So I decided to update my home network and bought an Orbi setup.

Powered everything down, disconnected the AirPort Extreme, and followed the install directions on the Orbi app...

No Joy

Get a message that the Orbi app doesn’t support that model router. It’s the app the directions in the router tell you to use.

Do some internet research, some issues with Xfinity modems, but I own my own Motorola Cable modem.

More internet research and some generic discussion about the modem needing to be in “Bridge” mode.

More internet research and find generic info on putting Motorola modems into bridge mode. Get into my modem setup, and there is no option for it. Not grayed out, but no “eRouter Provisioning“ setting option at all.

More internet research and it appears the MB8600 is a “bridged modem” which suggests to me that is the default, so bridge mode isn’t likely the problem.

Of course, no tech/install support number exists for NetGear, I am not going to try and resolve this through email.


Orbi packed up back in the box for return to Costco, AirPort Extreme back in place and soldiering on.

Thought I would ask the collective to see if anyone may be able to help before I return it. Was hoping to improve WiFi coverage/performance and with Security system, cameras, Ring Doorbell, cellphones, iPads, computers, Apple TV, HomePod, printer and such I wanted to give a “Mesh” system a try.

If the Orbi won’t work, second choice is Linksys Velop but if it is going to be the same issues not sure I want to bother.


Anyone familiar with this stuff, this hardware specifically? I am not a complete moron, have set up home networks many times over the years but totally stumped on this.

My next step is to ask Xfinity, but I expect since it isn’t their modem or router they won’t be much help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 911Boss,

quote:

no tech/install support number exists for NetGear

This might be obsolete, but I have it in my contact list. I know that I used it for NetGear support a few years ago. (888) 638-4327

I also replaced my Airport with the Orbi system from Costco. I connected it to my Netgear modem and had absolutely zero issues with the install. I have 2 additional satellites on the extreme ends of my house and get a great signal around our yard.

Sorry yours didn’t work.
Mike

Problem solved!

NetGear Orbi is junk (well, maybe not but for my purposes it appears to be), Linksys Velop is awesome!

Went to the Apple store and picked up the two-node Velop system.

Followed exact same routine, power down modem, disconnect AirPort Extreme, connect Velop, power on modem.

Less than 10 minutes and everything is working great on one node. 8 more minutes and Node #2 is connected and running smoothly.

Node #1 in same location (master bedroom closet) where the Airport Extreme was. Put Node #2 downstairs on top of a china hutch in living room.

Did some before and after tests from two locations and with two devices. Ran three tests using Speedtest app and averaged the results.

MacBook Pro in the Family Room (downstairs)
AirPort Extreme=300Mbps
Velop (single upstairs node) = 278Mbps -7%
Velop (two node) = 423Mbps (second node is downstairs) +41%

Ipad Pro in master bathroom (upstairs)
AirPort Extreme=252Mbps
Velop (single upstairs node) = 392Mbps +56%
No appreciable difference between one and two nodes from the master bathroom (as I would expect).

Speed at Node #1 measured through Linksys app averaged 600Mbps


Very happy with the results, and the Velop two node kit from Apple ($298 w/tax) was $151 less than the Orbi router/two satellite system from Costco ($449 with tax)

quote:

Originally posted by mcrimm:
I also replaced my Airport with the Orbi system from Costco. I connected it to my Netgear modem and had absolutely zero issues with the install. I have 2 additional satellites on the extreme ends of my house and get a great signal around our yard.

Sorry yours didn’t work.
Mike

I was really hoping it would have even with the higher price. I am sure the issue is with the Moto modem. It is a DOCIS 3.1 to take advantage of Xfinity Gig internet. It was about $170, less than a year old. I imagine NetGear modem would work better, heck for all I know I may have just bum-lucked into a bad Orbi.

Orbi gets slightly better reviews (but both get high points) I liked that the Orbi router has 3 ethernet ports along with the WAN port.

Velop only has 2 ports, one is the WAN (actually no differentiation between the two ports, so modem can go to either). I will have to get a switch to plug into the second port to connect the Xfinity security router and the two wired locations I have in the house.

Switches are cheap though, may not even bother since one of the wired locations was for the Family room Apple TV which would stutter at times on wi-fi with 4K. It seems to be doing fine on the Velop so should be able to run it wirelessly now.

