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Forum Discussion
5GHZ on Orbi
I am considering purchasing one fo the Orbi systems to improve our WIFI throughout our house. We currently have a dual band ASUS router. I am used to having two separete networks that I can assign ...
Orbi doesn't easily allow you to have different SSIDs for 5GHz and 2.4GHz. It seems to connect to whatever bandwidth is "optimal". For example, I have seen my IPad connecting to either 5 and 2.4 GHz at different times.
It seems you want your clients to have Wi-Fi access but not interfere with your Wi-Fi. The Orbi allows you to enable a Guest Wi-Fi network which is independent from your regular network and has it's own SSID and password. We use it to give our visitors Wi-Fi access.
For your size house, the Netgear website recommends the Orbi WiFi System with a Router Base and 2 Satellites. That is what I have. I purchased mine from Costco where it is on sale right now for $380.
You can set different SSIDs via Orbi's CLI interface, but not the GUI. Have no idea about voiding the warranty (seems like FUD to me) but it's not a hidden command or anything (enable access to the CLI via the Orbi's debug interface, telnet into the CLI interface, configure it).
You may or may not need it depending on your setup. Some other devices may not like being on different bands from each other (Echos don't like it if you're streaming to multiple rooms, for example).
It's *ridiculous* you have to do this. But it is what it is. Netgear has bigger problems to fix with the OrbiOS, imo.