NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Review: Ultimate Mesh WiFi 7 Network?

Backwards Compatability with Older Devices: Is It a Promblem?

The Netgear Orbi 970 is built on Wi-Fi 7, which is the latest wireless standard, but it’s also fully backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, and even Wi-Fi 4.

This compatibility ensures that older devices on your network can still connect and function properly, though their performance is limited by their own hardware capabilities rather than the Orbi system itself.

Here’s a breakdown of how it works and some considerations for integrating with older devices.

Compatibility with Older Devices

Backwards Wi-Fi Standards Support:

• The Orbi 970 supports all previous Wi-Fi standards (802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, etc.), so everything from older smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs to smart home devices like Wi-Fi cameras and bulbs can connect.
• These devices will operate at their maximum designed speeds, but they won’t benefit from the ultra-fast Wi-Fi 7 speeds.

Device Band Matching:

• Older devices that only support 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands will connect to the corresponding band on the Orbi’s system, even though it supports newer 6GHz bands as part of Wi-Fi 7.

Ethernet Ports for Legacy Devices:

• If you have older wired hardware that doesn’t support high-speed Wi-Fi but still needs reliable access (e.g., old printers, media servers, or desktop PCs), Orbi’s 10Gbps multi-gig Ethernet ports provide flexibility.

IoT Device Connectivity:

• IoT devices like smart plugs, cameras, sensors, or any older smart gadgets will still function because the Orbi 970 can work on slower, IoT-friendly frequencies.

Precautions to Keep in Mind

Impact on Speeds:

• Older devices using slower protocols (like Wi-Fi 4 or 5) can drag down the overall network’s performance if several such devices are actively transferring data. Orbi uses advanced traffic management to mitigate this, but some slowdown may still occur in mixed environments.

Firmware Updates:

• Some older devices might require firmware updates from their manufacturers to work seamlessly with newer routers, especially those using advanced signal types or enhanced security protocols in Wi-Fi 7.
• Check for and apply updates for your devices before setting up the Orbi.

Device Authentication:

• Ensure older devices support WPA3 (the latest Wi-Fi security) or at least WPA2. Some legacy devices may struggle with modern security. If so, you may need to enable a mixed WPA2/WPA3 mode in the router settings.

Connectivity of Low-Bandwidth IoT Devices:

• Some smart home devices, especially older ones, may prefer or require a dedicated 2.4GHz band. Orbi’s “band steering” may automatically push them to faster bands. In such cases, create a separate 2.4GHz-only network on Orbi to ensure proper connectivity for these gadgets.

Signal Interference:

• Older devices or gadgets with outdated Wi-Fi radios may contribute to signal interference when connecting to a high-performance system like the Orbi. It’s worth testing placement and reducing interference from nearby devices if needed.

Network Reconfiguration:

• If you’re replacing an older router, some legacy smart devices may need to be manually reconnected due to saved network configurations. Devices often remember SSID/password combinations—use the same Wi-Fi name and password as your previous router for easier migration.

Impact on Existing Hardware

The Orbi 970 doesn’t “upgrade” older devices to Wi-Fi 7 or enhance their max speeds—they’ll perform based on their own design limits. However, what it does do is ensure:

Stable Connections:

• Even older wireless gadgets get more consistent performance thanks to Orbi’s multiple bands and powerful antennas.

Reduced Network Congestion:

• With advanced traffic management and a quad-band system, Orbi can prevent older, slower devices from overloading the network, ensuring a smoother experience for new and old hardware alike.

Future-Proofing:

• Adding Wi-Fi 7 functionality doesn’t just support new gadgets but ensures your network is ready for upgrades as you replace old devices with newer ones over time.

Advice and Tips

Stick to an Organized Setup:

• Label your devices in the Orbi app for easy monitoring. For instance, identify older devices versus newer ones to quickly spot performance issues.

Prioritize Important Devices:

• Use the Orbi app to set bandwidth priority for newer, high-performance devices (like gaming PCs, streaming boxes, or new smart home hubs), ensuring legacy devices don’t hog resources.

Scale Your Purchase:

• The Orbi 970 is likely overkill for a household full of outdated hardware that only supports baseline speeds. If most of your gadgets are older, you may not fully harness the Orbi’s abilities—keeping this in mind might save you money or prompt a gradual hardware update plan.

Utilize Wired Options:

• For older but critical devices (e.g., a desktop PC or home automation hub), consider connecting them via Ethernet for lag-free and consistent access.

Regular Maintenance:

• Periodically check for firmware updates for both the Orbi system and your legacy devices as manufacturers may tweak compatibility issues over time.

The Orbi 970 is backward-compatible, letting your older devices play nicely while delivering high-speed access to newer hardware. However, be mindful that older devices may bottleneck the network if many are connected simultaneously.

For the best overall experience, identify which devices might benefit from a wired connection or firmware updates, and don’t hesitate to adjust Orbi’s settings for optimal performance.

If long-term network expansion is your goal, the Orbi 970’s future-proof design ensures that it will integrate smoothly as your hardware lineup modernizes over time.