Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
I recently purchased the RBE773 (Orbi 770 3-pack system) - got a nice deal
1) 5 GHz - Use channel 40 (default) or one of the 5GHz DFS channels?
Is there a benefit to changing the 5GHz channel from '40' to one of the 5GHz DFS channels? Or is there a reason the 5GHz channel is set to 40 by default (related to wireless backhaul perhaps)?
While I read some posts about Wifi 7 and that the Orbi settings cannot be changed (and hence the admin screen settings only shows 2.4GHz and 5GHz and does not refer to Wifi 7), I have a few questions related to Wifi 7:
2) Wifi 7 - How to check that Wifi 6E and Wifi 7 are even working on the Orbi 770/970?
In the Orbi admin (192.168.1.1) screen, I do NOT see any reference to Wifi 7? I do not even see 6GHz noted, except for the satellites under Attached Devices? For the satellites, it shows 'Connection Type", "5GHz + 6GHz".
But even then, that could be Wifi 6E and not Wifi 7.
There is no explicit confirmation in the screen that the router or satellites even have Wifi 7 band enabled / in use?
Any insights would be appreciated, thanks!
3) Wifi 7 USB adapter connecting to 5 Ghz and not connecting to Wifi 6E or Wifi 7?
I have a Wifi 7 (Realtek 8912AU) USB adapter, but I see it is connected to the 5GHz band and not 6 GHz.
Shouldn't my Wifi 7 adapter connect to Wifi 7 by default (assuming signal strength is strong enough)?
4) MLO Backhaul - Under 'Advanced' > 'Advanced' (again) > 'Advanced Wireless Settings', I see the following option (disabled by default). What are the pros and cons of enabling MLO Backhaul?
Because they have to be read by every WiFi device, no matter how old, they use only the lowest possible speed setting (6MHz for the 5G frequency). There is a panel in the Orbi 'app' called WiFi Analytics which displays the number of WiFi systems broadcasting management frames on each frequency. (swipe right to reach this display).
Selecting a frequency with the fewest WiFi systems means less possibility of interference.
However, regular data frames, 99.9% of the activity, use the widest number of channels possible. No matter what channel has been set for control activity, when it comes to sending data, every WiFi system tries to use as wide a data band (number of channels) as are available at that instant.
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
MLO is a mode of connection only. If a wifi device supports WiFi 7 and supports 5 and 6Ghz frequencies, the device will connect to both 5 and 6Ghz for a multi link connection. MLO is automatic on all BE series systems. Even on the 770 series, it's in operation. The MLO Backhaul is already working and I believe this user changeable option is no available on newer versions of FW and maybe no longer seen on the 770 series in future FW updates. Again, it's all automatic and based on wifi device support. The MLO Backhaul is NOT accessible by user wifi devices and only by the RBS when wirelessly connected.
Note that you need a device that support WiFi7 and installed on a OS that supports WiFi7 specs. Windows 11 24H2 only supports this feature. Windows versions lower then that do not.
I recently purchased the RBE773 (Orbi 770 3-pack system) - got a nice deal
1) 5 GHz - Use channel 40 (default) or one of the 5GHz DFS channels?
Is there a benefit to changing the 5GHz channel from '40' to one of the 5GHz DFS channels? Or is there a reason the 5GHz channel is set to 40 by default (related to wireless backhaul perhaps)?
While I read some posts about Wifi 7 and that the Orbi settings cannot be changed (and hence the admin screen settings only shows 2.4GHz and 5GHz and does not refer to Wifi 7), I have a few questions related to Wifi 7:
2) Wifi 7 - How to check that Wifi 6E and Wifi 7 are even working on the Orbi 770/970?
In the Orbi admin (192.168.1.1) screen, I do NOT see any reference to Wifi 7? I do not even see 6GHz noted, except for the satellites under Attached Devices? For the satellites, it shows 'Connection Type", "5GHz + 6GHz".
But even then, that could be Wifi 6E and not Wifi 7.
There is no explicit confirmation in the screen that the router or satellites even have Wifi 7 band enabled / in use?
Any insights would be appreciated, thanks!
3) Wifi 7 USB adapter connecting to 5 Ghz and not connecting to Wifi 6E or Wifi 7?
