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Netgear Nighthawk EX8000 vs Orbi
I have a Netgear Nighthawk Router (R6700/AC1750) on the top floor in the middle of my house with a Nighthawk X6S Extender (EX8000) almost directly below it. I still have some weak signals in some co...
plasterwalls wrote:
Thanks so much! Is the Orbi router faster than my existing router?
The RBK50's 5 Ghz client-facing network is 2x2ac (max link speed 866 mbps), it's 5 Ghz backhaul is 4x4 ac (max link speed is 1733 mbps). The EX8000 has the same radio specs btw.
Max link speeds are faster than real-world throughput, so it's important not to confuse them. When I run speedtest, I get 200-300 mbps throughout the house with the RBK50. Mileage will vary (depending on the details of construction, size/shape of the house, etc).
Your current router has only one 5 Ghz radio, and that is 3x3ac (max link speed is 1300 mbps). That radio is shared with your nearby 5 Ghz clients and for backhaul to your EX8000.
So overall the RBS50 has more throughput (about twice what you have now). It's deliberately arranged to optimize the mesh system - with a high-performance dedicated backhaul connecting the mesh itself (router and satellites), with a lower performance client-facing network in each Orbi router/satellite.
But the client network is slower than your R6700's 5 Ghz radio (866 vs 1300). Again the idea with Orbi is that the whole system has multiple client-facing networks, so overall it will outperform a single router in a larger space. However, there are a few devices out there where the 2x2ac client-facing network in the RBK50 limits its performance - the most common one is a MacBook Pro (which has 3x3ac wifi). With those devices, you'd get better speeds with the R6700 when you are close to the router. But generally the industry is settling on 2x2ac for clients.
Anyway, if you are using multiple EX8000s, you will be limited by the backhaul speed from the extenders to the R6700.
The benefit of Orbi is that it operates completely automatically. It's a fully integrated system, and satellites and router are working together on how to establish the best coverage. The EX8000 is designed to work with any router - so it is more flexible in some ways, but it generally won't do as good a job as a full Orbi system. It's basically working on it's own to do the best job it can of covering it's space.
in general, coverage will depend on placement and house construction. Currently I'm using an Orbi RBK50, and that does give me whole house coverage at 5 Ghz. My home is about 3500 square feet (3 floors, wood construction). The Orbi units are placed along the long axis of my home, at about 25% and 75%. The router is on the first floor, the satellite is on the second. The third floor is smaller than the bottom two, and the satellite is placed so it reaches the third floor.
If you have some flexibility in router placement, you might try shifting the router in one direction, and shifting the extender in the opposite direction. If you know that's causing the dead spot (in my case a central chimney causes some issues) you can try to adjust the placement to work around it. That might get you better coverage with your existing equipment.
plasterwalls wrote:
Which will be faster or stronger?
As far as "stronger" goes, both will be running at the legal limit for your region. So there is no significant different there.
As far as faster goes, the weakest link in your system is actually the router. Total WiFi performance will be gated by the R6700's 5 ghz speed.
If you can't move the router, then you could add a second EX8000, and shift the two extenders away from the center of the house. That would probably solve your coverage issues. Upgrading the router later on will improve your speeds (if you feel you need to do that).
The Orbi option would be to purchase an RBK50. If that doesn't give you enough reach, you could add a second satellite.
Thanks so much! Is the Orbi router faster than my existing router?
plasterwalls wrote:
Thanks so much! Is the Orbi router faster than my existing router?
The RBK50's 5 Ghz client-facing network is 2x2ac (max link speed 866 mbps), it's 5 Ghz backhaul is 4x4 ac (max link speed is 1733 mbps). The EX8000 has the same radio specs btw.
Max link speeds are faster than real-world throughput, so it's important not to confuse them. When I run speedtest, I get 200-300 mbps throughout the house with the RBK50. Mileage will vary (depending on the details of construction, size/shape of the house, etc).
Your current router has only one 5 Ghz radio, and that is 3x3ac (max link speed is 1300 mbps). That radio is shared with your nearby 5 Ghz clients and for backhaul to your EX8000.
So overall the RBS50 has more throughput (about twice what you have now). It's deliberately arranged to optimize the mesh system - with a high-performance dedicated backhaul connecting the mesh itself (router and satellites), with a lower performance client-facing network in each Orbi router/satellite.
But the client network is slower than your R6700's 5 Ghz radio (866 vs 1300). Again the idea with Orbi is that the whole system has multiple client-facing networks, so overall it will outperform a single router in a larger space. However, there are a few devices out there where the 2x2ac client-facing network in the RBK50 limits its performance - the most common one is a MacBook Pro (which has 3x3ac wifi). With those devices, you'd get better speeds with the R6700 when you are close to the router. But generally the industry is settling on 2x2ac for clients.
Anyway, if you are using multiple EX8000s, you will be limited by the backhaul speed from the extenders to the R6700.
Thank you so much! This is incredibly helpful, especially the information about the Macbook Pro!