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Item#: N82E16833122611

NETGEAR R8000-100NAS Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-Band Gigabit Wireless Router

  • Fastest speed available - up to 3.2Gbps
  • Tri-Band Wi-Fi
  • 6 high performance antennas
  • Smart Connect: separate Wi-Fi bands for slower and faster devices
  • 1GHz dual core processor,3 offload processors
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Nighthawk X6

NetGear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router

More Wi-Fi to More Devices

The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Router with Tri-Band Wi-Fi delivers the fastest combined Wi-Fi speeds - up to 3.2Gbps - with six high performance antennas for maximum range

Nighthawk X6 at a Glance

  • 3.2Gbps - The fastest combined Wi-Fi speed for uninterrupted streaming
  • Tri-Band Wi-Fi delivers more Wi-Fi to more devices
  • Six high performance antennas and powerful amplifiers deliver maximum range throughout your home
  • 1GHz dual core processor with three offload processors to boost performance
  • Smart Connect intelligently selects best Wi-Fi for every device
  • Implicit & explicit beamforming+ focuses Wi-Fi signals & delivers stronger connections for all your mobile devices
  • USB 3.0 port delivers high-speed storage access
  • Free ReadySHARE Vault app provides automatic backup for Windows PCs directly to connected USB storage devices
  • NetGear Genie - Easy install and personal dashboard to monitor, control & repair your home network

Nighthawk X6

Gaming

  • 1GHz dual core processor delivers lag-free gaming
  • Tri-Band Wi-Fi avoids interference & optimizes network performance
  • Six high performance antennas & powerful amplifiers maximize range
  • Beamforming+ focuses Wi-Fi signals & delivers stronger connections
  • Secure remote access to your home network via VPN
  • Smart Connect intelligently selects best Wi-Fi for every device
  • Open Source support on MyOpenRouter forums

Nighthawk X6

Streaming

  • 3.2Gbps - The fastest combined Wi-Fi speed for uninterrupted streaming
  • Tri-Band Wi-Fi provides more bandwidth for multiple HD streams
  • Connect a USB storage device to store & stream your own media
  • Free Parental Controls for a safe, & easy way to manage online browsing
  • Find & play stored media on TVs & game consoles
  • Play music on Airplay compatible devices using iTunes or Apple Remote
  • Free PC software automatically backs up files to a connected USB drive

Nighthawk X6

Mobile

  • Tri-Band Wi-Fi provides more Wi-Fi bands to get the best connection
  • Smart-Connect selects the fastest Wi-Fi connection for each device
  • Beamforming+ focuses Wi-Fi signals for more reliable connections
  • NetGear genie makes any printer AirPrint compatible
  • Turbo Transfer allows sharing of files between PC, Mac or Android devices
  • EZ Mobile Connect - Scan a QR code & connect to Wi-Fi securely
  • Use the NetGear genie App on your smartphone to find & play media files

Nighthawk X6

Smart-Connect: Get the Fastest Wi-Fi Speeds on Every Device

  • Automatically connects slower and faster devices in separate Wi-Fi network.
  • Load balances to ensure both 5GHz Wi-Fi networks are utilized.

Features & Benefits

Speed

Features

3.2Gbps – The fastest combined Wi-Fi speed for uninterrupted streaming

Features

Tri-Band Wi-Fi – Up to 600 + 1300 + 1300MBps

Features

GIGABIT Wi-Fi – Next-generation Wi-Fi now at Gigabit speeds

Features

Gigabit Wired - Ideal for HD gaming & video

Wi-Fi Range

Features

Ultimate Range – Wi-Fi coverage throughout very large homes

Features

Antennas – High-powered amplifiers and six high performance antennas

Sharing

Features

DLNA – Find & play your media on DLNA TVs & game consoles

Features

Readyshare USB Access – Wirelessly access & share USB hard drive & printer via two USB ports

Features

One SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Port – Up to 10x faster than USB 2.0

Features

ReadyShare Printer – Wirelessly access & share a USB printer

Features

ReadyShare Vault – Free software for automatic PC backup to a USB hard drive connected to the router

