Orbi Cable Modem

[JonAT]

My Comcast Cable modem handles TV, Internet, and two telephone lines. Is the new Orbi Cable Modem/WiFi Router a replacement?

[DarrenM]

Yes it would me used as you modem and router. It does not have telephone lines built into it like your current modem does.

DarrenM

[vkdelta]

if you have voice, CBK40 wont work. 

Ideal option is to keep existing Comcast Gateway, Turn off WIFI and add a RBK50 system. That way, you will get Orbi WIFI benefits and also get to keep your voice from Comcast. However, you will still pay rental charges. 

[FURRYe38]

If you get a RBR system, use the ISP modems DMZ for the Orbi router if you want to use the Orbi in router mode. Works well for this configuration. 

[mlhart06]

Sorry for the long winded question but i not super techie.  I have about 25 lifz lifht bulbs, several laptops, several iphones, and only increasing my home automation devices around the house.  House size is roughly 3800 sf. I am a comcast customer and considering a mesh unit to get away from the comcast monthly equipment fee.  I would like opinions on a few thing: Is my best move to go with the orbi cable modem/router? Currently my modem/router is on my main floor in the middle of my house.  I have switch downstairs connected to the router which currently houses apple tv and an av receiver.  Most of my lifx bulbs are on the main floor and located no further then 150 ft from the router/modem.  My connectivity upstairs in my bedroom is not good as its the farther from the router/modem.  I'm also having issues with my lifx bulbs in front of my house (roughtly the same distance as my bedroom - east).  I also better connectivity to my pool outside (roughtly  the same distance as my bedroom - west). I guess here I'm looking for how many hubs i need and best placement of those hubs.  Last few questions - will WPA3 Protocol be an sortware update ?  Also, is docsis 3.0 good enought for the near future or should i be considering 3.1.  I'm not a gamer but I do plan on expanding my home automation hardware .  Im an apple homekit guy by nature if that matters.

Thank you in advance for your time and answers.

[FURRYe38]

For a 3800sqft home, any Orbi system would work well. I presume you may need more then just one satellite due to the nature of how many devcies you have connected. Having more devices wirelessly connected to one wireless AP source will be taxing upon it. Having additional sources like a satellite or two will help spread the load of having so many devices online.

What is the Mfr and model# of the switch your using? There are some known user experiences with managed switches not working well with Orbi systems. So NON managed switches are recommended. I have several and haven't seen any problems with my CBK40 system. I use wired back haul as well with my one satellite.

Whats the Mfr and model if your current modem/router.

My home is 5000sq ft and have the Orbi cable modem/router at one end of the house up stairs and at the far end, 40 feet away, is the 1 satellite. I get great coverage and performance since I installed it.

The CBK is based on the NG CM700 D3.0 cable modem. Its supposidly can handle up to 1Gb ISP speeds on the down. It would be up to the ISPs to support D3.0 going forward and since 3.1 has been released into the wild and it's slowly getting integration, at some point, ISPs will eventually stop 3.0 support. I would only imaging that 3.0 would not be supported for several or many more years to come. 3.1 has to fully take over before 3.0 will go away. Again, will be up to ISPs at that point.

Since I got my CBK40 in house, and considering it's longevity, eventually the modem may become out dated or not supported. Balencing that with ISP support and new future products 5-10 years from now, the one draw back I see is that, if the modem isn't supported any more, there no way to take the system to a AP mode only configuration, thus disable the cablemodem and router and still have the flexibility to use the wireless MESH system by it self. Unfortuneately this is a standard for these kinds of cable modem/router combo products. So if some thing should happend to the cable modem portion of the CBK40, then the entire system is kind of hamstung due to it's dependency of the cable modem connect and it's tied to the router portion which NG has told me, there will be no support for disabling the cable modem on the CBR40 and have the use of a router/wireless AP configuration. Theres only Gateway mode and Briddge mode, so this means the CBK40 runs as the cable modem, DHCP, router and main wireless in Gateway mode. Bridge mode means that when this is set, The DHCP, Router and wireless portions are ALL disabled, leaving the cable modem portion enabled and acting like a cable modem only. Ya, kind of a spendy cable modem in this configuration if you ask me.

To me this is the only draw back. One suggestion would be to get your own ISP Modem, Motorola, Arris and others have stand along ISP modems that you can buy and ISPs will support them on there network. Then you could by the non cable modem version of the Orbi, RBK40 or 50 series and connect it up.

Otherwise the Orbi has been working for me well. I just installed a non cable Orbi version at my friends house after I loaned him mine, he liked it and wanted his own. His is running well.

Seen some issues over on the non cable Orbi system regarding problems with Apple Home Kit. I believe those problems have been addressed by NG. I think I only have the Apple TV. I don't use it much. Just as a wireless to Digital audio interface to listening to music. I don't do much home kit off at all. More of a gamer here.

WP3 has been ratified, however the chipset Mfrs have to develop, test and update there stuff before getting to Mfrs like NG. Probably will not see anything if at all on current Orbi systems and other products any time soon. If we do, it may not come to current products depending if chipset Mfrs and Mfrs choose to include current and prior products. Im sure there will be some decisions regarding this at some point.  I wouldn't be looking for WPA3 to hit for at least another year or two. Depending on how fast they work to get it going. Could be longer. Theres many many devices out there that would need upgrading and future products included. Seems momumental.

