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Forum Discussion
Extending Orbi with EX3700
I have a Netgear EX3700 extender that I'd like to use as an Extender and install in a nearby shop building and connect it to the closest sattelite on my Orbi RBK23 system. But it doesn't seem to be working. Does the EX3700 have to connect to the main Orbi (which is in AP mode)? I can get it to connect to the sattelite, but then it has no internet connection. It seems like it works when I put it near the main unit, but it doesn't seem to want to daisy chain off the closest sattelite.
If I bought a Netgear AC750 (or AC1200) would those be able to daisy chain off my closest sattelite?
31 Replies
OrbiRocks wrote:I have a Netgear EX3700 extender that I'd like to use as an Extender and install in a nearby shop building and connect it to the closest sattelite on my Orbi RBK23 system. But it doesn't seem to be working. Does the EX3700 have to connect to the main Orbi (which is in AP mode)? I can get it to connect to the sattelite, but then it has no internet connection. It seems like it works when I put it near the main unit, but it doesn't seem to want to daisy chain off the closest sattelite.
If I bought a Netgear AC750 (or AC1200) would those be able to daisy chain off my closest sattelite?
This is the product, correct: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/EX3700.aspx
When you follow the setup video and connect it to the satellite (in the same room to reduce travel time), and then connect something to the extender SSID, does the device "connect"? Does it get an IP address?
I have connected a similar Netgear extender to my Orbi when I was investigating an IoT device that was difficult to set up. Worked fine. Although to be honest, I did connect it to the router because I was doing the experiment in my "lair".
Yes, that is the device. I can connect to it after I have set it up, but I have no internet.
OrbiRocks wrote:Yes, that is the device. I can connect to it after I have set it up, but I have no internet.
Does the device get network setup information:
- IP address?
- Gateway IP address?
- DNS IP address?
Since the Orbi is in Access Point (AP) mode, the Gateway and DNS IP addresses should be identical to every other device, and the device IP address should be in the same "subnet" as the other WiFi devices.
Well that was quick...
Seems like my post dissapeared??
I guess I could retype it all. Spent quite a bit of time talking with support and learned some new info.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong here. Posted reply two times, and both times it has been deleted. I didn't think I said anything negative, not sure I understand why my posts are being removed.
1. You can not reliably connect any Netgear (or any other brand) Extender to an Orbi. It may work one time and not another, and even when succesful it will only connect to one band, not both. This has been exactly what I have experienced.
2. The person I spoke to was not aware of any Beta firmware for the EX3700 to make it work better with an Orbi.
3. Connecting an extender also causes the Orbi bandwidth to split, which reduces the whole speed of your Orbi system, and is not recomended for this reason.
4. The only reliable way to extend an Orbi is with another Orbi sattelite, like the RBW30, RBS20, or RBS50. This is however the most expensive route to go. The cheapest one (RBW20) is around $150.
5. I enquired about the Power Line adapters thinking this might be a better solution for my shop building. I learned the range on them is about 200 meters, but both adapters must be connected to the same "leg" or phase of the power system.
Running underground CAT6 is another option, but it will ending up costing about the same as a power line adapter, and will be a lot more work.I see this post.
OrbiRocks wrote:1. You can not reliably connect any Netgear (or any other brand) Extender to an Orbi. It may work one time and not another, and even when succesful it will only connect to one band, not both. This has been exactly what I have experienced.
2. The person I spoke to was not aware of any Beta firmware for the EX3700 to make it work better with an Orbi.
There is FW that allows a EX3700 or 7700 to connect to Orbi systems.
3. Connecting an extender also causes the Orbi bandwidth to split, which reduces the whole speed of your Orbi system, and is not recomended for this reason.
4. The only reliable way to extend an Orbi is with another Orbi sattelite, like the RBW30, RBS20, or RBS50. This is however the most expensive route to go. The cheapest one (RBW20) is around $150.
5. I enquired about the Power Line adapters thinking this might be a better solution for my shop building. I learned the range on them is about 200 meters, but both adapters must be connected to the same "leg" or phase of the power system.
Running underground CAT6 is another option, but it will ending up costing about the same as a power line adapter, and will be a lot more work.BTW, I also asked about connecting the newer Netgear Mesh Network Extenders and was told they are also problematic to use with the Orbi and will cause bandwidth to slip.
OrbiRocks wrote:Does the EX3700 have to connect to the main Orbi (which is in AP mode)? I can get it to connect to the sattelite, but then it has no internet connection. It seems like it works when I put it near the main unit, but it doesn't seem to want to daisy chain off the closest sattelite.
Amazon delivered my Netgear EX3700 today. Connected to my Orbi satellite. (not to the router, which was 25ft. farther away). It created two Separate WiFi networks: MyOrbiName_2GEXT and MyOrbiName_5GEXT. When I connect to the EX3700 extender, there is a brief "flash" message "No Internet", which soon disappears. Have fine Internet. I notice some "odd things":
- Although the extender claims that it sucessfully connects to the Orbi satellite at both 2.4G and 5G, within a few minutes the Attached Devices screen shows it attached at only 5G and the Extender's own web page shows it to be connected only at 5G. Not sure what to make of this except that the Orbi probably says, "Oh, get real. Why mess around with 2.4G when you are happy at 5G?"
- The Attached Devices display describes the extender as "EX3700" which is correct, but has an icon for a smartphone and a model name of "Apple." This is on firmware 2.5.1.16. A bit disappointing given the intense interest in device descriptions.
- I was fascinated to see that the EX3700 appears to be capable of "extending" two different networks at the same time. i.e. the 2.4G WiFi and the 5G WiFi can be different. This is not really relevant in the Orbi arena, but would be in regard to Nighthawk routers.
So where are we? Yes, it will extend WiFi from the satellite. Would I deploy one myself? Maybe if I had a specific need. My biggest disappointment is that the ethernet port is only 10/100 (no gigabit). Not surprising considering the age of the product.
Can the 3700 do single SSID support? I know my 7700s can...
FURRYe38 wrote:Can the 3700 do single SSID support? I know my 7700s can...
Somehow I doubt it. When this topic came up, my biggest question was, "Are we serious about the old (and cheap) EX3700? Or, is this just an idle question?" I just wanted to verify whether it will connect to an Orbi satellite, and it does. It has entertained me for an hour, and now will go "into the box of toys".
By default the EX3700 tacks on "2GEXT and 5GEXT" to the WiFi SSID. When I clicked in the SSID box, a notice popped up that Netgear recommends using unique SSID's for the extender WiFi so as not to interfere with the primary networks. If both the 2.4G and 5G WiFi SSID's were the same, my guess is it would not be happy.
p.s. Many (many) years ago, someone asked me very seriously if I thought buying a Sinclair computer for $40 was a good investment.
"Investment!", I exclaimed. "I have spent $40 on a bottle of wine that is gone in under an hour. If the Sinclair provides you with a learning opportunity, and you lose interest in it, just take a hammer and beat it into little pieces."
