![]() ![]() This is because a single high-end router, such as the Netgear R8500 or the Asus RT-AC5300, which cost about the same, won't be able to deliver the same Wi-Fi coverage. If the two initial units can cover your entire home (which is likely) then that convenience may just be enough to warrant the purchase. That said, the Orbi is at least worth trying out if you find your current network has trouble reaching spots in your home. But it's still less than the Eero, which costs $100 more. $400 (for the router and one extender unit) is a lot of money to spend on a router. Never once was I disconnected, or even experienced significantly diminished speeds compared to when I was standing still. In my trial, I constantly moved from one end of the house to another - forcing the device to switch from the Orbi router's original Wi-Fi network to the extended network of the add-on unit and vice versa - while doing a speed test. The system also has an excellent hand-off mechanism. While it's not the fastest Wi-Fi system on the market, it's faster than many - and more than fast enough to deliver even the fastest internet speed. Note that for Wi-Fi clients, the Orbi supports the dual-stream setup of the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, meaning it has a top speed of 877Mbps on the 5Ghz band and 400Mbps on the 2.4Ghz band. Most importantly, I connected at the same speed whether connecting to the router or the extender, meaning there was no signal loss in the extension Wi-Fi network. In my testing, with just two units, the Orbi achieved about the same range as the Eero which includes three units. This is where the Orbi is decidedly better than the Eero. The process is not as easy as that of the Eero, but if you follow the included quick setup guide, you'll get configured without much problem. ![]() Now you can change the Wi-Fi network's name and password - if you're not happy with the default one - and manage other features of the router. From a connected computer or mobile device, you can access this interface by going to or use the router's default IP, which is 192.168.1.1. In my experience, it's a matter of luck to find a perfect spot to place the add-on unit, both in terms of signal and how the device physically blends in with the surroundings, but this is true of all Wi-Fi extenders.īoth the router and the add-on unit come with a Sync button on the back, in case you want to connect the add-on to a new Orbit router, or when you get an additional add-on unit for your network.Ĭonfiguring your Orbi network is like that of any Netgear router, or any router with a web interface. Solid blue means a great signal, solid amber means you might want to move it a bit closer to the main router, and solid magenta means it's way too far. The add-on unit has helpful, color-changing LED rings on top that indicate the quality of the signal at its location. Place it too far and there's not much signal to extend too close, and you won't get the optimal Wi-Fi coverage, possibly missing some parts of your house. ![]() The only tricky part is finding the right distance to place the add-on unit. The two are preconfigured to work together, and the satellite will automatically replicate the Wi-Fi settings of the main router. After that, place the add-on satellite unit at a distance from the main router, then turn it on and you're done. First you connect the main Orbi router to an internet source like a broadband modem and turn it on. Setting up the Orbi system is fairly easy. In my trial, for a 3,000 square-foot home, the Orbi system - one router and one add-on extender unit - was able to cover every corner. That's where you'll want to place the Orbi router, then put the satellite in the middle of your home, which should net you a signal everywhere. In a typical home, the service line (cable, DSL etc.) almost always enters the property at a corner. The additional client bands - 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz - of the router are used solely to connect your devices to the network and (by extension) the internet. ![]() So what does this mean? It means that as long as you use just a single extender with the router, you won't experience any signal loss, since the router and extender are connected via their own dedicated band. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |