Orbi RBK863SB AX600 Tri Mesh Wi-Fi 6 - 3 Pack

Question

Hi I'm looking for some advice please, I need to improve my Wi-Fi in my house, single floor, but L shaped property, 23 meters wide by 35 meters long building, with each part of the L being approx. 11 meters wide. Walls are all timber framed with wool insulation and Plasterboard.

I have the ability to place a (relatively) centrally located base station connected by Ethernet to my current Modem/Router which I want to continue to use as its also connected to my Alarm and Security system, external watering system and a few other network connected items such as audio and Video distribution panels. my plan is then to setup the two Satellites that come with the 3 pack in appropriate locations so they still talk to the base station but also give adequate coverage of the required areas, the question is does this sound like a feasible plan? and also the specifications on the RBK863SB suggest it is a router only, but I am guessing I will need to set it up as an Access Point so it pulls IP addresses from the existing modem/router DHCP server. is this something i can do easily with the RBK863SB?

Cheers.

CrimpOn · Answer

Page 85 of the User Manual describes how to put the router into Access Point (AP) mode:
https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK863S/RBR860_RBS860_UM_EN.pdf&nbsp;
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I am concerned that 35 meters is too great a distance to get good coverage from one AP placed at the connection of the two wings and the other some 16-17 meters away.&nbsp; Do you plan to connect the two satellites to the router unit with the default WiFi connection or with Ethernet cable?
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(At the very least, I would want to purchase this from a vendor with a liberal return policy.)
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CrimpOn · Answer

I have seen internet references to -67dB being the "cut off point" between good WiFi signal and poor.
https://www.screenbeam.com/wifihelp/wifibooster/how-do-you-measure-your-wi-fi-signal-strength/#:~:text=Generally%2C%20you%20are%20looking%20for,that%20you%20want%20to%20see.&nbsp;
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This one says -70dB
https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/wifi-signal-strength-basics/&nbsp;
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I have found Heat Map apps to be quite useful when investigating WiFi coverage.&nbsp; There&nbsp; are a number of free apps for Android.&nbsp; Tablets are easier to work with because phone screens are to small.&nbsp; There is also Net Spot for Windows. (Maybe iOS?)
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Or, you could see how far the existing WiFi coverage goes.&nbsp; Install the Ookla Speed Test app on anything portable (laptop, tablet, smartphone).&nbsp; Run it in the room with the existing WiFi router.
Record the WiFi RSSI or Link Rate and the Speed Test result, then go from one room&nbsp; to the next and see where performance drops too far.
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WiFi transmit power is strictly regulated by the FCC (US. other countries have similar agencies)

CrimpOn · Answer

All I know of is "marketing fluff" (another term for outrageous exaggerations that all vendors put out, including Netgear)&nbsp; I did a Heat Map on my two story house and found that the upstairs (where the ISP modem and Orbi router are) got pretty decent coverage:

But measuring the signal from that upstairs router in the downstairs area was "not great".
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No wonder people were carping "why is the WiFi so BAD in the Living Room, Dining Room, and when I sit on the porch???"
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With a one story building, it depends on how many walls/obstacles there are.
The 23m wing will probably do just fine with a satellite in the corner and one about in the middle of the wing.
The 35m wing is a bit long.
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Polemos · Answer

Hi thanks for the info, yes I was a little worried about that, I'm assuming the standard working distance from base to satellite is around 9 meters from all the google searches I've done? is there anywhere that gives an expected radius of coverage for each of the base/satellites?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Polemos · Answer

Thanks is there anywhere i can get a graphic or measurement in sq m of expected coverage for one of these Orbi satellites? both for interconnectivity and actual Wi-Fi coverage?&nbsp; as i would like to map it out on plan before purchasing something that may not work effectively. cheers.

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Orbi RBK863SB AX600 Tri Mesh Wi-Fi 6 - 3 Pack

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