Orbi Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System, 6Gbps, Router V/S wired solution

[columbiagorge]

Regarding the Orbi Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System, 6Gbps, Router(RBR850 + 1 Satellite(RBS850). 6Gbps.Wow! I always thought of ethernet cable as faster than Wi-Fi radio. So, the “backhaul” is like a Virtual” cable between the router and satellite?

I know that it seems obvious that 6Gbps is greater than 1 Gbps, even so, please confirm for me which architecture would be more performant? (assuming ideal conditions & setup)

A Wi-Fi Router(RBR850) cabled to a 1 Gbps modem and a companion Wi-Fi Satellite (RBS850). (assuming both are setup properly and operating under ideal conditions).

-Or-

A 1Gbps switch cabled to a 1 Gbps modem and two (RBR850)  Wi-Fi routers cabled to the 1 Gbps switch. ( assuming that the second router is correctly configured—bridge, ssid…).

Thanks

[columbiagorge · Accepted solution]

Thank you, for your extremely helpful information. I respect your knowledge and beyond that, your willingness to share it.

[CrimpOn]

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@columbiagorge wrote:

Regarding the Orbi Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System, 6Gbps, Router(RBR850 + 1 Satellite(RBS850). 6Gbps.Wow! I always thought of ethernet cable as faster than Wi-Fi radio. So, the “backhaul” is like a Virtual” cable between the router and satellite?

I know that it seems obvious that 6Gbps is greater than 1 Gbps, even so, please confirm for me which architecture would be more performant? (assuming ideal conditions & setup)

A Wi-Fi Router(RBR850) cabled to a 1 Gbps modem and a companion Wi-Fi Satellite (RBS850). (assuming both are setup properly and operating under ideal conditions).

-Or-

A 1Gbps switch cabled to a 1 Gbps modem and two (RBR850)  Wi-Fi routers cabled to the 1 Gbps switch. ( assuming that the second router is correctly configured—bridge, ssid…).

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1. That "6GB" number is an artificial, theoretical calculation assuming that all three WiFi channels operate at maximum capacity supporting WiFi6 devices all of which support MIMO.  This will never happen.  It is a marketing fiction.
2. The second alternative is impossible.  Two routers cannot be connected to one modem through a switch. Only one router can be connected to a switch.

[columbiagorge]

Thanks CrimpOn,

As a follow up here is really what I am after.

Question:            Is a wired ethernet backhaul faster than a wireless backhaul?

Running the cable is not an issue for me.

Reference:         I am referring to …Under Support/RB850/Configuration/NETGEAR Support/What is Ethernet backhaul and how do I set it up on my Orbi WiFi System?

image shows “how to connect your Orbi satellites to your Orbi router using star topology to create an Ethernet backhaul connection.”

[FURRYe38]

Please visit and post about this over in the Orbi AX forum:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/bd-p/en-home-orbi-ax

Thank you.

[alokeprasad]

Not to extend this thread ... I'll take wired over wireless ANYDAY!

[CrimpOn]

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@alokeprasad wrote:

Not to extend this thread ... I'll take wired over wireless ANYDAY!

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absolutely correct. If you an run a cable, do it.

[alokeprasad]

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@CrimpOn wrote:

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@alokeprasad wrote:

Not to extend this thread ... I'll take wired over wireless ANYDAY!

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absolutely correct. If you an run a cable, do it.

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In fact, if you have phycally fixed devices, like TV's entertainment systems, game consoles, network storage, use switches and put them on a wired network. You get the fastest pings, lowest latencies and the best bandwidth for devices that typically need the most data rates.

That will also offload devices and traffic from your wireless network, which can then be used for mobile stuff like smartphones, tablets etc.

Put IOT devices on a separate guest network to isolate them from your LAN.

[columbiagorge · Accepted solution]

Thank you, for your extremely helpful information. I respect your knowledge and beyond that, your willingness to share it.