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Netgear today announced a new Orbi Pro set, the AX5400 SXK50, and a Multi-Gig PoE switch, the MS108EUP—both for small and medium business (SMB) environments.
The company says these two will "provide optimized performance and security for small and medium businesses and work-from-home professionals."
Despite the statement and the timing, the two have nothing to do with each other.
Sure, you can use them together in a wired-backhaul Orbi setup, but that'd be a waste since the SXK50 is not a PoE device, nor does it have any Multi-Gig ports. Instead, it's a Gigabit Wi-Fi system that needs a couple of wall sockets.
But separately, both are welcome news.
Netgear SXK50 AX5400 Orbi Pro: A sensible alternative to the SXK80
The SXK50 is the third Wi-Fi Orbi Pro variant after the top-tier SXK80 that costs an arm and a leg and the entry-level SXK30 that's only suitable for a wired home.
And the new mesh lands right in the middle in terms of Wi-Fi specs, carrying the AX5400 Wi-Fi designation—it's a Wi-Fi 6 broadcaster with a total bandwidth of 5400Mbps.
That said, while the SXK50's performance will be different—likely significantly faster than the SXK30—it's safe to say it will share the same feature set and network applications as the other two.
Netgear says the SXK50's key features include:
- Easy Setup: Connect to your existing broadband modem to set up and customize in minutes through the local user interface.
- Safe & Secure: Supports WPA3 wireless security protocols and includes VLAN management and four SSIDs for separate and secure admin, employee, guest, and IoT networks for different business purposes, as well as network segmentation.
- Business Reliability: Dual-image in the flash, so it will never fail from firmware update disruptions or failures.
- Supports More Devices: Mesh system provides coverage for up to 5,000 square feet and supports up to 75 devices simultaneously, helping you stay connected as you roam around the office with no dead zones.
- NETGEAR Insight: Includes five years of NETGEAR Insight so you can monitor and manage your devices from anywhere and get insightful analytics on your network usage.
On top of that, per Netgear, the Orbi Pro SXK50 also supports the company's Insight Business VPN, an add-on service that allows multiple Orbi Pro routers to be easily connected, via the Internet, to form a site-to-site or site-to-multisite virtual private network.
Among other things, Insight Business VPN allows the main office and its branches (including employees' home offices) to share resources seamlessly. That includes using a single SSID—users can remain connected when roaming from one location to another.
Netgear Wi-Fi 6 Orbi Pro hardware specifications: SXK30 vs. SXK50 vs. SXK80
The SXK50's dimensions and weight are not yet available, but it shares the same design as other Wi-Fi 6 Orbi Pro.
It includes a router unit (model SXR50) and a satellite unit (SXS50). After that, you can add more satellites to expand the coverage.
Physically, chances are it'll be of the same physical size as the SXK80, or maybe slightly smaller. The SXK30 is an Orbi Pro Mini, so the SXK50 will likely be more substantial than that.
| Full Name | Netgear SXK30 Orbi Pro Mini Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 Mesh System (model SXK30) | Netgear SXK50 Orbi Pro Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 Mesh System (model SXK50) | Netgear SXK80 Orbi Pro Wi-Fi 6 AX6000 Mesh System (model SXK80) |
| Hardware Model | Router: SXR30 Satellite: SXS30 | Router: SXR50 Satellite: SXS50 | Router: SXR80) Satellite: SXS80 |
| Dimensions (each unit) | 5.8 x 2.7 x 7.4 in (148 x 68 x 189mm) | TBD | 6.8 x 3.3 x 9.7 in (17.27 x 8.38 x 24.63 cm) |
| Weight (each unit) | 1.06lb (0.48kg) | TBD | 2.06 lbs (934.4 gram) |
| Wi-Fi Specs | Dual-band AX1800 | Tri-band AX5400 | Tri-band 4x4 AX6000 |
| 1st Band (5GHz-1) | 2x2 AX: Up to 1200Mbps (20/40/80MHz) | 4x4 AX: Up to 2400Mbps (20/40/80MHz) | 4x4 AX: Up to 2400Mbps (20/40/80MHz) |
| 2nd Band (5GHz-2) | None | 4x4 AX: Up to 2400Mbps (20/40/80MHz) | 4x4 AX: Up to 2400Mbps (20/40/80MHz) |
| 3rd Band (2.4GHZ) | 2x2 AX: Up to 600Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2x2 AX: Up to 600Mbps (20/40MHz) | 4x4 AX: Up to 1200Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| Number of SSIDs | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Management | Web interface Insight App | Web interface Insight App | Web interface Insight App |
| Security | WPA/WPA2/WPA3 | WPA/WPA2/WPA3 | WPA/WPA2/WPA3 |
| Target Wake Time | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OFDMA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MU-MIMO Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AP (bridge mode) Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated Wireless Backhaul | No | Yes (5GHz-2 Band) | Yes (5GHz-2 Band) |
| Wired Backhaul Support | Yes | Yes (5GHz-2 band not available to clients.) | Yes (5GHz-2 band not available to clients.) |
| Gigabit Port | Router: 3x LAN, 1x WAN Satellite: 4x LAN | Router: 3x LAN, 1x WAN Satelite: 4 LAN | Router: 4x LAN Satellite: 4x LAN |
| Multi-Gig Port | None | None | Router: 1x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN Satellite: 1x 2.5Gbps LAN |
| Link Aggregation | None | None | Yes (2nd and 3rd LAN ports) |
| Max Mesh Hardware Units | 1x Router, 6x Satellites | 1x Router, 6x Satellites | 1x Router, 6x Satellites |
| Release Date | May 11, 2021 | January 2022 | September 3, 2020 |
| Available Configurations | 2-pack, 3-pack, Add-on satellite, Router only | 2-pack | 2-pack, 3-pack, 4-pack, Add-on satellite |
| Suggested Retail Price (at launch) | $300 (2-pack) $400 (3-pack) $160 (satellite) | $449.99 (2-pack) | $769.99 (2-pack) $1099.99 (3-pack) $1489.99 (4-pack) $419.99 (satellite) |
The SXK50 uses the 5GHz-2 band as the permanently dedicated backhaul, making it suitable for homes or offices with no network cable.
