![Netgear Orbi BE27000 Quad-Band Mesh Wifi 7 System [3 Pack]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51HHvIwJHDL._AC_SX679_.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Netgear Orbi BE27000 Quad-Band Mesh Wifi 7 System [3 Pack]
WiFi 7 delivers 2.4x faster speeds than WiFi 6 and is fully backward compatible with older WiFi devices. From 8K streaming to video conferencing, gaming, VR, and more, Orbi ensures your family can accomplish it all at once. Exclusive, patented Quad-Band technology with Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul ensures WiFi stays fast across all devices simultaneously. Elegant, new design and high-performance antennas provide exceptional 360° WiFi coverage across every corner of your home, no matter the layout. Works with any internet service provider. Whether multi-gig cable or fiber, get the fastest speeds available today and tomorrow with a 10 Gig internet port. Easily set up and manage your WiFi with the Orbi app. 2 x 10Gbps & 6 x 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports unlock unbeatable speed and reliability for wired connections – including gaming consoles, media storage, and 10Gbps wired backhaul option. NETGEAR Armor software provides an automatic shield of security for your WiFi and connected devices (PC, phone, camera, TV, etc.) for real-time protection against hackers and added privacy with VPN. 1-year subscription included.
WiFi 7 delivers 2.4x faster speeds than WiFi 6 and is fully backward compatible with older WiFi devices. From 8K streaming to video conferencing, gaming, VR, and more, Orbi ensures your family can accomplish it all at once. Exclusive, patented Quad-Band technology with Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul ensures WiFi stays fast across all devices simultaneously. Elegant, new design and high-performance antennas provide exceptional 360° WiFi coverage across every corner of your home, no matter the layout. Works with any internet service provider. Whether multi-gig cable or fiber, get the fastest speeds available today and tomorrow with a 10 Gig internet port. Easily set up and manage your WiFi with the Orbi app. 2 x 10Gbps & 6 x 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports unlock unbeatable speed and reliability for wired connections – including gaming consoles, media storage, and 10Gbps wired backhaul option. NETGEAR Armor software provides an automatic shield of security for your WiFi and connected devices (PC, phone, camera, TV, etc.) for real-time protection against hackers and added privacy with VPN. 1-year subscription included.
WiFi 7 delivers 2.4x faster speeds than WiFi 6 and is fully backward compatible with older WiFi devices. From 8K streaming to video conferencing, gaming, VR, and more, Orbi ensures your family can accomplish it all at once. Exclusive, patented Quad-Band technology with Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul ensures WiFi stays fast across all devices simultaneously. Elegant, new design and high-performance antennas provide exceptional 360° WiFi coverage across every corner of your home, no matter the layout. Works with any internet service provider. Whether multi-gig cable or fiber, get the fastest speeds available today and tomorrow with a 10 Gig internet port. Easily set up and manage your WiFi with the Orbi app. 2 x 10Gbps & 6 x 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports unlock unbeatable speed and reliability for wired connections – including gaming consoles, media storage, and 10Gbps wired backhaul option. NETGEAR Armor software provides an automatic shield of security for your WiFi and connected devices (PC, phone, camera, TV, etc.) for real-time protection against hackers and added privacy with VPN. 1-year subscription included.
WiFi 7 delivers 2.4x faster speeds than WiFi 6 and is fully backward compatible with older WiFi devices. From 8K streaming to video conferencing, gaming, VR, and more, Orbi ensures your family can accomplish it all at once. Exclusive, patented Quad-Band technology with Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul ensures WiFi stays fast across all devices simultaneously. Elegant, new design and high-performance antennas provide exceptional 360° WiFi coverage across every corner of your home, no matter the layout. Works with any internet service provider. Whether multi-gig cable or fiber, get the fastest speeds available today and tomorrow with a 10 Gig internet port. Easily set up and manage your WiFi with the Orbi app. 2 x 10Gbps & 6 x 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports unlock unbeatable speed and reliability for wired connections – including gaming consoles, media storage, and 10Gbps wired backhaul option. NETGEAR Armor software provides an automatic shield of security for your WiFi and connected devices (PC, phone, camera, TV, etc.) for real-time protection against hackers and added privacy with VPN. 1-year subscription included.
in 6 offers
The lowest price for Netgear Orbi BE27000 Quad-Band Mesh Wifi 7 System [3 Pack] right now is $3,697.00 at Amazon.com.au, compared across 6 retailers.
The all-time low was $876.70 on 31 May 2026 — today's price is 322% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 17 Sept 2026.
Last updated at 17/09/2026 04:02:31
NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band WiFi 7 Mesh Network System (RBE973S), Router + 2 Satellite Extenders, NBN Upgrade Ready, Added Security, Up to
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Netgear Orbi 970 Series BE2700 Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh 3-Pack RBE973S-100APS
Free delivery between 19–26 Sept
Netgear Orbi BE27000 Quad-band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System [3 Pack]
Delivery $8.99
NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band WiFi 7 Mesh System, 27Gbps, 3 Pack, 1-year Armor included, Quad-Band (RBE973S)
Free delivery between 21–25 Sept
Netgear Orbi RBE973S Wi-Fi7 Mesh System 3-Pack
Free delivery between 21–24 Sept
Netgear Orbi Rbe973s Wi-fi7 Mesh System 3-pack
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
originally posted on netgear.com
The Netgear ORBI 970 Series Mesh System is outstanding.I bought the 3-pack (Router and 2 satellites) direct from Netgear. The components were well packed and arrived in perfect condition. The units are quite large but don’t look like a normal router. All the antennae are encased in the tall cylindrical cases (white with gold trim). Casual observers might mistake them for Bluetooth speakers.Installation was very easy. I was replacing a much older and slower single router. The ORBI app walked me through the installation, and I had no problems at all. Once I was happy that I had Internet connection, I changed the default WiFi network name and password to match the name and password on my old router and all my WiFi devices connected automatically. I have a lot of ... MoreThe Netgear ORBI 970 Series Mesh System is outstanding.I bought the 3-pack (Router and 2 satellites) direct from Netgear. The components were well packed and arrived in perfect condition. The units are quite large but don’t look like a normal router. All the antennae are encased in the tall cylindrical cases (white with gold trim). Casual observers might mistake them for Bluetooth speakers.Installation was very easy. I was replacing a much older and slower single router. The ORBI app walked me through the installation, and I had no problems at all. Once I was happy that I had Internet connection, I changed the default WiFi network name and password to match the name and password on my old router and all my WiFi devices connected automatically. I have a lot of hard-wired ethernet connections as well, and they connected seamlessly.My network has a variety of devices, including Apple TVs, a Network receiver, desktop and laptop computers, multiple phones and tablets as well as solar panel infrastructure (inverter and battery controller), wireless doorbell, bike trainer, Google speaker, etc. Some of the wireless devices are limited to the 2.6GHz band but the ORBI 970 seemed to deal with those happily.The performance is awesome. I have an Ultrafast NBN fibre connection (FTTP) and the first speedtest I did showed 950Mbs download and 50Mbs upload. Further tests have showed these results consistently, on both wired and wireless devices.Right now, the ORBI 970 capabilities are probably overkill in my installation. For example, the 10Gbs internet connection is 10X the fastest internet available through the NBN and I don’t have any WiFi 7 devices. But I’m happy that the ORBI 970 has capabilities that I can grow into over time.As router solutions go, the ORBI 970 is not cheap. All the reviews will tell you that. However, its capabilities and performance are extraordinary – especially if you have a big house and a lot of connected devices.Highly recommended.
