Netgear Orbi RBK752 review
Our Verdict
The smaller cousin of Netgear's Orbi RBK852, the Orbi RBK752 doesn't place as much emphasis on raw functioning only does manage to include an impressive assortment of customization options. Information technology may represent a less expensive arroyo to mesh networking, but the RBK752 remains among the about expensive 2 slice mesh kits bachelor.
For
- Malware protection
- Tri-band functioning
- Easy setup
Confronting
- Large
- 90-mean solar day support policy
- Short range
Tom's Guide Verdict
The smaller cousin of Netgear'due south Orbi RBK852, the Orbi RBK752 doesn't identify as much accent on raw functioning but does manage to include an impressive array of customization options. It may represent a less expensive approach to mesh networking, simply the RBK752 remains among the near expensive two piece mesh kits available.
Pros
- +
Malware protection
- +
Tri-band performance
- +
Easy setup
Cons
- -
Large
- -
xc-day support policy
- -
Short range
Netgear Orbi RBK752: Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: AX4200
Number of Antennas/Removable: 6/No
Ports: Router – one WAN/3 LAN; Satellite – 2 LAN
Processor/Retentiveness/Storage: Quad-core one.4GHz/512MB/1GB
Wi-Fi chip: Qualcomm IPQ8174
Peak 802.11ax performance: 506.7 Mbps (at xv anxiety)
Range: 85 feet
Size: nine.4 x six.5 10 ii.0 inches
Estimated Almanac Electricity Cost: $9.fourscore per unit; $xix.60 for the two devices
For a more than affordable manner to become Wi-Fi 6 connectivity throughout your home, the Netgear Orbi RBK752 isn't simply i of the best mesh routers out there, it'south besides a skilful affordable option alongside the best Wi-Fi 6 routers.
A smaller and cheaper culling 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 as well every bit one dedicated to communications from the satellites and the host router that can streamline a mesh network's operations. The system includes extra security software just you'll need 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 habitation with Wi-Fi information. Read on to see if information technology's right for your home.
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-slice RBK752 kit reviewed hither can encompass up to 5,000 square feet, according to Netgear. Yous tin also go the iii-piece RBK753 kit (with two satellites) that is rated to piece of work with seven,500 square feet and the four-piece RBK754 prepare (with, you guessed it, iii satellites) that can embrace ten,000 square anxiety.
- two-pack (Model RBK752) - $349.99
- 3-pack (Model RBK753) - $479.99
- 4-pack (Model RBK754) - $749.99
- Add-on Satellite (Model RBS750) - $229.99
A single RBS750 satellite add together-on is also available, allowing you to customize the mesh network for your blazon of domicile. On the other hand, buying the big kit gives you savings of roughly xxx percent versus buying the devices separately.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Pattern
If the Orbi RBK752 components expect familiar, they should. They use the same basic oval belfry design as the RBK852 family, but measure out 9.4 x 6.five x 2.0 inches. That'due south 40 pct smaller than the RBK852 devices. The upshot is that despite existence smaller, the RBK752 units remain some of the largest mesh products available and make ones like the Eero Pro half dozen look tiny.
Notwithstanding, the RBK752 devices will fit in places their larger cousins won't. They accept soft rubber feet only lack any way to wall mountain the devices. Fortunately, several third parties and Netgear sell inexpensive mounting hardware for them.
The Orbi RBK752 gear uses passive cooling, with fresh air coming in from the bottom and exiting at the top. The devices never got over 95-degrees Fahrenheit.
They may look identical just nether the skin one is designated as the RBR750 router and the other every bit the RBS750 satellite – for this review, we'll refer to them interchangeably equally the Orbi RBK752 unless it'south necessary to specify one or the other. Both lack the array of LED lights that many routers have these days but brand do with a single LED band near the bottom to show the router'southward condition. It'due south bluish while starting upwards 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 utilise of Qualcomm'due south Networking Pro 800 Wi-Fi chip instead of the RBK852'southward Networking Pro 1200, which offers more data streams. With MU-MIMO and beamforming, the router customizes the point to match the needs of the connected devices, but it can't run ultra-broad 160MHz information channels.
Like other Orbi gear, the RBK752 serial uses Netgear's tried and truthful tri-band blueprint that moves data over 2.4- and 5GHz bands and reserves the second 5GHz ring for moving data from the satellites to the host. This dedicated backhaul channel can lower system overhead and streamline operations but ties up more one-third of the network capacity. Others use a dynamic scheduling system to residual the period dorsum and along.
