Update V1.9.1.12 Netgear officially announcing 'Improvement in wireless connection Stability'

20 years of IT. Engineer and Architect. I am no idiot with how to setup my technology. But I thought Orbi would look better and "simplify" my home. As I get older I want less complications with tech stuff. But so far this Orbi is requiring FAR more effort than my previous ASUS WIFI setup with backhaul Ethernet.

Same story. Orbi has been a disappointment, and is unable to serve its most basic function as a wireless access point device.

3 Apple TVs

3 iPhones

3 iPads

2 Macbooks

6 IP Cameras

xBox -Ethernet

PS4 - Ethernet

iPhones - Constant disconnects. I use WIFI calling due to poor cell reception. Today I am forced to disable WIFI and use my low cell signal because WIFI drops every 10-30 minutes. I work from home. Many conf calls. I cannot depend on my WIFI. Thanks Netgear!

iPads - Same conditions. Playing games. Facetime Chat...Guess what...disco....

AppleTV - I use Sling and DirectvNow, even played with Sony Vue. Hard to blame WIFI for Sling buffering problems, but for 2-3 months I get ALL AppleTVs showing "No Network Connections" pop up in the upper right corner, at least 3-5 times per day. Then it magically works again a few seconds later. As of now, with the new update...I tried to watch my favorite morning news show....I couldn't...AppleTV kept dropping every 5-10 minutes...never had that problem until now.

Macbooks - Sometimes, website just won't load for 1-2 minutes, then it just work. I reboot my MacBook, It cant connect to WIFI...I disable, re-enable a few times, then it work after 2-3 minutes.

Ip Cameras - I gave up. Moved them back to my ASUS 3200. They were useless with Orbi. They work great with my ASUS.

PS4 and xBox are on Ethernet...No problems...

And please DO NTO ask me if I have other wireless APs running, and is my placement good Please.

1. I spent days and hours using WIFI analyzer to INSURE satellites had a solid signal to the router. Also test signal roaming between sat and router to insure I did not have overlap problem.

2. Tried beamforming and MU-MIMO on and off.

3. And yes...I scan my entire home to insure I DO NOT have any other WIFI devices enabled. Always disable the radios on other WIFI AP devices.

4. Orbi reboots. Weekly. Soft and hard.

5. Even hacked the command line to separate the 2.4G and 5G SSIDs. That actually did work well. But the moment Netgear pushes a new firmware update or you make any changes to your radio channel, etc...It will role your custom command back to factory. I have better things to do that treat Orbi like a Cisco switch...Was not the Orbi sales pitch...SIMPLE?

Bottom line....When Orbi works...It works well. But this stability problem multiple times per day is pathetic!

Tonight, after family goes to sleep. I am going to switch back to my SINLGE ASUS 3200 and see how well it goes this week. Why did I go with Orbi, they promised;

1. Great wifi coverage in hour home so you would not have slow/dead spots.

2. Next-Gen MU-MIMO and beamforming

3. Guest Network

4.Fast, Fast, Fast

5. SIMPLICITY!!!!

What did I get...

1. Very unstable WIFI converage

2. Must disable MU-MIMO and beamforming because its unstable

3. Guest network is still CRAP. If you use IPV6 it does not isolate. It appends its own DNS suffix which can break networks.

4. Fast most times, when it works. But for some reason its not fast for IP Cameras.

5. SIMPLE...HAHAHAAH.....Does anyone on this forum believe spending countless hours on this forum looking for solutions to make Orbi WORK call that SIMPLE? Does chasing down problems with your devices and your family complaining call that SIMPLE? An App that cant provide details of connected devices and any other useful abilties...SIMPLE??? Not being able to quickly see what devices are connect to which Orbi unit so you can do some troubleshooting...SIMPLE???? Needing telnet into the Orbi and hack its command line to make it do the things you NEED it to do...SIMPLE?????

I wish I could return it but I can't, and I am still holding onto hope that Netgear can get this product working..But that hope is running low. I am ready dump it on EBay, take my financial loss, and run to something else. If I must do that...Well, you lost me for life....And my family and friends look to me for their buying guide for technology.

Netgear, making me upset can cost you at least $10,000. At $400 per Orbi kit....multiply by the people who only buy what I tell them to buy...If I say no to Orbi....All the Netgear marketing in the world will not outweigh my recommendation...