originally posted on netgear.com
I installed the 10Gb capable Router and Satellites 2-weeks ago, I’ve had 5Gb service for three years, but no equipment (iPhone with only WiFi 6, Computers with only 1Gb Ethernet ports) so I was glad to see my favorite Network company introduce this 10Gb product.My iPhone is WIFI 6e capable so I can now get symmetrical 1200-1500Mb (1200 Mb’s is the fastest “practical” speed for WiFi 6E Up/Downloads to my iPhone). This unit is WiFi 7 capable which will eventually offer “theoretical” WiFi speeds of close to 12Mb, when a cell phone and or computer becomes available with a WiFi 7 capable network.I’ve had many problems setting it up and keeping it connected to all my devices including my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Orbi’s internal speed test equipment has consistently ... MoreI installed the 10Gb capable Router and Satellites 2-weeks ago, I’ve had 5Gb service for three years, but no equipment (iPhone with only WiFi 6, Computers with only 1Gb Ethernet ports) so I was glad to see my favorite Network company introduce this 10Gb product.My iPhone is WIFI 6e capable so I can now get symmetrical 1200-1500Mb (1200 Mb’s is the fastest “practical” speed for WiFi 6E Up/Downloads to my iPhone). This unit is WiFi 7 capable which will eventually offer “theoretical” WiFi speeds of close to 12Mb, when a cell phone and or computer becomes available with a WiFi 7 capable network.I’ve had many problems setting it up and keeping it connected to all my devices including my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Orbi’s internal speed test equipment has consistently shown download speeds of 4000-5300MB (I have 5000 MB internet plan) but the Upload speeds per Netgear Orbi 971’s internal Speedtest for the 2-weeks I’ve had it, is consistently much slower, 400-900 Mb.A new firmware was released yesterday that I thought would fix the upload speed problem, it didn’t. And now, the new firmware drops my cell phone’s WiFi, and 20+ Cat cable connected devices attached to Netgear Managed switches with Ethernet service from the Orbi 971 Router so frequently, I stay in cellular 5G almost as much time as I stay on Orbi WiFi 6e around my home. Every morning, and up to twice a day, I have to go through the house, power down/up the disconnected devices so they will reconnect to the Orbi Router. The 971 is a great idea, Netgear just needs to work thru all the issues, old and new since this device’s market rollout in fall of 2023.
originally posted on netgear.com
I purchased the Orbi 970 Series Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh 3-Pack System to replace a Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router (RAX200) 12-Stream Tri-Band 10.8 Gbps plus two Nighthawk WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extenders EAX80. While the old system was working OK, it couldn’t handle my high demands for data backhaul. Let me explain. I am running a Lorex 4K (8MP) Ultra HD NVR System with 9 4K Camaras and didn’t want to hardwire them to the router. I had plugged the NVR system in to the Satellite units to connect to my network & cloud. Additionally, I dropped cable in favor of OTA 4K TV and needed a way to stream to all Apple TV’s in the house using the HD Homerun unit which had to be plugged in to a satellite unit. With the old system I had many intermittent connectivity issues, but they have all ... MoreI purchased the Orbi 970 Series Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh 3-Pack System to replace a Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router (RAX200) 12-Stream Tri-Band 10.8 Gbps plus two Nighthawk WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extenders EAX80. While the old system was working OK, it couldn’t handle my high demands for data backhaul. Let me explain. I am running a Lorex 4K (8MP) Ultra HD NVR System with 9 4K Camaras and didn’t want to hardwire them to the router. I had plugged the NVR system in to the Satellite units to connect to my network & cloud. Additionally, I dropped cable in favor of OTA 4K TV and needed a way to stream to all Apple TV’s in the house using the HD Homerun unit which had to be plugged in to a satellite unit. With the old system I had many intermittent connectivity issues, but they have all disappeared with the new system due to the higher backhaul rates 1004.99 Mbps vs. 393.39 Mbps (EAX80)! Admittedly the price for the Orbi 970 is in the Nosebleed area but was well worth the spend considering it solved all my data bottle necks.I typically have 24+ devices connected to the network which consists of units requiring 2.4 GHz and others which can take advantage of 5+GHZ. The Orbi 970 intelligently assigns /connects at the right frequency whereas with the older system I had to manually pick the correct frequency or units couldn’t connect. Most of the home automation units which aren’t hardwired to the routers require 2.4 GHz such as August Home, Rain Bird, MyQ, ThinQ, Ecobee. Additionally, I have 4+ PC’s connected along with NAS drives, 4 TV’s, 3 Apple 4K TV’s Severa Echo Show products and two cars for OTA software & Map updates.Speeds and data transmissions have been phenomenal, and I could never go back from my current state. The System setup was very easy but a bit lengthy. It took 10-15 minutes for each device (Router & Satellite to connect to the network during setup) which had me worried initially that the setup process had hung. Connecting new devices is a breeze! Note: I tried to reuse my old Wi-Fi password so I wouldn’t have to manually reconnect all devices, but the new system does not allow spaces whereas the not that much older RAX200 did allow this! That was the only ding I would give this system. I highly recommend the spend. It's an A+++ system
| Special feature | Internet Security |
| Frequency band class | Quad-Band |
| Wireless communication standard | 802.11.be |
| Number of Ports | 11 |
| Control Method | App |
NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band WiFi 7 Mesh Network System (RBE973S), Router + 2 Satellite Extenders, NBN Upgrade Ready, Added Security, Up to
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Netgear Orbi 970 Series BE2700 Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh 3-Pack RBE973S-100APS
Free delivery between 19–26 Sept
Netgear Orbi BE27000 Quad-band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System [3 Pack]
Delivery $8.99
NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band WiFi 7 Mesh System, 27Gbps, 3 Pack, 1-year Armor included, Quad-Band (RBE973S)
Free delivery between 21–25 Sept
Netgear Orbi RBE973S Wi-Fi7 Mesh System 3-Pack
Free delivery between 21–24 Sept
The Netgear ORBI 970 Series Mesh System is outstanding.I bought the 3-pack (Router and 2 satellites) direct from Netgear. The components were well packed and arrived in perfect condition. The units are quite large but don’t look like a normal router. All the antennae are encased in the tall cylindrical cases (white with gold trim). Casual observers might mistake them for Bluetooth speakers.Installation was very easy. I was replacing a much older and slower single router. The ORBI app walked me through the installation, and I had no problems at all. Once I was happy that I had Internet connection, I changed the default WiFi network name and password to match the name and password on my old router and all my WiFi devices connected automatically. I have a lot of ... MoreThe Netgear ORBI 970 Series Mesh System is outstanding.I bought the 3-pack (Router and 2 satellites) direct from Netgear. The components were well packed and arrived in perfect condition. The units are quite large but don’t look like a normal router. All the antennae are encased in the tall cylindrical cases (white with gold trim). Casual observers might mistake them for Bluetooth speakers.Installation was very easy. I was replacing a much older and slower single router. The ORBI app walked me through the installation, and I had no problems at all. Once I was