Need recommendation - extender

Its a reasonable option to try. 

You can also check amazon as theres quite a few renewed kits on there like the RBK50 and RBK752. And you can add after market warranties and still be cheaper. 

Do you think it would be a good choice?  The price seems great and yeah, I can get a renewed on on amazon for 165.00 (leery on renewed stuff).  

That's where its a personal choice. 

I've use renewed and been fine. but I also spend a lot of time on here and get complaints of failures. 

thats where you can get the aftermarket warranty on amazon for it and still be cheaper (and longer warranty). 

Or you can buy new. 

Kind of a personal preference. 

depending on the speeds you pay for, the RBK43 system might even be worth keeping an eye out for as it'd give you an extra satellite. But its limit is the wireless backhaul isn't as wide as teh 50 series. That's why I said, depends on the speed you pay for. 

I've had good luck and bad luck.  And like that I could get a longer warranty if renewed but my instincts are telling me to go with the new but my wallet says go with renewed.  Will think on it, either way looks like both are eligible for free returns. I'll check out the rbk43 - we have 100mbps at our house (max for our area).  Regardless I'm buying something TODAY so I can check off one more problem (hopefully) in my life, ha ha.  I'll come back and update.  Really hoping it works and I'm not back at square one.  

Please don't kill me for yet another question.  Looking closer at the orbi's and worried as I'm fairly tech challenged.  Our current c7000 hooks into our spectrum modem by coax cable (it's a ubee voice gateway). The main cable comes into the room where the modem and router is and then goes into a splitter and one coax goes to modem and one to router (I may not be explaining it right and hope you understand what I'm describing).  I see the orbi doesn't have that option.  How do I hook into my spectrum modem?  By ethernet?  So we would no longer need the splitter?  Our spectrum guy originally hooked everything together.

the C7000 has a modem only mode. it disables its router functions and acts as a pure modem. 

so you'd go: 

C7000 (modem only mode)----->Orbi

https://kb.netgear.com/27191/How-to-set-the-cable-modem-router-to-be-on-modem-only

I won't be using the c7000 anymore...would be the ubee from spectrum and the orbi....so would that be by ethernet connection now?  SORRY!!!!  I need to use the ubee for voice capability.  ;) 

the Ubee should work fine. Not sure what one it is but there's different settings you can use depending on what one it'll be. 

dvw32cb (pretty sure).  I would assume I'm not the only person in the world with this modem and wanting to connect an orbi - I'm an overthinker.  THANKS again for all your help, I'm ordering today!!!!

If that's the model, its a modem, voice, wireless gateway. Meaning it'll have its own routing functions. It causes a double nat. 

A double nat happens when you cascade more than 1 router.
https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
Fixes? There’s 3 options but only use 1.
1. Put the modem/gateway in modem only/pass through mode. This disables its routing functions.
2. Leave the modem/gateway in router mode but put the Netgears IP address into its DMZ. This forwards the data to the netgear. You can either leave the modem/gateway’s wireless enabled or disabled. Just make sure its using a different wifi channel to prevent interference
3. Put the Netgear into access point mode. This disables its routing functions. Wifi/ethernet still works but it does disable some features.
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-NETGEAR-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-Mode

OMG, that's too technical for me, have no idea what any of it means and positive I would screw it up.  I believe when I got the c7000 they did something remotely so that the modem wouldn't be used as a router.  If I disconnect my c7000 I have no internet, just voice.

Can I just call spectrum when I get the orbi and have them do whatever needs to be done?  I'm pretty sure though that option 1 is what they did for me.

They should be able to put the ubee in bridge/passthrough mode

Update:  Got the Orbi today, set up was easy, except for having spectrum fix settings in the Ubee modem but after about 30 minutes all was good.  Unfortunately camera is still unable to connect.  I couldn't even move the satellite to the room I wanted...it was less than 40 ft. away but the orbi router couldn't see it.  The only thing we can come up with is we had soundproof insulation put in the wall between my office and our living room and the orbi router (and last router I was using) is in the office.  Not sure if that would slow down the signal?  It does recognize the satellite about 20 ft. away but that's slightly too far for the camera to see it.  Can't win.  I'm going to mess around when I have time and try to find a better set up for everything.  I'm wondering if I put the modem and router in the basement close to the area where the camera used to pick up the signal it might work (but a lot of work for such a silly thing, now it's a matter of determination) but then I'd have to run a LONG ethernet cord across the basement then up into the office (like 50-65 ft.) to reach my computer as it would be too far away to pick up wifi.  I don't think the satellite would work in the office either if it's a matter of an issue with obstacles somewhere.  

I don't think I'm going to send the orbi back, I like it otherwise.  BTW, I did try hooking up the extender in hopes that I could carry on the signal to the other end of the house.  Looked like it was going to work but the Orbi will only let it connect with 5 instead of 2.4. I was a little bummed to see that IT chooses how devices connect and I have no power over it.  I think I should be able to choose which connection I want.  It has chosen the 5 for our phones and it's slightly less fast than the 2.4 which sucks.  

EDIT:  I think my camera won't connect because the orbi won't let me put my phone on the 2.4 wifi - the camera needs to connect that way.  Seeing videos on youtube on how to change settings so that you can choose but not sure if I should try or screw things up worse.  Looks like all I do is take the 2.4 in settings off auto and assign it a channel (like channel 6) and that fixes it?  Any expericence with that?  

A couple things. 

1. many soundproofing has foil lining on it. If yours did, it'll do a great job of blocking wifi. 

2. in terms of the 2.4ghz issue. there's a couple things people do. 

• Turn down the 5ghz power and walk a ways away from the router. Then disconnect and reconnect from the wifi. Tends to increase chances of connecting to 2.4ghz. 
• You can shut off the 5ghz ssid broadcast (doesn't disable the radio). Again, disconnect/reconnect to wifi. Doesn't mean you won't connect to 5ghz but can increase odds of connecting to the 2.4ghz
• some people just use an old router or set their phone up in hotspot mode. they shut off the primary router/satellites, turn on their phones hotspot and name it the same as the router. Then they get their device setup. Once its setup, then disable the hotspot and turn the router back on. 

Moved the satellite around a little today and after giving up, checked the camera one last time tonight and it's connected!  I literally moved it about 3 feet.  Not thrilled as to where it's sitting but for now I'll take it and continue to move it around to find the best spot.  

I currently have the 5ghz at 50 power, didn't know how to turn it completely off.  Unfortunately my phone still connects to the 5ghz.  Waiting to hear back from support as they said they had other solutions but really don't need to worry for now.  I still feel a consumer should be able to choose what band they want to connect to.  I think the 2.4ghz carries further out.  If I am out in the yard and the 5ghz disconnects will it try to connect to the 2.4ghz if it's available?

Again, thanks for hanging in there with me, I really appreciate it.  For now going to send the extender back and keep the orbi, it's pretty easy to work with and hoping when the snow melts a bit I can walk around more outside and see how far it reaches.  My c7000 reached quite far (but not far enough for the camera).  Hoping for the same/similar.  :) 

Once its connected, you can turn the 5ghz back up. it doesn't broadcast as far or through as much materials as 2.4ghz but is significantly faster. So its worth having at full strength once things are connected as you want them. 

It could have been something in the walls blocking signal. tough to know. 

But glad you have it working!