I have a Wifi 7 (Realtek 8912AU) USB adapter, but I see it is connected to the 5GHz band and not 6 GHz.
Shouldn't my Wifi 7 adapter connect to Wifi 7 by default (assuming signal strength is strong enough)?
4) MLO Backhaul - Under 'Advanced' > 'Advanced' (again) > 'Advanced Wireless Settings', I see the following option (disabled by default). What are the pros and cons of enabling MLO Backhaul?
Because they have to be read by every WiFi device, no matter how old, they use only the lowest possible speed setting (6MHz for the 5G frequency). There is a panel in the Orbi 'app' called WiFi Analytics which displays the number of WiFi systems broadcasting management frames on each frequency. (swipe right to reach this display).
Selecting a frequency with the fewest WiFi systems means less possibility of interference.
However, regular data frames, 99.9% of the activity, use the widest number of channels possible. No matter what channel has been set for control activity, when it comes to sending data, every WiFi system tries to use as wide a data band (number of channels) as are available at that instant.
Thanks a lot! I was considering schecking how much competing 5GHz activity is nearby and which channels they are using.
But for now I may leave the channel alone given the benefit might be limited anyway as you noted.
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
Other WiFi adapters used on Windows 11 have settings for which WiFi band to prefer. (Right click on the adapter in Windows Network Devices and select Properties.) Does this TP-Link adapter have options for how to connect?
Do you happen to have any other devices which support the 6GHz frequency band?
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
I bought a Archer BE9500 PCI adapter last year to see if it would work on MLO. Would not. Turned out TP-Link didn't have MLO implemented. They use MicroTek I believe. I returned it. I watched the threads over there but wasn't sure if they got it implemented. There is ariticles about that Mfr being under scrutiny now.
Since then I bought a Intel BE200 PCI card and it fully supports MLO on Win11 24H2.
You might try NGs USB Adatpers and see or find you a Intel based USB MLO adapter.
I set the TP-Link to 6GHz as preferred and it still chose to connect to the 5GHz band.
On my ~1.4Gbps internet connection with my Orbi 770 3 unit system, I got a 736 Mbps download speed a few minutes ago from the TP-Link BE6500UH (opposite side of the house from the router, but open floor plan). Getting 648 - 736Mbps (did 3 tests today - got 648, 702 and 736 Mbps just now).
EDIT - In the same room as the Orbi 770 router, the TP-Link got 1,1116 Mbps down just now.
I also have a Netgear A8000 Wifi 6E USB adapter which got about 466 Mbps on Speedtest today across the hour from the Orbi.
UPDATE - I will test the Netgear in the same room as the router a bit later today.
Pretty sure the speeds on this same A8000 adapter were MUCH faster with the RBK853 (which I recently replaced with the Orbi 770). Not super surprising since the RBK853 was a beast when it comes to range. I did some comparisons and the Orbi 770 was not bad though (or I would have returned it).
Couple the ranges between the two being in the same ballpark for the most part with the higher maximum wifi speeds of the 770 and on my cell phone, I did get better speeds than when I was using the RBK853.
For comparison my Fall 2023 cell phone got a whopping 1,321 Mbps when I tested it in the same room as the router.
Debating whether to return it - speeds are good, but it does not support Wifi 7 well / fully - not sure if it is because of the Orbi 770's current implementation or the TP-Link...
I tested a much much cheaper clone of the TP-Link Wifi 7 USB adapter (same exact Realtek chipset as the TP-Link) using the TP-Link's drivers, but it kept disconnecting at times. Also some mention the clone is not Wifi 7 (might be its drivers). I used TP-Link's drivers on the clone as noted. I may try another similar clone or may wait for other companies to deliver Wifi 7 adapters that actually.
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
FYI, That Mfr seems to be late to come forth with new stuff after they go to market. I bought one of there BE series PCI cards last year. Had no BE or MLO support so I returned it. No idea if they ever got MLO support on it or not. I can't recommend that company.
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
Thanks a lot Furry!
Yes, unless I can consistently get much better actual download speeds from the so-called "Wifi 7" TP-Link adapter than my Netgear wifi 6E A8000 USB adapter's download speeds, I will return the TP-Link adapter given the lack of Wifi 7 support in the initial driver.
