RAX200 + Orbi best practice

Question

I currently own a RAX200 for my one bedroom apartment. It's amazing. I just bought a 5 bedroom house (2300 sqft) and have CAT6 run to every room. Sonic Fiber Modem is in garage. I have 9 ethernet lines that terminate in the garage near the modem.

I am thinking to add an Orbi Mesh to the system. I just am torn -- should I use the RAX200 straight from modem and use Orbi as Access Point and satellites from there? Or should I run the Modem straight to Orbi and set up my RAX200 as an Access Point in one of the bedrooms?

modem--RAX200--Orbi (AP)--Orbi Satellites

-OR-

modem--Orbi--Orbi Satellites--RAX200 (AP)

jonshamieh · Answer

Thank you.&nbsp; This is exactly the type of info I was looking for.&nbsp; Very helpful.&nbsp; I am also considering the Nighthawk Mesh WiFi 6 system - I know it's not TriBand, but might be all I need for extra coverage to rest of house.&nbsp; Most of my devices will be hardwired via Gigabit lines anyway.&nbsp; Orbi might be overkill.&nbsp; I assume with the Nighthawk Mesh the idea is exactly the same, run the main in AP, and then chain the Satallites to it.&nbsp; Although there aren't enougn ports on the Nighthawk to backhaul each one via wrired.&nbsp; hmmm...&nbsp;

jonshamieh · Answer

&nbsp; Yep I have a 5-port gigabit Netgear unmanaged switch that will be hit directly after RAX200.&nbsp;MODEM-RAX200-MK63 Router-GS305-MK60 Satellites&nbsp;&nbsp;Sorry, to correct my last post, the the GS305 switch will be hit after the Nighthawk Mesh router (in AP mode) - not after the RAX200.&nbsp;

plemans · Answer

I'd first just try it out with the RAX200. It has surprising range/capabilities.

Just centrally locate it in the home.

If it doesn't work, Then i'd go:

modem---rax200------mesh setup in AP mode

jonshamieh · Answer

I would but the RAX200 will be in garage as that’s where all my ethernet jacks terminate. So I’ll need a switch down there and a router before the switch. I guess I could get a cheaper wired only router, but I like the idea of having RAX200 be the main brain of whole network.

plemans · Answer

You sure can do it.&nbsp;I ran it that way for a whileI had a CM1100-----&gt;rax200-----&gt;orbi rbk53 system&nbsp;the orbi system was ran in AP mode. The only other thing I made sure that I did was my satellites that were connected via wired backhaul, connected directly to the rbr50 and not through the rax200 then rbr50

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RAX200 + Orbi best practice

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