RBK53 Orbi system or keep my RAX120 and add EAX80?

[ShrumIowa]

My RAX120 is not cutting it alone in my house. I am liking what I have heard about mesh systems. Would adding the EAX80 be true mesh system, or am I better off just going with the Orbi RBK53? What I want is complete coverage throughout my house.

[FURRYe38]

The EAX would work similarly to the Orbi system's satellites. 

What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router

Would be similar for your RAX system. 

House size vs Orbi systems:

https://www.netgear.com/orbi/default.aspx
https://www.netgear.com/orbi/wifi-systems.aspx
https://kb.netgear.com/000038220/What-are-the-hardware-specifications-of-the-available-Orbi-WiFi-Sys...

[ShrumIowa]

Thank you for your help! My house is roughly 4000 sq ft. 3 floors including my basement. So the EAX acts like a mesh system? I guess I’m not sure how it turns to a mesh system. I know with the Orbi system I can get outdoor coverage too that will help out by my pool.

[FURRYe38]

Well most MESH systems are based on having 3 wifi radios, 1 2.4 and 5Ghz and 1 5Ghz wireless backhaul for the main wifi connection between satellites or EX's that supports this. Orbi already has this built in. The 3rd 5Ghz radio is not user configurable or able to connect to with any wifi devices accept for the satellites. 

[FURRYe38]

Heres a wifi comparison between the RAX120 and EAX80:

RAX120:

WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Dual Band WiFi (AX6000)
- 2.4GHz AX: 4x4 (Tx/Rx) 1024-QAM
20/40MHz, up to 1.2Gbps
- 5GHz AX: 8x8 (Tx/Rx) 1024-QAM
20/40/80/160MHz, up to 4.8Gbps

EAX80:

WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Dual Band WiFi (AX6000)
— 2.4GHz AX: 4x4 (Tx/Rx) 1024-QAM
40MHz, up to 1.2Gbps
— 5GHz AX: 4x4 (Tx/Rx) 1024-QAM
160MHz, up to 4.8Gbps

EAX only handles 4.4 MIMO streams on 5Ghz vs the RAX has 8x8 MIMO streams. Mostly handling of bandwidith and device connections here. The connection rates are the same this is good. 

By the looks these only have 2 radios. So mostly the EAX would be a extender rather then a MESH system. 

[ShrumIowa]

Thank you , I completely understand now. I have never been a fan of extenders. I couldn’t find anything about a third radio for the EAX and RAX. Basically they threw the “mesh” in but it’s not a true mesh system. Only the Orbi system has them.

[FURRYe38]

Ya, Though EX works pretty good for what they do. When I have my XR450 dual band wifi router online as the main router, I connect 2 EX7700s to it. I get great coverage and operation with this configuration. 

If you want MESH though, Try a Orbi for your self. IF you need AX, you'll need to try the RBK852:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/bd-p/en-home-orbi-ax

[ShrumIowa]

Thank you for your help again! I just ordered my Orbi RBK53, I really don’t need AX at all. I run at 200/50

[FURRYe38]

Kewl. You'll be good. Run the system when it comes in with default firmware or if your interested in getting the latest version, v2.5.1.8 is available and for me and others, seems solid. They fix a bug with device naming problems in this version so it's working now. 

Hope the Orbi system works well for you. 

Keep in mind:

30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router