happy that I had Internet connection, I changed the default WiFi network name and password to match the name and password on my old router and all my WiFi devices connected automatically. I have a lot of hard-wired ethernet connections as well, and they connected seamlessly.My network has a variety of devices, including Apple TVs, a Network receiver, desktop and laptop computers, multiple phones and tablets as well as solar panel infrastructure (inverter and battery controller), wireless doorbell, bike trainer, Google speaker, etc. Some of the wireless devices are limited to the 2.6GHz band but the ORBI 970 seemed to deal with those happily.The performance is awesome. I have an Ultrafast NBN fibre connection (FTTP) and the first speedtest I did showed 950Mbs download and 50Mbs upload. Further tests have showed these results consistently, on both wired and wireless devices.Right now, the ORBI 970 capabilities are probably overkill in my installation. For example, the 10Gbs internet connection is 10X the fastest internet available through the NBN and I don’t have any WiFi 7 devices. But I’m happy that the ORBI 970 has capabilities that I can grow into over time.As router solutions go, the ORBI 970 is not cheap. All the reviews will tell you that. However, its capabilities and performance are extraordinary – especially if you have a big house and a lot of connected devices.Highly recommended.
I installed the 10Gb capable Router and Satellites 2-weeks ago, I’ve had 5Gb service for three years, but no equipment (iPhone with only WiFi 6, Computers with only 1Gb Ethernet ports) so I was glad to see my favorite Network company introduce this 10Gb product.My iPhone is WIFI 6e capable so I can now get symmetrical 1200-1500Mb (1200 Mb’s is the fastest “practical” speed for WiFi 6E Up/Downloads to my iPhone). This unit is WiFi 7 capable which will eventually offer “theoretical” WiFi speeds of close to 12Mb, when a cell phone and or computer becomes available with a WiFi 7 capable network.I’ve had many problems setting it up and keeping it connected to all my devices including my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Orbi’s internal speed test equipment has consistently ... MoreI installed the 10Gb capable Router and Satellites 2-weeks ago, I’ve had 5Gb service for three years, but no equipment (iPhone with only WiFi 6, Computers with only 1Gb Ethernet ports) so I was glad to see my favorite Network company introduce this 10Gb product.My iPhone is WIFI 6e capable so I can now get symmetrical 1200-1500Mb (1200 Mb’s is the fastest “practical” speed for WiFi 6E Up/Downloads to my iPhone). This unit is WiFi 7 capable which will eventually offer “theoretical” WiFi speeds of close to 12Mb, when a cell phone and or computer becomes available with a WiFi 7 capable network.I’ve had many problems setting it up and keeping it connected to all my devices including my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Orbi’s internal speed test equipment has consistently shown download speeds of 4000-5300MB (I have 5000 MB internet plan) but the Upload speeds per Netgear Orbi 971’s internal Speedtest for the 2-weeks I’ve had it, is consistently much slower, 400-900 Mb.A new firmware was released yesterday that I thought would fix the upload speed problem, it didn’t. And now, the new firmware drops my cell phone’s WiFi, and 20+ Cat cable connected devices attached to Netgear Managed switches with Ethernet service from the Orbi 971 Router so frequently, I stay in cellular 5G almost as much time as I stay on Orbi WiFi 6e around my home. Every morning, and up to twice a day, I have to go through the house, power down/up the disconnected devices so they will reconnect to the Orbi Router. The 971 is a great idea, Netgear just needs to work thru all the issues, old and new since this device’s market rollout in fall of 2023.
I purchased the Orbi 970 Series Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh 3-Pack System to replace a Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router (RAX200) 12-Stream Tri-Band 10.8 Gbps plus two Nighthawk WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extenders EAX80. While the old system was working OK, it couldn’t handle my high demands for data backhaul. Let me explain. I am running a Lorex 4K (8MP) Ultra HD NVR System with 9 4K Camaras and didn’t want to hardwire them to the router. I had plugged the NVR system in to the Satellite units to connect to my network & cloud. Additionally, I dropped cable in favor of OTA 4K TV and needed a way to stream to all Apple TV’s in the house using the HD Homerun unit which had to be plugged in to a satellite unit. With the old system I had many intermittent connectivity issues, but they have all ... MoreI purchased the Orbi 970 Series Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh 3-Pack System to replace a Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router (RAX200) 12-Stream Tri-Band 10.8 Gbps plus two Nighthawk WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extenders EAX80. While the old system was working OK, it couldn’t handle my high demands for data backhaul. Let me explain. I am running a Lorex 4K (8MP) Ultra HD NVR System with 9 4K Camaras and didn’t want to hardwire them to the router. I had plugged the NVR system in to the Satellite units to connect to my network & cloud. Additionally, I dropped cable in favor of OTA 4K TV and needed a way to stream to all Apple TV’s in the house using the HD Homerun unit which had to be plugged in to a satellite unit. With the old system I had many intermittent connectivity issues, but they have all disappeared with the new system due to the higher backhaul rates 1004.99 Mbps vs. 393.39 Mbps (EAX80)! Admittedly the price for the Orbi 970 is in the Nosebleed area but was well worth the spend considering it solved all my data bottle necks.I typically have 24+ devices connected to the network which consists of units requiring 2.4 GHz and others which can take advantage of 5+GHZ. The Orbi 970 intelligently assigns /connects at the right frequency whereas with the older system I had to manually pick the correct frequency or units couldn’t connect. Most of the home automation units which aren’t hardwired to the routers require 2.4 GHz such as August Home, Rain Bird, MyQ, ThinQ, Ecobee. Additionally, I have 4+ PC’s connected along with NAS drives, 4 TV’s, 3 Apple 4K TV’s Severa Echo Show products and two cars for OTA software & Map updates.Speeds and data transmissions have been phenomenal, and I could never go back from my current state. The System setup was very easy but a bit lengthy. It took 10-15 minutes for each device (Router & Satellite to connect to the network during setup) which had me worried initially that the setup process had hung. Connecting new devices is a breeze! Note: I tried to reuse my old Wi-Fi password so I wouldn’t have to manually reconnect all devices, but the new system does not allow spaces whereas the not that much older RAX200 did allow this! That was the only ding I would give this system. I highly recommend the spend. It's an A+++ system