The router has a quad-core 1.4GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 1GB of storage infinite for software and settings. In the lab, the set can move upwards to 600Mbps along its 2.4GHz band equally well every bit i.2Gbps on its data-supplying 5GHz band. Add in the two.4Gbps that the dedicated backhaul channel provides and the system has the ability to movement 4.2Gbps.
The mesh kit'south arroyo to ports is a mixed purse with the RBR750 router having a WAN input and 3 wired ports. They all acme out at a data flow of 1Gbps and lack the ability to adjust the latest 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig inputs, but the RBR750 can aggregate a pair of networking ports for upwards to 2Gbps service, something other mesh kits can't do.
By dissimilarity, the RBS750 satellite has a pair of networking ports. Neither accept a USB connectedness for adding a difficult drive as networked storage.
Both devices accept a recessed reset push button just only the router has a ability switch. Finally, the RBK752 kit can use the Wi-Fi Protected Setup scheme for quickly adding devices. The unit's Sync push is how to activate it. The Eero Pro half dozen lacks this feature due to security concerns.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Performance
Equally was the example with the RBK852, the RBK752 kit started out strong and its performance barbarous off apace with distance. Using Ixia'south IxChariot networking benchmark software nosotros created a decorated network with x simulated users in my 100-year-quondam, 3,500-square-human foot house. Overall, it did well, but couldn't make full my habitation with Wi-Fi, although a third device would probable have done the trick.
On its own, the RBR750 router was able to deliver 506.7Mbps at 15-anxiety to the Dell XPS 15 test system. This roughly tied the Linksys Velop AX4200 (507.7Mbps) and ahead of the Eero Pro six (436.1Mbps). None could touch the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 RBK852 router, nonetheless, which moved 833.6Mbps.
With l-feet separating the exam car from the router, the RBR750's bandwidth dropped to 100.3Mbps. This is more than than plenty for near uses but was well behind the Eero Pro 6 (239.9Mbps), the Linksys Velop AX4200 (201.3Mbps) and the Netgear Orbi RBK852 (124.4Mbps).
At 75-feet, the RBK752 moved only 82.5Mbps, but behind the Netgear Orbi RBR852 (85.9Mbps), and well off the pace set up by the Eero Pro half dozen (208.9Mbps). By contrast, the Linksys Velop AX4200 moved 139.6Mbps. The RBR752 lost contact at 85-anxiety, the aforementioned range as the Netgear Orbi RBR852 and well behind the Eero Pro 6'south 105-feet.
It had trouble competing with other Wi-Fi half dozen mesh routers when it came to sending a signal through 25 feet and a wall with 326.6Mbps available on the other side. Under the aforementioned conditions, 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 indicate up a floor to a bedroom, the Orbi RBR752 (281.0Mbps) was well backside the RBR852 (670.1Mbps). The Linksys Velop AX4200 and Eero Pro 6 were in a virtual necktie at 437.5Mbps and 430.9Mbps of throughput.
With a satellite continued l-anxiety from the router on the same floor and the exam organisation another 40-feet abroad, the RBK752 mesh network came upwardly short with 87.7Mbps of data delivered to the test arrangement. That's roughly half the Linksys Velop AX4200 (161.1Mbps), although it's 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 to a higher place the router and the test system 50-feet away, the throughput it received was 209.4Mbps, or nigh half the 405.5Mbps that the Orbi RBK852 was capable of. That said, the Linksys Velop AX4200 (329.2Mbps) was impressive, nevertheless.
After using the RBK752 for emails, downloads, music, video and gaming, it did well in my quondam firm, just left a few dead zones. A third unit — similar that which comes with the Orbi RBK753 iii-pack — would probable have made for a whole-firm network. Nonetheless, the RBK752 passed our saturation test by 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 Aristocracy notebook moved data onto and off of a network-attached RAID storage organisation. There were no drib-outs, artifacts or glitches with the audio or video streams.
Both the router and satellite used 8.half dozen watts of power. If the network is left on 24/7, it should cost roughly $9.80 for each unit of measurement for a total of $nineteen.60 a year, assuming the gear is always on and you pay the national average of thirteen cents per kilowatt hour of electricity. That's virtually $v less than the RBK852's $24.40 a year in power costs but about $xv less a year than running the Arris SURFboard Max two-piece kit.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Setup
The Orbi RBK752 kit follows in the footsteps of earlier mesh products with an easy setup process. You have the pick of using the Orbi app (available for Androids and iOS devices) or using a connected browser. I set my kit up using my Samsung Tab S7+ tablet and did some configuration using the browser approach.
