Netgear Orbi RBK752 review
Our Verdict
The smaller cousin of Netgear's Orbi RBK852, the Orbi RBK752 doesn't place equally much emphasis on raw performance but does manage to include an impressive assortment of customization options. It may correspond a less expensive arroyo to mesh networking, simply the RBK752 remains amongst the nearly expensive two slice mesh kits available.
For
- Malware protection
- Tri-band functioning
- Easy setup
Confronting
- Large
- 90-solar day back up policy
- Brusk range
Tom's Guide Verdict
The smaller cousin of Netgear's Orbi RBK852, the Orbi RBK752 doesn't identify as much emphasis on raw performance but does manage to include an impressive assortment of customization options. Information technology may stand for a less expensive arroyo to mesh networking, but the RBK752 remains among the almost expensive two piece mesh kits available.
Pros
- +
Malware protection
- +
Tri-band operation
- +
Piece of cake setup
Cons
- -
Large
- -
xc-mean solar day back up policy
- -
Short range
Netgear Orbi RBK752: Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: AX4200
Number of Antennas/Removable: six/No
Ports: Router – ane WAN/3 LAN; Satellite – ii LAN
Processor/Memory/Storage: Quad-core ane.4GHz/512MB/1GB
Wi-Fi chip: Qualcomm IPQ8174
Peak 802.11ax operation: 506.7 Mbps (at fifteen feet)
Range: 85 feet
Size: 9.four ten 6.5 ten ii.0 inches
Estimated Annual Electricity Price: $ix.80 per unit; $nineteen.sixty for the two devices
For a more than affordable way to get Wi-Fi six connectivity throughout your home, the Netgear Orbi RBK752 isn't just one of the best mesh routers out there, it's also a good affordable option alongside the all-time Wi-Fi 6 routers.
A smaller and cheaper alternative to one of the best mesh routers on the marketplace – the Netgear Orbi RBK852 – the Netgear Orbi RBK752 kit has lower performance expectations than its older cousin. Based on Wi-Fi 6 technology, it offers a pair of data delivery bands besides as ane dedicated to communications from the satellites and the host router that can streamline a mesh network's operations. The system includes actress security software but you'll demand to pay for updates in the long term. All in all, our Netgear Orbi RBK752 review shows that this mesh kit has the power to fill a mid-sized home with Wi-Fi data. Read on to run across if it's right for your abode.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Pricing and availability
Bachelor in stores and on the Netgear site, the RBK752 consists of a preset router (RBR750) and a wireless satellite device (RBS750). The basic two-piece RBK752 kit reviewed hither can cover upwardly to 5,000 square feet, co-ordinate to Netgear. Yous tin can also get the three-piece RBK753 kit (with two satellites) that is rated to work with vii,500 square feet and the four-piece RBK754 prepare (with, you guessed it, three satellites) that can embrace x,000 square feet.
- 2-pack (Model RBK752) - $349.99
- 3-pack (Model RBK753) - $479.99
- 4-pack (Model RBK754) - $749.99
- Addition Satellite (Model RBS750) - $229.99
A unmarried RBS750 satellite add-on is also available, allowing you to customize the mesh network for your type of home. On the other mitt, ownership the big kit gives you savings of roughly 30 pct versus buying the devices separately.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Blueprint
If the Orbi RBK752 components look familiar, they should. They use the aforementioned bones oval tower design as the RBK852 family unit, but measure 9.4 x 6.5 ten two.0 inches. That's 40 percent smaller than the RBK852 devices. The result is that despite being smaller, the RBK752 units remain some of the largest mesh products bachelor and make ones like the Eero Pro half-dozen await tiny.
Still, the RBK752 devices will fit in places their larger cousins won't. They take soft safe feet but lack any mode to wall mount the devices. Fortunately, several 3rd parties and Netgear sell cheap mounting hardware for them.
The Orbi RBK752 gear uses passive cooling, with fresh air coming in from the bottom and exiting at the acme. The devices never got over 95-degrees Fahrenheit.
They may look identical but under the skin one is designated equally the RBR750 router and the other as the RBS750 satellite – for this review, we'll refer to them interchangeably as the Orbi RBK752 unless it'due south necessary to specify i or the other. Both lack the array of LED lights that many routers have these days but make practice with a single LED ring most the lesser to show the router'southward status. It'south bluish while starting upward and turns white when everything is OK. If it's magenta, the unit is offline and needs some attention.
Rather than the RBK852's array of eight antennas, the RBK752 units have six, reflecting the use of Qualcomm'south Networking Pro 800 Wi-Fi chip instead of the RBK852's Networking Pro 1200, which offers more than data streams. With MU-MIMO and beamforming, the router customizes the point to friction match the needs of the connected devices, but it can't run ultra-wide 160MHz information channels.
