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Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini (SXK30): Smaller Wi-Fi 6 mesh from Netgear

May 15, 2021

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For small companies or the home office, Netgear offers a solution for the wireless exchange of data via WLAN with the new mesh system of the Orbi-Pro-WiFi-6-Mini-Series. The 2-piece set, which is modern thanks to Wi-Fi 6 and four LANs, is expected to cost 300 euros, the 3-piece set 100 euros more.

Less WLAN -Performance with less space requirement

The Wi-Fi 6 mesh system Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini follows the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 (SXK80), which was launched last year as a professional mesh and which already cost 870 euros in the entry-level version with tri-band router and a satellite. The Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini (SXK30), on the other hand, offers only two instead of the three frequency bands in 2.4 GHz and 5 that can be used separately using OFDMA with 160 MHz channel width and MU-MIMO at a significantly lower price of probably 300 euros -GHz range and cannot keep up with the maximum possible transmission speed.

The data exchange of the radio units, which have shrunk in size by almost 60 mm, can achieve a combined gross maximum of 1,800 Mbit/s. Up to 1,200 Mbit/s at 5 GHz is possible over short distances, and a maximum of 600 Mbit/s is possible at 2.4 GHz. A technical data sheet describing the internal antenna technology is currently not available. The Orbi Pro WiFi 6 can manage four separate wireless networks (SSIDs). In addition, the WLAN encryption WPA3, which is common for Wi-Fi 6 (WLAN 802.11ax), is also supported by the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini.

Dual-band router can communicate with up to four nodes

The Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini is based on a dual-band WiFi router (Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini SXR30), which can be equipped with one (Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini SXK30), two (Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini SXK30B3) or more additional radio -Units coupled allows greater spatial coverage. The base unit supports a total of four radio units that can expand the WLAN.

The Netgear Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini offers four RJ45 connections per radio unit, whether router or satellite. In contrast to the more expensive and larger sister model SXK80, the router of the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini does not have a 2.5 Gbit WAN port, but only connections for Gigabit LAN to establish a connection to the Internet. The compatible radio unit also lacks a faster network connection.

Better management and control over the app

As special features relevant for the target group in the corporate sector, Netgear also advertises the uncomplicated and fast initial setup of the mesh system for the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini as well as the control and monitoring of network traffic in real time via the “Netgear Insight” app, which is available free of charge for Android and iOS.

Delivery should start in May

Netgear is planning the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini as a set of 2 in Europe and accordingly also in Germany in the course of this month. Retailers expect prices of just under 300 euros for the set of 2 Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini (SXK30), with another satellite as a bundle of 3 (SXK30B3) the costs rise to around 400 euros. For a single router (SXR30), the retail price should be around 170 euros, a matching radio unit (SXS30) is listed by retailers for 10 euros less, i.e. almost 160 euros.