The Orbi Netgear 970 is an exceptional system, redefining the standards for home WiFi and security. From the moment I set it up, the seamless, user-friendly installation process impressed me, thanks to the intuitive Orbi app, which guides you step by step. Within minutes, I had full coverage across my home with incredibly fast and reliable WiFi.The standout feature is its expansive coverage, reaching every corner of my house, including areas that typically struggled with connectivity in the past. The WiFi 7 technology ensures a lightning-fast connection, whether streaming 4K content, video conferencing, or gaming. It's a game-changer, especially for households with multiple devices.In terms of security, the Orbi 970 doesn’t compromise. With built-in Netgear ... MoreThe Orbi Netgear 970 is an exceptional system, redefining the standards for home WiFi and security. From the moment I set it up, the seamless, user-friendly installation process impressed me, thanks to the intuitive Orbi app, which guides you step by step. Within minutes, I had full coverage across my home with incredibly fast and reliable WiFi.The standout feature is its expansive coverage, reaching every corner of my house, including areas that typically struggled with connectivity in the past. The WiFi 7 technology ensures a lightning-fast connection, whether streaming 4K content, video conferencing, or gaming. It's a game-changer, especially for households with multiple devices.In terms of security, the Orbi 970 doesn’t compromise. With built-in Netgear Armor, powered by Bitdefender, my entire network is shielded from potential threats. The advanced parental controls give peace of mind, allowing me to manage what my kids can access online effortlessly. I can set schedules, filter content, and monitor their usage all from the app, making it a perfect system for families.The Orbi app itself is a standout—intuitive, packed with features, and constantly updated to provide more functionality. From monitoring network performance to running speed tests or managing connected devices, it’s all done in a few taps. The app also alerts me to any potential security breaches, giving real-time updates to ensure my network remains safe and sound.In conclusion, the Orbi Netgear 970 is more than just a WiFi system—it's a comprehensive, high-speed, secure network solution that brings unparalleled coverage and performance to your home. If you're looking for top-tier WiFi with bulletproof security, the Orbi 970 is second to none!
Disclaimer, I purchased only the single router directly from netgear, but still wanted to share my experience concerning the router's performance.......I stared off with the supplied XB8 Gateway with Xfinity, which gets the job done as far as wifi but is definitely limited in speed and range performance. Later I purchased the Asus GT-BE98 Pro which was an excellent and flashy designed router with very good features, except it utilized a "not so consistent" AiMesh system as opposed to a dedicated mesh system such as this one. With the price being the same I returned the Asus Router when I learned that I could purchase a single Orbi 970 router straight from Netgear's website. The wireless performance and speed in my upstairs area actually surpassed the Asus wireless ... MoreDisclaimer, I purchased only the single router directly from netgear, but still wanted to share my experience concerning the router's performance.......I stared off with the supplied XB8 Gateway with Xfinity, which gets the job done as far as wifi but is definitely limited in speed and range performance. Later I purchased the Asus GT-BE98 Pro which was an excellent and flashy designed router with very good features, except it utilized a "not so consistent" AiMesh system as opposed to a dedicated mesh system such as this one. With the price being the same I returned the Asus Router when I learned that I could purchase a single Orbi 970 router straight from Netgear's website. The wireless performance and speed in my upstairs area actually surpassed the Asus wireless performance and embarrassed the Xfinity XB8 gateway wireless performance. I have 2Gbit internet and would get less than half of that upstairs, like 700-800mbps average with the GT-BE98 Pro, and maybe 200-300 with the XB8. This single 970 orbs router averages at 1gbps - 1.2gbps wireless. That being said I'm glad I didn't continue to fall for the "gaming router gimmicks" that Asus tried to market. And the best part is you can also purchase single satellites to add at a later time straight from Netgear when you want to expand your mesh system as needed. In the meantime I am beyond happy with running only the router since Im in an 1600 square foot area.
* The 970 series fails to deliver on the marketing hype with disappointing connectivity issues, underwhelming range and concerning privacy issues.* When it worked as intended, the mesh router delivered reasonable up/download speeds throughout the property. We also appreciated the separate IoT and Guest networks.* The system is overly expensive since only a tiny fraction of devices can take advantage of wifi 7 connectivity and speeds, so it really needed to deliver on all the other marketing promises including reduced interference and “impossibly fast” up/downloads throughout the house.We purchased the Netgear Orbi mesh network 970 as an upgrade to a six-year-old Orbi mesh network series 6 that finally died after several years of faithful service. We connect the ... More* The 970 series fails to deliver on the marketing hype with disappointing connectivity issues, underwhelming range and concerning privacy issues.* When it worked as intended, the mesh router delivered reasonable up/download speeds throughout the property. We also appreciated the separate IoT and Guest networks.* The system is overly expensive since only a tiny fraction of devices can take advantage of wifi 7 connectivity and speeds, so it really needed to deliver on all the other marketing promises including reduced interference and “impossibly fast” up/downloads throughout the house.We purchased the Netgear Orbi mesh network 970 as an upgrade to a six-year-old Orbi mesh network series 6 that finally died after several years of faithful service. We connect the mesh network to an Xfinity XB-8 gateway, which we bridge to act as just a modem. Both the Orbi series 6 and the XB-8 are fully capable of providing full coverage across our three-story home.We were excited to take advantage of the latest technology with the 970, particularly given the much broader coverage, “consistent 10 gig” speed and whole-house connectivity promised on Netgear’s website. Unfortunately, the real device failed to deliver on those promises and, after two days of frustrating set up and several hours with Netgear tech support, we will reluctantly return the system to BestBuy.Our home is three stories high and 4,500 square feet — well within the promised range of the 970 series, which is supposed to cover multiple floors and up to 10,000 sq. ft. The base station set up was super simple using the Orbi iOS app, which walked you through the process of powering down your existing modem/router, then initiating the new system. It also installed a firmware update and then kicked off the Netgear Armor security system. Please note Netgear charges $100 a year for this all-system anti-virus after the first year; other manufacturers offer similar security systems for free for the life of their systems. Netgear’s tech support only lasts for three months.Once the base station was working fine, I proceeded to set up the first satellite on the second floor. Unfortunately, the satellite failed to connect with the device when positioned one floor up and directly above the base station. I tried multiple positions on the second floor without success. Frustrated, I moved the satellite back to the first floor and was even more disappointed when the system still failed to connect one room and an open hallway away. I finally placed the satellite across the room where the base station was positioned and... success! Using a $2,300 mesh system in a single room seems like overkill, so I used my laptop and some software to locate possible positions for the satellite on the second floor and finally found a location that worked. The base station, which was ethernet-cabled to my MBP, delivered 943 mbps down and 43 up. When in place, the satellite delivered a less-than-stellar but acceptable 112 mbps down and 27 up. I was also able to get a strong enough signal to drive the Ring cameras on the outside of the first and second floors, which I placed on the separate IoT network. Those numbers are okay, but Netgear promises 8K streaming on every floor, so that’s a stretch (unless the streaming signal is hyper compressed).I used a similar process on the third floor, using my laptop to find a suitable position for the second satellite. Once