Like other Orbi gear, the RBK752 series uses Netgear's tried and true tri-band design that moves information over 2.iv- and 5GHz bands and reserves the second 5GHz band for moving data from the satellites to the host. This dedicated backhaul channel tin lower system overhead and streamline operations only ties up more than than one-tertiary of the network capacity. Others employ a dynamic scheduling system to balance the flow back and forth.
The router has a quad-core i.4GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 1GB of storage space for software and settings. In the lab, the set tin can motion up to 600Mbps along its 2.4GHz ring as well equally 1.2Gbps on its data-supplying 5GHz band. Add in the 2.4Gbps that the dedicated backhaul aqueduct provides and the organization has the power to movement iv.2Gbps.
The mesh kit's approach to ports is a mixed pocketbook with the RBR750 router having a WAN input and three wired ports. They all top out at a data flow of 1Gbps and lack the ability to accommodate the latest 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig inputs, but the RBR750 can aggregate a pair of networking ports for up to 2Gbps service, something other mesh kits tin can't practise.
By dissimilarity, the RBS750 satellite has a pair of networking ports. Neither have a USB connexion for adding a difficult drive as networked storage.
Both devices have a recessed reset button merely just the router has a ability switch. Finally, the RBK752 kit can utilize the Wi-Fi Protected Setup scheme for quickly adding devices. The unit of measurement's Sync button is how to activate information technology. The Eero Pro 6 lacks this feature due to security concerns.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Performance
As was the example with the RBK852, the RBK752 kit started out strong and its operation cruel off quickly with distance. Using Ixia's IxChariot networking benchmark software we created a busy network with 10 imitation users in my 100-yr-old, 3,500-square-foot business firm. Overall, it did well, just couldn't fill up my habitation with Wi-Fi, although a third device would likely have done the trick.
On its own, the RBR750 router was able to deliver 506.7Mbps at xv-feet to the Dell XPS 15 test system. This roughly tied the Linksys Velop AX4200 (507.7Mbps) and ahead of the Eero Pro 6 (436.1Mbps). None could touch the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 RBK852 router, however, which moved 833.6Mbps.
With 50-feet separating the examination machine from the router, the RBR750's bandwidth dropped to 100.3Mbps. This is more than plenty for about uses but was well behind the Eero Pro six (239.9Mbps), the Linksys Velop AX4200 (201.3Mbps) and the Netgear Orbi RBK852 (124.4Mbps).
At 75-feet, the RBK752 moved only 82.5Mbps, just behind the Netgear Orbi RBR852 (85.9Mbps), and well off the pace set up past the Eero Pro half dozen (208.9Mbps). By dissimilarity, the Linksys Velop AX4200 moved 139.6Mbps. The RBR752 lost contact at 85-anxiety, the same range as the Netgear Orbi RBR852 and well backside the Eero Pro 6's 105-feet.
It had trouble competing with other Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers when it came to sending a bespeak through 25 feet and a wall with 326.6Mbps bachelor on the other side. Nether the same weather, the Netgear Orbi RBR852 moved 782.9Mbps, while the Linksys Velop AX4200 was able to evangelize 525.7Mbp and the Eero Pro 6 coming in at 375.6Mbps.
When it came to sending a bespeak up a flooring to a bedroom, the Orbi RBR752 (281.0Mbps) was well backside the RBR852 (670.1Mbps). The Linksys Velop AX4200 and Eero Pro half dozen were in a virtual necktie at 437.5Mbps and 430.9Mbps of throughput.
With a satellite continued 50-feet from the router on the same floor and the examination system another xl-feet away, the RBK752 mesh network came upwards short with 87.7Mbps of data delivered to the test organisation. That's roughly half the Linksys Velop AX4200 (161.1Mbps), although it'south a lot better than the Netgear Orbi RBK852 (39.1Mbps). The Eero Pro vi kit was in between with 142.3Mbps of bandwidth.
With the satellite a floor above the router and the test system fifty-feet away, the throughput it received was 209.4Mbps, or about half the 405.5Mbps that the Orbi RBK852 was capable of. That said, the Linksys Velop AX4200 (329.2Mbps) was impressive, still.
After using the RBK752 for emails, downloads, music, video and gaming, it did well in my sometime firm, simply left a few expressionless zones. A 3rd unit — like that which comes with the Orbi RBK753 iii-pack — would likely take made for a whole-business firm network. However, the RBK752 passed our saturation test past streaming loftier-quality video on my Macbook air while I had Spotify playing music on an Apple iPad Pro tablet and a Lenovo ThinkPad T470 was playing an Internet radio station. All this was going on while an HP Dragonfly Elite notebook moved data onto and off of a network-attached RAID storage system. At that place were no driblet-outs, artifacts or glitches with the audio or video streams.
