Customer Ratings & Reviews

Throughout the years, I've used several different Wi-Fi home networks setups. I've used standard home Wi-Fi SoHo routers, Ubiquiti home Wi-Fi setups, and even a small business Cisco Meraki network setup. While they have all had their advantages and disadvantages when it came to ease of use, the level of configuration control over your network, the level of security they provided, etc., there was always one residential product that stood out to me when it particularly came to wireless performance; The Netgear Orbi Home Mesh WiFi system. From the first time that I tried Netgear's Orbi home WiFi mesh system when it debuted about 7 years ago, I knew it was something special. The wireless range of the Orbi satellites (due to the antennas they use), combined with the consistent wireless stability, left me very impressed. Since then, whenever my friends or family have asked me to recommend a home Wi-Fi system, it's always been the Netgear Orbi. I'm happy to report that the same level of Wi-Fi performance that left me extremely impressed back in 2016, has left me very impressed yet again with their latest implementation of a WiFi 7 home mesh system. I think it's important to note that at the current moment, there are very few electronic end user devices in the US that actually support WiFi 7. This of course hasn't stopped manufacturers, like Netgear, from being able to adopt this early technology in their latest flagship home network devices. Netgear also has a great track record of periodic OTA firmware updates which is important because it will allow this product to evolve as WiFi 7 matures over the years. In terms of future proofing, I'm confident this product has me covered. While the current flagship smartphones and tablets in the US don't support WiFi 7, they are right around the corner. For example, the Samsung S24 Ultra, which is just months away, is expected to ship with WiFi 7. Even though the Iphone 15 Pro models don't support WiFi 7, they do support WiFi 6E which also yields a great wireless experience. I tested this Orbi 970 WiFi mesh system with an Android Samsung S22 Ultra (WiFi 6E capable), an iphone 14 pro (WiFi 6 capable), a Samsung S9 Ultra tablet (WiFi 6E capable), and various hardwired desktop PCs. The setup on this Orbi system was very simple. It includes an Orbi router and two satellites. The router comes preconfigured with a WiFi SSID and password. I downloaded the Orbi app on my mobile device, as per the QR code instructions on the router, and simply followed the prompts. The connections are clearly labeled on the router ports. I just connected the ethernet cable from my ISP modem to the 10Gbps internet port on the Orbi router and connected the 2.5Gbps LAN ports to my hardwired computers. Yes, you read that correctly! The router comes with a 10G ethernet internet port, a 10G ethernet LAN port, and four 2.5Gbps LAN ports. The satellites have two 2.5 Gbps ethernet ports and one 10G ethernet LAN port. This is perfect if you host high performance devices like NAS storage or file servers with 10Gbps or 2.5Gbps NICs. Once the Orbi router detected the internet from my ISP modem, it prompted me to update the WiFi SSID and password to something of my liking. Once this was done, it was time to setup the satellites. I basically placed the satellites in different locations throughout my home. I tried keeping the router and modem in a central location in my home and placing the satellites in the two furthest reaches of my townhouse. Once the satellites were in place and powered up, I just held the "Sync" button and they paired with the router after a couple of minutes. In terms of wireless performance, this Orbi 970 WiFi mesh system is incredible. For reference, I have a three story townhome that is about 2500-3000 sq feet which includes my garage and backyard patio. My office and bedroom are located on the third floor and my kitchen and living are on the second floor. I've always had a few dead spots in my kitchen and parts of my laundry room; the two areas where I usually like to consume content while reluctantly doing dishes and/or laundry. I've also occasionally noticed quality degradation when watching 4k content on my TV in the living room with my old WiFi setup. You would be able to tell the resolution scaling down from 4k to around 720p/1080p when the signal would become poor. I've used Wi-Fi scanning apps in those areas of my house before and usually get around -78dBm RSSI which is pretty terrible signal quality. I would get buffering quite often in these areas or WiFi disconnects. I was also on WiFi 5 on my older setup so I never achieved my full 500Mbps x 20 Mbps speeds from my ISP when on wireless. Since I now have the Orbi satellites near these areas of my home, and because my devices can now take advantage of WiFi 6E, my signal quality, wireless speeds, and stability, has drastically improved. No matter what area of my home I go to, including my garage and patio, I now usually get anywhere from -25 dBm to -65 dBm RSSI (i.e. Excellent signal quality). In any section of my home, I now also get my full speeds over wireless. In fact, because my ISP allows burstable speeds (depending on their network congestion), I now also get whatever extra burst is available on top of my full speeds (see screenshots). I've been doing a ton of 1440p streaming on my mobile devices, have been streaming a lot of 4k content on my smart TV, have been playing a lot of CS:GO (hardwired), and also tested downloading large files from SharePoint. Overall, the experience has been flawless. I've also been using a Wi-Fi scan app to test the roaming between satellites and whenever my devices roam from satellite to satellite, it's a seamless transition. No disruptions whatsoever. Are there any cons to this Orbi 970 home WiFi mesh system? There are but I believe they're minor for the average home user that just wants the best wireless experience. If you're looking for extreme control and visibility of your network or want a robust set of firewall features, you won't find them here. While this Netgear Orbi does have a basic built-in firewall which blocks unwanted connections from the internet, has built-in DoS protection, and prevents intrusive port scans, there's not a lot of manual security options you can tinker with. It won't do things like Geo IP filtering or allow you to build QoS profiles. Netgear does try to push the "Netgear Armor" software, but that's more of an endpoint protection suite for your devices. The Orbi router does have a basic access control section to block or allow incoming connections from certain devices on your LAN though (sort of like parental control for your home network devices). It also allows you to do port forwarding, setup a guest wireless network, setup static routing, and setup VLANs for bridging (although, according to the manual, this is more so used for IPTV bridging with your ISP and will not actually allow you to do 802.1Q trunking on the LAN ports). Overall, for the large majority of people (including myself), this Netgear Orbi 970 home WiFi mesh system will provide an unparalleled home network WiFi experience. Your wireless experience will of course be subject to the quality of the RF spectrum in your environment. If there is a lot of noise or congestion in the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands where you live, there isn't much you can do about that. However, products like this can help make a significant difference. This Netgear Orbi system will auto select the most optimum WiFi channel depending on the quality of your RF environment and will also utilize the 6Ghz band (when using a WiFi 6E capable device) which has much wider channels than 2.4/5Ghz bands. It's also a band that is barely used since there isnt a saturation of WiFi 6E devices yet. This Netgear Orbi 970 home WiFi mesh system has provided me with the best wireless experience at home that I've ever experienced so far. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has large living quarters that isn't currently getting the WiFi range and coverage they need or to someone who still hasn't made the switch to WiFi 6E yet and also wants to future proof themselves with WiFi 7.

