Upgrading a RBR50 to RBE771

(in my opinion.....)

When the original Orbi product was released, customers quickly discovered that the smartphone applications for some Internet of Things (IoT) devices were poorly designed.  The actual devices had inexpensive WiFi chips which supported only 2.4G WiFi.  (a) they cost less, (b) IoT devices typically consume nearly zero bandwidth, and (c) 2.4G WiFi has greater "reach" than 5G WiFi.  While the vast majority could be connected to consumer WiFi without problems, some of the smartphone apps were just pathetic.  Many would detect that the smartphone was connected to the network at 5G and refuse to even look for the IoT device.  Others would carefully communicate the WiFi credentials and the 5G MAC address to the IoT device. (which it could not find because it only supported 2.4G)

The obvious solutions included:

• Let the user temporarily turn off the 5G radio. Connect the smartphone at 2.4G. Set up the IoT device.  Then turn 5G WiFi back on.
  Netgear steadfastly refused to consider this.
• Let the user temporarily assign a different WiFi SSID to the 5G radio, leaving the original SSID only on the 2.4G radio.  Set up the device. Then change the 5G SSID back to match.
  Netgear refused to do this.

Finally, after YEARS of consumers complaining, Netgear introduced this "IoT" network, which

• Has a different SSID than the primary network, and
• Allows both the 2.4G and 5G radios to be shut off temporariliy.

Duh!

The IoT network shares the same IP subnet as the primary network.  IoT Devices are not quarantined.  Personally, I see no pressing need to create an IoT network unless you have devices which have poorly written smartphone apps and are difficult to connect to the primary WiFi network.