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Forum Discussion
Worth updating from RBR350?
I currently have a RBR350 with two RBS350 connected over wireless backhaul. I am rewiring the house and moving the router, and as a result I will have two wired satellites and need a third that will w...
Katerpillar wrote:
However I want to know if there is any value in upgrading the router while keeping the two satellites I have. This would result in having an RBR750, 850 or similar, with two RBS350's connected by wired backhaul, and an RBS of the same family as the router wirelessly daisy chained to one RBS350. I'm pretty sure this will work according to Netgear's compatibility chart. But will I see any benefit from it or will the RBS350's keep everything at their level?
The RBR750 or RBR850 provide an additional Ethernet port. (Do you need another?)
If performance is adequate now, increasing the internet connection to 1GB is not likely to result in a perceived difference in performance.
The principal difference between the 350 and more costly routers is the WiFi backhaul.
- The 350 uses one set (of 2) radios for both user facing and backhaul radios. The default channel is 157 (NA) and 108 (WW and JP), which is the channel used for backhaul on the 750 and 850 products.
- The 750 and 850 use a set of 2 radios for the user facing WiFi on channel 36-48) and a separate set of 4 radios for the WiFi backhaul on channel 157 (or 108)..
- This difference in radio configuration leads to the double asterisks (**) in the Compatibility Chart. A dual band WiFi system cannot match the overall performance of a tri band system.
- It will be fascinating to see what happens when the satellites using channel 157 (or 108) for everything are attached to a router which uses channel 36-48 for the user facing WiFi. The satellites have to stay on channel 157 (or 108) for that additional satellite to Daisy Chain.
- It is the wired backhaul that makes predicting results so complicated. Pity it is not practical to add a cable to the new satellite location.
Thank you CrimpOn. No I don't need the additional port, I have too many devices so I have a switch anyway. It sounds like I won't see any benefit so I might as well just pick up a cheap RBS350. It is possible that the final satellite location may be wired in the end, and from what you say if all the satellites are wired then there's no point upgrading?
FYI:
If you do this, I would turn down the power on the RBR to 25% and test.
Katerpillar wrote:
if all the satellites are wired then there's no point upgrading?
Wow. A lot of the time, people upgrade to fiber because they are not satisfied with the performance of their existing Internet Service Provider (ISP). It is obvious that downloading a large file will go more quickly with a gigabit connection. I am simply not confident that normal daily activities will seem any different (with the gigabit or with a change in router).
I would love to see a report comparing before and after.
CrimpOn wrote:
Katerpillar wrote:if all the satellites are wired then there's no point upgrading?
Wow. A lot of the time, people upgrade to fiber because they are not satisfied with the performance of their existing Internet Service Provider (ISP). It is obvious that downloading a large file will go more quickly with a gigabit connection. I am simply not confident that normal daily activities will seem any different (with the gigabit or with a change in router).
I would love to see a report comparing before and after.
I meant no point upgrading the router. The fibre is definitely happening!
It's a matter of intellectual curiosity (to me) no matter which changes are made.
i.e. what difference do you perceive?
RBR750 is selling for under $100 on eBay.
RBR850 for under $200.
Which do you want more?
- Experiment with upgrading to a more expensive router? or
- Taking some friends to dinner at a fancy restaurant?
- or......???