Damn...I don’t understand just about everything that’s written in these posts! Guess I’m old...and NOT technically savvy

Is it just me?

I tried the Orbi route and could not get it work at all. Exchanged it for another Orbi, it came right up and has been running great since then. So perhaps the first one you got was just plain defective.

quote:

Originally posted by p226gsd:
I tried the Orbi route and could not get it work at all. Exchanged it for another Orbi, it came right up and has been running great since then. So perhaps the first one you got was just plain defective.

Could be.

Having seen both in person, Velop is quite a bit more compact. Also, the more I play with it the more I like the upgrade from the AirPort Extreme. Pretty slick interface to see what is connected and change system settings.

Really like that you can pick three devices and “prioritize” them.

I'm curious. You noted you had 'some' wired connections in the house. Why didn't you just utilize one or more of those connections to install a WAP or two instead of the MESH units? My WAP's tend to push signal far better than any of the MESH systems I've installed for friends and neighbors. And two WAP's would be less expensive than either of the MESH systems you are experimenting with.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I'm curious. You noted you had 'some' wired connections in the house. Why didn't you just utilize one or more of those connections to install a WAP or two instead of the MESH units? My WAP's tend to push signal far better than any of the MESH systems I've installed for friends and neighbors. And two WAP's would be less expensive than either of the MESH systems you are experimenting with.

Primarily for the performance boost, my AirPort Extreme is going on 10 years old. I have 1Gig internet that I could use, at best, 20-25% of. Now I am using 40%.

The wired points are my office, which other than the printer would never have anything connecting to it. It would be no more than about 25' from the AirPort Express. The master bedroom, 12' from the AE, and the Family room. That one might show some improvement, but I would rather have stronger faster signal everywhere. Don't see an AP providing the same function.

Define "better". Even right next to my AirPort Extreme, wi-fi speed can't touch what I am getting with the mesh. Can't see how a AP wired to it would do much if any better.

Coverage wasn't really the issue, throughput with all the different devices was.

Didn't see any point in putting more money into old tech. AirPort routers have been discontinued, money wasn't an issue, should be set for the next 10 years or so now.

In terms of wiring--are you Cat 5 hardwired or Cat 6?
I have encountered this problem-being Cat 5 wired.
Attempting to improve performance via MESH--Eeros seems to be the easiest and most flexible.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
In terms of wiring--are you Cat 5 hardwired or Cat 6?
I have encountered this problem-being Cat 5 wired.

Nobody uses CAT5 (only) anymore and there is no distinguishable difference between CAT5e and CAT 6 in 99% of most all installations.
There are certain (interference in high capacity installations) that might make a difference.
Additionally if all your connects are not CAT 6 certified then you are wasting your money to recable.
In new installation with proper connects then starting out with CAT 6 might be wise but overall CAT5e vs CAT6 is not something to worry about.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
In terms of wiring--are you Cat 5 hardwired or Cat 6?
I have encountered this problem-being Cat 5 wired.
Attempting to improve performance via MESH--Eeros seems to be the easiest and most flexible.

No clue whether it is 5 or 6. Was done when house was built in 2014.


No worries at this point Velop is working great, really don't know how it could have been easier unless there was someone who came over and installed for you.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I'm curious. You noted you had 'some' wired connections in the house. Why didn't you just utilize one or more of those connections to install a WAP or two instead of the MESH units? My WAP's tend to push signal far better than any of the MESH systems I've installed for friends and neighbors. And two WAP's would be less expensive than either of the MESH systems you are experimenting with.

Primarily for the performance boost, my AirPort Extreme is going on 10 years old. I have 1Gig internet that I could use, at best, 20-25% of. Now I am using 40%.

The wired points are my office, which other than the printer would never have anything connecting to it. It would be no more than about 25' from the AirPort Express. The master bedroom, 12' from the AE, and the Family room. That one might show some improvement, but I would rather have stronger faster signal everywhere. Don't see an AP providing the same function.

Define "better". Even right next to my AirPort Extreme, wi-fi speed can't touch what I am getting with the mesh. Can't see how a AP wired to it would do much if any better.

Coverage wasn't really the issue, throughput with all the different devices was.

Didn't see any point in putting more money into old tech. AirPort routers have been discontinued, money wasn't an issue, should be set for the next 10 years or so now.

