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Forum Discussion
new 973 - anything changed for hardwiring other satellites?
New owner of a 973 Mesh and, like others, do not want to spend another $900 for a 3rd satellite. The entire system uses ethernet backhaul - are there ANY other satellites I can use to extend the system to a guest house (still using wired ethernet backhaul)?
6 Replies
https://kb.netgear.com/000065169/Which-Orbi-routers-and-satellites-are-compatible
How big is the home in Sq Feet?
buzzlulu wrote:
extend the system to a guest house (still using wired ethernet backhaul)?
As has been mentioned, the only Orbi satellite compatible with this system is the 970. However, it might be worth considering that the significant difference between mesh satellites and ordinary WiFi access points is that satellites support seamless roaming of mobile devices.
If it is important that mobile devices (phones, tablets, laptops) roam seamlessly, then a mesh satellite is the only solution provided that the guest house is not very far from the main building.
Consider this example: there are WiFi systems in two houses that are miles apart. A mobile device has been programmed with the password to both WiFi systems. If a person leaves one house and drives to the other, the phone will connect automatically. In a technical sense, it did not "roam". It simply lost connection to one WiFi and found a connection to the other.
If this guest house is far enough from the main building that mobile devices will drop their WiFi connection when moving between buildings, then an ordinary WiFi access point (of any brand) will work just fine.
If people are not expected to move between systems (more like 'renters' than 'guests'), then having a different WiFi system in the guest house might be advantageous.
Strange coincidence: Wired published a piece today describing WiFi extenders and recommended the Netgear EAX15 (about $90 on Amazon). According to the User Manual, page 18, the EAX15 can be connected to the primary router with Ethernet and placed in Access Point mode:
https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/EAX15/EAX15_UM_EN.pdf
The Product Data Sheet touts "seamless roaming":
https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/EAX15v3/EAX15v3_DS.pdf
Of course, there are all sorts of WiFi access points that are not designed to plug into an electrical outlet. (WiFi does better when located higher than most electrical outlets.)
- Thank you for the reply. The guest house is close proximity to the main house. My wife uses it as an office and frequently goes between it and the main house multiple times a day. I am afraid when she moves from the guest house to the main house, she will not drop the connection to the 970 located in the guest house.
The Wi-Fi extender you linked to sounds interesting. If this were installed in the guest house, and connected to the 971 Router via ethernet, would an iPhone be able to seamlessly move from the guest house back to the main house and drop connection from the guest house extender and connect to the 970 satellites in the main house?
