How many satellites Orbi WiFi 6 System (RBK852) supports?

[DrA]

I was wondering how many satellites The Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 System (RBK852) can support. It comes with one AX6000 satellite and I definitely need at least one more for a large 3 level home. If the current 2 node system, which is still in pre-order status, can support more satellite nodes, how can I order it? If it is not available, based on your experience with previous Orbi system do the extra satellites become readily available later after the initial release? I will be using all in AP modes.

 

[avtella]

I was wondering how many satellites The Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 System (RBK852) can support. It comes with one AX6000 satellite and I definitely need at least one more for a large 3 level home. If the current 2 node system, which is still in pre-order status, can support more satellite nodes, how can I order it? If it is not available, based on your experience with previous Orbi system do the extra satellites become readily available later after the initial release? I will be using all in AP modes.

Someone had a similar question on Netgear forums, official word was there was no set limit. There are those with 5+ satellites.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Or...ess/Maximum-Satellites-5-Working/td-p/1662231

 

[pege63]

One thing to keep in mind is, that the wireless backhaul has shared bandwidth among all the Satellites.
The more Satellites you add, the less bandwidth will be available for each Satellite to connect to the Router.

 

[DrA]

One thing to keep in mind is, that the wireless backhaul has shared bandwidth among all the Satellites.
The more Satellites you add, the less bandwidth will be available for each Satellite to connect to the Router.

That is why I will be using all the satellites CAT 5/6 wired in AP modes.

 

[DrA]

Can I buy a pair of rbk 852s and use the router of the second one as a satellite?
That way I will have 1 router and 3 satellites.
I know it is going to be expensive but I hate to buy new Wifi system every couple years. At least kids will be happy for few years with 1Gig wifi 6 connection on their new smartphones.

 

[pege63]

The newest and hottest on the network front may be Wifi 6, but so far it is a costly investment that you have little pleasure in.
There are also no really affordable mesh systems client using the technology, or hardly any at all.

Most home users do their best to wait, keep in mind that most manufacturers still release Wifi 5 products.
Your current WIFI 5 system will last a few more years, as there are many clients that supporting this system.

I got tired of this mass hysteria about the newest router all the time, it only benefits the manufacturer and generates more money for them.
Routers and clients do not keep up with each other at all, I do not understand how to release a new router when there is no client support for this.
Of course, it should be the opposite, clients who support this and at the same time are backward compatible and hold for future systems.

But as with everything else, you make that choice yourself.
I would rather spend the money on a proper AP instead, but thats me.

 

[DrA]

The newest and hottest on the network front may be Wifi 6, but so far it is a costly investment that you have little pleasure in.
There are also no really affordable mesh systems client using the technology, or hardly any at all.

Most home users do their best to wait, keep in mind that most manufacturers still release Wifi 5 products.
Your current WIFI 5 system will last a few more years, as there are many clients that supporting this system.

I got tired of this mass hysteria about the newest router all the time, it only benefits the manufacturer and generates more money for them.
Routers and clients do not keep up with each other at all, I do not understand how to release a new router when there is no client support for this.
Of course, it should be the opposite, clients who support this and at the same time are backward compatible and hold for future systems.

But as with everything else, you make that choice yourself.
I would rather spend the money on a proper AP instead, but thats me.

The only thing, as a consumer, I am worried that there is no actual review of this new mesh system yet. And the release date is in few weeks. I saw WiFi 6 traditional Nighthawk router review and it doesn’t offer much different yet.
I wonder if the new iPhone 11 will have the double the connection speed of previous iPhone when in a home with the WiFi 6 Nighthawk. I just want to see a picture.

 

[pege63]

The only thing, as a consumer, I am worried that there is no actual review of this new mesh system yet. And the release date is in few weeks. I saw WiFi 6 traditional Nighthawk router review and it doesn’t offer much different yet.
I wonder if the new iPhone 11 will have the double the connection speed of previous iPhone when in a home with the WiFi 6 Nighthawk. I just want to see a picture.

I dont think you get the 4x4 speed most of the clients are 1x1 or 2x2 on WIFI 6, that i have seen.
I dont know about Iphone support speed on WIFI 6, i dont think it support it by the full speed.

 

[thiggins]

I dont know about Iphone support speed on WIFI 6

iphone 11 uses the same Broadcom BCM4375 chip used in the Samsung Galaxy S10, which means it doesn't support 160 MHz bandwidth. Maximum possible link rate is 1201 Mbps, which is a little under 40% gain from 11ax max possible link rate of 867 Mbps.

Keep in mind maximum actual throughput is always lower than maximum link rate.

 

[thiggins]

The only thing, as a consumer, I am worried that there is no actual review of this new mesh system yet.

Orbi WiFi 6 is not shipping yet, including review samples.

 

[DrA]

Thank you Tim Higgins, pege63, Avtella and all for the valuable advices.
Now I am going to skip $700 idea of installing the 2 node WiFi 6 system and instead get 3 node $318 RBK53S system and plus the $300 rbs50y outdoor satellite.
Four nodes instead of two and $100 less. You saved me $800 because I needed four AX6000s in 7000 sq ft home plus backyard wireless equipments 70 feet away.
Now the first step is to convert ATT BGW 200 router (Aris) to a pure modem. I will need just to disable WiFi and NAT right?
Please give me more details, regardless how minor, to avoid conflicts with the original router.
ATT does not allow to eliminate their router.
This is my layout. Planning to wire all the satellites where the Cat 5/6 jacks are. I may use the outdoor satellite wirelessly if my backyard devices require closer satellite.