Features

iTunes Compatible – Play your USB-stored music using AirPlay or Apple Remote

Reliable Connections

Features

Simultaneous Tri-Band – Reduces interference for better connection to more Wi-Fi devices

Features

Beamforming+ – Boosts speed, reliability, & range of Wi-Fi connections for 2.4 & 5GHz

Ease of Use

Features

Easy Install – Easy setup for iPad, tablets, smartphones & computers

Features

NetGear Genie App – Personal dashboard to monitor, control & repair your home network

Features

Push n' Connect – Easy push button Wi-Fi connections (WPS)

Features

Wi-Fi & Power On/Off – Convenient power savings

Security

Features

Parental Controls – Web site filtering for all your connected devices

Features

Guest Network Access – Separate & secure access for guests

Features

Secure Wi-Fi Connections – Highest level wireless security with WPA/WPA2

Features

Open Source Support – Download open source firmware from MyOpenRouter forums

Features

Personal FTP Server – Customized free URL to create FTP server

Choose the Wireless Router that Best Fits Your Needs

R6300 Nighthawk Nighthawk X6
Specifications  
Combined Wi-Fi Speeds 1750Mbps 1900Mbps 3200Mbps
Wi-Fi Bands 2 2 3
Speeds per Band 450 + 1300 600 + 1300 600 + 1300 + 1300
Range Better Best Ultimate
Processor Speeds Dual Core 800MHZ Dual Core 1GHz Dual Core 1GHz
With 3 offload processors
Number of Antennas 3 (internal) 3 (external) 6 (external)
NetGear Genie
Guest Networks
Live Parental Controls
Broadband Usage Meter
Sharing  
USB Storage Access Speed Better Best Ultimate
USB Ports 1 USB 2.0 + 1 USB 3.0 1 USB 2.0 + 1 USB 3.0 1 USB 2.0 + 1 USB 3.0
DLNA
iTunes Compatible
ReadySHARE USB
ReadySHARE Printer
ReadySHARE Vault – PC Backup Software
Reliable Connections  
Wi-Fi Load Balancing
Smart Connect
Implicit Beamforming (2.4 & 5GHZ)
Explicit Beamforming (5GHz)
Advanced Features  
Open Source Support (From MyOpenRouter Forums)
EZ Mobile Connect
Dynamic DNS Support
Personal FTP Server
VPN Support
app

NetGear Genie App

  • Home network manager
  • Makes any printer AirPrint compatible to print from an iPad or iPhone
  • My Media - Find and play media files in your network
  • EZ Mobile connect - Scan QR code to connect to your home network
  • Turbo-Transfer - Quickly transfer files within your home network across various devices 40% faster than normal file transfers
  • For PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, & Android devices

Nighthawk X6 Specifications

Technical Specifications

  • Model # R8000-100NAS
  • Simultaneous Tri-Band Wi-Fi -Tx/Rx 3 x 3 (2.4GHz) + 3 x 3 (5GHz) + 3 x 3 (5GHz)
  • Smart Connect intelligently selects the fastest Wi-Fi for every device
  • Six (6) high performance external antennas
  • High power amplifiers
  • Implicit & Explicit Beamforming for 2.4 & 5GHz
  • Powerful Dual-Core 1GHz processor
  • Five (5) 10/100/1000MBps Gigabit Ethernet ports - 1 WAN & 4 LAN
  • Memory: 128MB Flash and 256MB RAM
  • Two (2) USB ports : 1 USB 3.0 & 1 USB 2.0 port
  • ReadySHARE USB to share your USB hard drive & printer
  • IPv6 Support (Internet Protocol Version 6)
  • On/Off LED light switch - VPN Support- secure remote access

Package Contents

  • R8000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router
  • Ethernet Cable
  • Power Adapter
  • Quick Install Guide

Minimum System Requirements

  • Microsoft 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, or Linux
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, Firefox 2.0, Safari 1.4, or Google Chrome 11.0 browsers or higher

Learn more about the Netgear Inc. R8000-100NAS

Quick Info

Warranty

  • Limited Warranty period (parts): 1 year
  • Limited Warranty period (labor): 1 year


Customer Reviews of the Netgear Inc. R8000-100NAS

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  • George F.
  • 10/22/2014 1:29:34 PM
  • Tech Level: Somewhat High
  • Ownership: 1 week to 1 month
  • Verified Owner

5 out of 5 eggsBest Router I've Ever Had

Pros: Separate Channels, Great bandwidth, long range, fits my needs perfectly. Looks great.