Both the router and satellite used 8.6 watts of power. If the network is left on 24/vii, information technology should cost roughly $nine.80 for each unit of measurement for a total of $xix.60 a year, assuming the gear is always on and you lot pay the national average of 13 cents per kilowatt 60 minutes of electricity. That's virtually $5 less than the RBK852's $24.xl a year in power costs but about $15 less a twelvemonth than running the Arris SURFboard Max ii-piece kit.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Setup
The Orbi RBK752 kit follows in the footsteps of earlier mesh products with an easy setup procedure. Yous take the choice of using the Orbi app (bachelor for Androids and iOS devices) or using a connected browser. I set up my kit up using my Samsung Tab S7+ tablet and did some configuration using the browser arroyo.
I started by creating an business relationship with Netgear that included an email verification. In one case done, I scanned the QR code on the router's plastic identification sleeve to reset my tablet'due south network connection.
After restarting the data modem, I plugged everything in and followed the illustrations. I gear up the satellite device l feet away from the router and plugged information technology in.
Post-obit a brief scan, it constitute the satellite and the network then configured itself. While this was going on, it displayed a slide prove nigh the Armor security software. Next upwardly, I typed in the name and password for my new network.
Side by side, I inputted a new administrative password and the answers to 2 verification questions. The system and then finished its initial configuration and connected the router to the satellite.
The software and then checked for new firmware and automatically upgraded information technology. Subsequently the system restarted, both the router and satellite connected on the get-go try.
Not quite done, though, because Netgear only includes 90 days of support. The setup routine offers a 2 year warranty extension for $30 and two years of added support for $80. All told, information technology might take been i of the easiest fix routines but it took 17 minutes to complete the two-piece mesh network versus 11 minutes for the Eero Pro half dozen three piece set.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Configuration
The configuration and customization of the Orbi RBK752 mirrors that of its cousin, the RBK852, with the ability to use the app or a connected browser. On the other hand, the app affords fewer configuration opportunities compared to using a connected browser. The app's primary page puts everything in your face with the online status, how many satellites are continued and links to vital operating parameters similar what devices are connected and the Armor security software status.
If you desire to do a deep dive on the Orbi RBK752, use a browser that is continued to the router. The Basic section includes much of what the app has, with a good overview folio besides equally the ability to change the network's name and password. Information technology has options for turning 802.11ax transmissions off and looking at the details of individual connected devices or setting up the Guest Network. At any time, it allows adding another satellite.
The mesh network'due south Advanced section is where all the customization power is. In addition to in-depth usage stats and the ability to reboot the arrangement, the page has a lot of configuration information. Click on Wireless Setup to suit the channels that the system uses or alter the password. The Access Control category let me block computers from logging on or block online services, while the Schedule task let me plow off Internet access at a time of my choosing.
On the downside, Orbi's Quality of Service (QOS) prioritization remains tied to the visitor'due south Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) settings. It gets activated in the Avant-garde section's Wireless Settings sections to automatically prioritize the devices that demand the nigh data.
The Avant-garde department has its own Avant-garde portion (Advanced squared?) where the real customization can take place. Hither, I was able to do annihilation from reducing the transmission's force to changing the preamble length. It has one more flim-flam upward its sleeve: the ability to add together some other layer of security by protecting the backhaul communications with an additional password. Information technology took less than a minute to gear up.
Similar other Orbi products, the RBK752 kit includes Netgear's Armor security programme. Based on apps from Bitdefender, the system tin can assistance keep the continued computers and the network itself squeaky clean. In that location are apps for Windows, Macs, Androids, iPhones or iPads. On the downside, 30-days of updates are included – after that information technology costs $lxx a year.
While Netgear'southward ane-year warranty is on a par with Eero's, it is well backside the three years of coverage that Linksys provides. Plus, Netgear only provides 90-days of back up and service. Others include at least a full twelvemonth. Netgear uses this as an upsell opportunity with two years of support, service and warranty protection for $lxxx; on its own, two years of support costs $30.
Regardless of whether you pay for support, Netgear has a wide array of do-it-yourself options online. They range from how-to videos and FAQs to optimization and troubleshooting tips.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Verdict
They may be big, expensive and not the fastest mesh products bachelor but the Netgear Orbi RBK752 appeals to both those want a turn-key mesh solution that requires petty or no customization, as well as those who revel in adjusting the network's operating parameters. It runs Netgear's dependable 5GHz dedicated backhaul channel for data flowing from the satellite to the host and includes the visitor's Armor security software so the network and its clients should remain clean and hacker-free. That is, if y'all subscribe to Netgear's updates to the software, which toll $30 for two years or $eighty with a 2-year warranty. Unfortunately, as is the example with its bigger cousin, seen in our Netgear Orbi RBK852 review, the RBK752 suffers from brusque range and many homes will need a second satellite for acceptable coverage.
The Netgear Orbi RBK752 may be cheaper than the more premium Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 (RBK852), and information technology'south a fiddling less expensive than the three-piece Linksys Velop AXE4200, but the slightly cheaper Linksys offers better range and better coverage for larger homes. In the final analysis, the Netgear Orbi RBK752 is a great way to turn a mid-sized house into a Wi-Fi 6 home.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/netgear-orbi-rbk752
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