 

[PowerMan572]

Thank you Tim Higgins, pege63, Avtella and all for the valuable advices.
Now I am going to skip $700 idea of installing the 2 node WiFi 6 system and instead get 3 node $318 RBK53S system and plus the $300 rbs50y outdoor satellite.
Four nodes instead of two and $100 less. You saved me $800 because I needed four AX6000s in 7000 sq ft home plus backyard wireless equipments 70 feet away.
Now the first step is to convert ATT BGW 200 router (Aris) to a pure modem. I will need just to disable WiFi and NAT right?
Please give me more details, regardless how minor, to avoid conflicts with the original router.
ATT does not allow to eliminate their router.
This is my layout. Planning to wire all the satellites where the Cat 5/6 jacks are. I may use the outdoor satellite wirelessly if my backyard devices require closer satellite.

You can bypass the AT&T gateway completely. Lookup the dummy switch bypass option.

I have AT&T Gigabit Internet, and my AT&T router is offline and tucked away in a closet

I pre-ordered the Netgear Orbi RBK852 from Amazon. I had some gift cards to use, credits, etc. So I was able to get the price down to $537 after tax. I will be selling my Netgear AX12 router in exchange for the RBK852 so I can get gigabit Internet in the upstairs of my home.

 

[DrA]

You can bypass the AT&T gateway completely. Lookup the dummy switch bypass option.

I have AT&T Gigabit Internet, and my AT&T router is offline and tucked away in a closet

I pre-ordered the Netgear Orbi RBK852 from Amazon. I had some gift cards to use, credits, etc. So I was able to get the price down to $537 after tax. I will be selling my Netgear AX12 router in exchange for the RBK852 so I can get gigabit Internet in the upstairs of my home.

Thank you.
Since they don't sell additional satellites, can I order 2 RBK852s and use the router of the second pair as satellite too? I need 1 router and 3 satellites.
Is dummy switch bypass option the same as IP Passthrough?
https://forums.att.com/t5/AT-T-Inte...P-Passthrough-Can-I-enable-on-my/td-p/5296974

 

[PowerMan572]

No, here is a true bypass mode to get rid of your AT&T router: https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29903721-AT-T-Residential-Gateway-Bypass-True-bridge-mode

Works great. I'm going on months with my AT&T router unplugged and stored away. Mine is on a UPS battery backup in case of power flickers.

There's another bypass method that involves a Ubiquiti USG router and obtaining the root certificates from an old AT&T router. However, this method is not for the fainthearted. I bought my root certificates from another DSLReports user, and then it took me days figure out the rest and to get my USG router up and running. However, this method was a true bypass, because if the power went out, the USG would boot back up and reconnect to the Internet without ever bringing the AT&T modem out of the closet. However, in the end, I ended up going back to the dummy switch bypass method, because it's more flexible in what routers I can use, etc.

Not sure about using the router as a satellite. I would ask Netgear.

I'm sure they'll come out with additional satellites, just like they did for the original Orbi.

 

[DrA]

No, here is a true bypass mode to get rid of your AT&T router: https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29903721-AT-T-Residential-Gateway-Bypass-True-bridge-mode

Works great. I'm going on months with my AT&T router unplugged and stored away. Mine is on a UPS battery backup in case of power flickers.

There's another bypass method that involves a Ubiquiti USG router and obtaining the root certificates from an old AT&T router. However, this method is not for the fainthearted. I bought my root certificates from another DSLReports user, and then it took me days figure out the rest and to get my USG router up and running. However, this method was a true bypass, because if the power went out, the USG would boot back up and reconnect to the Internet without ever bringing the AT&T modem out of the closet. However, in the end, I ended up going back to the dummy switch bypass method, because it's more flexible in what routers I can use, etc.

Not sure about using the router as a satellite. I would ask Netgear.

I'm sure they'll come out with additional satellites, just like they did for the original Orbi.

Let me know if you are able to use this Netgear router without the ATT Router.

 

[PowerMan572]

Let me know if you are able to use this Netgear router without the ATT Router.

It will. Netgear let’s you clone a MAC address for the WAN port.

It will work no problem every router allows this.

 

[DrA]

Finally we are going to see gigabit Internet on WiFi devices like smartphones and tablets that don't have an ethernet connection. It is kind of exciting.

 

[DrA]

It will. Netgear let’s you clone a MAC address for the WAN port.

It will work no problem every router allows this.

Do you have to restart the system every 14 days?

 

[DrA]

Thank you PowerMan572. Mine arrived yesterday. It was twice faster than my ATT residential gateway Aris BGW 210-700. I was able to bypass that gateway and used a dumb switch to remain connected to ONT after entering RGW's mac address on AX6000. But after the firmware update I can't do that anymore. I tried hard reset too, entered the mac number again. ONT is not authenticating any more. I remember new Wifi 6 Netgear Nighthawk had a similar problem of keeping changes in settings after the firmware update.