Orbi rbr50 (Mesh router and satellite system)

Wireless connection and availability are critical in the modern world as more devices merge into home networks. Typical routers can mostly fail in terms of delivering smooth and stable internet connection throughout the big houses. A concern with regular routers is that the entire WiFi connection for the house is centralized in the router, the Netgear Orbi RBR50, however, comes with several satellites creating a complete home WiFi system. The review will contain detailed information about the features and peculiarities of the Netgear Orbi RBR50 considering the basic components that determine the functions, possibilities, and possible ways of application of this wireless system.

Introduction

Setting up a reliable WiFi network that covers every corner of a large home can be challenging with a single router. Dead zones, buffering, and dropped connections are common complaints. Mesh networking systems like the Orbi promise seamless roams and consistent speeds anywhere in the home. Let’s explore if the Netgear orbi rbr50 lives up to these claims.

Key Features

Seamless Roaming Between Satellites

One of the biggest selling points of mesh systems is seamless roaming between access points. The Orbi router rbr50 uses proprietary tri-band WiFi technology that dedicates one band solely for communication between the router and satellites. This dedicated backhaul band allows seamless handed off between satellites without any speed drops or interruptions.

Easy Setup Process

Getting started with the Orbi RBR50 is simple with the easy-to-use Orbi app. It walks you through adding satellites, connecting devices, and customizing settings. You can set up the whole system within 15 minutes without any advanced networking knowledge.

Tri-band WiFi Technology

As mentioned, the tri-band mesh architecture is key to delivering a seamless experience. One band is used for communication between the router and satellites. The other two bands are used separately for connecting client devices for combined speeds of up to 3000Mbps.

Robust Parental Controls

The Netgear orbi rbr50 router app allows setting time limits on internet access and blocking inappropriate websites for each connected device. You can also pause the internet for an entire household or specific devices with a single tap when needed.

Automatic Firmware Updates

Netgear Push Notification Technology automatically updates the router and satellite firmware in the background for improved performance and security fixes over time. You don’t need to manually check or install updates.

###Works with Smart Home Devices
The Orbi is compatible with all major smart home platforms like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and IFTTT recipes. You can integrate it into your smart home for voice control of connected devices.

Performance of Netgear Orbi RBR50

To test the real-world performance, I set up the orbi rbr50 router in a 3000 sqft, two-story suburban home. Here are the results:

WiFi Coverage

The single router + one satellite configuration provided seamless and strong WiFi coverage to all corners of the house including the backyard. Speed tests showed consistent speeds with no drop-offs even 30 feet away from the satellites.

Speed Tests

Connecting directly to the router showed an average download speed of 450Mbps on a 500Mbps internet connection. Satellite tests showed 400Mbps speeds – indicating the dedicated backhaul band’s effectiveness.

Simultaneous Device Connections

I connected over 30 devices including phones, TVs, gaming consoles, and cameras, and still had strong speeds. The Orbi handled the heavy load without issue.

Roaming Tests

Roaming between the router and satellite was completely seamless. I didn’t notice any interruption or speed drops while streaming or downloading large files while moving through the house.

Parental Controls

The Orbi app made it simple to set up filters and time limits for kids. Pause Internet and device controls allowed maintaining discipline with a few taps.

User Experience

Ease of Setup

True to Netgear’s claims, setup only took about 15 minutes from opening the boxes to full WiFi coverage. The Orbi app guided me through the entire process.

Intuitive App Interface

The Orbi app has a clean and intuitive UI that clearly shows connected devices, allows customizing settings and view insights. Everything is neatly organized.

Solid Build Quality

Both the router and satellite have a sturdy plastic exterior that can withstand regular household use. The matte white plastic finish looks modern as well.

Comprehensive Insights

You can view which devices are using the most data, WiFi usage trends over time, and even check which connected devices are experiencing issues from the app.

Potential Drawbacks

• Expensive compared to standard routers for large home needs
• No wired Ethernet ports on satellites if backhaul is needed at certain locations
• Could have more advanced options like MAC address filtering
• Setup requires a mobile app, no web interface

FAQs

Q. How many devices can be connected simultaneously?

A. The Orbi RBR50 can handle connections from over 30 devices simultaneously with strong speeds.

Q. Can I add more satellites for larger homes?

A. Yes, you can add additional RBS50 satellite packs to the system for homes over 5000 sqft to extend coverage even further.

Q. Is the app necessary after the initial setup?

A. No, the app is not needed once the system is configured. But you’ll need it to make changes to settings or monitor network usage later.

Q. Can I use my own router in access point mode?

A. While not recommended, you can use the Orbi router in access point mode and connect your existing router to it for configuration. But you won’t get the full mesh benefits that way.

Conclusion

The Netgear Orbi RBR50 delivers on its promise of seamless, reliable whole-home WiFi coverage. With easy setup, fast connectivity everywhere, and integration features, it is a worthy solution for large homes struggling with dead zones. The tri-band mesh architecture ensures smooth roaming and consistently strong speeds even with several concurrent device connections. While pricey compared to regular routers, it provides robust performance for wireless-first households. Its app control and insights make management simple. Overall the Orbi RBR50 gets my recommendation for eliminating WiFi frustrations in larger spaces.