Cons: Price is very steep. Wife about killed me.

Other Thoughts: For those that don't know, this router uses 3 separate channels. As a non-cable/satilite user it fits all my needs.

I have my Roku 3's X3 running on one 5ghz channel with a Tablo to pick up my local channels. The Tablo is connected via an Ethernet cable and has a 2TB hard drive conected to it.

I use the second 5ghz channel for my tablets, and lap tops.

I use the 2.4ghz for our phones and Wii.

I have a 5TB NAS media server (hard drive) conected to the USB 3.0 port, and a 2TB hard drive connected to the USB 2.0 as a computer back up.

For those that just don't understand, this router will not increase your internet speed. It will stay the same as whatever you are purchasing from your provider.

That being said, if you run a plex server, store over the air TV, or use lots of device to device streaming, then this is the router to beat.

I find the 2.4ghz range is much further than my old router. The 5ghz channels are at full bars throughout my home. (2000 sq ft single floor) Router is in bedroom closet where our "smart box" is located. I did not place this router in the center of the house.

I have lots of in house storage, and stream a ton, to many devices at the same time. This router is actually slowed down by the max speed of my hard drives, not by wireless bandwidth.

I find it to be the best router for my needs.

I have not had any problems with the 2.4ghz channel dropping, as some have stated.

Firmware seems fine, have not tried the parental controls yet though.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No

  • Jared F.
  • 10/15/2014 12:44:22 PM
  • Tech Level: Somewhat High
  • Ownership: 1 week to 1 month
  • Verified Owner

2 out of 5 eggsTop of the Line Router with Unreliable Wifi, Considering Returning

Pros: Blazing fast ethernet, outstanding signal strength and range, feature rich.

Cons: Bad, inconsistent wifi download speed on both bands.
Expensive.

Other Thoughts: Blazing fast ethernet, outstanding signal strength and range. Bad wifi download speed. What is the deal Netgear?

I have a 125mbps / 12mbps connection. That is the exact internet speed I am getting when wired to the Nighthawk via CAT6 ethernet. But on all of my wifi devices I am getting a range of terrible <2mbps d/l speed ranging up to around 10mbps. Upload speed remains good, around 10mbps. These results are occurring in the SAME ROOM including 2.5Ghz and 5Ghz bands on various channels. These are modern devices including the Samsung Galaxy 5, a new iPad, a 2013 laptop, various N and some G devices, all experiencing poor wifi download.

Here are things I tried that DID NOT work to fix the problem:

Restart the router
Disable WMM QoS
Change DNS to Google Public DNS
Disable/ Enable Smart Connect
Disable/Enable Implicit BEAMFORMING

I finally decided to reset the router to factory settings, back to an older firmware version. This DID seem to improve wifi performance a little (from about 2mbps down to 10mbps).

Then I randomly decided to test the guest network speed. The GUEST network was much faster than the main networks, around 50mbps download. So now I AM SERIOUSLY USING THE GUEST NETWORK feature on my high-end router just to get decent wifi...

Based on other user reviews, either many units are shipping defective, OR they this model is simply unreliable and requires major support to work as advertised.

WTH Netgear?

Manufacturer Response:

Hi there,

First of all, we thank you for your honest and thorough review, and for posting your troubleshooting steps. We'd like to get to the bottom of the poor speeds and reliability issues you're having; we stand behind the R8000 and want to get things working for you as soon as possible.

Please get in touch with us at newegg@netgear.com and also provide a copy/paste of this review (as you include helpful troubleshooting info for our engineers) and we'll contact you directly.

Regards,

NETGEAR Team

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No

5 out of 5 eggsRange and Speed that's unbeatable

Pros: I gave this device a little while longer before giving my review in order to fully put it through it's paces and I can now safely say that I am blown away by this router!

