Dilemma
I am debating whether to leave my Orbi sealed and return it or give it a shot:
Especially after reading this user comment on an Orbi article:
xxxx, Rosemount, Minnesota said:
Quote from the above user I have the Google mesh system and scratching my head about the effectiveness. Most my devices (Apple) won't automatically switch between satellite units because they simply don't drop to low enough signal to make the move. (you'd need a monster house for this and major dead spots which is the whole point of these in the first place) This means my devices pretty much use the device they initially connected with. This might be good for stationary devices, but most of what I'm concerned about are iPads, iPhones, Macbooks etc.
To my knowledge you can't tune devices to react any differently so you must turn wifi on and off as you move about the house to take advantage.
Other than that the Google units haven't required rebooting every 5-6 days like my Airport used too so there is that.
I'm wondering if I'd been better off buying a high powered more advanced single router with lots of antennas... it feels like the mesh system is really only good if someone has stationary devices that can't plug into wall ethernet.
(end quote by the above user - NOT me)
Wifi coverage test with Asus RT-AC5300
I just ran speedtests throughout my house (just under 3100 SF without the finished basement).
Even on my deck (other side of house from my Asus RT-AC5300), I get close to full speed (although wife's iPhone and my Galaxy Note get very different speeds in a couple of cases).
In 6 of 9 locations tested I get well over 200 Mbps or at a minimum close to 200 Mbps. In one of the other 3 locations (my home office where wife's iPhone will not be used), the iPhone falters (same room as router) whereas the Note 4 gets 198.5 Mbps (slower than many other distant rooms; maybe the signal is almost too strong or there is interference).
So in short, I have just 2 weaker spots in the entire house - one with 82 Mbps down with both phones and one where they got 88 Mbps down and 78 Mbps down respectively.
Speed Tier
I am on a 200 Mbps down / 12 Mbps up plan from Comcast.
I am using a 2 year old Arris SB6141 (waiting for my SB8200 D3.1 modem to arrive), but even with the SB6141 I get as much as 239 Mbps in some spots.
My Tivos (7 in all) are all connected via MoCA so wifi coverage is not an issue for them,
Even though my Asus is in one corner of the house (on mail level), my house has a wide open tall center hall that no doubt is the main reason the Asus is able to cover so much area all itself (less walls).
So with the background info on the speeds I am getting with my Asus and, more importantly, that user's comment I am rethinking whether to even try the Orbi. I don't have any true dead spots.
Does anyone know how low the signal needs to be for a wifi client (mobile phone etc.) to switch from one Orbi unit to another?
Is it the Orbi that controls the switching of devices as I move from room to room, or is that controlled by the client?
Since we have no true 'dead' spots in the house, I wonder whether the Orbi makes sense. But being somewhat of a geek when it comes to tech, part of me likes to get maximum speed.
Then again, if I do keep the Orbi (still sealed and untested), I might leave the Asus hooked up to do the routing and security functions and use the Orbi system in AP mode, which means I will have shelled out $380 + tax for the Asus RT-Ac5300 and another$450 + tax for the Orbi. Maybe overkill...
But even 4K streaming on Netflix requires 'only' about 25 Mbps. Not to mention they have limited 4K content and we only have one 4K TV out of 7 sets (and even then, our bed is too far away to notice the difference between 4K and 1080P).
I also considered the Veloop from Linksys ,but it has some mixed reviews and Dong Ngo from cNet claims a 2 unit Orbi outperforms the 3 unit Veloop (I have the 3 pack $450 + tax from Costco). Others seem to have mixed experiences between the two.
Decisions, decisions, which ultimately only I can make.
I am debating whether to leave my Orbi sealed and return it or give it a shot:
Especially after reading this user comment on an Orbi article:
xxxx, Rosemount, Minnesota said:
Quote from the above user I have the Google mesh system and scratching my head about the effectiveness. Most my devices (Apple) won't automatically switch between satellite units because they simply don't drop to low enough signal to make the move. (you'd need a monster house for this and major dead spots which is the whole point of these in the first place) This means my devices pretty much use the device they initially connected with. This might be good for stationary devices, but most of what I'm concerned about are iPads, iPhones, Macbooks etc.
To my knowledge you can't tune devices to react any differently so you must turn wifi on and off as you move about the house to take advantage.
Other than that the Google units haven't required rebooting every 5-6 days like my Airport used too so there is that.
I'm wondering if I'd been better off buying a high powered more advanced single router with lots of antennas... it feels like the mesh system is really only good if someone has stationary devices that can't plug into wall ethernet.
(end quote by the above user - NOT me)
Wifi coverage test with Asus RT-AC5300
I just ran speedtests throughout my house (just under 3100 SF without the finished basement).
Even on my deck (other side of house from my Asus RT-AC5300), I get close to full speed (although wife's iPhone and my Galaxy Note get very different speeds in a couple of cases).
In 6 of 9 locations tested I get well over 200 Mbps or at a minimum close to 200 Mbps. In one of the other 3 locations (my home office where wife's iPhone will not be used), the iPhone falters (same room as router) whereas the Note 4 gets 198.5 Mbps (slower than many other distant rooms; maybe the signal is almost too strong or there is interference).
So in short, I have just 2 weaker spots in the entire house - one with 82 Mbps down with both phones and one where they got 88 Mbps down and 78 Mbps down respectively.
Speed Tier
I am on a 200 Mbps down / 12 Mbps up plan from Comcast.
I am using a 2 year old Arris SB6141 (waiting for my SB8200 D3.1 modem to arrive), but even with the SB6141 I get as much as 239 Mbps in some spots.
My Tivos (7 in all) are all connected via MoCA so wifi coverage is not an issue for them,
Even though my Asus is in one corner of the house (on mail level), my house has a wide open tall center hall that no doubt is the main reason the Asus is able to cover so much area all itself (less walls).
So with the background info on the speeds I am getting with my Asus and, more importantly, that user's comment I am rethinking whether to even try the Orbi. I don't have any true dead spots.
Does anyone know how low the signal needs to be for a wifi client (mobile phone etc.) to switch from one Orbi unit to another?
Is it the Orbi that controls the switching of devices as I move from room to room, or is that controlled by the client?
Since we have no true 'dead' spots in the house, I wonder whether the Orbi makes sense. But being somewhat of a geek when it comes to tech, part of me likes to get maximum speed.
Then again, if I do keep the Orbi (still sealed and untested), I might leave the Asus hooked up to do the routing and security functions and use the Orbi system in AP mode, which means I will have shelled out $380 + tax for the Asus RT-Ac5300 and another$450 + tax for the Orbi. Maybe overkill...
But even 4K streaming on Netflix requires 'only' about 25 Mbps. Not to mention they have limited 4K content and we only have one 4K TV out of 7 sets (and even then, our bed is too far away to notice the difference between 4K and 1080P).
I also considered the Veloop from Linksys ,but it has some mixed reviews and Dong Ngo from cNet claims a 2 unit Orbi outperforms the 3 unit Veloop (I have the 3 pack $450 + tax from Costco). Others seem to have mixed experiences between the two.
Decisions, decisions, which ultimately only I can make.
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