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Orbi RBS20 Satellite Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

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Orbi-RBS20-Satellite

Orbi RBS20 satellite is designed to work seamlessly with Netgear’s Orbi mesh system, this compact satellite extends your network’s reach while maintaining a strong, reliable connection. In this review, we’ll break down the performance, setup experience, design, and whether the Netgear Orbi WiFi Satellite RBS20 is still worth considering in today’s crowded mesh WiFi market.

Orbi RBS20 Hardware and Lights

Hardware

  • Tri-band AC2200 Wi-Fi. This means it supports 2.4GHz and two 5GHz bands to provide fast and stable wireless connections.
  • It is equipped with at least two Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for connecting wired devices
  • A button to synchronize the satellite with the Orbi router called Sync button is also given on the Orbi router.
  • A pinhole button to reset the satellite to its factory default settings.
  • A button to turn the device on/off, often integrated with an LED that indicates the power status.

Lights

The primary lights you’ll observe are the Power LED and the Ring LED on the top of the device.

Power LED

  • Solid Green means the satellite is powered on.
  • Solid Amber/Orange means the satellite is rebooting.
  • Pulsing Amber/Pink means the satellite is resetting to factory settings or a firmware update is in progress.
  • Pulsing Red means the system might need attention

Ring LED

  • Solid White means the satellite is attempting to sync with the router.
  • Pulsing White means the satellite is powering up or attempting to connect after pressing the WPS (Sync) but
    ton.
  • Solid Blue means the satellite has a good backhaul connection to the router. This means the connection for data transfer between the satellite and the router is strong.
  • Solid Amber/Orange means the satellite has a fair backhaul connection to the router. Consider moving the satellite closer to the router to improve the connection.
  • Solid Magenta/Pink means the satellite failed to sync with the router. Try moving the satellite closer to the router and attempt the synchronization process again.

Benefits of Buying Orbi RBS20

The Netgear Orbi rbs20 satellite is an add-on satellite designed to expand the Wi-Fi coverage of an existing Orbi Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi system. It does not function as a standalone router. Below is a small list of benefits of RBS20:

  • Eliminates dead zones
  • Whole-home coverage
  • Consistent and reliable performance
  • Stable connection
  • Easy setup and management

Features of Orbi RBS20 Satellite

There a lot of features in the RBS20 satellite model which you can explore right below here one by one:

  1. It supports simultaneous tri-band Wi-Fi with speeds up to 2.2 Gbps (400 Mbps at 2.4 GHz + 866 Mbps at 5 GHz + 866 Mbps at 5 GHz).
  2. Features a dedicated 5 GHz band for communication between the satellite and the router, ensuring consistent speeds for connected devices. This is NETGEAR’s FastLane3 technology.
  3. Supports Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output, allowing simultaneous data streaming to multiple devices, improving network efficiency.
  4. Implicit and explicit beamforming on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands focuses the Wi-Fi signal directly to connected devices, enhancing range and stability.

Orbi RBS20 Satellite Setup and Connection

Connect the power adapter to your Orbi RBS20 satellite and plug it into a power outlet. Press the power button on the back if it has one. Wait until the ring LED on the Orbi RBS20 satellite lights solid white. This indicates that it has finished booting and is ready to sync.

  • Locate the Sync button on the back or side of your Orbi RBS20 satellite and press it briefly
  • Within two minutes of pressing the sync button on the satellite, locate the Sync button on your Orbi router and press it briefly as well.

Our Review on Orbi RBS20 Device

Meanwhile, by seeing and reading all the above information of the device we will review this satellite and came to an advice as the conclusion. Orbi RBS20 is a valuable addition for those looking to expand the coverage of their Orbi Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi system.

It offers a good balance of performance and ease of use, effectively extending a strong and seamless Wi-Fi signal throughout a larger area. So, in simple words, the Orbi RBS20 satellite is one of the best choices to connect with your Orbi router to maximize the WiFi coverage area.

The Summary

Orbi RBS20 remains a reliable and user-friendly solution for expanding your mesh WiFi network. While it may not support the latest WiFi 6 standards, it still delivers strong performance for everyday tasks like streaming, browsing, and smart home connectivity. This above review will provide you with a choice to Orbi RBS20 purchase is worth or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

The satellite and router have a button on the back labeled as the Sync button which helps devices to connect wirelessly. By pressing it once on both of the devices, connection will be established automatically.

The best location of the Orbi is spot midway between your router and the area with weak signal. Make sure it’s still within a strong signal range of your main router.
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George

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I'm George, a technical writer with 5+ years of experience creating engaging blogs and articles. I specialize in simplifying complex concepts and delivering clear, user-friendly content. With experience working with companies like Shopify and Zapier, I bring strong communication skills and technical expertise to every project. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you enjoyed my work!