Design:
Out of the box, this Nighthawk looks like a robot alien from a science fiction movie, and that's a good thing! (In my opinion) I love the fact that it features 6 external antennas. One of my biggest gripes over the last few years has been the use of internal antennas. Perhaps it is all my imagination, but I've always felt that external antennas had much better range and performance.

Setup:
Setup was straight-forward. I loved the menus and options available. Much better than the recent EA series of Linksys routers which hide all the advanced options. As an advanced user, I loved being able to get in and configure QoS, port forwarding, etc. with a breeze.

Range:
Range is extraordinary! My old router would barely reach the master bedroom from the game room (2 story house, opposite side of the house). I would get 1 or two bars of signal if lucky. This Nighthawk X6 gets a solid 4 out of 5 signal bars at the same locations and that is through 3+ walls! While mowing outside, I now get signal across the entire yard which is a good 100' away from the router at the edges. This enables me to listen to music on my phone while I mow without any interruption (using a streaming service).

Speed:
Gigabit LAN is solid, as is most routers. I had no problem getting full internet bandwidth speeds at all locations via WiFi or LAN. Using multiple devices streaming content both locally and from Netflix or Hulu, and while playing Xbox Live and I had absolutely no slowdown or lag. Granted this type of stress is dependent on your internet speeds as well, but I have had other lesser routers start to slow to a crawl with so many active devices, even though my internet speeds were not being taxed. I had no problem streaming HD movies from my attached hard drive via USB 3.0 to multiple TV's at the same time.

Cons: Only a minor thing, barely worth mentioning, but if you like using open source router firmware, this unit is currently not supported. I believe this will likely be fixed soon, as the previous Nighthawk routers did support them.

Other Thoughts: While others have mentioned received a bad unit, this is unfortunately expected in the realm of wireless routers. I've been purchasing routers for 10+ years now and it is always a bit of a gamble. No matter how good a router may be, you still seem to have a 20% chance of finding one that at least has disconnect issues or some other minor but annoying ailment.

My unit has been superb!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No

2 out of 5 eggsMust Have Got A Dud

Pros: Let me begin this review by saying that I was initially excited to receive this router for an EggXpert review. I had two other routers I'd reviewed before but this Netgear seems to be the latest and greatest and two of my friends have the older Nighthawk routers and love them. I will, unfortunately, for the very first time be writing most of this review down in the "cons" section.

This router has a ton of options. Set up seems pretty easy. There is a switch on the back to turn off the LED lights if they are too bright. This wasn't mentioned that I saw in the set up guide I used so I felt somewhat stupid when support told me about the switch on the back for the LEDs. The call to support was mostly to test how well the company backed their product so I only felt slightly stupid.

The plug. For JOY the plug! It does not have a giant brick on the end that takes up two or more outlets!! It is just a standard plug on the end that fits gloriously into any spot on my UPS.

Cons: The router I have experiences intermittent connectivity issues. When I called support the person I talked to seemed very nice but after addressing the LED issue he talked to me very slowly and carefully like I was a moron. Believe me I would have felt like one if I'd have called about the LED issue as a paying customer instead of a reviewer. I am nitpicking here, I know, as again the tech support guy was very nice and helpful. Unfortunately Netgear's policies cripple the support aspect.

I know what I'm doing when it comes to hardware and setting up networks...even if I can't be bothered to read a manual to find information about an LED on/off switch, believe me I really do. My old router never disconnected on me and I am using the EXACT same wiring and other hardware. It seems this router is just faulty. It will just freeze. No response from the router when trying to access it from the router's setup and management page, no activity on the lights, and the modem reads that there is no activity. I've tried different cables, then the same old ones again, different UPS devices, my old modem instead of the current one...and there is only one constant when the problem occurs: the Nighthawk router.

The first question asked by support was "What is the brand of your modem?" I was waiting for this question...the attempt to blame it on my modem. I responded "Netgear". There was a bit of stammering and I had a good chuckle. I was then told that I needed to call when the router was experiencing the problem so that they can help me adjust my settings. I wasn't asked about my settings or walked through any steps to adjust the router. I was also informed that this router only comes with 90 days of free technical assistance and a 1 year warranty.