in place, I got 99 mbps down and 23 up. Okay, again, but not the blazing speeds with ultra-low latency promised by the Netgear website.For each satellite, it took me a couple hours with Netgear tech support to understand why I first couldn’t get any signal at all, even though I was placing the satellite in a spot my laptop/software said was ideal. Please note that you’ll need to be patient, as the satellites run through multiple cycles to initiate, update the firmware and establish the dedicated backhaul. It’s helpful to download the chart that shows the meaning of the different color LEDs on the base station and satellites.Once the system was set up, it worked great... for a while. The ring cameras on all three floors connected easily enough, as did the Ecobee thermostats. We were also able to connect approximately 43 personal devices throughout the household. For this test, we used the existing network name and password, which facilitated the connection process.Within a couple of hours, however, the system began dropping connections on the second and third floors. I can’t relay how frustrating it is to get a “connecting” message and a spinning circle on the Orbi app and to have your devices switch to Verizon when you just spent $2,300 and four hours setting the system up. I spent a couple of more hours inside the web-based settings app getting everything aligned and perfect, which helped a little bit, but an hour later the system was dropping connections again. Also, I was a little dismayed that the network to access the settings uses an unsecured orbi dot com address, which has all kinds of privacy/cybersecurity implications. Make sure you use a VPN and a private browser setting at a minimum if you use a browser to fine tune your settings (which you’ll need to do since the Orbi app isn’t very robust).Long-story short, we’re using Xfinity’s XB-8 for right now. I understand Xfinity’s coming out with the XB-10 later this year, which will also offer wifi 7 and DOCSIS 4.0. We will wait for that instead of suffering the frustration and buyer’s remorse of the $2,300 Netgear Orbi 970.
Netgear releases one of their first WiFi 7 mesh devices and it packs a nice punch with older devices.With this system, Netgear includes a base and two satellite devices. Each device is LARGE; I do not mean to exaggerate (It almost resembles the size of a football). Each has a 10GB port and additional ports (4 on the base station, 2 on each satellite station) to connect devices to it via ethernet. In total, Netgear states that it can cover up to 9,000 sq ft of space. I found that setting up the system took about 15 minutes with the longest part being setting up a Netgear account. The main base station had a QR code sticker and after scanning it with my phone's camera, it prompted me to install the Netgear Orbi app to set up the system.While there aren’t many new ... MoreNetgear releases one of their first WiFi 7 mesh devices and it packs a nice punch with older devices.With this system, Netgear includes a base and two satellite devices. Each device is LARGE; I do not mean to exaggerate (It almost resembles the size of a football). Each has a 10GB port and additional ports (4 on the base station, 2 on each satellite station) to connect devices to it via ethernet. In total, Netgear states that it can cover up to 9,000 sq ft of space. I found that setting up the system took about 15 minutes with the longest part being setting up a Netgear account. The main base station had a QR code sticker and after scanning it with my phone's camera, it prompted me to install the Netgear Orbi app to set up the system.While there aren’t many new devices that support the new wireless standard, WiFi 7, this system does a great job of implementing it. In short, it looks to add better efficiency and potential speed. When compared to my other WiFi 6 router (I tested it with all of my devices running on the WiFi 7 network to get a real feel), I did notice a difference in overall speed on my devices. At times while streaming videos on multiple devices, I would occasionally experience hiccups using my previous WiFi 6 mesh system. While this isn’t something to worry about (1st world problems), it can get annoying, especially when having guests over for a movie. I did not experience this on the Orbi 970 during the time I’ve tested and used it. Websites would load up quicker and video streaming services such as Netflix & Disney + would load videos in higher quality (sometimes they would load in a lower quality at first then scale to a higher video quality), and with much less stuttering in between (experienced a 1 second delay once using an extended Zoom conference call). Another cool thing about the Orbi 970 was that it automatically created a SSID or additional name for IOT devices to connect to, such as smart lights, speakers, thermostat, locks, etc. While this feature does not segment or separate these devices from your network and can be powered off, it helps when connecting them (since the SSID is strictly using the 2.4GHz band) and identifying which devices are connected from a management standpoint.Through the Orbi app, with each new device you connect to the network, you are sent a notification, and soon after, a vulnerability report. The Orbi 970 system comes with a year of Netgear Armor - Netgear’s security service that regularly costs $99 a year. Netgear Armor includes network-level protection (device vulnerability scans, exploit, brute force, and DDoS network protection), Bitdefender's Antivirus for computers and mobile devices (unlimited number of devices), and Bitdefender’s VPN service (covers 200MB per day, what a bummer!). Lots of features are included that help protect your network. Netgear also claims to detect anomalies in the network (what the system would identify as odd network behavior) and notifies you of it.As I set up the devices, I was not prompted to enter a credit card to get the Netgear Armor free for 1 year and automatically was set up with the system. The app has several features and sections, with one of them (continuing the topic of security) being security. Your Orbi system gives a rating of your network's current level of security and also gives recommendations to strengthen it. As previously mentioned, a vulnerability scan is run on each device connected and the app will notify you if any vulnerabilities were found that could pose a security risk on the network. The app also notifies you if it detected and blocked any suspicious websites and lists them. Additionally, on the Orbi app you are able to set up parental controls, view the signal strength and run tests on each station, view connected devices, setup guest Wi-Fi and more. To access advanced settings such as setting up a VPN, VLAN, UPnP settings, and others, you will need to login to the router settings via a web browser.My biggest gripe with this device is that to use the more advanced features of parental controls, you will have to pay for a subscription service. Without a paid subscription, you can only control internet access of the devices that are connected to it. You can pause the internet but are unable to track or disable the use of certain websites or apps. Also, it would be nice to have some of the advanced network security features for free versus having to pay a yearly subscription.Overall, I loved the system and the range each of the base and satellite stations had. I have several IOT devices, kids with tablets that like to stream videos, gaming systems, and other devices that can take lots of bandwidth. I was able to get at a bare minimum medium strength signal in my 3200+ sqft home and use all of my devices regularly without hiccups. Of course, it also depends on your internet provider and the speed you're paying for to get fast internet. As far as using the Orbi 970 series, I can definitely recommend it for those that need good range, want top notch residential network security, and want to futureproof their Wi-Fi network.
