The Netgear Orbi vs Linksys Velop- Finding the best satellite modules for your home Wi-Fi needs

The traditional router is being faced out fast with the introduction of the satellite nodes or modules designed to offer extensive coverage in expansive homes separated by thick walls.

Gone are the days when people sat close to the router in the living room just to enjoy strong Wi-Fi signals. With the satellite nodes, it is now possible to stream, browse and game from any location in the homes thanks to the nodes that can be distributed in areas where there are internet enable devices both up and downstairs.

What are the differences between the Netgear orbi and the Linksys Velop?

The Netgear Orbi and the Linksys Velop- How do they compare?

Capacity

The Netgear Orbi offers users impressive coverage and capacity when installed in homes, the unit boasts of up to 4x increased capacity and is capable of handling up to 12 streams at a go, and this is inclusive of the huge number of devices that have been connected to the network. Most important is that the unit does not compromise on the upload and download speeds as it caters to the huge number of devices.

The satellite modules when carefully distributed in the home will ensure that all the internet-enabled devices located in the different parts of your home can enjoy a seamless Wi-Fi experience. And to make it even better, the unit has been equipped with the tri-band mesh Wi-Fi technology that ensures the internet speeds are fast to blanket every corner of your house with a Wi-Fi blanket.

The incorporated Fast lane 3 technology can handle all the connected devices obliterating any incidences of slowdowns or buffering.

So unlike the Netgears Orbi that can handle up to 12 streams at once, the Linksys Velop home Wi-Fi device is equipped with up to 6 antennas, with two of them dedicated to each network, and for the configuration of the system, the unit has a Bluetooth radio. Linksys Velop therefore, allows users to link up to 10 velop devices, meaning that it can be adopted in a home with expansive rooms.

What’s more is that the nodes can work together in a smooth fashion in providing complete Wi-Fi coverage regardless of the size and shape of your home, a feature that in turn encourages wider coverage.

Positioning in relation to signal strength

The most ideal place to place your Netgear Orbi home Wi-Fi device to achieve enhanced coverage is at the center of your home, this is to allow the unit radiate signals to different areas of the house from one spot. Even more interesting is that the Orbi device has been able to stay connected with the internet-enabled devices at a distance of up to 125 feet away from the router.

With the Netgear’s Orbi, the only way you could achieve good and strong signal strength is not only through focusing on the center but rather it should be placed in an elevated position, which is about 6 or 7 feet from the floor. Ever thought of checking the color of your Orbi satellite to determine if you are getting the best signal strength, well if you haven’t then here are the colors that will inform your Netgear Orbi positioning.

If the unit’s ring is solid blue for about 10 seconds then your connection and signal strength are good, but if it is solid amber for at least 10 seconds then the connection and signal strength are fair.

For you to get the best out of your Linksys Velop home Wi-Fi device you will have to utilize at least two Velop nodes on every floor of your house. One node will work but if you are aiming at getting the best internet speeds then two are better. The placement of the nodes is also of prime importance and just like the Netgear’s Orbi an elevated position would be ideal.

The Orbi nodes feature a light on top designed to give information on the operation of the device. So anytime that you see a blue light then you know that your node is connected and emits strong signals when the light turns red then your connection is completely lost, but the problem might not be the nodes rather your internet service provider.

A red blinking light will appear when the node cannot connect with another node, so you might have to adjust the proximity and ensure that connectivity to the modem is perfect. A yellow or orange color appearing on the node is indicative of a weak connection, so your device will have signal problems, and the best thing to do is to move it closer to the other available nodes.

Application and other support systems

For the setting up of your Netgear Orbi home Wi-Fi device, you will have to install the Netgear’s Night Hawk application on your phone, the feature gives you the liberty of customizing your Orbi nodes to suit your needs. And once you manage to get it up and running, you will be provided with an intuitive dashboard, which will let you run the speed test, and pause the internet in some of the connected devices.

Parents can also access the parental control feature, which enables them to effectively manage the devices that have been connected to the network. For example, they could filter content that is streaming into their kid’s devices and individually set the internet bedtime for their kid’s devices that are connected.

Lastly, you can also pause your internet engagements and move to check out on what other members of your household are up to online. What’s more is that the Nighthawk gives you the liberty to remotely manage your home network no matter your location, or set up the Amazon’s Alexa.

The Linksys Velop also offers its users an application that they can use to manage the home Wi-Fi devices. So, some of the features available in Velop that are significantly missing in Orbi are such as the Guest Access, a feature that allows users to permit up to 50 guests into their network. There is also a connectivity hierarchy that allows you to prioritize the devices access to the network.

There is also the port forwarding option, that enables the users to open the ports remotely that allows devices to access your home network.

The home Wi-Fi device range

When it comes to range the Netgear Orbi home Wi-Fi system is quite exceptional because at 150 feet the unit will offer you up to 229.1 Mbps throughput. And the maximum coverage that the unit can offer in terms of sq. ft. is 5,000. However, you also need to know that you can achieve an extended coverage of up to 2,500 sq. ft.

