Orbi Pro WiFi 6 SXK80: Netgear Profi-Mesh with Wi-Fi 6 costs 870 euros

Orbi Pro WiFi 6 SXK80

Especially for the requirements in the business sector, Netgear offers fast and consistent solutions for the wireless exchange of data via WLAN with the mesh systems of the Orbi Pro family. Soon, the systems consisting of a base and up to four satellites will also be available with Wi-Fi 6 from 870 euros.

Orbi mesh with Wi-Fi 6 made the beginning in the consumer segment

As early as last year’s IFA in September 2019, Netgear had announced the change in the Orbi Mesh family to support the new WLAN standard Wi-Fi 6 (formerly WLAN 802.11ax). At that time, the WLAN technology was still virgin, the final certification in this country was not completed. The market launch was the world’s first mesh system with Wi-Fi-6 technology (draft), initially only in the consumer segment from November of the same year at prices of 799 euros. With three units instead of only two, the introductory price rose at that time to 1,099 euros.

Netgear Orbi Pro WiFi 6 (SXK80) Update 

SXK80 WiFi 6 Tri-Band AX6000 WiFi System

Netgear is now changing the generation of mesh solutions previously available in the Orbi Pro product line using Wi-Fi 5 technology to support Wi-Fi 6 and even higher transmission speeds via radio. As the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 (SXK80), a total of four Wi-Fi systems that have been updated to the new radio standard are planned, which, as before, differ in the number of satellites supplied ex works. As usual, the base forms a triband-capable WLAN router that allows greater spatial coverage with one (Orbi Pro SXK80), two (Orbi Pro SXK80B3) or three (Orbi Pro SXK80B4) additional wireless units coupled. In addition, Netgear wants to offer the mesh satellite as SXS80 from the end of September also individually, with which by means of Orbi Pro stretched WLAN networks with suitability for Wi-Fi 6 can be extended. Up to six so-called "nodes" can be used in parallel with a base station.

2,5-GbE-LAN only for the central mesh node

The Orbi Pro WiFi 6, designed by Netgear for small and medium-sized companies as well as for use in the home office, is in no way inferior to the mesh solution technically available as Orbi Wi-Fi 6 (AX6000) in the classic retail trade. In addition to four classic RJ45 sockets for Gigabit LAN, the basic units of the Pro version, which are designed as central units, also offer a further connection with 2.5 Gbit/s, which can be used as a connection to the Internet.

12 streams on three bands for up to 6 Gbit/s

Data is exchanged via three separate frequency bands (tri-band) via OFDMA with 160 MHz channel width and MU-MIMO with a combined gross frequency of up to 6,000 Mbit/s. For users, however, only the 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz band are free, a data line on the 5 GHz frequency acts as a "backhaul" and is therefore blocked by the system for internal data exchange. According to Netgear 12, the WLAN router-satellite combination should enable parallel streams in the WLAN. At the launch of the consumer offshoot Orbi Wi-Fi 6 (AX6000), Netgear talked about only eight available transmission channels.

A detailed technical data sheet, which describes the internal antenna technology in more detail, is currently not available to clarify this discrepancy. The Orbi Pro WiFi 6 can manage four separate wireless networks (SSID), one more than its predecessor. In addition, the latest WLAN encryption WPA3, which is common for Wi-Fi 6, is supported.

Better management and control of the app

Netgear advertises the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 as an uncomplicated and fast initial setup of the meshSystem as well as the control and System of network traffic in real time via the "Netgear Insight" app, which is available free of charge for Android and iOS.

• 1-Year Insight subscription included with Orbi Pro WiFi 6
• Instant discovery and setup of your Orbi Pro WiFi 6
• Remote monitoring and management of your Orbi Pro WiFi 6 through the Insight app
• Single pane-of-glass multi-device, multi-network, and multi-site remote monitoring and notifications

Entry price is 780 euros, the set of 5 costs 1,500 euros

In North America, Netgear has already launched the faster mesh system Orbi Pro WiFi 6 as a set of 2 for 770 US dollars. The market launch in Europe for EUR 870 is also scheduled for the current third quarter. At the end of September, the further versions will be delivered to retailers with two or three satellites. Consequently, availability in Germany is expected at the earliest beginning of the fourth quarter. The prices quoted by Netgear are 1,190 euros (Orbi Pro SXK80B3) and 1,499 euros (Orbi Pro SXK80B4). The Orbi-Pro satellite, which is planned as an extension, is to cost 490 euros for the market launch at the end of September