After upgrading to the Netgear Orbi 970 Mesh system, I've experienced firsthand why this is hailed as the best mesh system on the market. Transitioning from the previous model, the Orbi 960, which capped at 2.5gb/sec, the leap in performance is nothing short of remarkable. The Orbi 970 not only promises superior coverage but also delivers unprecedented speeds that truly set it apart.One of the standout features of the Orbi 970 is its 10gig port, a significant upgrade over the older model. Testing this with my laptop connected directly, I consistently hit full 5gb/sec speeds on Speedtest, fully leveraging my Fios connection to its maximum potential. This is a game-changer for both work and entertainment, ensuring that high-speed internet is no longer a bottleneck ... MoreAfter upgrading to the Netgear Orbi 970 Mesh system, I've experienced firsthand why this is hailed as the best mesh system on the market. Transitioning from the previous model, the Orbi 960, which capped at 2.5gb/sec, the leap in performance is nothing short of remarkable. The Orbi 970 not only promises superior coverage but also delivers unprecedented speeds that truly set it apart.One of the standout features of the Orbi 970 is its 10gig port, a significant upgrade over the older model. Testing this with my laptop connected directly, I consistently hit full 5gb/sec speeds on Speedtest, fully leveraging my Fios connection to its maximum potential. This is a game-changer for both work and entertainment, ensuring that high-speed internet is no longer a bottleneck in my daily digital interactions.The setup process was seamless, and the system's coverage is extensive, easily blanketing every corner of my home with strong, reliable Wi-Fi. The Orbi 970's performance is not just about raw speeds; it's about the quality of connection it maintains across devices, ensuring that video calls, streaming, and online gaming are uninterrupted and at their highest possible quality.Comparing the Orbi 970 to its predecessor, the 960, it's clear that Netgear has made significant improvements. The inclusion of a 10gig port is a forward-thinking feature that caters to the evolving needs of tech-savvy households, where faster internet speeds and higher bandwidth demands are becoming the norm.For anyone on the fence about upgrading their home network system, the Netgear Orbi 970 comes highly recommended. It's an investment in not just faster internet, but in a smoother, more reliable digital experience at home. Whether you're working from home, streaming 4K content, or engaging in competitive online gaming, the Orbi 970 has the power and performance to meet and exceed your expectations.In summary, the Netgear Orbi 970 Mesh system stands out as the pinnacle of home networking solutions. Its unmatched speed, easy setup, and robust coverage make it the ultimate choice for anyone looking to elevate their home internet experience. If you're looking to make the most out of your high-speed internet service like Fios, look no further than the Orbi 970.
I’ve been using mesh systems for years, I much prefer them to a single router or router + range extenders for many reasons. Mesh systems meet a sweet spot for our home and connected devices, giving us reliable Wi-Fi coverage with a single SSID and also allowing for wired backhaul and wired connections to dedicated devices. I have used Orbi’s since they were first introduced, so I was looking forward to using the new Wi-Fi 7 970 series.The Orbi 970 3-unit system arrives in a pretty massive box. That is because the router and satellites have been redesigned and each unit is larger than before. I was happy to see that Netgear moved away from the legacy Orbi styling for the 970 and now the router and satellites have a nice modern cylinder look. They are hefty, and the ... MoreI’ve been using mesh systems for years, I much prefer them to a single router or router + range extenders for many reasons. Mesh systems meet a sweet spot for our home and connected devices, giving us reliable Wi-Fi coverage with a single SSID and also allowing for wired backhaul and wired connections to dedicated devices. I have used Orbi’s since they were first introduced, so I was looking forward to using the new Wi-Fi 7 970 series.The Orbi 970 3-unit system arrives in a pretty massive box. That is because the router and satellites have been redesigned and each unit is larger than before. I was happy to see that Netgear moved away from the legacy Orbi styling for the 970 and now the router and satellites have a nice modern cylinder look. They are hefty, and the build quality can be felt right away. I have the white color system, with nice accents of pewter shaded plastic. With 12 amplified antennas, the new design gives a much better 360-degree coverage direction. The one thing they did not redesign was the power cable. The wall plug is still a weird, horizontal shaped brick that needlessly puts weight on the wall outlet since it sits off and out from the outlet. So it naturally wants to droop downward. Seems like a simple fix or update to make, but not a deal breaker at all. The units are nice and heavy but sturdy, so placement on shelves, desks, extra won’t be an issue. I’m actually waiting on the new updated wall mounts to ship, as I like to place my units on walls so they can always have the best line of sight possible across the home. The new wall mounts look super nice and sturdy with great cable management design. Mesh system always work best when the router/satellites are out in the open!Setup is very simple and straightforward, just install the Orbi app to your phone and follow the prompts. Even though this is a top end system with plenty of bells and whistles and high-end tech, getting from unboxing to up and running is amazingly simple. Even if you do have some hiccups along the way. For example, one issue I ran into was the setup did not seem to want to configure my second satellite, at least according to the app, even though the lights on the unit were flashing the expected colors, and then I was shown a splash page in the app that an error occurred and to pay for the Netgear customer services tiers. Not asking me to retry steps or start over, but immediately asking me to pay for customer service. Nice try Netgear, but nope. In fact the satellite had connected just fine, was optimizing and when I rebooted the app, everything was up and running.Another quirk I found was that in the app, you cannot create an SSID with a space in the name. My existing SSID has a space in the name. So the frustration of having to create a new SSID and reconnect all my devices in the home was pretty real. Then I come to find out later, that through the web interface, you CAN create SSIDs with a space in the name? I will discuss the app in more detail later, because the app is why I am taking a start off the review