Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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Wifi 6 Range

JamesD7000
Tutor

Wifi 6 Range

Hello,

 

In order to dump my Netgear D7000 and look for an upgrade, I do need to be truly convinced about Range ...

So far, my searches about Wifi 6 range improvements ...have been unsuccessful ...

Where can I find adequate and comparative info about Wifi 6 ...?

 

Thanks for your help

Message 1 of 5
CrimpOn
Guru

Re: Wifi 6 Range

Alas, most of the people who follow this forum have the WiFi 5 Orbi models.  There is a separate forum specifically for the WiFi 6 model:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/bd-p/en-home-orbi-ax 

People on that forum probably own that device and may have experience to share.

Message 2 of 5
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Wifi 6 Range

What is the size of the home SqFt?

 

My 853 system covers my 5000sq ft just fine. So does my RBK50 with 1 satellite. Includes some good wifi coverage at about 20 feet away from the house outside. 

 

30 feet is beginning distance between the base RBR and RBS. 


@JamesD7000 wrote:

Hello,

 

In order to dump my Netgear D7000 and look for an upgrade, I do need to be truly convinced about Range ...

So far, my searches about Wifi 6 range improvements ...have been unsuccessful ...

Where can I find adequate and comparative info about Wifi 6 ...?

 

Thanks for your help


 

Message 3 of 5
CrimpOn
Guru

Re: Wifi 6 Range


@JamesD7000 wrote:

Where can I find adequate and comparative info about Wifi 6 ...?


If you do find any actual data, please post the links.  I have a suspicion that unless WiFi 6 does some "magic" the actual area covered and signal levels will be almost identical to WiFi 5.  The reason:  Radio signal strength at the antenna is limited by the FCC (and similar bodies in every country).  Here's a link to one summary: https://w.wol.ph/2015/08/28/maximum-wifi-transmission-power-country/ Signal strength is a function of both the radio and the antenna.  So, a 1,000mW signal is 1,000mW period.  If a higher gain antenna is used, the radio strength must be reduced.

 

I did find it interesting that in the US, the 5G channels Orbi uses for "user connections" have a much lower maximum signal strength than the channels Orbi uses for "backhaul connections".  Makes sense because a "good" WiFi backhaul signal could result in less overlap in the user 5G space.

 

WiFi 6 certainly has major improvements over WiFi 5 (see: https://www.howtogeek.com/368332/wi-fi-6-what%E2%80%99s-different-and-why-it-matters/ ), but signal strength and area covered do not seem to be among them.

Message 4 of 5
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Wifi 6 Range

Also both AC and AX modes run on 5Ghz. 5Ghz is and can be effected by building materials, i.e. concrete and metal. Wood not so much however still has some impact vs 2.4Ghz. Nature of the beast with 5Ghz. 

Message 5 of 5
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