Looking closer, you'll note that it seems a much better alternative than the SXK80—it has the same 5GHz bands and yet is significantly more affordable.
Like previous models, the SXK50 supports wired backhauls—you can use a network cable to link the hardware units to deliver the best performance.
In this case, it's a bit disappointing that its satellite doesn't feature power over Ethernet (PoE), considering, again, it was introduced alongside Netgear's latest PoE switch, the MS108EUP.
Netgear MS108EUP: Compact, silent, with lots of power
Netgear's Ultra60 PoE++ Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch (model MS108EUP) is the first Multi-Gig switch from Netgear that features the latest PoE standard.
It's a compact fanless 8-port 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig switch with four PoE++ ports (Port 1 to 4) and four PoE+ ports (port 5-8). Each port of the former set can deliver up to 60W and the latter up to 30W each.
The entire switch can deliver up to 230W of power at any given time, enough to power up to eight existing PoE devices simultaneously—most devices require less than 30W.
According to Netgear, the MS108EUP's key features include:
- Future-Proof: Connect multiple devices to your network with a single wire for connectivity AND power. Eight ports of multi-gig 1G and 2.5G speeds connect devices instantly, whatever their speed, and automatically provide the speed they need.
- Easy Management: Plug-and-play Plus switch with essential network management features. No need for an IT expert or a complicated user manual, just configure your network with the user-friendly web interface.
- Advanced Per Port PoE Controls: Manage power of connected PoE devices by enabling and disabling PoE power per port, prioritizing PoE needs, limiting PoE power per port and more. Simplifies management of Wireless APs, IP security cameras, LED lighting, secure access door locks, IoT devices and more.
- Fan-less & Wall-Mountable: With a wall-mount feature, NETGEAR MS108EUP can be placed either on a desktop or wall, and it is fan-less for silent operation in any environment.
Ideally, it's a great switch to host a PoE Wi-Fi 6 access point with a 2.5Gbps PoE port, such as the Netgear WAX630, EnGenius EWS850AP, or EnGenius ECW230. But the switch will work with any PoE device.
Pricing and availability
Netgear says the Orbi Pro Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 Mesh System (SXK50) will be available as a 2-pack later this month with the suggested price of $449.99, or some $300 less than the SXK80, making it one of the most friendly priced Netgear Orbi Pro to date.
On the other hand, if you're interested in the Ultra60 PoE++ Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch (MS108EUP), you might have a bit of a sticker shock. The switch is available now at $439.99—it's not exactly crazy expensive but definitely not affordable.
Considering it's an entry-level switch that doesn't feature 5Gbps or 10Gbps speed grades, you'll likely find a better deal, at least in terms of speeds, among these alternatives.
SXK50 support 160MHz whil SXK80 does not support 160MHz. Is it true?
Only Netgear can answer the question. The company has been changing stuff after the fact. I haven’t tested either.
Howdie,
in the table you say 2nd 5Ghz band is not available to clients for the SXK80 in the wired backhaul. I am pretty sure I read if wired backhaul is used the 2nd 5ghz can be made available to the clients.
“By the way, the Orbi Pro supports wired backhaul, where you can use a network cable to link the hardware units. In this case, all of its Wi-Fi bands will be available to clients.”
https://dongknows.com/netgear-sxk80-orbi-pro-wi-fi-6-mesh-review/
most interested if this new one will be same….
I didn’t test the SXK80, and the info was what Netgear told me at the time. Things change via firmware and I’ve been nagging the vendor on this point so maybe it’s had had a change of heart….
Now I am thoroughly confused… so the SXK80 was said to be able to use 2nd band for clients by your netgear rep when launched. Which is why it is mentioned in that “review”.
But what about that “it cant use 2nd band for clients on wired backhaul” in this article table entry? Is that fact you got from netgear rep too? Or fact from feedback/reviews you got from your visitors/internet? Was it always like that or did client access to 2nd band get removed by a firmware update? Or is it just you being careful not to advertise abilities it might not have as you havent tested it yourself. And the actual state is that you dont know it can or cant give clients access to 2nd band?
clarification would be most appreciated 🙂
I haven’t tested so clearly I don’t know for sure. What I wrote here I was told at the time. And I won’t review it. If you’re so confused, I’d recommend not buying it. There’ll be more about it that you don’t know. Netgear is notorious for over-selling and under-delivering and has been making BIG changes to their devices after the launch — and not necessarily in for better. But it’s your call.
thanks a lot for the clarification.
My confusion stemmed from not understanding your policy for writing product x does support feature y or not.
In one article you say it does. In the other you state it does not support mentioned feature. The source of the it does support it from earlier article was netgear rep.
But I didn’t understand how you came to the conclusion it does not support it in this article. Well… I still dont.
What is the source for that table entry?
Netgear PR reps in both cases — they are news pieces. The thing is if you ask them a touchy question, they will tell you however they think that will sell you the product… And if you follow up with a tougher question, chances are they’d say they’d get back to you and then never did. In any case, I’d think that the 5GHz-2 band is not available to clients in all of the hardware in this family since that is the case with all Orbi (home) I’ve tested. The only SXK I’ve reviewed was the dual-band version.