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Forum Discussion
Use RBS850 as extender for eero network?
I saw an old post (2017) that says the answer to my question is "no" - but I'm hoping things have changed. I recently switched to eero for a location (long story - nothing against my Orbi system, but it was for Control4 purposes). Now I have spare parts - two RBS850s and an RBR850. Is there anything I can do with those with the eero network, like to extend the eero WiFi? Or would I have to plug the RBR into my router and create a parallel WiFi network?
TIA
3 Replies
CrazyEddie wrote:
Or would I have to plug the RBR into my router and create a parallel WiFi network?
Correct. The Orbi system will not integrate with any other WiFi system. (nor will any other WiFi system integrate with the Orbi.) Using an Ethernet cable, the WAN port of the Orbi can be connected to any other system and will create a separate WiFi network. It could have the same WiFi credentials as the primary system (SSID/password), but devices will not roam seamlessly between the systems.
In addition, the Orbi can be placed in Access Point (AP) mode so that the primary system will assign all LAN addresses (IPs) and devices can communicate across both systems.
It is not clear what "router" refers to:
- The eero unit that is connected to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) device, or
- The ISP device itself that is a "router" with the eero connected to it.
Thank you. My reference to "router" was to the Protectli. My setup is Modem=>Protectli=>eero
Thanks for the clarification. The Orbi can be connected to either router and will create a separate WiFi network. You can have everything in one LAN in two ways:
- Connect the Orbi router to the eero base unit and place the Orbi in AP mode.
- Have both the eero and the Orbi connected to the Protectli, with both the Orbi and eero in AP mode. (eero calls this "bridge mode").
Or, there can be two separate LANs. Your choice.
