Upgrading my xfinity speed and purchased cbk40 system with /modem/router.
I have been using a Nighthawk R7960P as the acces point extenter for my current xfinity issued cable modem which will be gone and replaced with the orbi device.
Question:
cbk40 comes with one satilite for the mesh system, how can I use the Nighthawk R7960P with the the new Orbi system to my advantage in terms adding even more coverage. Can the R7960P be added as a mesh device? Seems like a waste if I cant utilize my R7960P ($170) in my new orbi system somehow.
You can't. The NH router can be use as a 2ndary wired AP using a separate SSID name and PW is all you can do. These two systems won't MESH together. Sorry.
Thanks for the answer, because you seem knowledgeable on the topic, I have another question if you don't mind answering, I purchased the CBK40 and installed with little effort, however, my new plan with xfinity is 1gps and the CBK40 is only docsis 3.0 modem and not 3.1 so support tells me I'am only getting 600mps. So, I search netgear site and not finding an Orbi cable modem product with docsis 3.1 spec and with wifi?
If not docsis 3.1 modem with mesh, can I go back and use the R7960P that I was gioing to abandon, and make a mesh network with that and other devices? I would then just need to buy a docsis 3.1 modem and connected to the R7960P.
Please advise
Thx
Bw
Model: R7900P|Nighthawk X6S AC3000 Tri Band WiFi Router
I saw posts in a different forum about ISPs reporting that there was a future CBR750 model Orbi AX coming from NG. NO idea if or when this will be put to market if it's coming. IF it is, probably not for months if it does.
Theres nothing else on the D3.1 line thats is orbi mesh supporting currently. There is a CAX80 which is a gateway modem that supports AX wifi, not mesh. Orbi wouldn't work with this modem. EX series extenders would work well with the CAX. I've tested my EX7700 with mine.
The one time I had 1Gb on my ISP 2017 with my CBR40, it was seeing near 900Mpbs. Thought most ISPs generally require D3.1 for full support now days, it would be somewhat capable.
NGs CM1000, 1100 or 1200 are D3.1 supporting. These are stand alone modems, no router or wifi. You could do this, install a CM model modem, connect your R7960P up as the main host router then configure the CBR40 for a wired AP mode configuration. I gave this a try a couple of months ago and it seems to work ok though its not really supportred, AP mode works if you connect the CBRs LAN port to the R7960P LAN port. Some CBR40 configuration in the UI is needed. Then connect the RBS to the CBR40. The only thing that you have to deal with is the top ring LED will always be on PINK on the CBR40. And the front cable modem downlink LED will always blink since you would have disconnected the coax cable from the CBR40. Not a ideal use however it would work if you wanted to keep Orbi wifi with the CBK40 system and use a CM model modem and your R7960P router as a host router.
Other wise you're looking at a whole new Orbi wifi system if you want to go with a separate modem and router and get a separate orbi wifi system, one with out a built in cable modem. The one draw back that is that these gateway modems with built in routers and wifi, can't be fully used as just routers and wifi, the cable modem part built in doesn't allow it to be disabled leaving the router and wifi running. The router and wifi portion of the modem can be disabled leaving the cable modem only enabled. Been like this for most call gateway modem router combo units since the beginning. One reason why I perfer a separate modem and router configuration. Better flexibility and upgrade later onn.
I am now going to returen Orbi since I will nt get full ISP speed without going 3.1.
and buy a CM model modem to use with my R7960P router as a host router.
Now just one last decision on additional hardware, now that I'll stick with the R7960P router, what other NG products would be the best choice and play nice with the R7960P giving max wifi performance and similar mesh type coverage for the rest of my house?
It would seem counter productive to bring in 1 gps service only to be limited by poor wifi performance to all other non-wired devices.