score!The specs of the system speak for themselves. You are probably not looking to get a 970 series system unless you are pretty tech and/or mesh system savvy, have at least gigabit or multigigabit home internet, and have more than the average number of connected devices. But the highlights are: • 27Gbps of total bandwidth (theoretical, you’ll never ever hit this, but good to have) • 10Gbps internet and LAN ports and four 2.5Gbps LAN ports for multigigabit homes on the router • Satellites have dual 2.5Gbps and one 10Gbps LAN ports – if you do want to use wired backhaul, you will lose the 10Gbps port for any wired device you might want to connect, so if you do have multi gigabit above 2.5Gbps, you’ll lose it if connected via ethernet • Wi-Fi 7 capability • Dedicated wireless and wired backhaul, wireless uses 5ghz+6ghz bands and wired can use the 10Gbps LAN port • Dedicated IoT network that you can enable/disable that you can configure for 2.4 or 5 ghz bands • 10K sq feet of coverage and can connect up to 200 devices concurrentlyThe system will eliminate dead zones, completely. When all things are equal and working as expected, the 970 series will allow your devices to connect to your home network as fast as they are physically possible. Whether you have legacy devices using older 2.4 ghz or newer 6E devices or even Wi-Fi 7 capable devices (which at this point are mostly network connection cards/adapters) all your devices are given the max throughput they can handle. I have mostly 2.4 and 5 ghz devices, with a smattering of newer 6E devices as well, and both physical link rate speed is always great, usually the maximum capable of the device, or pretty close to it at all times. I’m running firmware version 9.10.0.2 and I have no drops, no reboots, no issues at all with the system. As a mesh system should, it runs quietly in the background, unnoticed and keeps my home network humming perfectly. That is until you experience some of the quirks. While they can be minor, the value of a mesh system is that you never have to think about it, everything just always connects and runs smooth and you trust the system to route traffic, make connection decisions and manage and secure your network. So even small quirks can impact the overall experience as they add up.For example, I find that sometimes having 3 access points can cause mishandled traffic or connections across my home devices. My home is only 5K sq feet, so I’m well below the coverage expectation of using all three units, but as more and more devices begin using Wi-Fi 6/6E and eventually 7, the range of connection will continue to decrease since the speed of those frequencies is speed but strength is weak. So 10K sq feet might be fine for 2.4Ghz devices band, but not for 6E or 7. And I find that sometimes the system will connect or route traffic to a more inefficient access point, rather than the nearest one or the one with most line of sight. With 12 internal amplified antennas on each access point, the home is saturated with network, which is great. But I think right now the Orbi could be directing traffic and connections better. I’ve tried removing an access point and found slightly better success that way, but having all three online gives all my devices the best possible link rate/speed if they can be assigned to the nearest/best access point.I’ve also found that sometimes the Orbi will not connect the satellites at full Wi-Fi 7. They will drop down to 5Ghz or even 2.4Ghz, even though the range is not an issue. You are not able to tell the system to only connect at certain bandwidth, so it’s frustrating when they won’t connect at full speed. I’ve found that by rebooting everything, they eventually will backhaul at full Wi-Fi 7 but just an unnecessary step to have to take.I also had issues with the IoT network. Devices would seemingly skip the nearest access point and only try to connect to the router, regardless how far away it was. This caused major issues with streaming devices and cameras throughout the home, not having near the best possible signal. I’ve had much more success disabling the IoT network and just running everything on my main SSID. This is something that could easily get better with firmware. One thing I would love for Netgear to allow is the ability to bind a device to a certain access point. Let me the user determine what access point I want stationary connected devices to look to. If I know my office work computer is in line of sight of my upstairs satellite, let me tell the system to always use that satellite, instead of letting the Orbi try and route the traffic and ultimately connect to a different access point with less link rate or throughput due to range.The system comes with one year of Netgear Armor included, which is awesome. However, I’ve run into hiccups with that too. It started out ok but suddenly it started spamming me saying device after device was attempting a DDoS attack and it would take the device offline and reconnect it. Of course no DDoS attack was happening, and I’ve read on the Netgear forums that others have had this same thing happen to them, so it must be a known issue for Netgear, but I’ve had to disable Armor on my system for now, because it just wouldn’t stop.And that brings me to the Orbi app. The app is supremely outdated and lacks any and all features that make the 970 series worth having. Anything and everything that you would want to change/edit/update you have to do via the web interface. The highlights of the app are bare bones. You can see your system status at a glance. You can see your network map and connected devices list. You can run a speed test at your router, you can enable/disable Armor and parental controls. You can change your SSID and enable/disable the guest or IoT networks and view a simple traffic meter. That’s it. Any real configuration change to any settings whatsoever need to be done via the web interface. It’s painful that a system this advanced and configurable cannot be fully realized through the app. This is the same Orbi app that has been used for years. I would have liked to have seen Netgear really step up and either dedicate a new app specifically for the 970 series or at least let users with different systems access the full potential of them within the existing app by building it out to meet the needs of the users. If you are using a system like this, you are more than likely a super user and more than tech savvy. To make us use an outdated and underwhelming app interface to run a system like this just does not make sense in 2023, especially for a Wi-Fi 7 system.With all that said, all the quirks can be dealt with by Netgear if they choose to, by either firmware or app updates. The system, hands down, is the best home Wi-Fi experience I have ever had. It is beyond capable and will future proof your connected home for years to come.
