Can you use the Orbi RBR20 as a satelite to an existing RBR50?

[NickvanLawick]

Hi community,

I'm quite happy with my RBR50 -RBS50 set-up, however the wifi signal in our attic office is not too strong, we won't need a large area to cover so the smaller (and cheaper) RBS20 seems suitable, The wallsocket is even more expensive, hence this choice.

Wasn't paying attention with ordering on the webshop and ordered an Prbi RBR20 instead of the intended RBS20. And the RBS20 satellites are out of stock. So can I "downgrade" the RBR50 to a satelite or bridge the two routers?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Best regards,

Nick

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

Bridging isn't supported on Orbi...

[CrimpOn]

No Orbi "router" can be a satellite.  Never.

What you CAN do is connect the new RBR20 to the Orbi as an ordinary Access Point (AP).  It will act "like" a satellite in terms of not performing any router functions, but it will not be integrated with the rest of the Orbi network.  If the primary use in the office is for devices that rarely move, that's probably not too much of a problem.  If everything in the attic gets carried up and down stairs often, this may not be optimal.

[CrimpOn]

p.s. An Orbi router is a pretty expensive "ordinary access point".

[NickvanLawick]

Thank you CrimpOn,

Agree, setting up like an AP wouldn’t make sense. I’d like leverage the mesh capability, and like you said pretty expensive solution.

And bridging the two routers, is that an alternative?

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

Bridging isn't supported on Orbi...

[NickvanLawick]

Thank you both, am afraid I’ll return the router then.

[FURRYe38]

Good Luck.