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Forum Discussion
Connect Satellite via Ethernet
I'm considering buying a 2 unit Orbi (router + 1 satellite). I have an existing home ethernet network, so I would connect the satellite to the router via 1 GB ethernet, giving a faster more reliable ...
Unfortunately, the backhaul is only via wireless. This means the Satellite will always just use wireless to talk to the Router, it can't connect via wired (a lot of people want this, hopefully Netgear adds it in a FW update!).
The Satellite does have 4 ports on the back and can switch traffic.
It is really unfortunate that the satellite can only connect via wireless and that it cannot use my existing gigabit ethernet cabling.
This forces me to use another solution. Hopefully Netgear is listening and makes wired satellite support a priority, considering that a lot of other users have requested this. If they add this feature in the next month. then I may consider switching back to Orbi, but this is really a show stopper for me and is forcing me to use another solution that does support this feature.
I hear you, but please understand that the whole main selling point of the Orbi system is to provide an effective wireless backhaul solution for folks who don't have the ability (or interest) to string ethernet all over their house.
If you have exisitng ethernet access points around yor house, you'd be better off using a (cheaper!) wired router/AP combo instead of the Orbi.
The notion of connecting Orbi router & sat via ethernet defeats the whole point of what the Orbi system is designed expressly to do (wireless backhaul).
TL;DR = if you have ethernet available now around your house that you can use, the Orbi system isn't the right solution for you.
Actually I am currently using a wired router/AP (access point) combo solution. My main reason for switching to a mesh network is to avoid having to manually switch between WiFi networks as wireless devices (phones, laptops, tablets) are moved from one end of the house to the other. All the WiFi access point solutions I'm aware of necessitates using a different Wifi network from the router.
Other mesh network solutions that support backhaul's using both wired and unwired satellites will automatically select between wired or ethernet, depending on which gives the faster connection. In my case, the satellite location would be separated from the router by 8 walls and 60 feet and the signal would be very weak, in which case a wired satellite would give a much faster connection.
Netgear would maybe do it, there have been requests for wired backhaul support before. Look at the second post here:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Wired-Connection-to-Satellite/td-p/1130282
A moderator says the feature is under consideration by Netgear.