rbk843s - different link rates on 2.4ghz

Question

RBK843S (RBR840, RBS840) all running v4.6.14.5. I noticed that the router shows 2.4ghz wireless mode "up to 1147 Mbps" but both satellites show 2.4ghz wireless mode "up to 574 Mbps" (both router and satellites show 5ghz 2402 Mbps).... So it appears the router is actually AX6000 but the satellites are AX5400.

The hardware specs (on the box):

AX6000 Tri-Band WiFi : Orbi AX6000 Router and AX6000 Satellites
Simultaneous Tri-band with 12 streams of WiFi - 5GHz-1 (4x4/80MHz, 1024-QAM), 2,400Mbps - 5GHz-2 (4x4/80MHz, 1024-QAM), 2,400Mbps, Dedicated Backhaul - 2.4GHz (4x4/80MHz, 1024-QAM), 1,200Mbps
Antennas : Eight (8) high-performance internal antennas with high-power amplifiers
Beamforming : Implicit & Explicit Beamforming for 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands
MU-MIMO : MU-MIMO capable for simultaneous data streaming
Processor : Powerful quad-core 2.2GHz processor
Satellite Ports : 4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports each

This looks like an update to the original 840 as the specs match the 850 (the original apparently had a different hardware config). Since the hardware looks to be the same as the 850, firmware 7.2.6.31 "should" work but NG decided not to support it on the 840 -- that's another story, but v4.6.14.5 .may be the reason that the satellites are different.

Any clue why I'm not getting 1147 Mbps on the 2.4ghz band on the satellites? Is the "late" version of the 840 actually the same as the 850? Is this a bug in v4.6.14.5? Is there any way to get 7.2.6.31 to install on the 840?

musicman0725 · Answer

I see 573Mbps under the wireless mode for 2.4Ghz WiFi on my Satellite and I have the RBK853. &nbsp;Looking at the specs, the main difference between the 840 and 850 series is the 2.4Ghz radio supports 256 QAM on the 840 compared to 1024 QAM on the 850 (this is why max link rate on the specs of the 840 is 900Mbps instead of 1200Mbps for 2.4Ghz). &nbsp;I think we both probably have the enable 20/40Mhz coexistence checked (it's a default setting and I leave it enabled because I don't want interference with bluetooth). &nbsp;When this is enabled you won't get the full rate on 2.4Ghz (indicated on the satellite configuration page). &nbsp;This doesn't really matter though because 5Ghz is preferred for faster speeds and should be what most devices are using which makes the 840 series practically identical to the 850 series in actual use cases. &nbsp;I think that Netgear should post an updated firmware for the 840 series as it likely is compatible with the same software that is on the 750 / 850 series and there were recent security fixes. &nbsp;Hopefully that gets posted soon.&nbsp;

BWest1 · Answer

Hi Musicman, thanks for the confirmation, looks like you have the same rates so I won't be so concerned.&nbsp; I think you'll see the attached specs in my previous post that the "updated" 840 also supports 1024-QAM.&nbsp; I'm thinking the marketing guys created a special for Costco and called it the RBK843s (I don't believe the updated hardware was available anywhere else) so the cheaper price wouldn't impact sales of the "identical" RBK853.&nbsp; I'm also hoping (although I consider it very doubtful) that NG will release any further firmware updates since they very easily could have already -- and you'll note in an earlier post that the validation of machine ID's in the firmware for the 840's actually IS included in the new firmware for the 850's, which is why I'm asking in my original post if there is any way to get the newer firmware on the 840.

FURRYe38 · Answer

So the 840 series is a AX5700 system or is supposed to be:
https://www.netgear.com/images/datasheet/orbi/rbk842.pdf
Not a AX6000, the 850 series is the AX6000 series which is a combined Wi-Fi speed only.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Technical Specifications show the following for the 840 series:• AX5700 Router and AX5700 Satellite(900 + 2400 + 2400Mbps)
900 being 2.4Ghz,
2400 for both 5Ghz user front haul and system backhaul speeds.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Possible bug in FW. Possible NG changed something as well.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Not sure if the 840 series will get same v7 FW update as the 850 series.&nbsp;
Got a picture of the box and specs need on it?
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

BWest1 · Answer

As I stated, apparently the hardware was upgraded at some point, here is the actual link on NG for my system:

https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/mesh/rbk843s/

Also, the link on the support page for the firmware downloads for the 843s (https://kb.netgear.com/000065692/RBR840-RBS840-Firmware-Version-4-6-14-5) shows support for AX6000 link rate in the release notes.

As you can see, it actually IS an AX6000 with the hardware specs I identified in my original post (and these are exactly the same as the hardware specs on the 850). These are quite different from the specs you posted, which apparently represent the original version.

In any case, I'm not getting the documented link rates from the satellites (either the original AX5700 version or the AX6000 version I have).

FURRYe38 · Answer

Ah ok. Makes sense now. So ya, I guess they changes the link rates then seen on the RBR and RBS 840 series.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I believe the link rates seen on the RBS web pages reflect actual connection based on signal and noise quality between the units.&nbsp;

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rbk843s - different link rates on 2.4ghz

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