Netgear Orbi 770 Mesh Router Review vs Orbi 970 – Better than expected for a tri-band WiFi 7 mesh system

The Netgear Orbi 770 is the latest addition to the company’s popular mesh WiFi lineup, offering WiFi 7 connectivity at a more accessible price point than its flagship Orbi 970 counterpart.

The Netgear Orbi 770 is significantly more affordable than the Orbi 970, which has been achieved by significantly cutting back the specification, including dropping the 2nd 5GHz band, which was used for a dedicated backhaul, and dropping the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to 2×2 MIMO and reducing the speed of the Ethernet ports to 2.5GbE.

While the performance doesn’t have the wow factor of the Orbi 970, the new Orbi 770 should be more than enough for most buyers. The router is capable of WiFi speeds well over a gigabit, and depending on the satellite placement, you can also achieve over a gigabit throughput when using a wireless backhaul.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series Tri-band WiFi 7 Mesh System RBE773 -...	1,420 Reviews	£899.99	Buy on Amazon

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Netgear Orbi 770 vs Orbi 970 WiFi 7 Mesh System Specification

The Orbi 770 and 970 share many similarities, but there are some key differences that set them apart. Both systems offer WiFi 7 connectivity including 320Mhz wide 6GHz and MLO. However, the Orbi 970 is a quad-band system, while the 770 is tri-band.

The Orbi 770 comes in 2-pack (RBE772) and 3-pack (RBE773) configurations, with each unit measuring 25.12 x 13.42 x 10.04 cm and weighing 0.92 kg. It’s a more compact and lightweight option compared to the Orbi 970, which measures 29.40 x 14.42 x 13.10 cm and weighs 1.79 kg per unit.

In terms of WiFi performance, the Orbi 770 is rated as a tri-band BE11000 system, while the Orbi 970 is a quad-band BE27000 system.

The 770 offers a 2×2 BE 2.4 GHz band (up to 688 Mbps), a 2×2 BE 5 GHz band (up to 4324 Mbps), and a 4×4 BE 6 GHz band (up to 5765 Mbps).

The 970, on the other hand, provides higher theoretical speeds across all bands thanks to the 4×4 MIMO configuration across all brands and includes an additional 5 GHz band for the backhaul.

Both systems support Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for improved backhaul performance, but the 970 has more robust wired connectivity options.

The Orbi 770 router features one 2.5GBASE-T WAN port and three 2.5GBASE-T LAN ports, while each satellite has two 2.5GBASE-T LAN ports.

The Orbi 970 ups the ante with a 10GBASE-T WAN port, a 10GBASE-T LAN port, and four 2.5GBASE-T LAN ports on the router, plus a 10GBASE-T LAN port and two 2.5GBASE-T LAN ports on each satellite.

Neither system offers USB ports, link aggregation, or dual-WAN capabilities. Both can be managed through the Netgear Orbi mobile app and web interface, and they support premium subscriptions for Netgear Armor security and parental controls.

Unboxing

The Netgear Orbi 770 comes well-packaged, with each unit securely nestled in recyclable materials. In the box, you’ll find:

• Orbi router
• Orbi satellite(s)
• Power adapters for each unit
• Ethernet cable
• Quick start guide

The units themselves have a sleek, modern design with a matte white finish that should blend well with most home decor. They’re noticeably smaller and lighter than the Orbi 970 units, which could be a plus for those with limited space or who prefer a more discreet setup.

Set-Up

Setting up the Orbi 770 is a straightforward process, thanks to the pre-synced hardware and user-friendly Netgear Orbi app. Here’s a quick rundown of the setup process:

• Download the Netgear Orbi app on your smartphone or tablet.
• Connect the Orbi router to your modem using the provided Ethernet cable.
• Power on the router and wait for the LED to pulse white.
• Open the Orbi app and follow the on-screen instructions to create an account or sign in.
• The app will guide you through naming your network and setting a password.
• Once the router is set up, place the satellite(s) in your desired locations and power them on.
• The app will help you optimise satellite placement for the best coverage.

The entire process typically takes about 10-15 minutes, and the app does a good job of walking you through each step. It’s worth noting that the pre-synced nature of the hardware means you don’t have to manually pair the router and satellites, which is a nice time-saver.

Netgear Orbi App & Settings

The Netgear Orbi app serves as the primary interface for managing your Orbi 770 system. It offers a clean, intuitive design that makes it easy to monitor your network and adjust settings. Some key features of the app include:

• Connected Devices: View and manage the devices connected to your Orbi
• Speed test: Check your internet connection speed.
• Traffic meter: Monitor data usage across your network.
• Guest & IoT network: Easily set up and manage a separate network for visitors.
• Parental controls: Basic content filtering and scheduling options (premium features require a subscription).
• Security: Access to Netgear Armor features (requires a subscription).

While the app provides most of the functionality that average users will need, power users may find it somewhat limited compared to the web interface.

