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RBRe960 versus RBR860
My trusted RBR 850 failed. I am trying to decide whether to replace with an RBR860 versus RBRe960. I have 3 rbs850 satellites (probably overkill for my house 4500 square feet but needed Ethernet ports...
- Figured it out! Bad Ethernet cable.
I really appreciate your assistance.
One last question - why if the RBR960 and RBR860 both can take up to 10gb download from router and I have an internet speed of 1400 Mbps according to Orbi app (xfinity feed) do I not see more than 850 Mbps on my iPhone (with Wi-Fi 6) even when in same room as router?
WiFi speeds are impacted by many factors. The product data sheets describe the 860 and 960 satellite radios the same for the user facing 5G band:
860 - 2400Mbps, 2x2 MIMO and:
960 - 2400Mbps, 2x2 MIMO and
I have found that measuring WiFi speed can be affected by the orientation of devices (i.e. when I walk around the house holding a tablet to create a WiFi Heat Map, it depends on how I hold the tablet. Should I hold it vertically? Horizontally? pointed at which access point (I am measuring 4 at the same time.) I have also never seen any sort of "Antenna Pattern" description of the Orbi WiFi radios. It is clear from the FCC submissions that the pairs of user facing antennas (2x2 MIMO requires two antennas) are mounted vertically. Does it matter if the user device is "flat on" to the antennas, or "sideways"? My gut tells me, "heck yes", but official literature would be more satisfying.
There also could be things "hidden" in the walls that affect speed in one location but not another. a 3" iron sewer pipe may not seem like much, but might create quite a WiFi "shadow" in terms of a smartphone that is only 3" wide. HVAC ductwork is often galvanized steel.
Honestly, I'm surprised to hear that the results are strikingly different. Satellites are portable. Does the difference persist if they are swapped around?
Moving the 960 satellite so it route to the router was through floors rather than walls improved it immensely. But I think you have made great points about value. While I got a discount on the 960 pair it still more than twice as much as just getting 860 and I am not seeing 2x improvements. And while my 850s satellites seem to work fine with the 960, I know if a problem occurs there will be no support. So I think I will hold with 860 and wait for Wi-Fi 7 for next big jump. Thank you so much.
- Turns out the Orbi 850 satellite is also not officially supported for 860 router so now back to wondering if 960 is better option. With discounts 960 router and 1 satellite is a little over twice as expensive as 860 alone but then am assured at least 1 satellite with “supported” compatibility. Anyone faced same choice?
I know un-officially the 750, 850 RBS are compatible with the 9 series. I believe the 860 series may not have any support. This 860 series came out just last year I believe as doesn't fully support older model RBS. We've tested 7 and 850 series RBS with a 960 series system and they work. No official word from NG if they are going to support this or not.
- Thanks - the 860 router found my 850 satellites no problem and paired though having some issues with wired versus unwired recognition.
I had assumed as both 860 and 850 are Wi-Fi 6 there would be no issue in compatibility so was surprised to find they are not officially supported.Did you first sync them wirelessly to the RBR then ethernet connect them?
I would first test one RBS while in same room with the RBR and see if by using a different ethernet cable, can you get them to show a wired connection directy connected behind the RBR. After the connection is made, should switch over to wired on the RBRs web page with in 1 minute.
CAT6 is recommended.
