Netgear Orbi 970 WiFi 7 Mesh system review – The backbone of your modern home

There’s no beating around the bush here folks, at $4,299 this is the single most expensive WiFi router or Mesh system we’ve ever tested. And I think for most people it’s going to be hard to justify for sure. But, taken for what it is – this is a spectacular WiFi system that can underpin all the connected devices in your home.

On specs this is arguably the best WiFi system you could install in your home. Up to 27Gbps speeds, 10Gig Internet capability, 460 degree WiFi coverage, Quad-Band WiFi technology and a bunch of software solutions to protect your devices and your kids.

Why does a great WiFi system improve your overall home internet?

Before we get into the details here, let’s just remind ourselves why these products exist and why I’ve been happily advocating for Mesh WiFi systems in homes for many, many years.

You have Internet coming into your home, for most people that’s NBN, that might be 4G/5G also, but basically there’s a box that brings the internet into your home. For many or most NBN connections that’s an “NTD” (Network Termination Device), but for some it’s just a plug in the wall.

If you have an NTD then you have internet – just plug a device in!

If you want WiFi, you need to plug into that port a “router” – it’s this device which creates the WiFi network for your home.

If you’ve got a plug in the wall (FttN NBN?) then you need a modem – that modem “dials up” the Internet connection and gives you a port that’s ready for a router. Often, the Modem is also the router.

Then there’s the 4G/5G home broadband solutions – these just need a power point. They bring the internet in and also act as a router publishing a WiFI network in your home.

Sadly, most people throw all of the above devices into a cupboard, corner, garage or under the bench. None of those places are great for WiFi at the best of times.

Even when you do place it prominently on a bench or desk, the WiFi capabilities of a small single device are limited by range. Thus, a “Mesh” system is two or more units in the home. One is at that point of connection (It can plug into any of the earlier mentioned devices, or direct into the NTD on the NBN), and the other/s are at points throughout your home.

These connect together to provide a single WiFi network to cover a vast area.

You’ll suddenly find less buffering, better speeds and all round happier families when there’s a good WiFi network.

There’s literally no point paying for the high-speed NBN plans if you’re not going to invest in better WiFi.

Better WiFi or Faster Internet – the Chicken and the Egg.

If you’ve got rubbish internet – and by that I mean you’re paying for the slower 50 or 25mbps speeds – then why would you spend hundreds – or thousands, on better WiFi.

If you’ve got Amazing high-speed internet – why on earth are you relying on the ISP supplied modem to provide WiFi in your home.

For me, the most important thing is reliable WiFi – that comes before any choice of Internet speed. That’s why I think a device like this Netgear Orbi 970 series is such an investment in your homes underlying communications capabilities.

Into that can plug any speed of Internet, knowing full well it will be spread throughout the home effectively and consistently.

A new look Orbi with the 970 Series

Ever since the very first Orbi the basic design has been the same. It was intended to be something that didn’t need to be hidden. It wasn’t meant to be this black box with antennas, so the Orbi White look was created.

Of course today they come in a Black Special Edition from Netgear Directly but broadly they are a white device, now with metallic looking trim and outlines.

The Orbi 970 Series is a vastly different design. Seen here alongside the previous 960 series, you can see it’s a more cylindrical look

That design allows for a solid 360 degree antenna array to ensure the best all-round WiFi coverage.

I like it, it seemed taller to me, but side by side, it’s actually very very similar.

Setting up the Orbi 970 Series

I got cocky on this one. Thought I’d just set it all up on my desk then take the Satellite units out to where I wanted them to be. That was dumb. I think they created a chain like connection, Router, Satellite 1 and Satellite 2.

When I took them out into the house, they struggled to connect. I think in terms of distance I placed them Satellite 2 closest and Satellite 1 furthest.

All the setup is done in the Orbi app which is a breeze to use, a really fantastic interface. But I was getting one Satellite, two, on and off.

So a bit of a reset and start over (this time actually following instructions to the letter) and we’re up and running.

The app advised me that it was doing some “optimising” so I decided to leave it, walk away and come back.