This adapter took close to 1 year to come to market after announcement.
For $129 (on sale from $179), the TP-Link should at least support 802.11be as it claims.
I assume my Orbi 770 does not need any special non-default settings to support 802.11be...
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
Something to post over on there forums about. LOL.
Ya, they seems to be lacking in full feature support after going to market. I tried one of there gaming routers years ago. Sent it back too. I personally now avoid that mfr due to there historical nefarious reasons.
No configurations needed. My Intel BE200 PCI card connects fine and when connected shows MLO on the Orbi system.
I need to check on this again as I just put my RBR770 online yesterday. 😉
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
The odd thing is at least one person on the Best Buy site reviews for the TP-Link adapter claims with MLO it is getting twice the speed as their Netgear A8000 USB adapter and mentions wifi 7 in their review (so same two adapters I am using, although the7y did not mention which mesh system / router they are using).
Someone else mentions they are not seeing wifi 7 though.
TP-Link replied to the review with this:
wifi 7 is NOT available in all versions of windows 11. you must have 24H2 in order to use this feature. due to the complexity of ALL of the different drivers, PC configurations, and wifi devices, the roll out is slow as additional tests and drivers are built in to it. while most of these use the same intel chipset, PCs with built-in solutions will likely get the updates first, followed by the custom DIY/ plug n play solutions. neither complaint here is valid as neither one can be solved by TP-Link or any other manufacturer. WiFi 7 is essentially gated behind microsoft updates + your specific hardware configuration
So I wonder what hardware configuration is being referred to.
The laptop I am testing the TP-Link with is a Dell XPS 15 9530 with a 13th Gen Intel i7 CPU and 64GB RAM running Windows 11 24H2.
I will also test the TP-Link with my desktop (13th Gen i7 13700H 64 GB RAM) when I get a chance...
(*Amount of RAM should not matter for wifi 7 support of course, but mentioned it for reference only).
Re: Orbi 770 - Use MLO backhaul? Use 5Ghz DFS or leave at 40? And Wifi 7 connection issue questions.
I believe TPLink may use Milrotek chip set vs Intel. Intel is known and seems to be working for BE connections. The PCI card I got was Mikrotek. After I got my Intel cards in, I started seeing MLO connections, i.e. WiFi 7
Yes, 24H2 is needed for any 7/MLO support.
My PCI card is install in a HP z640 Workstation with 24H2 installed on it. Ram isn't a factor for WiFi.
Re:Archer TBE6500UH: Tri-Band High Gain Wi-Fi 7 USB Adapter - No 802.11BE
@skiingj This is the response I received from tp-link. One of their statements is contradictory which I highlighted. My UniFi AP has “Real-time spectral analysis for enhanced channel selection” so this is not the issue.
Thanks for your contact. There are 2 issues mentioned:
1. The TBE6500UH always prefers to use 5GHz/ax, with a link speed of only 688 Mbps.
2. Occasionally, it can connect to 5GHz/be with a link speed of 2882 Mbps, but it has never successfully connected to the Unifi MLO dual bands (5+6GHz).
Regarding the first issue, the TBE6500UH on Windows may occasionally display 802.11be as 802.11ax. This issue will be addressed in a future driver update. The 688 Mbps link speed corresponds to 802.11be Mode with a Channel Width of 40MHz, which indicates the card is indeed operating in BE Mode. However, it only negotiated a 40MHz bandwidth with the AP, which may be due to occasional channel interference or DFS interference.This is a normal occurrence. To improve the situation, it is recommended to try changing the channel.
Regarding the second issue, the TBE6500UH does not currently support MLO, but support for this feature will be added in a future driver update.
(end quote)
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So in short, based on their reply above, TP-Link took forever to release the adapter ("coming soon" for many many months) and, when it finally did get released, they did not even implement Wifi 7 properly / fully.
That said, even though it says connected to 5GHz only, I do see a 2882 Mbps link rate each time. And got reasonably high speeds when close to Orbi 770 router.
But for Wifi 7 it should be up to 6500 Mbps.
Let me do some testing later today if / when I get a chance.
