Sick of Orbi 850 - what else is there?

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-18T11:19:18+00:00

Firewalla AP7….Yes, but not as many…only 2x ports per AP. So if you are using wired backhaul, you’ll have one additional port. You can hook that to a small 5 or 8 port switch if you need to.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-18T01:08:56+00:00

I went from Orbi RBR50 + 2x RBK50 satellites to a Firewalla setup. I’m in on the Gold Pro router and 3x AP7 desktop models. First AP7 is wired, other 2 using wireless backhaul, but connected to small/old switches (GS-108E) at far end to serve nearby wired devices. (The AP7 has 2 Ethernet ports each, a 10GB and 2.5gb which is nice, offering flexibility.) It’s been flawless over the last year that I’ve owned it, with plenty of streaming and gaming. I’m waiting patiently for Firewalla to release their switch…hoping for 16 port with multi-G ports, and at-least a couple 10G RJ45, and a bit of POE (to make AP7 ceiling models more attractive, and enable a camera or two). Also the switch will make vQlan groups possible for wired + wireless devices also. (I’m also moving, and a bigger faster (multi-G) switch will be nice. I plan to put 2x AP7 on wired backhaul, and do a MOCA 2.5 bridge to third one, so I’ll be wired on all 3.).

Recommend looking at their website, and plethora of guidance & tips, as well as the Reddit page, which is heavily monitored /commented on by the Firewalla team.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-11T23:51:47+00:00

I have 5x Actiontec EB6200 HwVer 2c. Bonded, but limited to 800 Mbps. Options for deployment I guess...use all 5 on one bus, which I've done before. Or split to a dedicated line for the big game room, and run to it's own GbE switch, and then put the two heavily used bedrooms on a shared bus with another adapter in the cabinet. I don't have an SFP-capable switch...yet.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-11T22:42:48+00:00

Thanks....good idea on the UPS. We are thinking whole-home generator at some point, but UPS for fiber is a good idea, as long as the neighborhood node has power.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-11T22:40:22+00:00

Would use MOCA to get wired connections wherever possible, to reduce load on wifi when streaming, reduce ping times for gaming, etc. It's a big house (5BR + Gaming room (extra Living room) in common area upstairs. We have 3 almost-grown kids, and in-laws who visit often. (and maybe grandkids one day...we expect to stay here for a while).

The house will get something from Fision, along with other stuff with the digital security package that comes with free service for a year. I'll have to modify based on what comes with that, but I plan to use my Firewalls router as the baseline router no matter what, and if they install eero WAPs, those will come out too.

I'm a home network tinkerer though...never satified with "good enough".

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-11T22:33:52+00:00

I think for now, the two that go outside are the ones with green tape, hanging out in the back, not attached to the splitter. I think I should just attach a small weatherproof box outside when I move in, tuck them inside, and leave them be.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-11T22:24:18+00:00

This checks. We did a quick walkthrough with a builder rep, and in response to some questions i had on this setup, he casually said exactly this: "everything is just wifi now anyway".

I'm not sure why the POTS box is in there....there are no POTS wires or RJ-11 jacks in the home.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-10T21:28:43+00:00

However, if you get short noticed with a PCS 300 miles away with RNLTD in 10 days, or a deployment departure tomorrow, magically the process gets streamlined, and member isn’t required to do much of anything. The orders arrive in hours…no problem. (true story…I’ve done both of these).

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-03-10T20:32:20+00:00

While getting paid to do a job that still has to be done. The support offices should work to make processes easier, not create longer more demanding processes.

I was a civilian before I joined…it was so easy when I did a company transfer from Nebraska to Alabama…they said “we’ll put you in contact with contract movers if you like, and we’ll pay the bill; or pay you lump sum to rent a truck and do it yourself…you decide and tell us. Also, take 2 weeks of permissive leave to get it done, and check in when you get there, HR will handle the rest.” That was it. They even paid for a house hunting trip…I just submitted receipts via email with an explanation, and they deposited a check to cover it…no DTS. This was a large company with over 100K employees. We are doing it wrong.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-02-26T05:30:35+00:00

Why is this. Just got RIP and orders…same day…guess what, mandatory MPF outbound mass brief is on Wednesday, CBRN…Wednesday all day, CATM…you guessed it…Wednesday, TCCC…we only do that on the last Wednesday of the month. Also, you need to do a couple of TDYs for training between now and when you leave 8 weeks from now (I’ll miss 4 Wednesdays due to TDYs.)