It's a THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR router! There are routers 1/3 the price of this router that have the same settings, do the same job, have the same range/signal strength (without looking like some evil alien bug that wants to attach to my face and lay eggs in my throat) and have support that continues without a ceiling placed upon it. I was stunned about the 90-day thing. 1 Year on a warranty is pretty much standard...but only 90 days of assistance? I suppose it makes sense that this router's target consumer base are people who would never need technical assistance to begin with...but I guess that's what I'm here for; to review this item to identify flaws and help different users decide whether this is the product for them. Basically, if you are only buying a wireless router for your average run-of-the-mill home network then don't buy this one.

Other Thoughts: It's unfortunate this router wound up being wonky. I've played with the settings and turned different features on and off, I've connected only one device with wireless both on and off, wireless only with no devices connected except the modem and it's just...broken. Support is sub-par considering the price of this monstrosity.

It is fortunate for me that I didn't pay anything for this router and couldn't care less about it being non-functional. I will pitch it in the recycle pile for electronic devices and go back to my old device. If I'd have paid $300 for this thing I would be far less jovial.

Looks like it's back to my other non-Netgear router!

Manufacturer Response:

Hi Logan,

We stand behind the R8000, and our engineers have some specific questions for you to start the troubleshooting process:

- Is the issue that wireless devices drop the Wi-Fi connections to the R8000? Or that they are losing Internet access but stay connected to the R8000’s SSIDs?

- Which R8000 firmware versionis installed on the router? Did you upgrade to the latest version V1.0.0.102 which has improved the stability compared to the previous versions?

We also want to clarify that we offer 90 days of free phone support, and email support for the life of the warranty.

We're looking forward to helping out and invite you to contact us directly at newegg@netgear.com.

Regards,

NETGEAR Team

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No

  • Brian G.
  • 10/12/2014 10:37:06 AM
  • Tech Level: High
  • Ownership: 1 week to 1 month
  • Verified Owner

4 out of 5 eggsDecent if you have a lot of wireless devices

Pros: - 3 radios
- 1300 Mbs for 2 5Ghz and 600 for 3.5 Ghz ( remember this gets shared)
- Easy setup.
- Integration with OpenDNS
- Decent parental controls

Cons: - Software still seems adolescent. I had to use the Beta to get this to be stable with my MSI laptop and there has not been an update for a few months.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No

5 out of 5 eggsAnother excellent Netgear router

Pros: Not much to say about the packaging. It’s simple yet sufficient.

I like the router’s styling; sleek black, sharp, with a liberal application of LEDs. While minimizing the use of high gloss plastic, using it only somewhere you won’t be touching (the LED area).

The build quality of the router and its accessories is very good. The plastic is a bit stiff for my liking, but it still has a good feel to it. Recessed from the main housing of the router is another plastic housing which has been thoroughly perforated to help dissipate heat. All of the ports on the router keep my cables plugged in tight. As mentioned, the included Ethernet cable and power adapter are both top notch, the power cable is even grounded. The router also features points for wall mounting, even though it doesn’t appear to be mentioned anywhere, and doesn’t include the necessary hardware.

Setting the router up was very easy. The included instructions are specific, leaving no room to get lost. I was able to follow the directions to the letter, and it worked exactly at the point the instructions said it would. The installation is so easy in fact, I spent more time clearing out my old router and rearranging wires and devices, than I actually spent setting up this one. The documentation is even kind enough to remind you to check for firmware updates.

Overall, I would say the manual is not only detailed, but user friendly. The first thing you see when you open the manual is a QR code which will send you directly to a video showing you how to set up the router as well as some common first run tasks. Beyond that, anything which the manual does not explain in full detail, will inform you that more detailed instructions can be found in the online manual. The online manual itself is insanely detailed, much more than a typical user would ever need to know.

Something much improved from when I last used it is the Windows Netgear genie app. Mostly gone is the redundancy, and instead the focus has shifted to support and advanced router functionality. Honestly, the genie app does what the settings manager tried to do but failed at, which is present a simple user interface through which common router tasks and advanced features can be easily performed and managed.