I recently purchased the Orbi Netgear router, and overall, I’m very pleased with its performance. The setup process was straightforward, thanks to the Orbi app, which guided me step by step. Within minutes, I had the router and satellites connected, and my entire home was covered with strong Wi-Fi.

The Orbi Netgear 970 is an exceptional system, redefining the standards for home WiFi and security. From the moment I set it up, the seamless, user-friendly installation process impressed me, thanks to the intuitive Orbi app, which guides you step by step. Within minutes, I had full coverage across my home with incredibly fast and reliable WiFi. The standout feature is its expansive coverage, reaching every corner of my house, including areas that typically struggled with connectivity in the past. The WiFi 7 technology ensures a lightning-fast connection, whether streaming 4K content, video conferencing, or gaming. It's a game-changer, especially for households with multiple devices. In terms of security, the Orbi 970 doesn’t compromise. With built-in Netgear Armor, powered by Bitdefender, my entire network is shielded from potential threats. The advanced parental controls give peace of mind, allowing me to manage what my kids can access online effortlessly. I can set schedules, filter content, and monitor their usage all from the app, making it a perfect system for families. The Orbi app itself is a standout—intuitive, packed with features, and constantly updated to provide more functionality. From monitoring network performance to running speed tests or managing connected devices, it’s all done in a few taps. The app also alerts me to any potential security breaches, giving real-time updates to ensure my network remains safe and sound. In conclusion, the Orbi Netgear 970 is more than just a WiFi system—it's a comprehensive, high-speed, secure network solution that brings unparalleled coverage and performance to your home. If you're looking for top-tier WiFi with bulletproof security, the Orbi 970 is second to none!

have the mesh system for 10 months now and working great anjd have wi-fi all over the house and have fios 2 GIG plan and get almost 900 megs wireless to my PC on a satellite with 1 gig nic card very happy upgrade from a linksys mesh which I had to reboot numerous times because connection would be slow . also got on sale at the time.

