The Wi-Fi mesh system that's perfect for big homes (and deep pockets)

Netgear Orbi 870

Netgear

If you have a large home or office space and want to blanket it with fast Wi-Fi, a mesh system is the way to go! This system consists of a series of satellites that create a single Wi-Fi network throughout the entire area. As people move from room to room, their devices automatically connect to the strongest satellite, ensuring seamless connectivity.

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One of the best systems I've tested is Netgear's Orbi range, and the company has recently added a new product to its expanding lineup of mesh networking systems. The new Orbi 870 sits between the existing Orbi 770 and Orbi 970 in terms of price and performance, giving customers the flexibility to choose the right product for their needs.

Netgear Orbi 870 key features

• Ultra-Fast Wi-Fi 7 Tri-Band allows multi-gigabit speeds up to 21 Gbps with 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands.
• Supports Wi-Fi 7 features such as 320 MHz, 4K QAM, Multi-Link Operation and preamble puncturing.
• Multi-link Operation allows two Wi-Fi bands to be combined for both Enhanced Backhaul (shared 5GHz & 6GHz) and fronthaul (5GHz & 6 GHz) to improve network reliability, reduce latency, and ensure data is delivered with maximum speed.
• Multi-Gig speeds with 10 Gig internet port that is compatible with any internet service provider.
• Plug in wired devices to improve performance or set up a multi-gig wired connection between the router and satellites via four 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports on the router and four 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports on the satellites.
• Easily manage your network from anywhere using the Netgear app, including pausing the internet, running internet speed tests, tracking your Internet data usage, setting up separate guest and IoT networks, and more.

While the Orbi 870 is about as cutting-edge as things get -- offering tri-band Wi-Fi 7 and supporting network speeds up to 2.5 gigabit -- the system comes with a breathtaking price tag of $1,299 for a triple pack of satellites, and if you want to connect additional satellites to expand coverage, they will cost you $550 each. 

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But, if you want strong, reliable Wi-Fi across a large home, these satellite systems are by far the best options. But choose wisely because if you can get away with the cheaper Orbi 770, then that's an option worth considering that's easier on the pocket.