Networking a USB storage device through the router is a very simple task, which if all you want is basic network storage, starts and stops at plugging a storage device into the router. By using the advanced settings, you can configure the router to make your device accessible through the internet using either HTTPS or FTP (still quite easy to do). An advanced branch of this is the ability to use Netgear’s own backup software to back up your data across your home network. I found that program simple to use without the omission of important options such as backup frequency, default and advanced backups, and robust restoration options, and some others.

There are more good things to say, but I don’t have the space!

Cons: The router features a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 port. I understand (hopefully) why they chose to do this; for compatibility, rather than being cheap. However, USB3.0 compatibility problems weren’t even that common when it was brand new, and they’ve only decreased in the intervening years. Basically, what I’m saying is, at this price point, why not just ditch 2.0 and give us 2x 3.0?

I feel this is truly grasping at straws (this is a very good router if you haven’t figured out yet) but this thing is insanely large. If space is at a premium, you may well find yourself having to do that rearrangement of your electronics you’ve been procrastinating. Possibly further exacerbating this problem is Netgear’s choice to use a power adapter –power cable arrangement, rather than an all in one solution. So, again, if your wire management is problematic, and you need every inch of cable you can get, you’d best find a place to set the adapter or start moving devices and rearranging wires.
If there was one thing I really would have loved to see above all else, it was a redesigned settings manager. It works, it works great even, but the layout makes no sense, for several reasons. First, when opening the settings manager, the view defaults to basic view, and advanced is under a different tab. I always open the manager and go straight to advanced because everything you can do in the basic view, can be done in the advanced view, with more options, so firstly, we have redundancy. Second is there are some settings listed as basic, which are certainly not basic, same with advanced, things like port forwarding are listed under “Advanced Setup”, in the advanced tab. Port forwarding is a very common task with routers, so much so, that Netgear was kind enough to make the job a little bit easier by letting you radio button select the device you want to forward to. Apparently doing that wasn’t even enough to make them reconsider their classification of it. The last one is that if you were to get used to the basic view, and one day needed to venture into the advanced settings, expect to do some clicking around, because everything gets a different name! Even the nested menus don’t share their names with the EXACT same menus you can find in the basic view.

Alright, this is seriously the biggest con: the warranty. One year? On a $300 router? Come on Netgear, stand by your product.

BENCHMARKS (Ran out of space in thoughts)

I chose to benchmark this router’s wireless signal, because realistically, it’s the only thing that should have changed between my routers. I used WirelessMon by PassMark to take these readings. They’re all averaged over 10 minutes of readings. Think of the percentage as the percentage of the theoretical maximum signal strength

Old
Range: <5ft Signal Strength: 67%
Range: <20ft Signal Strength: 45%
Range: >100ft Signal Strength: 11%

New
Range: <5ft Signal Strength: 91%
Range: <20ft Signal Strength: 65%
Range: >100ft Signal Strength: 38%

Other Thoughts: The router appears to be held together with hex-head screws and internal plastic clips, so disassembly shouldn’t be too hard if you find yourself having to do that.

Despite the size of the router being somewhat problematic, it’s an improvement over my previous (Netgear) router, in that it’s very stable.

Aside from my gripe with the settings manager’s layout, it didn’t leave me wanting for more options. Like I said, it does work, it even has some built in documentation for quick reference.

I gave the genie app praise, but I still think it could use some more features. For starters, the ability to port forward through the app would be nice. Also, incorporating the various programs this router can use would help cut down on bloat as well as help to create a more unified styling to make navigation and use that much easier. For instance, if I was able to utilize a printer networked through the router just through the genie software, I might have bothered to test that feature.

If you’re running a dual router setup, as smart as the settings manager is, it simply won’t understand your network architecture. So if you want to be able to access your home network over the internet and choose to utilize the router’s inbuilt ability to do so, you’re going to need to forward the pertinent ports on your FIRST router, and access your network using your actual external IP address, instead of the one that Netgear tells you to use. Also, I’ll toss this tip in because it caused me so much pain; if you’ve tried forwarding ports in the past, and have always failed, find a utility to detect if you’re running a dual router setup. From there consult your ISP’s FAQ on how to access the router (I’m assuming that if you didn’t already know, it’s probably something your ISP does). In my case, my modem doubles as a router, and I was never told, I just received a new modem one day (Comcast Xfinity).

