NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Upgrade from RBR50 to RBR350?
Hello
I have had a RBR50 and RBS50 for years, with a couple of routers in AP mode to extend my network. I can get a fairly cheap RBR350 and RBS350, is it worth the upgrade? my broadband is 1gb fibre. I was hoping to use the RBS50 as a satellite to extend the mesh but just read they aren't compatible.
I have 70 devices connected as part of my home automation.
Or just stick with the RBR50 and get a 2nd RBS50?
Cheers
Just my two cents.........
The original Orbi from 2016 is a WiFi5 device, supporting 2.4G and 5G WiFi with 802.11b,n,ac. In the past eight years, most phones, laptops, tablets, and many desktops have incorporated WiFi6. This means that newer devices could achieve higher speed and make more efficient use of the bandwidth. Older devices and the hoard of Internet of Things gizmos get no obvious benefit from WiFi6 but their needs are so small that it hardly matters. So, changing to the 350 could enhance performance of those newer devices.
However, the 350 is a "Dual Band" device which was engineered to cost less because it uses the same 5GHz radios for both user facing devices and for the router to satellite communication. This implies that devices connected to the router will benefit more than devices connected to the satellite.
The RBR50 is officially "End of Service", meaning that Netgear no longer actively supports the product with firmware enhancements. There are rumors that the 350 will go End of Service at the end of March, 2025. So, for all practical purposes there is not much difference in their prospects. If they work fine and you're happy, then there is no reason for concern.
Prior to 2015=2016, users expanded their WiFi coverage by installing WiFi access points or WiFi "Extenders". The major problem with this practice was that mobile devices often did not roam between WiFi units gracefully. Users would find their WiFi performance declining and would have to turn WiFi off and back on again so that their phone, laptop, tablet, etc. would drop the connection to the first access point and reconnect to one with a stronger signal. Mesh systems provide seamless roaming. What you have no is a combination of mesh and WiFi access points. Adding another RBS50 would extend the mesh coverage. Changing to the 350 would leave you with the same combination of mesh and extenders as you have now.
For my two cents, I'd pass on this opportunity.
2 Replies
Just my two cents.........
The original Orbi from 2016 is a WiFi5 device, supporting 2.4G and 5G WiFi with 802.11b,n,ac. In the past eight years, most phones, laptops, tablets, and many desktops have incorporated WiFi6. This means that newer devices could achieve higher speed and make more efficient use of the bandwidth. Older devices and the hoard of Internet of Things gizmos get no obvious benefit from WiFi6 but their needs are so small that it hardly matters. So, changing to the 350 could enhance performance of those newer devices.
However, the 350 is a "Dual Band" device which was engineered to cost less because it uses the same 5GHz radios for both user facing devices and for the router to satellite communication. This implies that devices connected to the router will benefit more than devices connected to the satellite.
The RBR50 is officially "End of Service", meaning that Netgear no longer actively supports the product with firmware enhancements. There are rumors that the 350 will go End of Service at the end of March, 2025. So, for all practical purposes there is not much difference in their prospects. If they work fine and you're happy, then there is no reason for concern.
Prior to 2015=2016, users expanded their WiFi coverage by installing WiFi access points or WiFi "Extenders". The major problem with this practice was that mobile devices often did not roam between WiFi units gracefully. Users would find their WiFi performance declining and would have to turn WiFi off and back on again so that their phone, laptop, tablet, etc. would drop the connection to the first access point and reconnect to one with a stronger signal. Mesh systems provide seamless roaming. What you have no is a combination of mesh and WiFi access points. Adding another RBS50 would extend the mesh coverage. Changing to the 350 would leave you with the same combination of mesh and extenders as you have now.
For my two cents, I'd pass on this opportunity.
What sq feet size is the home?
Something to give a try and see if the 350 series works for you.
It's NG lower budget system for Orbi. Been a few years since it's seen a FW update. Not sure if or when one would be forth comng. There are better systems out there IMO.