To achieve the latter you will have to invest in a separate satellite. For the Linksys Velop, the coverage tends to be a bit lower when compared to the Netgear’s Orbi with no option of extended coverage. Linksy’s maximum coverage is 4,500 sq. ft. and with the interconnected nodes strategically placed around your home then you should be able to achieve long-range signals.

Structure and Design

The Netgear Orbi home Wi-Fi device offers an out of the box mesh technology. The unit features a simple yet classy design making it adaptable to different home settings. The front part only has the name of the unit or manufacturer and at the back, you will get all the wired controls that you will need to get your systems connected to the internet.

At the back you will, therefore, find the on and off button, about 4 ethernet ports with one that plugs into the modem and we also have a sync button. There is however a notable difference in the number of ports between a router and a satellite, where the latter has about 4 ethernet ports, and while the router might be having four, one is for use with a modem.

The Linksys velop’s controls are situated at the underside of the unit. And unlike the Netgear Orbi 4 ethernet ports, Velop only gives you two with a reset and an on and off button. The units design, however, makes it a perfect home Wi-Fi device system that you could install in the various rooms to achieve comprehensive coverage.

The Netgear Orbi vs the Linksys Velop – A comparison overview

The Netgear Orbi

NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK852) – Router with 1 Satellite Extender | Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft., 100 Devices | AX6000 (Up to 6Gbps) , White

• Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft. and for up to 100 devices. Extend coverage up to 2,500 sq. ft. with each...
• Ultrafast AX6000 gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and...

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You would probably feel like you’ve hit a dead-end when your home Wi-Fi device fails to integrate with your internet service providers. Well not for the Netgear Orbi because it can effectively work with whichever internet service provider that you are subscribed to.

And apart from the ultra-fast gigabit speed that the users are set to benefit from by using the unit, Netgear orbi has also been equipped with up to 4 gigabit Ethernet ports for users who wish to plug in their game consoles or stream players. Large houses can be sure of accessing high internet speeds with a wide coverage of up to 5,000 sq. ft. users are also able to extend the range to 2,500 sq. ft. but with additional satellite.

The unit is also very comprehensive when it comes to the security of the data that your sharing between different devices. To which end you will get the WPA2 Wi-Fi security protocols complete with guest Wi-Fi access, Firewall, and Dos among others.

Pros  

• Set up and management is pretty easy
• The unit features advanced technology
• Works with different internet providers
• Obliterates dead zones

Cons

• Has constant disconnects from the internet
• Options to tweak the advanced parameters not working

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The Linksys Velop

Linksys WHW0302B Velop Intelligent Mesh WiFi System: AC4400, Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router, Wireless Network for Full-Speed Home Coverage (Black, 2-Pack)

• Coming Soon – Apple HomeKit Compatibility
• Ideal for any ISP plan, ISP modem / modem-router

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Linksys Velop home Wi-Fi device offers a flawless and full-strength intelligent mesh technology, the unit is known to spread reliable internet signals in different home designs. And unlike other devices where you will have to manually switch between the networks, Linksys velop nodes work together in a seamless fashion obliterating buffering for those who are into 4K or HD streaming.

The unit is also all about versatility in that in case you need to increase coverage and connectivity; all you need to do is to get an extra node and install it in the respective room. Mind you, there will be no chances of compromising your flawless décor for Wi-Fi connectivity as you have been provided with two different colors to interchange with, which is either black or white.

Security features also abound in the home Wi-Fi device, which enables users to protect their families against online security risks. The unit has thus been equipped with a parental control feature, for parents to customize their network access to suit their needs. However, to benefit from the above users will have to download the Linksys application, create an account then log in to enjoy the services of the shield.

Pros

• Integrates with the different internet service providers
• The Linksys application enables quick set up and installation
• The intelligent mesh technology provides the fastest path to the internet
• Offers reliable Wi-Fi coverage when engaging the higher bandwidth online activities

Cons

• Users complain of unreliable speeds
• Wi-Fi network can communicate with the rest of your network thus a security breach

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Conclusion

Both of the above units have stacked up quite well, it, therefore, boils down to your preference and likes, for example, you could consider the size of your home and if there are possibilities of expansion then you will also have to extend coverage and the best unit to cater to this is the Netgear Orbi’s as it is equipped with an extended 2,500 sq. ft.

Verdict: so which is the best? The Netgear Orbi or the Linksys velop

In terms of features and connectivity, the Netgear’s Orbi beats the Linksys Velop hands down. Check for example the number of Ethernet ports equipped in both units, Orbi has about 4 for the satellite while Linksys only has two. And when it comes to range Orbi offers up to 5,000 sq. ft. while Linksys can only manage 4,500 with zero chances of extension.

FAQs

1. Can I add extra nodes to achieve wider coverage with Velop?

Yes, you could add as many nodes as you want, and even better if you already had the wired Ethernet connections this can work to your advantage by reducing unnecessary Wi-Fi interference.

2. When can I enable beamforming on my Orbi device?

The feature is best enabled when the devices in your network have the AC wireless standards.