Product test
Mesh Wi-Fi test: TP-Link Deco BE85 only halfway convincing
by Martin Jud
The Netgear mesh Wi-Fi speed test: Orbi RBKE963 (Wi-Fi 6E)
1/3/2023
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
For the first time, I’m testing a Wi-Fi 6E capable mesh system. The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 is surprising with its 6-gigahertz performance. I didn’t expect it, but the new frequency band covers my entire apartment.
I received the following three-pack consisting of a router and two satellites from Netgear. In addition to white, the mesh system is also available in black.
Important to know: this mesh system isn’t (yet) available as a two-pack. Nevertheless, I’ll only use the router and one satellite in my test. My apartment covers two floors, totalling to about 140 square metres. Normally, one device per floor is sufficient. If I use only two devices, I can also compare the results with previous and future tests.
Hardware, even more hardware and features
Going into detail, Netgear’s mesh system offers the following specifications according to its data sheet:
Commissioning: apartment floor plan and router location
The easiest way to get the mesh up and running is with the Orbi app and a smartphone. It is, as I know from other manufacturers, simple and done in a few minutes. After that, I fine-tune settings via the router’s web interface on a desktop computer. I can access this by calling up the router IP in a browser or via the myNetgear account at https://orbilogin.com.
Speed, ping and signal strength per room
With the gigabit connections, I reach around 940 megabits per second. This corresponds to the net maximum speed of a gigabit connection. When pinging, I measure one millisecond each with cable connection.
I take my measurements with a Wi-Fi 6E capable laptop from Lenovo. It features two antennas and should thus theoretically achieve half of the gross peak values specified in the router specifications (2×2 MU-MIMO instead of 4×4 MU-MIMO). I haven’t yet encountered laptops with more than two antennas. Smartphones usually only have one.
Results
The Netgear Mesh performs as follows:
What amazes me is how strongly the mesh performs at 6 GHz. Thanks to a strong signal, I can cover the entire apartment. I’d have expected it to perform worse than 5 GHz in the dining area, living room, and balcony. This is, in fact, not the case. Only room 2 is clearly overtaken by 5 GHz in terms of data throughput.
Thankfully, the connection from upper to lower floor cheers me right up. The system can transfer up to 581.95 Mbps, despite the solid ceiling and floor heating in between. The highest measured room speed is 856.19 Mbps, directly by the router.
Looking at latency, it’s higher than ever in the 5 GHz frequency band with an average of eight milliseconds. So, 6 GHz should definitely be used for gaming in all rooms with this system. In the same room as the router, I measure two milliseconds of latency, and an average of five milliseconds across the entire home. At 2.4 GHz, the ping is six milliseconds.
Visualising 6 GHz Wi-Fi coverage
Signal strength is measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm). Excellent values are between -35 to -50 dBm, good ones up to -60 dBm. From -70 dBm, things become critical for many devices, and anything below -80 dBm usually results in a failed connection.
In the following heatmaps, signal coverage is visualised using colour. If you see blue, the signal is poor. In turquoise, any data throughput, such as on the balcony, drops sharply.
If I didn’t know that the following heatmap concerns the 6-gigahertz frequency band, I’d spontaneously assign it to 2.4 GHz off looks alone. But no, it’s 6 GHz. And with an average of -44 dBm, it performs better than all other mesh systems with 5 and 2.4 GHz that I’ve come across so far.
Visualising 5 GHz Wi-Fi coverage
Signal strength for the 5 GHz frequency band doesn’t pull its punches either. So far, I could only achieve equivalent values with the Linksys Velop AX4200. That one also got an average of -54 dBm.
Visualising 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi coverage
The strongest wireless network ever measured in my apartment was provided by Netgear at 2.4 GHz. So far, the best 2.4 GHz values ever came to -53 dBm on average. With the Orbi mesh, -43 dBm is possible. I could easily supply double the square footage on the same floor with that.
Comparing with the competition
A comparison to competitors shows that the Orbi RBKE963 can’t make it to the top spot in terms of data throughput with either 5 GHz or 6 GHz. However, the 40 and 90 megabit differences to TP-Link’s front-runner are bearable. And if I were to arrange the table according to signal coverage, things would look very different – megabits per second aren’t everything. This also applies to the 2.4 gigahertz frequency band, which comes in dead last.
5 and 6 GHz in comparison (sorted by data throughput):
The 2.4 GHz comparison (sorted by data throughput):
Verdict: «expensive», but good
Compared to mesh systems without the latest Wi-Fi version, Wi-Fi 6E offers advantages especially when using a variety of end devices. They all benefit from the additional frequency band. However, the latest technology doesn’t automatically result in more data throughput or a stronger signal. This can only come from the installed hardware. Still, Netgear makes a solid impression thanks to the strong coverage.
I see potential in terms of ports. If the WAN connection is already 10 Gigabit, I’d also like to see at least one additional 10 Gigabit LAN port. And maybe 2.5 Gigabit ports instead of just Gigabit ports.
In conclusion, this mesh system is best enjoyed by anyone who lives in a larger apartment or a house with many end devices. The system could also be interesting for SMEs.
Header image: Martin Jud
Martin Jud
Senior Editor
martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.chI find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.
