Tired of the Freebox Ultra's disastrous network, I tested the Orbi 970 system and its Wi-Fi 7

© Robin Sabbadini for Presse-citron

The Freebox Ultra was supposed to revolutionize our home internet experience. If that is the case with the Ethernet connection, it is quite the opposite with Wi-Fi.

Many users, including myself, quickly found themselves faced with a disappointing reality: a capricious Wi-Fi network, speeds that plummet as soon as you move away from the box and a 2.4 GHz band that prevents you from connecting your home devices to it.

It is in this context that I decided to test the Netgear Orbi 970 mesh system, the spearhead of the new Wi-Fi 7 standard. My goal? To check whether this high-end device could really compensate for the shortcomings of the Freebox, offer a stable and efficient connection, but also ideally replace an Ethernet cable on a desktop PC.

© Robin Sabbadini for Presse-citron

Right out of the box, one thing is certain: the Orbi 970 does not go unnoticed. With its 30 cm height and its futuristic design mixing metallic gold and satin white, it will be necessary to find the ideal location so that it can do its job properly.

But let's not stop at appearances. What really matters is what's hidden under the hood. And there, the Orbi 970 is tough. We find a quad-band system with frequencies in 2.4 GHz, two in 5 GHz and one in 6 GHz. The theoretical speeds are stratospheric, reaching up to 27 Gbps. It’s all powered by a 2.6GHz quad-core processor, backed by 2GB of RAM and 1GB of flash memory.

In short, on paper, it’s the Rolls-Royce of Wi-Fi routers 7. But do these impressive specs actually translate into a tangible improvement in everyday life ?

© Robin Sabbadini for Presse-citron

Contrary to what its intimidating technical specifications might suggest, the Orbi 970 plays the simplicity card for its installation. Gone are the days when configuring a router was an obstacle course. Here, everything is done via the Orbi mobile app, available on iOS and Android.

The process takes place in a few steps. First, plug the main router into the box. Then, download the application and scan the QR code on the device. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to create the network.

Finally , place the satellites in strategic locations around the home. The whole thing takes about 15 minutes, the time for the system to automatically optimize the connections between the different modules. A piece of cake then.

Let's get to the heart of the matter with performance. To put the Orbi 970 to the test, I carried out a battery of tests in my 100 m² house spread over two floors. The objective ? To compare the speeds obtained with the Freebox Ultra and those offered by the Orbi system, which here includes the router and a satellite.

First observation : where the signal strength and therefore the speeds of the Freebox Ultra were catastrophic, the Orbi 970 maintains high and stable speeds in all rooms. Even in the garden, about twenty meters from the router, the connection remains solid.

I chose to perform speed tests in the office located on the first floor. Let's start with those performed on a desktop PC equipped with an Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 network card. For this, I installed Windows 24H2, which is now fully compatible with Wi-Fi 7.

Speedtest Wi-Fi 7 Freebox Ultra Desktop PC © Presse-citron

Speedtest Wi-Fi 7 Orbi Desktop PC © Presse-citron

While the speed tests aren't that impressive on the Orbi, it's important to compare them to those of the Freebox Ultra as well as in a concrete usage scenario. The difference between the Freebox and the Orbi is not comparable. The signal strength of the box being too weak between the office and the living room where it is located.

Red Dead Redemption 2 download test on Wi-Fi 7 with the Freebox Ultra © Presse-citron ©

Red Dead Redemption 2 download test in Wi-Fi 7 with the Orbi 970 © Presse-citron

Counter Strike 2 download test in Wi-Fi 7 with the Freebox Ultra © Presse-citron

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Counter Strike 2 download test in Wi-Fi 7 with the Orbi 970 © Presse-citron

Here, the satellite placed in the office is saving grace, the speeds offered by the Freebox being impractical. Concretely, the captures showing the downloading of Counter Strike 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 show the full interest in having of the Orbi system in a desktop PC configuration in Wi-Fi 7.

Here, the difference with the results in Ethernet is very weak. Since the servers of most of these kinds of services are capped, it is possible to enjoy maximum speeds by connecting to Wi-Fi 7 offered by the Orbi 970. No more need to do any work to run an Ethernet cable between a box and a desktop PC.

Speedtest Wi-Fi 7 Xiaomi 13 Ultra with the Freebox Ultra © Presse-citron

Speedtest Wi-Fi 7 Xiaomi 13 Ultra with the Orbi 970 © Presse-citron

Speed ​​tests carried out with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra compatible with Wi-Fi 7 also reveal the full extent of the superiority of the Orbi network.

The Wi-Fi 7 brings major improvements. MLO (Multi-Link Operation) allows multiple frequency bands to be used simultaneously, optimizing throughput and stability.

The ultra-wide 320 MHz channels significantly increase the available bandwidth, and therefore the number of devices that can have intensive and simultaneous use of the Net while enjoying an excellent experience.

© Presse-citron

While the Freebox Ultra struggles to properly manage devices using the 2.4 GHz band such as doorbells, thermostats, robot vacuum cleaners and many others, the Orbi 970 excels in this domain.

The system automatically creates an IoT network(Internet of Things) dedicated, optimized for these devices. Result: the installation and management of connected objects becomes child's play. No more untimely disconnections of the robot vacuum cleaner or the surveillance camera.

This feature is particularly appreciable for users who have invested in a complete home automation ecosystem. The Orbi 970 plays its role of conductor perfectly, ensuring smooth communication between all devices.

© Netgear

Netgear didn't just focus on raw performance. The Orbi 970 also includes an arsenal of security and parental control features.

The Netgear Armor service, included free for one year, offers complete protection against online threats. It analyzes traffic in real time to detect suspicious activity, blocks malicious sites and phishing attempts, and protects against DDoS attacks.

On the parental control side, the options are numerous and easily configurable via the application. You can create profiles for each member of the family, filter content by category (violence, adult, social networks, etc.), define time slots for internet use, and consult detailed activity reports.

These features provide real added value for families concerned about protecting their children online. We will obviously regret that after this free year, the service requires 99 euros more per year.

It is impossible to talk about the Orbi 970 without addressing its price. With a price of around €1,700 for a router + satellite pack, it is an investment that obviously makes you think twice.

So, is this high-end system really worth its weight in gold?? The answer depends on your needs and your configuration. If you live in a large home with thick walls and you have multiple connected devices, the Orbi 970 will provide undeniable comfort of use, almost essential given the place that the Internet has in a home. For tech enthusiasts looking to take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7, this is currently one of the best options on the market.

On the other hand, if you live in a small apartment or have modest connectivity needs, other more affordable solutions may suffice.

The interest here is to be able to take advantage of the best on the market, while having a turnkey solution for people with non-standard housing. With Wi-Fi 7 still in its infancy, having an Orbi 970 system means ensuring that you have the best network for many years to come.

© Robin Sabbadini for Presse-citron

After a month of intensive use, the observation is clear: The Orbi 970 delivers on its promises of performance and coverage. It outperforms the Freebox Ultra in every way, delivering a near-perfect Wi-Fi experience.

Ultimately, the Orbi 970 is aimed primarily at demanding users who are willing to invest in getting the best of today's Wi-Fi. If this is the case for you and the limitations of the Freebox Ultra frustrate you on a daily basis, this system can revolutionize your home network.

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