Netgear has owned the high-end of WiFi Mesh since their early Orbi WiFi-6 (RBK850) system dominated the market as the best coverage, best throughput mesh wifi on the market several years ago at the height of the pandemic. Their new QUAD band WiFi 7 system only improves on this design, but has a few quirks as well that buyers laying down its MSRP for such a system should be aware of:Packaging/Setup:Netgear has had excellent and efficient packaging for their ORBI systems for the past few generations. When I received the box, I wasn’t ready for what lies inside - Very efficient packaging that puts the node units front-and-center - One router/core node and 2 sattelites in the case of my kit - Where the units themselves are larger than you imagine when purchasing ... MoreNetgear has owned the high-end of WiFi Mesh since their early Orbi WiFi-6 (RBK850) system dominated the market as the best coverage, best throughput mesh wifi on the market several years ago at the height of the pandemic. Their new QUAD band WiFi 7 system only improves on this design, but has a few quirks as well that buyers laying down its MSRP for such a system should be aware of:Packaging/Setup:Netgear has had excellent and efficient packaging for their ORBI systems for the past few generations. When I received the box, I wasn’t ready for what lies inside - Very efficient packaging that puts the node units front-and-center - One router/core node and 2 sattelites in the case of my kit - Where the units themselves are larger than you imagine when purchasing this. Each one is over a foot tall and ~6” thick - This isn’t a discrete WiFi network! The box sort of unfolds to unveil the nodes and their power cords. There is one CAT6 ribbon cable included for the homerun from your Cable/fiber modem to the Internet portion of the core router’s port assortment, and 3 rather large AC adapters for each of the router/nodes that are all the same size and output. These are not corded on both ends, but rather the AC adapter “Brick” is integrated into the wall plug, so will require a larger clearance in any surge protectors or outlets where they are plugged in.Design:As I mentioned before, these units are BIG. Coming from the RBK850 WiFi 6 version, these nodes are even BIGGER, but instead of a large “fin” design like their predecessors, these are more of a “cylinder” - More than a foot tall and 6” in diameter - They obviously have some sort of rotary antenna design inside, formed around 3 panels (the top profile is somewhat triangular, with a back spine where the port array is). The design is tidy and looks nice in both the white/silver and Black/dark metal color offerings, but by no means will these “Blend in” to any home. I chose the white ones as I dont mind them being visible and the white better matched my home aesthetic, since they WILL be seen.Wired Connectivity: The main router has a significant offering of ports along its back spine - 1 uplink port for connection to a router or cable/fiber modem (or upstream switch if this mesh is being incorporated into a larger wired network) - This system actually offers 2 uplink ports: A 10GbE Internet port, as well as an additional 10GbE port for aggregation of carriers - Or for High Availability configurations of multiple ISPs - One could potentially use this network in a small/medium office environment where two ISPs are configured and connected, and either aggregate during normal ops or fail over to one another when an outage occurs. This is an exciting feature for a “consumer” offering and makes the ORBI premium lineup seem more like a “prosumer” offering. The main router also offers 4x 1GbE ethernet ports to act as a switch for your wired devices on the LAN in the main office location - For me, this allows connection of my smart home controllers that connect in a WIRED way and for the printer and desktop PC on my desk where the main router node lives to connect via a full 1000Mbps connection to the router and its Internet uplink. This will be helpful as I upgrade to Fiber and will be able to take full advantage of the 1Gbps bandwidth these wired connections allow for. Each of the “Mesh nodes” looks almost identical to the router, but only offer a single uplink cable (if using in a “wired mesh” mode), and 2 Ethernet ports for downstream device connectivity. This becomes especially handy in areas like my Living Room, where I put a mesh node to allow for good coverage along the back of the house, but it also serves as an Ethernet bridge to my TV and Xbox Series S thanks to its two integrated ports. The uplink connection is rated for 10Gbps and the two bridge ports are rated for 1Gbps.Wireless connectivity and Performance:This is where the ORBI really starts to stand out - In addition to having the latest Ethernet technology and offering everything port-wise that any mesh product offers on the market today, this is one of the next generation of wireless products - Supporting full quad-band WiFi 7 connectivity on supported devices! What does that mean, well it especially means that WiFi7-capable devices will be able to take advantage of 4 separate wireless bands when communicating with these new nodes - 2.4GHz, dual 5GHz bands (one dedicated to mesh backhaul) and the 6GHz band introduced as the differentiator in WiFi 6E. Since there are hardly any WiFi7-capable endpoints out there today, this may seem like a superfluous capability, but since this is a WiFi7-native mesh network, that extra 5GHz band will come in handy to ensure better inter-node connectivity and speed on the network, benefiting devices old and new alike. This will also be the ultimate performance enhancement for devices that can take full advantage of the 6E or 7 standards, and future-proof your infrastructure for those devices as they debut - And be ready for the coming wave of improved Internet Access services out there who are pushing backhaul bandwidth to 1Gbps to 2Gbps and beyond!As far as coverage, my home is only ~2400sqft. But is very densely framed, and other wifi mesh systems have required 3 nodes throughout the house to adequately cover the house and the immediately surrounding 10ft perimeter outside the house where we might use devices on the patio, or in the garage. Only the previous Orbi system we used came even close to covering like this does! We can still connect to our wifi when next door or across the street (outside, not indoors). This system provides excellent coverage even through several walls and I notice that the node signal strength is always very good between the mesh endpoints - This results in being able to achieve my FULL backhaul speeds to the Internet throughout my home, allowing for things like immersive gaming and video conferencing in areas of the house where this has been a problem for other solutions. Even with previous tri-band Orbi solutions, the coverage was great, but the speeds suffered as the backhaul band for the mesh was a single 5GHz band, where now I can have full 6GHz WiFi 7 backhaul keeping the network at top speed.Administration/Configuration:The Orbi system primarily uses an app-based solution, available as an app for iPhone and Android - This is primarily a phone-based app, so tablet users will struggle with the UI as its not formulated for, but does scale adjust for, larger screens.The app administration will get you through 90% of what most consumers use to manage/configure their wifi networks, but if you’re like me, and want a custom DHCP range, and to specify NAT rules, priority devices, and manage static IP assignments, some of these features are better served in the web-based admin console accessible on desktop devices (or tablets in the browser) that is the same adminUI that has been on Netgear devices for years. It is updated to support the Orbi’s new features, but its nothing new, and thats not a bad thing (if it ain’t broke…) The app and console support some interesting new features that I hadn’t seen in my previous Netgear or any other routers:- IoT SSID Network - A separate network for your IoT devices, that is fully accessible and shared a DCHP vLAN with your main network, but allows you to configure a more permissive WPA2 or 2.4GHz native network JUST for those stubborn legacy devices, while enabling the latest security and encryption and speeds of WPA3 and 5/6GHz for your regular network devices. I found this helpful for connecting stubborn lightbulbs and other IoT controllers that otherwise wouldn’t play nice. This does not, however, add ANY IoT security to the network, as anything that can get to your IoT network has unfettered access to your entire LAN - Just don’t go thinking this is a security feature.- Customizable IP ranges and DNS/DMZ services - If you run any kind of server or VPN for yourself or others out of your device, Netgear still gives you all of the classic tools to manage this right in the web-based console (the mobile app admin console is a bit more limited).Security:Security in a product like this is relative - Its all about how much you’re willing to configure. This router/mesh comes with Netgear’s ARMOR service which acts like a bit of a sentinel on the network detecting anomalous behavior and doing vulnerability checks on your devices as they come and go - I have seen several vulnerabilities pointed out from some IoT hubs/controllers I have connected, but in checking these out they are just POTENTIAL vulnerabilities - Beyond that I might just be dealing with hardened, secured devices at home, or ARMOR just doesn’t do much in this space. It’s also going to cost you annually to keep up on. There are multiple places on the Internet where you can get guidance on how to harden your network and prevent attacks and intrusions, but rest assured most of the tools and admin capabilities mentioned in these guides this Netgear stack is going to support.Value:This is an expensive setup. It might be DOUBLE what I ever thought I’d have paid for home network equipment, and its full value will only ever be realized once ISP bandwidth reaches near its theoretical maximums - But at any price, if you’re like me and you want the best possible technical solution for your family and home office streaming and data access needs, and you want assurance that you’re always getting the most out of whatever you ISP offers you from ANYWHERE on your network, and you need to ensure that the entire home is blanketed in strong WiFi, this is the solution for you.
| Special feature | Internet Security |
| Frequency band class | Quad-Band |
| Wireless communication standard | 802.11.be |
| Number of Ports | 11 |
| Control Method | App |
