With the NETGEAR Orbi Mesh Wifi system, your home will be entirely covered with fast-streaming Wifi, and it comes with quite a lot of devices to ensure this promise. Although you may have noticed that Orbi Mesh Wifi systems come with their own routers, you are probably wondering, can it connect to your existing router?

An Orbi Mesh Wifi can connect to your current router, or it can connect to a modem, but it needs one or the other to work. The new router or routers that come with the system will connect to the router or modem you already have set up, however, if you are connecting to a router with Wifi, you will need to disable the Wifi on that device.

If technology isn’t your profession or even your forte, this may be a little confusing. But don’t worry, we are going to break down exactly how the Orbi Mesh Wifi works, how it will work with the wireless router you already have installed, and why this device may or may not be right for you.

How Does The Orbi Mesh Wifi Work with an Existing Router?

So, if you are considering, or have purchased a NETGEAR Orbi, you should know how it works.

The idea of a “mesh” network comes from the fact that the satellite routers that connect with the base router provided, as well as your router from your chosen Internet Service Provider (ISP), just as the threads of mesh connect to many other threads at a time.

While some of the Orbi models come with two additional routers, others have three, four, or even five included, and it’s important to know which model you will need to fit your type of home, but we will discuss how to figure out which option is best for you shortly!

These satellites will essentially work as 3-5 separate routers, all of which use the same network so you can receive a strong signal to as many devices as you could need and from everywhere in your home.

How Do I Connect an Orbi Mesh Wifi to my Router?

Now you know that you can, and in fact, need to connect an Orbi to your modem or router, so here are the steps to make that happen.

  • Connect the Orbi ethernet cable (internet port) to the LAN port of your router.Disable Wifi availability on your router. This can be completed in two ways.Plug your laptop or computer directly into the router and you will be able to access the WLAN settings and select “disable” or a similar option.You may need to contact your ISP provider.Each provider is different, so you may need to do a little research to find the easiest way to achieve this step.Once that’s complete, you need to set the Orbi to AP (Access Point) Mode.Find the ADVANCED option on the Orbi menu, then select Advanced Setup, and then Router/AP Mode.

NETGEAR is quite proud to produce such a user-friendly device, and most consumers agree that setting up their Orbis to their home routers or modems was painless and successful.

  • Plug your laptop or computer directly into the router and you will be able to access the WLAN settings and select “disable” or a similar option.

  • You may need to contact your ISP provider.

  • Each provider is different, so you may need to do a little research to find the easiest way to achieve this step.

  • Find the ADVANCED option on the Orbi menu, then select Advanced Setup, and then Router/AP Mode.

Why Should You Get an Orbi Mesh Wifi If You Already Have an ISP Router?

If you’re still a little perplexed as to why an Orbi system is promoted as such a better option than a typical ISP router, we’re here to clear things up.

Yes, your normal router is technically administering a wireless network to your devices around your home, however, you may have noticed that they’re not really that powerful.

Over the past decade, almost every device in your home has evolved and now uses the internet to perform. That means that routers are having to work a whole lot harder, and they haven’t caught up.

Here are a few things the Orbi Mesh Wifi system can do that your router can’t:

  • Provides up to 5,000 square feet of coverage.Eliminates dead zones or problems with interference.It includes tri-band technology that will ensure your internet is always fast.Supplies every one of your devices with anti-virus and data theft protection.

It’s important to note that not every user has been happy with their Orbi, we know that not all reviews are credible, but you may want to check out some of the pros and cons before you buy.

Conclusion

An Orbi Mesh Wifi actually requires some kind of ISP modem or router to connect to, but don’t forget that if you are using an ISP router, you will need to disable its internal Wifi so as to not confuse the Orbi.

Depending on the needs of your home, there are quite a few models to choose from, but fortunately, you can find a product selector page on the Netgear site that will help you decide!