NetGear has great network security and that is the main reason I chose this system. However, started out having issues with this system dropping connection. Starting to get better but, for the money I paid I would have expected this system to be better right off the bat.

I’m writing this this review, now that I’ve had time to use this netgear Orbi 970, I can truly say that setup was a breeze. I can’t say that it improved my IP speed, but it did keep it consistent compared to my old Linksys system. But it has been an improvement in its capability to stay connected, no dropping signals. No router disconnects. This 3-pack replaces my 8 Linksys routers it took reach the back of my house to connect to my security camera. For me it’s worth the price. And the armor plus,app has been the best security that one can have. It did take a little longer to set-up, but it catches a lot of threats, that and the VPN.

I upgraded from an Orbi 850 to the Orbi 970 series because I also upgraded my internet service to 2.5 gigs. The 970 has the ability to fully take advantage of these high speeds across the entire local network. The price was worth it to me to maximize my network throughput. Installation was a breeze with the updated app and implementing port forwarding, IOT networks and the like is mega simple. In under 5 minutes I was up and running with three satellites and firmware was updated automatically. I had retained my original WIFI SSID and password, so all devices automatically followed into the upgraded network. Couldn't be more simple! I previously had three satellites and one router with the Orbi RBK853. With the 970, I found greater physical coverage with only two satellites. I am using one satellite in a wireless backhaul and the other in wired, and both are rock-solid maximizing my 2.5 gig internet connection. If you have above a 1gig connection, do yourself a favor and future-proof not just your network, but also your WIFI. It is elegantly simple and just works.

Easy to set up and seems to have great coverage. I moved from having an older orbi setup with 3 satellites to this one with 2 and it is faster and covers a greater area. They are rather large so if you buy make sure you have room for them. They look nice but are large compared to what I have been used to in the past.

My wife and I moved to a home much larger than our previous house and we got an Eero 6+ system when we purchased the internet service. The Eero 6+ had worked well in our old home with a base and 2 extenders - but even with 6 extenders, the speeds were not good - only getting 45-95mbps down when only 10-12' from the extender. I purchased the 970 series and the difference was incredible. Even at the farthest room from the base or satellites, the slowest speed I get is about 250mbps! It's worth every penny I spent. I have blazing fast internet, wired or wi-fi. This is actually my 2nd Orbi mesh system and I recommend it highly!

This WiFi Router is super fast and covers over 10,000 sq ft. I have used several other routers that have claimed to be fast, reliable, and covers large areas with doesn’t live up to their specifications and claims. I would definitely stand behind my recommend of this NETGEAR - Orbi 970 Series BE27000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System. It’s one of the best on the market at this time.

I live in a townhome community with lots of neighbors. Every house has a router blasting away on full power. I knew that the interference was getting worse and worse. Most neighbors kept their devices on default channels, but even with a Wi-Fi6 router, it was having difficult reaching my third floor without an extender. This was a functional, but frustrating relationship for years as my devices were always having to reconnect to the network. Once I purchased my NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Mesh Systems, life changed. The congestion in the neighborhood was still there, but it was as though I now have a private HOV lane on the information superhighway. I have near zero lagtime, low ping counts, reliable consistent connections and a reasonably strong signal to noise ratio. In short, the Orbi has transformed my family's Wi-Fi experience. I am now able to telework from home without fear of dropping connection in the middle of a virtual call. Overall, for me an my family the Orbi system made the most sense. In fairness, I did purchase a competitor mesh system previously and returned it almost as quickly as it arrived. With Orbi I was pleasantly surprised at just how simple the setup was. My only knock on the system to the extent there is one is that I would like to have the option to hide the SSID and to monitor the power output of the router and satellites. Otherwise, out of the box it is a fantastic system!

The NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series BE27000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System has been an absolute game-changer for my home network. From the moment I set it up, I noticed a significant improvement in both coverage and speed throughout my house. The setup process was straightforward, and the Orbi app made it easy to get everything up and running quickly. With the quad-band technology, I experience lightning-fast internet speeds, even with multiple devices connected simultaneously. The mesh system provides seamless coverage, eliminating any dead zones in my home. The design is sleek and modern, blending in perfectly with my home decor. Overall, this Wi-Fi system is a fantastic investment for anyone looking to enhance their home network. The Orbi 970 Series delivers on its promises and then some. Highly recommend!

I have tried every mesh wifi system available and in many cases I stay away from Netgear for a couple reasons. 1. They don't provide support past 90 days without paying for it. 2. they charge a premium price tag. 3. With that premium price they don't offer at least 1 year of support and malware protection included. Again another thing to pay for. At $2400 dollars for this system, I expected this to exceed my expectations and deliver the ultimate coverage and speeds. The speeds when it's working correctly are amazing. My one plus Open device which is wifi 7 capable would get the full download speeds I have coming into the house at 2gb. Issues: Satellites continue to go offline or drop connections, and this is with them connected with ethernet backhauls. Moving across the house devices don't move to the closest device. You have to turn off your wifi and back on for it to work again, otherwise the device acts like it doesnt have a connection. Deadspots: This should cover a 10k sq ft home easily. We have three of them splitting our 4500 sq ft home and still have dead spots . one of the guest bedrooms gets barely any signal and it's only right down the hallway from the main router, divided by only a studio. outside coverage is minimal as well. We have one at the back window of our house to get signal in the backyard and it's hit or miss at times. Probably because the satellite keeps dropping. They did a software update but still there are random drop outs of satellites and devices so to spend this much money, to have issues with ethernet backhauled wifi satellites makes no sense. Also Netgear if your going to charge 2k plus for networking devices, support them for at least a year for free, give them malware protection for a year and actually stand by your ludicrously expensive devices!!

I have used two different Orbi mesh systems before this one and both worked flawlessly. I upgraded from Orbi WiFi 6 system thinking that the new system will be an upgrade over the 4 year old mesh router I was using. Tried using the new mesh system with horrible results, the router keeps disconnecting and only solution is to unplug and replug the router. Sometimes you have to restart the router multiple times and even then it keeps flashing white. Maybe I got a lemon but this is totally unacceptable for such an expensive mesh system. Having gone through reviews, the issues I have faced do not look like isolated issues. I must add that when the system works it works really well, I have a number of smart devices and when the router is working there are no issues with the range or speed even in the furthest corners of my house.

Wanted to upgrade to take full advantage of my new fiber optic internet service and this router/mesh does not disappoint. Every device wIth atleast WiFi 6e on my large 3600 square foot property gets the full 1 gb internet speed. I even have a security camera nearly a full 200 yards from the house down the driveway that is covered. This IS the best router and mesh system money can buy. The wireless backhaul is as fast as the ethernet backhaul on my old Amplifi Alien mesh network because it uses a proprietor 6ghz WiFi 7 channel just for the connection between mesh points. Very, very good. So even if you dont have any WiFi 7 devices yet, you WILL benefit when using the mesh.

The Orbi 970 series are indeed the strongest mesh system I have experienced and provides coverage over my home, shop and barn on my property. So far they have not had any hiccups and appear to be rock solid on giving my home an internet system to count on.

NETGEAR produces and markets many great products. Our home is over 10,000 sq feet and being a 90% smart home has over 150 devices connected all the time. Trying to find a system to keep all devices happy and connected is tough. I went all in and bought this system and overall very impressed. But is it perfect. No. At the far end of one side we have dead spots which I can understand why as those devices are only 40 feet from a satellite. I’m working with NETGEAR for a solution so I don’t have to purchase another satellite. Our home is very open and should not be having this problem.

I was having issues finding a mesh system that could cover my house. I went through a few and finally found this Orbi system. The house now has the coverage and speed like I am on a local LAN. Streaming video and hi resolution audio is no longer a factor from my NAS. The bottom line. Hands down the best mesh system I have ever had.

Work as expected. Great signal strength, fast wifi speed. The best part is easy to setup.

I work form home - previous router failed - set this one up over lunch break to keep work up and running - easy set up - and excellent performance so far…. Much faster connections for our mobile devices!