All I can tell you is my personal experience with both. I installed a TP Link Deco 5 MESH system in my next door neighbor's home. Two 'pucks' spread out strategically throughout her home. She has a Spectrum basic 100mb cable connection (as do I). She gets good service throughout her home and on the back patio. However, as is the case with MESH (assuming no wired back hall) she loses throughput at the second node, and would lose even more at a third node. Only the initial node (hard wired to the cable modem) puts out max throughput. On the other hand, my single WAP installed on the ceiling in my family room covers my entire 1/3 acre property (and 2600 sq ft home) in WiFi, and maxes out available throughput everywhere inside the home. As a matter of fact, I can go next door to my neighbor's home and still utilize my WiFi network connection. She cannot do the same when coming into my house. And should I ever feel a need to add another WAP, it too will run at the max throughout the cable modem can provide.

Don't get me wrong, MESH is a great solution for many folks who don't have CAT cable in place and aren't willing to install it, but there are reasons why you only find WAP's installed in hospitals and businesses.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

Don't get me wrong, MESH is a great solution for many folks who don't have CAT cable in place and aren't willing to install it, but there are reasons why you only find WAP's installed in hospitals and businesses.

Exactly correct, especially in the consumer market.
MESH traditionally is defined as a redundancy factor.
However, in the consumer market it is more of a wireless bridge with a small amount of AI for the redundancy.
Additionally, virtually all consumer mesh is installed for the ease of installation.
Multiple AP's properly placed and configured will always substantially out perform the MESH installation by a wide margin.
It is understandable that not everyone is willing to go through that process as it is much more difficult.
YMMV

Well, just a 2100sq’ two story house on a 10,000sq’ lot so don’t have the same need as businesses and hospitals.

Covers property line to property line, and faster than it was. As for the techie parts, my understanding is the tri-band model uses 2.4ghz and 5ghz radios for communicating with devices and a second dedicated 5ghz radio for the backhaul. With 1G Ethernet ports, can also do wired backhaul for even better performance. It intelligently switches a device to whichever node is better and uses multiple antennas for beam forming instead of omnidirectional.


Beyond the improved performance, able to see a lot more information as well, what devices are connected (and which node they are on) and can prioritize some over the rest. Also have controls and restrictions on individual devices in a easy to use app.

Well worth the upgrade cost to me. Between computers, tablets, phones, cameras, printer, Apple TV, TV, Apple HomePod, and garage door opener I am getting close to 30 devices on the network.

May not be the “best” solution or the cheapest, but I am certainly happy with the improvements I am seeing with it.

Again, I'm not attempting to pee in your corn flakes, just offer options and ideas, I don't know how much $$$ you have invested in your Velop system, but I used my old Netgear router (because it has gigabit ports on the back) with WiFi disabled, connected to a single run of CAT6 cable (CAT6 only because I already hand it and the connectors on hand), and a TP Link WAP that cost me $70, to dramatically improve my WiFi network. That seemed a bargain to my way of thinking.

Oh, and one downside I really don't care for with the MESH systems I've been exposed to is that they all use a cellphone app to install and configure their hardware. I much prefer a web interface where I access the a WAP via its IP address and configure everything directly.

quote:

uses multiple antennas for beam forming instead of omnidirectional.

Glad you are happy with your system and installation.

FWIW, beamforming and Omni-directional antennas are independent functions and not quite accurate.

If you care to understand:

Beamforming for 802.11ac

Basics of Antennas and Beamforming

I have a WAP router and Mesh network, the Ring doorbell wasn't picking up the signal as well through the walls on the WAP.

With an Orbi node on that end of the house it's got a significantly improved signal and we get almost real time notification..



My Orbi installed easily on the first try, got the two node system, which I'll give to my daughter when they close on their new home and put the 3 node in my home.

For me it beats crawling through a dusty attic in 120 degree heat to run wires. MESH is easily installed in the comfort of the AC

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
I have a WAP router...

I'm curious, which one?

quote:

For me it beats crawling through a dusty attic in 120 degree heat to run wires. MESH is easily installed in the comfort of the AC

Apparently you have no wirey, college aged, nephews constantly in search of spending money. I use them in the attic routing cable down through the walls, while I pull and terminate the cables inside the air conditioned house. You must delegate...