I started by creating an account with Netgear that included an email verification. One time washed, I scanned the QR code on the router's plastic identification sleeve to reset my tablet's network connection.
Afterward restarting the data modem, I plugged everything in and followed the illustrations. I set up the satellite device 50 feet away from the router and plugged information technology in.
Post-obit a cursory scan, it found the satellite and the network then configured itself. While this was going on, it displayed a slide show virtually the Armor security software. Next up, I typed in the proper name and countersign for my new network.
Side by side, I inputted a new administrative password and the answers to two verification questions. The system then finished its initial configuration and connected the router to the satellite.
The software then checked for new firmware and automatically upgraded information technology. Subsequently the system restarted, both the router and satellite continued on the first try.
Not quite done, though, because Netgear just includes 90 days of support. The setup routine offers a two year warranty extension for $30 and ii years of added support for $80. All told, it might accept been i of the easiest prepare up routines only it took 17 minutes to complete the two-piece mesh network versus 11 minutes for the Eero Pro 6 three piece gear up.
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 main page puts everything in your face with the online condition, how many satellites are continued and links to vital operating parameters like what devices are connected and the Armor security software status.
If you desire to practice a deep swoop on the Orbi RBK752, use a browser that is connected to the router. The Basic section includes much of what the app has, with a good overview folio as well equally the power to change the network'southward name and countersign. It 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, information technology allows adding another satellite.
The mesh network's Advanced section is where all the customization power is. In addition to in-depth usage stats and the ability to reboot the system, the folio has a lot of configuration information. Click on Wireless Setup to adjust the channels that the system uses or change the password. The Access Control category let me block computers from logging on or cake online services, while the Schedule task let me turn off Net access at a time of my choosing.
On the downside, Orbi'southward Quality of Service (QOS) prioritization remains tied to the visitor'due south Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) settings. It gets activated in the Advanced department's Wireless Settings sections to automatically prioritize the devices that demand the virtually data.
The Advanced section has its own Advanced portion (Advanced squared?) where the real customization tin take place. Here, I was able to do annihilation from reducing the transmission's force to changing the preamble length. It has one more fob upward its sleeve: the power to add together another layer of security by protecting the backhaul communications with an boosted password. It took less than a minute to fix.
Like other Orbi products, the RBK752 kit includes Netgear's Armor security programme. Based on apps from Bitdefender, the organisation tin can aid keep the connected computers and the network itself squeaky make clean. There are apps for Windows, Macs, Androids, iPhones or iPads. On the downside, xxx-days of updates are included – after that it costs $70 a year.
While Netgear's one-year warranty is on a par with Eero's, it is well behind the three years of coverage that Linksys provides. Plus, Netgear only provides xc-days of back up and service. Others include at least a full year. Netgear uses this as an upsell opportunity with 2 years of support, service and warranty protection for $lxxx; on its own, 2 years of support costs $xxx.
Regardless of whether y'all pay for support, Netgear has a broad array of practise-information technology-yourself options online. They range from how-to videos and FAQs to optimization and troubleshooting tips.
Netgear Orbi RBK752 review: Verdict
They may be large, expensive and non the fastest mesh products available but the Netgear Orbi RBK752 appeals to both those want a turn-key mesh solution that requires lilliputian or no customization, too every bit those who revel in adjusting the network's operating parameters. It runs Netgear's dependable 5GHz defended backhaul channel for data flowing from the satellite to the host and includes the company's Armor security software and then the network and its clients should remain clean and hacker-free. That is, if you lot subscribe to Netgear's updates to the software, which cost $30 for ii years or $lxxx with a ii-twelvemonth warranty. Unfortunately, as is the case with its bigger cousin, seen in our Netgear Orbi RBK852 review, the RBK752 suffers from short range and many homes will need a second satellite for adequate coverage.
The Netgear Orbi RBK752 may be cheaper than the more premium Netgear Orbi WiFi six (RBK852), and it's a footling less expensive than the three-slice 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 corking way to plow a mid-sized house into a Wi-Fi six habitation.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/netgear-orbi-rbk752
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