[mlhart06]

Thanks for the quick response - kinda over my head thought.  Because I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve, you recommending I purchase a modem w 3.1 and then use Orbi as router mesh?  Will WPA3 be a hardware update or a software update? Netgear says it will be a software update.  How do i know where is the best spot to place the orbi satellite? Being that currently my router is located in the main living room but close to the floor (thats really the only spot I can have it) and it connects downstairs via switch to av rec, app tv.  Wireless reception actually not bad down there because 1) we  dont spent much time down there. 2) a/v and apple tv are hardwire via switch, and the only other usage would be from iphone as we sit on the couch which is almost directly under the router upstairs. My thinking was that I would probably place a sattelite (plug in) in the hallway (near my bedroom) as I'm trying to range to the outside of my garage lights (same distance as my bedroom but only east 150 sf, and to my pool area (same distance as my bedroom but only west150 sf.)  Also if you could be so kind, explain to me since how if most of my bulbs are centrally located, how other satellite orbi's lessens the burdon on the cable modem orbi if they are all relatively near the main cable modem.

Also, can you tell me why Orbi is a better choice over eero.  Other then the fact that Orbi offers a unit as a cable modem, I'm getting alot of push from other IT people to go with Eero.

Again your time and answers are greatly appreciated.

MH

[FURRYe38]

Yes.

For current products, would be a software update.

30 feet in between the base and satellite I've found to be the best starting point. Any closer and we've seen problems. You'll need place and set up the satellite and then review the routers connected status page to see the status of GOOD or POOR. Keeping in mind the 30feet distance starting point. The main router can cover a fairly large area by it self.

The orbi system should help connect all devices to what freqency and which satellite, based on range, signal and any interfences. So depending upon these bulbs and how they are designed will play a roll as well. They may want to connect to the satellite vs the base. Which is ok as well.

I can only give you my feedback regarding this model and the Orbi RBK50. The cable modem model has been stellar for me since I've installed it with just the modem base and 1 satellite. I've had very little issues with it, there was one problem initially when I first got it installed and NG was quick to fix it. Other than this, coverage, range and performance is well done on this model. I had loaned my unit to a good friend down the road from me to see if he wanted something new. He needed a new router upgrade so I let him try mine. I also let him try my NG R7800 router as well. It's a good solid router, just not a MESH wifi router. He said he like the Orbi system better and seemed to be a bit faster than the R7800. So I recommended the non cable model version of Orbi since he already had a working cable modem. He bought the RBK50 from costco and had me install it. Been working great for him:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-firmware-update-v2-1-4-16-availability/m-p/1592753/highli...

I have not experienced Eero so I don't know what it's about or how well it works or any problems with it. In the end you'll need to determine what works well for your house and your needs. I would do this however, I would find a place, either locally or online that has a good refund policy, get the Orbi system and try it out. If it doesn't work well for you, then you can go for the Eero. Same with Eero, try it out, return it if it doesn't work.

[mlhart06]

First I want to thank everyone for their quick responses and simplified talk.  I have always had Netgear modem routers and can say that i hate talking on the phone with customer support, but this venue really makes me more comfortable about the product.

The final questions i have before making my purchases is:

1) Doing my due diligence on the Orbi product line, I'm reading all kinds of negative issue with the Orbi going offline several times a day.  Not necessarily the RBK40 but certainly with the RBK50 and others.  Its this issue happening throughout the product line or only on certain models.  I'm not super techie but I was thinking the firmware would be relative consistent between orbi product lines.  Please advise here.

2) My biggest reason to moving to the Orbi system is my wanting to reach the back of my property line for IOT bulbs and camera's I have back there.  Has there been any issues with adding the outdoor satelite to the RBK40.  The ability to have consistent access to the back of my property is crucial.

3)Hometkit.  I am a huge apple hometkit person.  I read that there was an firmware update to resolve some homekit issues.  Has that been resolved?  

You honesty is great appreciated here.  This is an expensive unit and infastructure and all i ask is your openess and honesty.

Thank you for your time and input.

Mike H

[FURRYe38]

Maybe however this maybe due to mis-configurationds or environmental conditions.

I set up my friends 50 series and he loves his. No issues:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-firmware-update-v2-1-4-16-availability/m-p/1592753/highli...

I loaned him mine first before he bought his. Wanted to try it out first.

Others have had good experiences with there systems.

[mlhart06]

I'm not sure if you address the bullets points individually.  I did read you experience setting things up and the success you've had, just worried about the tons of complaints regarding some of the buggy issue by people more techie then me.  Overwhelmingly it points back to the product and operating system.

If you could be so kind to address each bullet point question I would greatly appreciate it.

Also, would you know how i change my password for my longin on this community website.

Thanks You.

Mike  

[FURRYe38]

I'm seeing alot of mis-configuration issues, placement and connectivity issues with certain devices, mainly network switches. Working with people over the past few months and helping to trouble shoot real issues, most problems are resolve with some troubleshooting and a clean factory reset. Most of all of this doesn't point to FW or HW issues. There maybe a few FW and HW related problems here and there. Those we ask them to conect NG support and get a RMA going.

The outdoor satellite is supported and given the building materials inbetween the base and the out door satellite and placement distance, you should be able to get wifi out side. I'm currently getting wifi at around 20 feet beyond out side of my home. Placement will be key.

I don't use any HomeKit devices. I do have 3 cameras and 2 NEST controllers and all work well with the CBK40...