Web UI & Advanced Settings

For those who prefer more granular control over their network, the Orbi 770’s web interface offers a wider range of advanced settings. To access it, you’ll need to enter the router’s IP address in a web browser while connected to the Orbi network.

The web interface provides access to features such as:

• Port forwarding
• Dynamic DNS
• VPN service settings
• VLAN settings
• Advanced wireless settings (channel selection, transmit power, etc.)
• QoS (Quality of Service) settings
• System logs and diagnostics

The web UI has a somewhat dated look compared to the mobile app, but it’s functional and provides a greater depth of control that enthusiasts may want.

IoT & Guest WiFi VLAN

One of the features of the Orbi and many other consumer WiFi systems is the ability to set up a guest WiFI network. With the Orbi, you also have an IoT option.

It is worth highlighting here because Netgear have placed an increased focus on security and IoT devices, especially TVs and surveillance cameras, which are particularly prone to breaches because manufacturers don’t provide long-term security updates. This problem is exacerbated by users not changing default passwords or reusing passwords.

When you use the guest and IoT WiFi settings, the Orbi 770 effectively creates separate VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) for these devices. This is a crucial security feature that helps isolate potentially vulnerable IoT devices from your main network and keeps guest traffic separate from your personal devices.

Setting up these VLANs is relatively simple through the web interface, though it would be nice to see this functionality integrated into the mobile app for easier access. The IoT VLAN is particularly useful for smart home devices that don’t require access to your main network, while the guest VLAN provides a convenient way to offer internet access to visitors without compromising your network security.

Netgear Armor

Netgear Armor is the company’s comprehensive security solution powered by Bitdefender. It’s available as a subscription service for Orbi users and offers features like:

• Real-time threat detection and blocking
• Vulnerability assessments for connected devices
• Anti-virus protection for all devices on the network
• Data breach monitoring
• VPN for secure browsing (limited to 200 MB per day)

While Armor provides a robust set of security features, it’s worth noting that it comes at an additional cost after the initial trial period. Some users may find the subscription price steep, especially considering the already premium price of the Orbi 770 system.

A focus on security with regular software patches

One area where Netgear has made significant strides is in its commitment to security through regular software updates. The company has implemented a system for rapid deployment of security patches, aiming to roll out critical updates within 24 hours of vulnerability discovery.

This approach is commendable, as it addresses one of the common criticisms of smart home devices – the lack of timely security updates. By prioritising quick patch deployment, Netgear is taking a proactive stance in protecting its users from potential threats.

The Orbi 770 benefits from this focus on security, with automatic firmware updates enabled by default. Users can also manually check for and install updates through the app or web interface, ensuring their system stays protected against the latest threats.

WiFi Performance

Test Set Up

To try and provide some context for the WiFi performance, I live in a traditional British Accrington brick-built 4-bed semi, which has rooms quite a bit larger than modern homes. Our internal walls are all solid brick, creating a challenging WiFI environment.

For testing, I installed the Orbi router in my front room, which is connected to my Virgin Media Hub, a gigabit connection.

The first satellite was located in my second living room, which is across the hallway into the far side of the next room.

The second satellite is located in my office, directly above the second living room.

The Netgear Orbi app identified the satellites connecting in a hub and spoke pattern with the backhaul using MLO, combining the 5GHz and 6GHz bands.

Devices I tested the router with include:

• My main work PC, which has the MSI Herald-BE NCM865 WIFI 7 PCIe Adaptor
• Acer Switch 14 AI – A Qualcomm-powered Windows laptop with WiFi 7
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Pixel 9 Pro XL
• Honor Magic V3

To test WiFi over the LAN, I used iper3 and OpenSpeedTest, which I have installed on Proxmox with the Geekom Mini IT13 and the TerraMaster F2-423, which has 2.5GbE and is running Unraid.

Router WiFi 7 Performance

When in the same room as the router, I was able to achieve up to 1700Mbps with WLAN connections. For the Internet, I was able to saturation my connection and achieve just over 1100Mbps.

Satellite WiFi 7 Performance

The performance of mesh systems typically degrades as you move away from the main router, especially with tri-band systems that need to share bandwidth between backhaul and client connections. However, the Orbi 770 surprised me with its resilience.

In the second living room, connected to the first satellite, I was still able to achieve speeds over a gigabit, with throughput reaching 1100 Mbps. This impressive performance is likely due to the efficient use of MLO for the backhaul, combining the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands to provide more bandwidth for both backhaul and client connections.

To put this in perspective, a comparable WiFi 6 system would likely see speeds drop by around 50% at the satellite, resulting in client speeds of around 850 Mbps. The Orbi 770’s ability to maintain gigabit-plus speeds at the satellite is a testament to the benefits of WiFi 7 and Netgear’s implementation.

Performance in my office, connected to the second satellite, was understandably lower due to the increased distance and obstacles. However, I still achieved throughput speeds of over 700 Mbps, which is more than sufficient for most home networking needs. Internet speeds in this location were slightly lower at 580 Mbps, but this is still enough to saturate most home broadband connections.