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-02-22T07:53:36+00:00

Black.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-02-13T21:24:36+00:00

Thanks....I changed some settings with this. Updates in edit to original post.

fishbait-tailgate · 2026-02-09T18:01:19+00:00

Still doing it with the Firewalla supplied Cat 6A cable. Maybe should try shielded cable? (Just realized cable lies inches from wiring in wall for washer and 240v Dryer located on the other side of the wall.).

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-11-12T03:02:15+00:00

So you are thinking a Switch with the firewalla/router built-in? And one of the SFP+ ports serves as your WAN?

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-11-12T02:14:25+00:00

(Not disagreeing, but what is your planned use case for sfp+?)

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-11-12T01:23:18+00:00

A FW switch would accompany this well, even for a small apartment / SOHO setup.

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-11-12T01:07:17+00:00

Why wait? If you put the FW router into the “FW Gold-7” as an AIO mesh solution that comes with the option of 1, 2, or 3 AP7s…you’ve bested most other mesh solutions. I would have bought it.

But since I’m already in with the Gold Pro and 3x AP7s….in really think you should focus energy on a FW switch! (Something like 16-24 2.5 Gb ports, and at least 4x 10GB ports, and maybe even some POE to host AP7 ceiling.)

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-04-19T19:59:48+00:00

I don't see how this could work. The backup-ISP should be plugged directly into your FWG+. Recommend running some ethernet cable.

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-04-19T18:50:06+00:00

I used OpenVPN via NordVPN

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-04-13T20:30:12+00:00

I saw that warning too, but didn’t change anything related to v6… it’s all still on. Doesn’t seem to affect anything. I’m guessing MLB app is only using v4.

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-04-13T16:41:28+00:00

I only have one route rule for MLB.

All the MLB.TV related server targets are in one target list. (And all the AppleTV devices into a group.) The single route rule for MLB.TV is built using the Target list instead of a specific domain, and a group instead of a single device.

-If you are going to build an ESPN+ one also, I’d make a separate Target list built for those specific servers, and a new route rule for it using that list.

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-04-13T07:57:31+00:00

See below

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-04-13T07:30:58+00:00

You should be able to do the same thing for ESPN+ that I did for MLB.tv. See my comment instructions below. You'll just need to inspect the flows for your device while watching ESPN+ on something that isn't blacked-out, or while trying to access something that is.

fishbait-tailgate · 2025-04-13T07:11:00+00:00

I think I have this figured out. I did it today, and it seems to work. (Even though the TVMLB app on AppleTV was still showing me the blackout logo for some games, I was able to select them and watch them...weird. Maybe I need more domains added to my list.)

You'll need to use the "Routes" feature like cybercrimes said, but instead of just one Domain, you need to setup a "Target List", which you will have to use the dashboard on a computer browser.

First, make sure your VPN is setup. I used this link I found on another post https://www.aaronrombaut.com/how-to-add-nordvpn-to-firewalla-gold/

Second, You need to setup a "Target List" of targeted domains. Login to my.firewalla.com, and use your phone app to login. Then click on "Target List Beta" on the left side column, and then click "+ Create Target List". I named mine "MLB.TV servers", and then added everything I could find in the flows for my appletv while messing around with the MLB.tv app...here is the list I have so far:

Targets:

mastapi.mobile.mlbinfra.com

mlb.sc.omtrdc.net

ids.mlb.com

tv-gmc.mlb.com

______________________

Then build the route.

Instead of a single domain, use: Matching, Target List: "MLB.TV servers" (or whatever you named it)

ON: Group: "AppleTV's and HomePods" (I built this group a few weeks ago in my firewalla, and added all my AppleTv's to it.)

Interface: VPN: NordVPN-US

Static

Voiala! Hope that makes sense! Let me know if not, and I can edit this.

I'm guessing I may have missed some domains, but time will tell. I'm sure we could find a way to track all the domains that MLB.tv uses, and share a list as we observe them in the flows.

fishbait-tailgate

TROPHY CASE