The Orbi Vs Velop; Invest in the best home Wi-Fi extender

Did you know that you could close Business deals, do transactions, social networks, and carry out online research from the comfort of your home, with the best internet speeds and coverage, facilitated by a Wi-Fi extender?

Wireless transmissions face the problem of overcoming obstacles more so in a home setting, where people may need to use the internet in seclusion, like in the study or bedroom. The signal strength sent out to different rooms largely depends on the subscription plan, the signal strength that your router sends out and the quality of the Wi-Fi extender that you use.  A Wi-Fi extender, therefore, allows more devices to benefit from one router and helps increase signal strength and offers coverage to the devices that are connected to the network.

What are the differences between Orbi and Velop?

Orbi vs Velop- How do they Compare

Capacity and Speed

The orbi Wi-Fi extender offers the devices connected to your network the capacity to do more than one task at a go, for example, one device could be live streaming while another one will be surfing, researching or even playing online games without experiencing downtimes. All the devices utilized in your home, no matter their location will be effectively accommodated by the Orbi Wi-Fi whole mesh system.

What’s more, is that the Orbi Wi-Fi extender can connect over 25 devices and still manage to stream simultaneously with high speeds and at the same time ensure efficient packing and scheduling data. The bandwidth demanding activities such as the 4k streaming will still be able to access high speeds even when running the less demanding equipment like the smart light bulbs simultaneously.

Orbi, therefore, utilizes Netgears the Tri-Band mesh technology to offer a smart home experience with seamless roaming.

Velop, on the other hand, features a series of interconnected nodes that ensure all the devices in your home get covered in your Wi-Fi network. The difference between the Orbi and Velop therefore, in terms of capacity is that Orbi repeats the wireless signals from a router to expand its coverage and in the process rebroadcast to the devices that could have gotten a weak signal.

Velop utilizes nodes to capture a large capacity, and the extender nodes are add-ons and which act as an extra antenna by extending the signal of your home node to cover the mesh nodes that are not close.

Application and Security set up

For one to effectively utilize their Orbi Wi-Fi extender device, they have to first install the Netgear Orbi application. The latter allows customization and set up; on your mobile phone you will be able to install your mesh system by connecting your mobile device to the router network. You will then be presented with an intuitive dashboard that has a plethora of customizable options.

For example, you will be able to pause the internet on the connected devices and if you are experiencing slow internet speeds, you could run a speed test via the internet speed test option. And for the parents who have teens and small kids that have access to the network, Orbi offers users the smart parental control option

Linksys Velop also offers users an application to help them customize the settings of their Wi-Fi extenders. The application can be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet from either Google Play or the App Store. Some of the options that you will be provided with are such as the guest access, device prioritization, parental controls to monitor what your kids are interacting with and to switch off the internet when it is sleep time.

And in case of slow speeds, you have been provided with the option of carrying out a speed test to check on the download and upload speeds. Now it may seem that the application services offered by both Orbi and Velop are similar but the former tends to stand out because of the security features that it offers which are top-notch when compared to Velop’s.

Netgear Orbi provides users with multi-layer security software that protects all the devices with the best anti-virus, data theft protection, and anti-malware theft protection options. The above is a built-in system, however, the same features on Velop will cost you more because it comes as a paid subscription. You will, therefore, download the Linksys application create an account and log in before the security shield can appear.

Range and speeds

The Velop Wi-fi extenders give users the option of utilizing one, two or three Wi-Fi nodes, which can be connected to extend the range and speed of the Wi-Fi networks in a large area or through multiple floors in your home. And the best thing about the nodes is that they don’t have the traditional antennas sticking out of them and you can thus neatly place the velop nodes in different areas of your house to get rid of the dark spots.

Each of the Linksys Velop nodes is a Tri-band AC 2X2 5G wave 2 complete with MU-MIMO radio configuration offering combined speeds of up to 2200mbps. Other features that have been incorporated in the unit to ensure that users get the best coverage in terms of range and speeds are such as the automatic updates.

There is also the patent-pending spot finder technology that recommends to the users the best area to place their modules in a bid to reduce latency, improve the range and strength signal and maximize on throughput. And even more interesting is that the Velop nodes are a powerful AC2200 device that can double up as an access point, a range extender, a router, and a bridge.

Other speed options are such as the prioritization of devices for bandwidth usage especially for individuals who are video streaming or using the gaming consoles.

Orbi offers high speeds and large area coverage of up to 5,000 sq. ft. through a single Wi-Fi network. The Tri-Band Wi-Fi has incorporated a dedicated 1.7Gbps 5GHz band necessary for extending the internet speeds to the Orbi satellites. The above thus enables the other two Wi-Fi bands to stay dedicated to all the connected devices in your entire home.

And still in coverage the Netgear Orbi offers its users add-on satellites to cover even larger areas with the Tri-Band Wi-Fi that utilizes only one network name and password. The major difference between Orbi and Velop is that users might have to invest in more Wi-Fi nodes to be able to achieve extended coverage and speeds but for the Velop you will only use a single Wi-Fi network that will extend coverage and speeds to the Orbi satellites.