Eventually the Orbi renegotiated the mesh connected and my office satellite was daisy chained to the Orbi in my living room. The throughput results were almost identical.

These results highlight the Orbi 770’s ability to maintain strong performance even in challenging environments and at greater distances from the main router.

Advanced Wireless Settings (MLO Backhaul)

One setting that is worth noting is within the advanced WiFi settings via the web UI. There is an option called “Advanced Wireless Settings (MLO Backhaul)” with a check box for “Enable 200MHz Bandwidth.”

I assume this relates to channel width, and if so, I also believe this is a typo. With WiFi 7 on the 5GHz band, you can use a channel width of 240MHz vs 160MHz, which would theoretically increase the throughput by 50%.

One issue with this is that there are very few non-overlapping channels with 5GHz already, so running the backhaul at 240MHz will likely cause increased interference.

I tested the setting, and it didn’t seem to make much difference, but the results will vary for everyone.  

Coverage and Stability

My internet comes in through the front room which is not central to my home, so a single router won’t provide coverage for the full house. I have used mesh systems a lot in the past, but I often find that the performance is not adequate for my needs, especially in my office, and I eventually wired up my rooms, eliminating any problems.

During my testing, I relied on the Orbi 770 for all my WiFi needs, and it provided consistent and high-speed coverage throughout my home.  

Dead spots that would have existed with older mesh systems were no longer an issue, and I experienced stable connections even in areas that traditionally had weak signals.

The system’s use of the 6 GHz band for the backhaul and fronthaul, when available, helped reduce interference in congested areas, resulting in more reliable connections for compatible devices. However, it’s worth noting that the 6 GHz band’s range is more limited compared to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so optimal placement of the satellites is crucial for the best performance.

The Orbi 770’s automatic band steering worked well, seamlessly moving devices between bands as needed to optimise performance. This was particularly noticeable when moving around the house with mobile devices, as connections remained stable without noticeable drops in speed or quality.

Price and Alternative Options

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series Tri-band WiFi 7 Mesh System RBE773 -...	1,420 Reviews	£899.99	Buy on Amazon
	NETGEAR Orbi Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh System RBE973S, WiFi 7...	138 Reviews	£2,199.99	Buy on Amazon

The Netgear Orbi 770 Mesh Router is certainly not cheap, but it is significantly more affordable than the flagship Orbi 970. With an RRP of £899.99 this is 59% cheaper than the flagship model!

You can also buy it in a 2-pack for £649.99, and if you want to expand at a later date, an additional satellite costs £349.99. It is worth noting that Netgear will no longer be selling the Orbi router by itself as they want to separate things, with Orbi focused on mesh and Nighthawk focused on routers.

TP-Link has several options, including:

• TP-Link Deco BE65 – 3-pack, Tri-band, 4x 2.5GbE ports per device for £700 RRP
• TP-Link Deco BE85, 2-pack, tri-band with 2x10GbE and 2X2.5GbE ports for £1000

These TP-Link options provide features similar to those of the Orbi 770 at competitive price points, though they may lack some of Netgear’s more advanced software features.

It’s worth noting that while Netgear is often criticised for its premium pricing, they’re not alone in the high-end market. The Amazon Eero Max 7 mesh WiFi router, for example, is a tri-band system with 2x10GbE ports and 2×2.5GbE ports that cost £1700 for a three-pack, significantly more than the Orbi 770.

When considering the price, it’s important to factor in the long-term value. The Orbi 770’s WiFi 7 capabilities and Netgear’s commitment to regular security updates may provide a longer useful lifespan compared to older WiFi standards, potentially justifying the higher upfront cost for some users.

Overall

The Netgear Orbi 770 Mesh Router system is an excellent option for anyone wanting to take advantage of the massive speed improvements on WiFi 7 without the huge financial commitment the Orbi 970 requires.

It delivers impressive performance across both the router and satellites. I was particularly impressed with the satellite performance. While they still incur significant signal loss due to the shared backhaul, it is much less pronounced than older dual-band WiFi 5/6 mesh systems.

Depending on placement, I was able to achieve over a gigabit throughout from my satellites. Most fibre Internet options cap out at a gigabit, and most people don’t need that throughput, so the  Netgear Orbi 770 is more than adequate for providing full Internet speed via WiFi across your home.  

The easy setup process and user-friendly mobile app make it accessible to less tech-savvy users. The advanced web interface may not have all the features advanced users want, but it offers enough customisation for most people.

Netgear’s focus on security, with rapid patch deployment and the optional Armor suite, adds value for those concerned about protecting their home network.

Even though this is significantly cheaper than the Orbi 970, the price may still be a barrier for some. While there are some more affordable options, they are few and far between.

Ultimately, the Netgear Orbi 770 delivers on its promises, offering better-than-expected performance for a tri-band WiFi 7 mesh system with a strong focus on security and regular firmware patches.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API