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I have an Orbi Router (RBR50) and 3 Satellites (RBS50) purchased in 2018. All have Router Firmware Version V2.7.4.24 installed and no new firmware versions are available. The RBR50 Router is connected with an Ethernet cable to my Cox Cable modem; both are located in a utility room in the middle of my single story condo. The 3 RBS50’s Satellites are located in rooms on the perimeter of the condo that have windows; two are physically near windows. I am thinking of transferring my internet service to a T-Mobile 5G home internet modem. However, the modem must be placed near a window for best service/reception. T-Mobile confirmed that I have a very strong signal in my area because of nearby towers. Can someone confirm if my specific Orbi is a mesh network so if I connect the T-Mobile modem using an Ethernet cable to one of the RBS50 Satellites, I will have wifi at the other two satellites and the RBR50 router?
The definition of "mesh" is indeed ambiguous. Many manufacturers designed their products to be universal. All devices are identical, and thus any of them can be connected to the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Netgear designed their products where routers and satellites are different. (This often frustrates customers wanting expansion who purchase a "set" and find that the new router is useful only as a spare because it cannot be turned into a satellite.)
All Netgear Orbi systems are designed this way.
All Orbi systems support a "Daisy Chain" concept which allows a satellite to connect to the router through another satellite.
100ft may be a "bit much". However, satellites are portable and easily relocated. Before abandoning the existing equipment, it would be worth experimenting with different satellite locations to see which work better.
I'm assuming that it's as easy as disconnecting the ethernet cable from the Cox modem going to the Router, and plugging the ethernet cable from the T-Mobile device into one of the Satellites.
I have retained the owners manual, so if there are any other steps, please let me know and I'll do the research.
All have Router Firmware Version V2.7.4.24 installed and no new firmware versions are available.
As @FURRYe38 pointed out, there is a firmware update available on the Netgear support web site. (This does not affect the question that was asked.)
if I connect the T-Mobile modem using an Ethernet cable to one of the RBS50 Satellites, I will have wifi at the other two satellites and the RBR50 router?
Not a chance. No. Never. The internet connection must be connected to the RBR50 router with an Ethernet cable. Connecting to one of the satellites will not work. Depending on the physical layout, you could consider running an Ethernet cable from the window location to the router location.
Sorry, forgot to include the other option of swapping the router and one of the satellites.
The condo is about 100 feet long with many walls. The router is currently about midway between the two ends.
Will the satellite moved to the utility room 1/2 way across the condo talk to the satellite in the bedroom farthest away from the router since it will most likely be out of the router's range?
The definition of "mesh" is indeed ambiguous. Many manufacturers designed their products to be universal. All devices are identical, and thus any of them can be connected to the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Netgear designed their products where routers and satellites are different. (This often frustrates customers wanting expansion who purchase a "set" and find that the new router is useful only as a spare because it cannot be turned into a satellite.)
All Netgear Orbi systems are designed this way.
All Orbi systems support a "Daisy Chain" concept which allows a satellite to connect to the router through another satellite.
100ft may be a "bit much". However, satellites are portable and easily relocated. Before abandoning the existing equipment, it would be worth experimenting with different satellite locations to see which work better.
The condo is about 100 feet long with many walls. The router is currently about midway between the two ends.
In other words, we are talking about 50 feet from router to extremities.
With satellites carefully positioned, that could put no WiFi client no more than 25 feet from a satellite. Not a giant leap for many Mesh systems. But "many walls" may be more an issue.
Thanks again. I may have exaggerated the distance of the condo. The router that is roughly in the center of the condo has good connectivity with the existing satellites, whatever the distance is between them (probably no more than 30 feet). Thank you for reminding me of the term "daisy chain"...I could not recall it when I made my post. I appreciate the recommendation to keep my product, so I will experiment as you suggest and hopefully the daisy chain will work from one end of the condo to the other.
