Add a 973 Router to a current 970 Mesh System

I also bought a single Orbi 970 Satellite to add to the network, for a total of 7 network devices. 

Almost.  When the second router is set to Access Point (AP) mode, it should not enable DHCP.  All devices on the network should get their IP address from the primary router.

Even though the second system can have identical WiFi credentials as the primary WiFi system, in radio terms, they are separate.  Thus, mobile devices may not roam seamlessly between system.

Thus, if a person carries a smartphone or laptop from one building to another, WiFi performance may be "not so good" (metal walls, etc.)  Going into Network Settings to disconnect the WiFi and then reconnect will switch the connection to the stronger signal.  A little irritating, but certainly more convenient than having different WiFi names.

That's a LOT of people on a residential system.

p.s. As long as you are going to the trouble to run Ethernet cable, it might be a good idea to run separate cables from each satellite to the router location and plug them all into a 2.5G or 10G switch that is connected to the router.  If the cable is already run, I hope the conduit between buildings is large enough to accommodate additional cables in the future.

Thanks CrimpOn!  That's interesting, I thought this being a "full-mesh" system, that it would provide seamless roaming between all APs.  I understand what you are saying about separate radios... but once they mesh into one network, wouldn't APs number 3-7 act the same as APs 1 & 2? 

You mentioned a residential system... I'm learning now that this 973 System is intended for residential.  Is there a business solution that you would recommend instead? 

I just set the 2nd router to AP mode and set it to get its IP via DHCP (that's what I meant before), and changed its SSID and password to the same as the original router, and tried to add it as a satellite to the original network, but the app is not finding it.  I'm thinking it's still stuck in router mode... why did it ask me for SSID and password?  Other satellites didn't ask that when I added them to the network.  Going back to check the configs.... 

Now it's seeing the second satellite... but the Dashboard at orbilogin.com is saying that it is "Out of Sync" and the mobile app is saying "Reboot satellite".  Rebooting now.... 

An Orbi router cannot be a satellite.  Some companies designed their WiFi mesh systems so that every unit can be either the router or a satellite.  Netgear did not.  A router is always a 'router'.

• If it is in 'router mode', then all of the router features are enabled. (Armor, DHCP, OpenVPN, Access Control,...... etc.
• If it is in 'access point mode', then most of those features are disabled.
  https://kb.netgear.com/000061277/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-Orbi-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-Mode
  However, the router and any satellites attached to it remain a unique WiFi system.

As long as users do not carry mobile devices around between buildings, they will never know.  Those that do will quickly get used to "oh. WiFi pathetic. Disconnect & reconnect" (5 seconds).

Netgear has an entire line of commercial WiFi networking products.   Have no experience with them.

I only need one more satellite.  So, if I replace that second 971 router with a 970 satellite, and join it to the current network, that should work?  And seamless roaming will work?