Overall, I very much like this router. The law of diminishing returns takes its toll, you could certainly choose to spend half as much and get a very similar feature list with very similar performance, but I would classify this as an enthusiast level router. Something that if you have the money, and you want a router this powerful, you wouldn’t hesitate to buy. Feature rich, well built, easy to setup, and backed up by excellent firmware/software. The cons I listed were overall quite minor (except the warranty, seriously, get on this Netgear), and were completely offset by what’s good about this router. As I hinted above, this is definitely not a router for everybody. My recommendation for this router would either be to the enthusiast, or perhaps a group of potential users who could split the cost while making the most of it.

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  • Ryan M.
  • 10/11/2014 2:08:18 PM
  • Tech Level: High
  • Ownership: 1 month to 1 year
  • Verified Owner

5 out of 5 eggsBest. Router. Ever.

Pros: Fast and reliable.
Looks sweet.
TONS of options in the firmware.

Cons: Cost.

Other Thoughts: I upgraded my other devices to be compatible with 5 GHz wireless as well so I could completely shut off the 2.4 GHz band. Speeds are incredible and there is no interference with my other wireless devices.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes No

  • Karen S.
  • 10/8/2014 10:44:08 AM
  • Tech Level: High
  • Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

5 out of 5 eggsOverall A Very Impressive Router

Pros: Setup was very easy following the guide which came with the router. In a few minutes I was up and running with a DHCP configuration for Internet, which is the most commonly used method of connecting to a residential ISP.

The wireless setup features your typical options, you can set up a different SSID and security key\security options for your SSID's. As a tri-band router, you can configure 3 separate networks - a 2.4GHz network and two 5GHz networks.

Additionally, you can configure 3 separate guest networks with either no security or different security keys. This is ideal for people visiting your house, if you want to give them a temporary password for the wireless which you will change later, and then you don't have to change the WPA key on all of your personal devices as a result of their visit. The guest networks also provide a checkbox for client isolation, to prevent the guest from accessing other resources on your network. This is ideal for untrusted guest computers who you just want to provide Internet access. All in all this router has the most comprehensive Guest Network settings I've seen in any default router firmware.

The "Attached Devices" page is a nice touch, instead of a typical router page showing all the DHCP leases, this shows you the IP, MAC, Hostname, and SSID if the computer is connected wirelessly. This is a great place to see all of your network users regardless of if they are connected wired or wirelessly.

The router supports Netgear's ReadySHARE, and with the back USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, you can connect hard drives and printers for use by machines on your network. This is a great solution for someone who doesn't have a home server dedicated to these tasks.

Tucked away on the Advanced tab is a feature called Traffic Meter. This feature allows you to set a monthly bandwidth limit in Megabytes, send you a notification when the usage reaches a certain threshold, and even disconnect the Internet connection when the usage limit is reached. While I personally abhor the idea of Internet usage limits, this feature is nice for anyone who is having to live under the tyrrany of a usage cap from their greedy ISP.

By far my favorite feature is the "VPN Service" tab hidden away under the Advanced tab. This router actually supports OpenVPN! I have never seen a router firmware other than custom firmware like DD-WRT which had this functionality. Props to Netgear for joining the post-Snowden encryption era and making it easy for anyone to run a secure VPN to access their home network from afar!

Cons: With the antenna array deployed, the router either looks really cool or really dorky. That depends on what came into your mind when I used the words “antenna array deployed”.

The router is much bulkier than I expected. It is at least twice the size of what I would consider normal for a wireless router. While it will sit comfortably on top of a normal ATX mid tower computer, it will hang off both sides…

The firmware is about what you’d expect on a Netgear router. With all the work they did on the exterior of this router, I would have expected a little more work put into the software.

