NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
myoufo
Mar 10, 2026Aspirant
Orbi RBE871 with RBS50
I recently bought an Orbi 870 series router RBE871 with one RBE870 satellite. I'm finding that my WiFi coverage does not seem as good as with my old Orbi RBR50 router and RBS50 satellite. If I try ...
myoufo
Mar 11, 2026Aspirant
I can turn off the satellite to see if it helps with the WiFi issue, but that presents another problem. I want to use the Ethernet ports on the satellite, and don't have a good alternative if I lose those. I appreciate the advice. I'll report back after disabling the RBS.
- donawaltMar 11, 2026Mentor - Experienced User
myoufo if it works with one router (and I bet your 2.4GHz devices will be fine getting signal from the router), and assuming now your 870 and 871 have a WiFi backhaul not Ethernet, you could buy a wifi bridge adapter, which communicates to the network via wifi like your 870 does now - but it would not broadcast anything to confuse devices. BrosTrend and IOGEAR are two companies that have $60 adapters, with one ethernet port output. Then get a Netgear or another brand of 5-8 port gigabit ethernet switch, plug it into the adapter and then your devices can plug into it. They are $15-$20.
(Note the IOGEAR I linked to on Amazon is on sale for limited time at $35!)
- FURRYe38Mar 11, 2026Guru - Experienced User
Yes. Put in a wireless bridge at the remote location, connect up one LAN switch behind the wireless bridge adapter and then connect some devices to that LAN switch. Should work good.
- StephenBMar 11, 2026Guru - Experienced User
donawalt wrote:
you could buy a wifi bridge adapter, which communicates to the network via wifi like your 870 does now - but it would not broadcast anything to confuse devices. BrosTrend and IOGEAR are two companies that have $60 adapters, with one ethernet port output
Be careful here. Many of these devices are actually wireless extenders, and they do broadcast their SSID. In particular, the BrosTrend.
- https://community.netgear.com/discussions/en-home-orbi-be/confused-by-legacy-network-extenders-still-connecting/2471794/replies/2472134