/td-p/1847132
- FURRYe38Jul 26, 2022Guru - Experienced User
Older FW version I believe it worked. Recent versions of FW don't.
I believed I tried this last year with mine, Couldn't make the RBR50 work over ethernet.