NETGEAR - Orbi Pro WiFi 6 AX6000

My experience with the UDR7 and other Unifi equipment: I recently replaced my old network setup, which consisted of a Netgear Orbi Pro with one router and one satellite. This previous setup was reliable for 4 years, without any issues or interruptions, providing full house coverage. The only drawback was the outdated user interface and features, despite the overall high quality of the system. The new setup includes a UDR7, U7 Lite, and Flex 2.5 switch installed in the same location as the old equipment. Here are my impressions: Using only the UDR7 from the same location as the Netgear router (without a satellite or access point), I was able to connect at least at 2.4 GHz in the farthest and most obstructed areas, which was not possible with the old gear. Close to the router (1.5 meters away), the Netgear router provided a maximum link speed of 866 Mbps (Wi-Fi 5) and an internet speed of 500 Mbps. With the UDR7 in the same spot, the link speed increased to 1.2 Gbps (Wi-Fi 6) and the internet speed reached 750 Mbps (ISP max). After adopting and installing the U7 Lite, the whole house coverage was comparable to the old gear (Netgear router + satellite). The main difference was the link speed improvement using Wi-Fi 6, which enhanced the TX and RX rates, thus maximizing the ISP speed at medium range (3 meters). With a Wi-Fi 6E client using the UDR7 6 GHz band near the router (1.5 meters away), the link speed achieved its maximum at 2.4 Gbps. However, I found the 6 GHz spectrum less usable since both Wi-Fi 6E clients preferred connecting to the 5 GHz band, only resorting to the 6 GHz when extremely close to the router. Key takeaways: 1.        Ensure to change the 5 GHz channel width from 40 MHz to 80 MHz prior to conducting tests to avoid misleading results, as maximum internet speed might be around 500 Mbps otherwise. 2.        The setup process is remarkably easy and fast for such a complex and advanced network operating system. 3.        Coverage remains consistent with an overall improvement in LAN and internet speeds across the house compared to the previous gear. 4.        The software, functionalities, and features are significantly advanced compared to the older Netgear equipment; the upgrade was well worth it for these improvements alone. 5.        The 6GHz band is not useful for my setup because the connection requires proximity to the router. Overall, my experience was excellent, and the swap was worth it.

Your current router struggles to keep up with all those devices and your house. For a 1 Gig Fios plan and multiple gadgets, you’ll want something strong and reliable that covers the basement and upstairs well. I’d recommend checking out mesh WiFi systems like the NETGEAR Orbi AX 6000 or the Syrotech WiFi 6 Mesh Router. Both are adept at handling lots of devices at once and spreading a solid signal throughout a big home. They’re easy to set up and keep your connection steady, even under heavy use. Definitely a big upgrade from older routers and perfect for gaming, streaming, and working without annoying dropouts. If you want something simpler but still powerful, the TP-Link Archer AXE75 is also a solid standalone router with strong coverage and fast speeds.

Go with a mesh system faster, seamless, and perfect for large homes. 2.4 GHz is slower, extenders drop speed. Try [Orbi AX4000](https://www.grabnpay.in/products/netgear-orbi-ax-4000-wifi-6-tri-band-mesh-system-with-router-amp-satellite-coverage-of-5000-to-7500-sq-ft-amp-40-device-connectivity?variant=45561583173936&_pos=12&_sid=703f7c586&_ss=r) or [AX6000](http://grabnpay.in/products/netgear-orbi-ax-6000-wifi-6-tri-band-whole-mesh-system-with-router-satellite-coverage-of-5000-to-7500-sq-ft-and-100-device-connectivity?_pos=8&_sid=703f7c586&_ss=r)

Check Facebook marketplace. I was able to find and Orbi 2pck of WiFi 6 for $80. Works perfectly

I hated the WiFi 6 Orbi system I bought. It was lacking so many fairly basic features, such as QoS, firmware updates breaking basic functionality, and a very lackluster app-focused experience.  I replaced it with an ASUS WiFi 7 system comprised of a RoG router with two Zen nodes and it’s been a lot more solid with far more configuration options than I’ve ever seen on a residential router.  Maybe the Orbi WiFi 7 line has solved their earlier issues, but I’ll never buy one again based on my prior experience. 

Netgear Orbi mesh all the way

Orbi 6 currently Costco usually has great deals on newer mesh systems.

Netgear Orbi 2 or 3 unit mesh wifi kit. Or, more expensive but with more options Ubiquiti kit. Those are your best performance choices.

I moved from a Netgear Nighthawk router and extender to an Orbi network... Well worth it to me.

Had an ORBI for many years, its had numerous minor issues over the years but it finally stopped functioing a month or two ago and I go myself an Archer AX10, quite happy with setup and no issues so far.

I love the Synology management features but I have found their range and signal strength is horrible compared to other mesh systems and I have a lot of hiccups with Apple devices that I didn’t have on the Orbi. I just didn’t like paying for parental controls so I switched. Now that my kids are older, I’m considering going back to Orbi or trying out Eero.