Other Thoughts: Yes, this is a very nice router, but it would have to come down to a lower price point in order for me to be able to recommend it to anyone. I feel like for this price you could build a MiniITX computer and run your own router OS. This is the type of solution I have been doing at home for years, and it has worked very reliably for me in my very high traffic network.

That said, this router is the closest I’ve ever seen a consumer grade router come to my home network setup for overall performance and reliability.

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  • Michael P.
  • 10/6/2014 7:41:40 PM
  • Tech Level: High
  • Ownership: less than 1 day

5 out of 5 eggsGREAT ROUTER / ACCESS POINT

Pros: Easy set up, worked with my Verizon FIOS fibre-optic ethernet connection right out of the box. Fantastic and user-friendly GUI to work in. Lightning-fast wireless speed with multi-5ghz connections bonded together. Worked right out of the box.

Cons: Huge and expensive. So what? If you want the best, this is it.

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5 out of 5 eggsFinally, a router with all the features I want

Pros: I have owned several high end consumer routers and each one had problems or features missing that I wanted. This router has all the features I need and more.

Router was easy to setup. I used WPS to setup all my wireless devices. Everything connected without any problems. Wireless signal and speed are excellent. I have 4 wireless IP Security cameras and with every other router I have tried, I had stuttering in the video and audio when running all 4 cameras at highest setting. Not so with this router. With all 4 running at 30fps, I get a pop up message from Genie that says high network usage, but this router does not have any trouble handling traffic of all the cameras with 5 other PCs, a WiFi Bluray player, and television all connected.

This router has both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. The USB 3.0 was a welcome feature. If you have ever tried to use sharing through a router with a USB port, you pretty much know it is useless because USB 2.0 is slow. With USB 3.0 and an external hard drive, I was able to stream HD media to the television with no problems. If you want to share files with an outside user, but do not want them to have access to your network PCs or server, the Readyshare is a must have feature. You can share files using the Netgear Readyshare without giving away access to your network.

Another feature that many routers are missing that I consider a must have is Network traffic usage and monitoring. With the Netgear R8000-100NAS I can monitor usage, have it reset the counter each month at the beginning of my billing cycle, and display a warning when I am reaching my bandwidth limit for the month.

Robust security features include Parental Control, Block Services, and Device Access control.

Three separate bands for WiFi. Older devices can connect to 2.4GHz while new devices connect on two separate 5GHz bands. Range is exceptional. Normally, 5GHz is limited in range because of the higher frequency, but the 5GHz range on this router is the best I have seen. I am on the opposite end of the house on the second floor and I get a 100% signal strength. I have not had one wireless device disconnect since installing this router. I previously had a higher end other brand dual band router and experienced frequent disconnects with my IP cameras.

With the USB ports, Readyshare allows you to share printers and external USB drives. Readyshare Vault will allow you to do perform automatic backups to the external drive.

Built-in FTP server to access your Readyshare device from anywhere.

With the dual-core processor and three offload processor, this router has not trouble handling any task. The web interface is filled with features and works flawlessly. There was no hesitation in the menu selection or screens loading as seen in many routers.

Built in VPN. This is a feature not normally found in consumer routers. You have full secure access to your home network from anywhere.

Cons: Price is a little steep for a consumer router, but I don't consider the price steep for this router.

Other Thoughts: I have replaced my router at least 8 times in the past 2 years. Each time, I found something I did not like with the router or there was a feature missing. These were not low end routers, they were all higher end dual band routers. This is the first router where I do not have any complaints. So far, I have not found any faults with this router and all the features I have wanted in a router are in this router.

When you look at the price, it definitely seems a little high when you can get a dual band home router under $50. But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for and what you are paying for in this router is definitely worth it. I have worked with small business routers and high end wireless access points and I can tell you this router is suitable in both a home and small business. I had a gigabit switch in my house with the previous routers because even with gigabit ports on those routers, the performance was subpar. With this router the gigabit wired connections perform just as well or better than the switch.

If you are looking for a high end router that does what it is advertised to do, you should check out all the features of the R8000 on the Netgear site and then make your decision. Bottom line is I don't believe I will be replacing my router anytime soon. I finally find a router that does what I need and want it to do.

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