Netgear Orbi (Unlocked, Like New)

Product Description

Offering multiple points of access, mesh router systems are a great way to extend the Wi-Fi signal throughout your offices or warehouse. And Netgear Orbi is a two-unit system that excels in that respect.

Relatively inexpensive compared to similar offers from other manufacturers, the Orbi is a great option for small to mid-size offices and warehouses.

Netgear Orbi Key Features

This system isn’t suitable for outdoor use, but its qualities shine when set up indoors. So, here’s what to expect.

Design and Functionality

The Orbi units are compact and much smaller than most of the competition. Okay, the internals might not be as sophisticated, but it’s not like you’ll notice the difference within a work environment.

The units don’t have speakers, and there’s no backhaul wireless channel passing the data between your router and the units. Also, this set doesn’t support the latest Wi-Fi speed protocols.

All that may sound like a significant drawback, but it’s not. It’s as fast as its competitors at speeds of 300Mps. And the Orbi has quite a decent range for such a small system, although it struggles a bit to optimize the signal when installed in multi-level spaces.

Internals and Connectivity

As indicated, Orbi’s hardware got downsized to keep the device affordable. However, it’s a dual-band and will quickly switch from 2.4GHz to 5GHz as you move around the space.

The device has a limited number of Ethernet jacks, which some users may find as a downside. There are no Ethernet ports on the extender, and you only get one on the router. And this model doesn’t have any USB ports.

However, the lack of USB ports isn’t too much of a problem. Netgear models that feature them limit the connectivity to only the printers that support the given ports. And the connectivity is even more limiting should you try to hook up external storage.

Generally, the Orbi set is excellent for those who only need to extend the Wi-Fi range. And the lack of backhaul shouldn’t bother you because it’s safer not to transfer data over Wi-Fi.

Ease of Use

Setting up the Orbi is straightforward, even if you have no experience with networking gear. Here’s how to do it:

1. Plug in the router and connect it to your modem with an Ethernet cable.
2. Install the Orbi app on your smartphone.
3. Follow the set-up wizard on the app, and you’ll be done in a matter of minutes.

Then, you access all the settings and system information via the app. You can track the linked devices and tweak the settings.

Note that some more advanced features are missing from the Orbi. For example, you can’t prioritize specific devices. But if you need the system to work as a permission-based Wi-Fi access point, you might need prioritization.

For example, this works well for mid-size high-frequency warehouses where many of the visitors need Wi-Fi access.

Entering the Orbit

Sure, there are limitations to what the Orbi can do. But it’s a small compromise for an affordable, reliable device.

It can work great as a secondary or primary Wi-Fi access in business settings, and it’s hard to tell you’re connecting to an extender.