Best Practice for RBK50 Router and satellite

[VFMass]

I just purchased the RBK50 WiFi router and single satellite extender. I still have dead zones as our business is 12,000 sq/ft on a single level. I currently have the router in a central location and the satellite extender within wifi range in one direction.

Question 1: Is it better to have it further away and connected by ethernet (5e connected via gigabit switch)?

I am most likely going to purchase a second satellite to extend the range.

Question 2: Can a satellite wirelessly piggyback off of the other wireless satellite or can it only connect to the router (as opposed to the satellite)? And/or, should it be hardwired to the satellite (or router) for better connectivity?

Thanks. I wish that Orbi had better documentation for best practices in setting up the network.

[plemans]

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@VFMass wrote:

I just purchased the RBK50 WiFi router and single satellite extender. I still have dead zones as our business is 12,000 sq/ft on a single level. I currently have the router in a central location and the satellite extender within wifi range in one direction.

Question 1: Is it better to have it further away and connected by ethernet (5e connected via gigabit switch)?

I am most likely going to purchase a second satellite to extend the range.

Question 2: Can a satellite wirelessly piggyback off of the other wireless satellite or can it only connect to the router (as opposed to the satellite)? And/or, should it be hardwired to the satellite (or router) for better connectivity?

Thanks. I wish that Orbi had better documentation for best practices in setting up the network.

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The Orbi's can daisy chain. Which means satellites can connect to each other.  So it'd go RBR50---RBS50---RBS50

If you have the option of a wired backhaul, I'd use it. I have all my satellites hardwired in and my orbi setup works great. 

the distance issue is one you can play with a little. Basically they need to be at least 30 ft apart. After that its a matter of spreading them out until you start seeing a decrease in performance. This can changed based up on objects in the area so its something you need to play with. 

[VFMass]

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@plemans wrote:

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@VFMass wrote:

I just purchased the RBK50 WiFi router and single satellite extender. I still have dead zones as our business is 12,000 sq/ft on a single level. I currently have the router in a central location and the satellite extender within wifi range in one direction.

Question 1: Is it better to have it further away and connected by ethernet (5e connected via gigabit switch)?

I am most likely going to purchase a second satellite to extend the range.

Question 2: Can a satellite wirelessly piggyback off of the other wireless satellite or can it only connect to the router (as opposed to the satellite)? And/or, should it be hardwired to the satellite (or router) for better connectivity?

Thanks. I wish that Orbi had better documentation for best practices in setting up the network.

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The Orbi's can daisy chain. Which means satellites can connect to each other.  So it'd go RBR50---RBS50---RBS50

If you have the option of a wired backhaul, I'd use it. I have all my satellites hardwired in and my orbi setup works great. 

// So, I could simply add an additional satellite to wirelessly connect to the other satellite. For a wired backhaul, it's OK to connect with switches in between or does it need to be cat 5e directly between RBR50/RBS50 or RBS50/RBS50?

[plemans]

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// So, I could simply add an additional satellite to wirelessly connect to the other satellite. For a wired backhaul, it's OK to connect with switches in between or does it need to be cat 5e directly between RBR50/RBS50 or RBS50/RBS50?

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Yes you can add an additional satellite and it'll daisy chain back to the main router. 

You can add switches in between Orbi's for connection. I've got a managed switch that was plug and play but some have reported issues with green switches or managed switches. 

https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-Sy...

[plemans]

12000 square feet is quite a bit of area to cover. I know the business class orbi's don't hit 12000 square feet until you get to the 5 pack of them.