FW Gold and Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 mesh router
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Hi,
So just got my Firewalla Gold all setup and everything all working again. Only problem is I have Google WiFi which doesn't support mesh in bridge mode, and to get it working ties up 2 ports on the Firewalla. So I looking at Orbi AX6000 and saw this post and wanted to know how happy you are with it? I have a large house, 2 floors and currently have main google wifi for the upstairs, and 3 downstairs at different corners of the house. Also one is not hardwared but provides a hardwire conneciton to a Tivo Mini, the other 2 are hardwired. But now, of course with the way it has to be setup for Firewalla, those 2 can no longer be hardwired, so it relies on the mesh which is weak to those points.
So, are you happy with your Orbi? and can you hardwire devices to an Orbi satellite that is not hardwired? I've seen you can hardware the satellite's so that's great. Only thing I've see that I don't like is the 2.4 and 5ghz networks can not be combined? That's a drag since I've enjoyed not worrying about that with Google/Nest Wifi.
I'm planning to get the 3 pack for now and hope that works out, if I need to add a 4th is that possible?
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Jim, I like my Orbi WiFi 6 system a lot. I have a 2 story home about 3k SF with the base station upstairs in our loft and the satellite behind the TV downstairs. No issues with that base to satellite connection at all. I have my Smart TV plugged directly into the satellite and get 100m throughput consistently (hardware limited by the TV). I had a Google WiFi system but dumped it for the Orbi and I've been satisfied. Devices that have 5ghz stay on that band from what I can tell... And throughput is excellent throughout the house and backyard. I did run out of ports so I have a line from the FW to a Gig Switch but all network connections are managed by FW just the same. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll do my best to answer.
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Came here looking for similar.
On Monday I had my broadband upgraded to 1Gbps Fibre, and my Firewalla Gold arrived. I then proceeded to connect my BT Whole Home WiFi system to it. It’s a great mesh system, and it doesn’t drop calls or connections as I move around the 3 storey house and garden, as I have 6 disks configured. But it is constrained with 250Mb/s frustratingly!
I’d been looking for a Wifi6 mesh system which will buy some future proofing. Although I’m sure it will then point out that my devices don’t support those speeds! I’d also looked at Ubiquti Alien system, but Orbi looks appealing too.
I had found it hard to find a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system which didn’t include a router ... so do I need to find one where I can put it into bridge mode?
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Tom, yes... To work with FW you just need a system that can be put in bridge mode. Most systems will have that feature but there are some notable exceptions like Google WiFi which doesn't support bridge mode. I agree with the thought that WiFi 6 is fully supported. But it acts like fast 5Ghz in that case. What sold me on Orbi was the ability to have the satellite anywhere with 4 wired connections... So it's great by a TV or entertainment system. But there are a lot of choices out there. I will say that my Samsung S10 says it has a 1g connection via wifi using wifi6... I don't have that much bandwidth (I have a 500Mb fiber line) but it's a great signal.
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Hey Tom, I'm in he same boat, trying to consider a new mesh WiFi system since Google WiFi is not optimal to use with Firewalla and also considering the latest Orbi, but after reading this post
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/RBK853-wired-satellite/m-p/1894584/highlight/true#M2924
I'm now leaning towards the latest Asus Zen WiFi...
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I have the previous version of the Orbi mesh router with two satellite stations. The main router has been turned to an access point, not bridge mode there is a difference, bridge and access point are not the same. Anyway the router is awesome and the speed is fantastic, i even have the outside module for my garage.
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Hey Jim,
Thanks for that link. Apologies for the delay replying.
I'm still mulling over my options since the leap from 40Mb/s broadband to 1Gb/s left me a bit unprepared. The current BT Whole Home WiFi tops out at 250Mb/s transfers, and most of the devices aren't WiFi 6. But I see the overall benefit for going WiFi 6 for everything else around the house, the Ring Cameras, the Echo devices, the Hue lights etc.
To date I've looked at:
- Amplifi Alien - Seemingly not available in UK (yet/officially). 1Gb WAN link, awesome app. Guest Wifi available.
- Orbi WiFi 6 - Available in UK, 2.5Gb WAN link (bit of future proofing), clunky app (from what I've read). Guest Wifi available.
- Arris Surfboard Max Pro - Not sure on UK Availability, App again is clunky. Not sure on WAN speed, but the WiFI is AX10600/AX11000 from memory ... seemingly much more than the Orbi/Alien. Unsure of Guest Mode.
- Eero Pro 6 - Launched this week, so not much detail. Unsure of Guest Mode.
In terms of the property, it's ground floor is 3k Sq. Ft. but is also 3 storey.
Would I be best getting one Satellite per floor?
Those with the Orbi, what's your experience been of the app?
Should I stop procrastinating and get the Orbi?
Should I look at the Asus Zen?
Thanks all :)
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I need my AVM Fritz Box for routing Dectstation and for my smarthome devices. WLAN from Fritzbox is off. That for I have my Orbi SRR60 Mesh Router with 2 sattelits. Orbi is configured as AP Point. Works fine so far. I spinned up to wlans with the Orbi with different SSIDs. One only for me an my Network Gadgets and one for Friends and family. I run firewalla gold in simple mode. Eversthing works fine so far. BUT" phones ,gadgets, Family network devices connected to the extra WLAN , are sometimes visible in firewalla,but the most of the time not. Looking in Router Dashboard from my Fritzbox they are all shown as connected and visible.any ideas ? Something Gies wrong monitoring the second Wlan
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OK so thanks for your answer ....that means firewalla gold for me in my Setup is useless? Before firewalla I had a cujo ... Support stopped in march ...Same setup all was working .... And yes I now firewalla is a better device ...maybe to complicated for me .... But with cujo I could stopp any device I want in my guestnetwork ... Cujo was in Bridge Mode. Thx a lot
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I am having issues with Firewalla Gold seeing ALL traffic on all of my Orbi SX80 vlans. I have a Netgear Modem...going into my Orbi SX80 and the Firewalla in Simple Mode plugged into one of the ports. I have 3 ip ranges on 3 different vlans and firewalla will only see traffic on one of the vlans and not all of them. Any ideas? I bought my SX80 and love the vlan configuration, but now I can't use the firewalla or it justy goes crazy. I have several pcs in my computer room wired in and everything else uses wireless. For now, hard wiring different switches to different areas of the house is not an option.
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