Structure and Design

The Orbi unit features quite a simple and intuitive design, with the controls all positioned at the back. The extender has been equipped with ambient led light to offer an ambient glow below the extender and you also have the liberty to customize it to suit your on and off schedule. Installation of the unit in your home has two options, one is to either mount it on the wall via the wall mount brackets or simply use it on a table or shelf top.

The Velop extender unit has one major advantage, which is no matter where you have placed it for as long as there is good proximity you can use the voice control option. Even more interesting is that you can extend coverage by implanting more nodes (3) in the rooms that are not covered. However, unlike the Orbi, Velop can only be utilized while on a tabletop but not mounted on the wall. The controls are at the bottom of the unit while for the Orbi the controls are at the back.

The Orbi vs Velop- A comparison Overview

The Orbi

NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System with 3Gbps Speed (RBK50) – Router & Extender Replacement Covers Up to 5,000 sq. ft., 2-Pack Includes 1 Router & 1 Satellite White

• Ultra-performance Mesh WiFi network blankets every inch of your home in super fast and seamless WiFi...
• Eliminates WiFi dead zones and buffering - 5,000 square feet of consistent coverage - with speeds up to...

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Apart from being able to cover up to 5000 sq. ft. the Orbi Wi-Fi extender has also been equipped with the beamforming capabilities, which priorities internet signal and strength to the devices that need it the most, especially those that utilize more bandwidth. What’s more is that the unit is compatible with all the internet providers and can work with cable, satellite, DSL, and fiber among others.

The wired Ethernet port is a 2Gigabit complete with the AC3000 Wi-fi capable of powering up to 3Gbps when streaming HD video when gaming or when internet surfing. Protection measures have also been catered to via the Netgear Amor that is powered by the Bit Defender.

Pros

• Obliterates dead zones
• Set up and customization is easy
• The unit has been equipped with parental controls
• Accommodates all the internet providers

Cons

• The firmware upgrade is buggy
• IOS application not very responsive

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The Velop

Linksys Velop Mesh Home WiFi System, 4,500 Sq. ft Coverage, 30+ Devices, Speeds up to (AC1300) 1.3Gbps - WHW0103

• Wi-Fi router replacement provides whole home mesh coverage
• Designed for large, 3 5 bedroom homes (up to 4,500 square feet)

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The Linksys Velop can double up as a Wi-Fi router and extender, offering you faster speeds and wider coverage by placing the nodes in areas within your house that have devices connected to the network. The unit has thus been designed to cater to houses that have a maximum of 5 bedrooms. Internet activities that utilize high bandwidth have been well catered for such as 4K streaming and gaming.

What’s more is that the Wi-Fi extender can be incorporated in any design house and can work with different internet service providers, including modems and modem- router. Important to note however is that, if you live in a home that has utilized metal in its construction then, you will have to use up to two nodes because metal is known to obstruct Wi-Fi signals.

The Velop mesh has also been designed in such a way that it learns from the user and this is achieved from the moment the unit is set up, via the intelligent mesh technology.

Pros

• Has a voice control option
• Wi-Fi can be managed from anywhere
• Offers a fast and reliable Wi-Fi coverage
• Made in a sleek and compact design

Cons

• Too simple for the tech-savvy
• Coverage is not as top-notch

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Conclusion

Your home Wi-Fi needs can be catered to by the Wi-fi extenders some of which can double up as routers. The size and type of your house has a lot to do with the coverage given that houses that have one floor might need the Velop nodes to ensure that the walls are overcome as regards coverage. And for those whose houses are on the same floor with multiple rooms then an Orbi Wi-Fi extender will suffice given that it can offer coverage of up to 5,000 sq. ft.

Verdict: So which is better? The Orbi or Velop

The one major advantage of using the Orbi Netgear Wi-Fi extender is that you don’t need to install extra nodes (like when using velop) in different rooms for better coverage. Net gear’s Orbi takes the lead given that you will only need to find a suitable location to set it up.

The Mu-MIMO and the incorporated beamforming technologies will also ensure that all devices are connected and can achieve appropriate upload and download speeds with priority being given to the devices that are engaging high bandwidth activities.

FAQs

1. How many satellites can I add to my Orbi Wi-Fi extender?

You are allowed to connect up to 3 satellites to the router, which will enable you to cover up to 10,000 square feet.

2. How far can I place my Orbi Wi-Fi extender from the router?

If your home has been constructed with very thick walls then, your Orbi can communicate with your router from a distance as far as 125 feet from each other.

3. Can I connect more than three nodes to my Velop Wi-fi extender?

If by any chance you buy more than three nodes for your Velop Wi-Fi extender then be informed that you will have to create another network. In essence, is that your Velop mesh cannot accommodate more than three nodes. And whether you are using a modem, router or switch they should be equipped with an Ethernet port.