Once I did that, I jumped straight in to do the Internet Speed test

All good, setup, and connected.

Speed, I am Speed.

Now it should be noted, very clearly, that this in-app speed test is a check on the speed of your internet. That means from the router out to the internet. It’s not taking into account the actual speed of your WiFi around the home.

To test that, you should connect to the new network, and use the Speedtest app (Not Orbi) and see what you’re getting.

In my case I’m paying for 1,000Mbps download speeds, 50Mpbs upload. The Orbi speed test is showing me that Aussie Broadband are doing a great job delivering what I’m paying for. So let’s now check the WiFi

Looking great.

I live in a two story home, and I have prioritised the placement of my Orbi Satellites to favour the downstairs entertainment areas, where our TVs are placed and where we spend the bulk of our time.

Upstairs we’re not really a gadget in the bedroom home, so some smart lights and things need connectivity – but 4mbps would be ok there.

So in the furthest space from any Orbi device I did another test:

I think we can live with that:)

If I wanted to spend some additional time on placement, I’d likely favour and upstairs Satellite placement which will help both up and downstairs areas.

Additionally, I wasn’t doing these initial speed tests using a WiFi 7 device!

Speed is a big part of what this device is about. There are talks already of a new higher speed NBN plan – possibly 2Gbps, so the Netgear Orbi 970 series is a look into future proofing your home where there’s a likelihood of those higher speeds being used. The Internet port on the Orbi 970 is 10Gig capable!

It’s not just the presence of WiFi 7 – the latest and fastest WiFi technology. This device is capable of a staggering 27Gbps WiFi speeds, this means data sharing, file transfers and video streaming from device to device within a home .

Additionally there’s a 10Gig LAN port so your best devices can get the highest wired throughout.

I considered using that for a wired backhaul, but it’s been 11 years since we wired the Ethernet ports around my home, so I need to do some detective work and labelling to check which is which:)

Software add-ons worth your while.

If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t see yourself subscribing to a monthly plan to protect your devices and for parental controls then I don’t know how you’re justifying in your head the $4,299 up front price of the Netgear Orbi 970 series.

For those who do see the price as an investment will also see great value in the Parental Controls and Armor Security.

Parental controls are $99.99 per year – but if you look quick you’ll see them for $39.99. Security protection from Netgear Armor is around $139.99 per year.

I think both are worth it. Families are mad not to place Parental Controls across their network.

It’s really simple too – on your overall device list, within the Orbi App, you just need to pick the device for your child and “assign” that device to them.

Each child can then have their own limits on screen time, down time, bed time and content restrictions.

When it comes to Security, I think most people wouldn’t realise how vulnerable their network is to attacks.

That might be from the outside-in, or from vulnerable devices on your network being a risk to your entire network.

That’s where Armor comes in.

Raising the “score” in some ways is easy, better-stronger passwords, as well as things like adding a Guest network.

After that it’s about securing the individual devices. I get a lot of alerts from an old security camera I’ve still got plugged in – so that’s going.

And I even get reports from my Network Storage – so it’s prompted me to jump in and do software updates.

I think most people would be shocked how many Apple devices get attacked or might be the source of some malware from links you can click – so Armor is there to protect.

Parental controls are a no-brainer. But for security, my recommendation there depends on how strong your existing protections are. If you’ve got strong software on all your devices then perhaps you don’t need Armor.

Personally, I get a really great sense of security from the little pop up notifications saying Armor has scanned a new device that connected to the network.

Should you buy the Netgear Orbi 970 Series

The simple fact of the matter is this is an expensive device. Yep, you can get Mesh Wifi systems for well under $1,000 – but in five years from now, the devices you have, the things you do on the network will be vastly different. With the Orbi 970 Series you’re buying for now and the future.

Renovating a home, you’re mad not to use something like this to underpin your home’s connectivity.

Got a big busy home full of people and devices, again, you’re mad not to invest in the connectivity for them all.

It’s not for everyone – I get that, but if you’ve got the cash, and know what you’re looking for – Netgear has created a new leader in home WiFi with their own Orbi 970 Series.

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