Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
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Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 1 |
Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 1 |
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NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 Smart Wi-Fi Router (R8000) - AC3200 Tri-band Wireless Speed (Up to 3200 Mbps) | Up to 3500 Sq Ft Coverage & 50 Devices | 4 x 1G Ethernet and 2 USB ports | Armor Security
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Brand | NETGEAR |
Model Name | R8000-100NAS |
Special Feature | Internet Security |
Frequency Band Class | Tri-Band |
Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11ac |
Compatible Devices | Phone, Mac, PC, Wireless Devices, Media Streaming Devices, Laptops, Computers, Tablets |
Frequency | 5 GHz |
Recommended Uses For Product | Security |
Included Components | Computer Peripherals^Routers^Network Routers^ |
Connectivity Technology | WiFi |
About this item
- Recommended for up to 50 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices.
- Wired Ethernet ports: plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1 gigabit Ethernet ports.
- Loaded with advanced technology: Designed with a 1GHz dual core processor, 6 amplified antennas, Beamforming+, Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect, Amazon Alexa Voice Controls, and more.
- USB connections: Share a storage drive and printer with any connected device, and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere, using the 1x3.0 and 1x2.0 USB ports.
- NETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices with a 30-day free trial.
- NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls promotes healthy Internet habits, fosters responsibility and builds trust with your kids (30-day free trial included).
- Safe & secure: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest WiFi access, DOS, Firewall, VPN, and more.
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Important information
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I am not a Netgear authorized reseller. Netgear may not honor original warranty.
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This Item NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 Smart Wi-Fi Router (R8000) - AC3200 Tri-band Wireless Speed (Up to 3200 Mbps) | Up to 3500 Sq Ft Coverage & 50 Devices | 4 x 1G Ethernet and 2 USB ports | Armor Security | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | |
Price | $79.99$79.99 | -45% $109.99$109.99 New Price: $199.99 | -30% $280.00$280.00 List: $399.99 | $319.99$319.99 | -10% $179.99$179.99 List: $199.99 | $167.00$167.00 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it Apr 2 - 8 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
WiFi signal | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
Tech Support | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.6 |
User interface | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | — | 4.0 |
Value for money | — | — | 3.6 | — | 4.3 | 3.6 |
Sold By | BestforLess Store ✓ (Serial# Recorded) | Woot | Amazon.com | Acute Tek (We Record SN) | Amazon.com | Verdi! |
connectivity tech | WiFi | Ethernet, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi Fi | ✅EDITORS‘ CHOICE | Wi-Fi |
number of ports | 4 | — | 5 | — | 5 | — |
data transfer rate | 3200 megabits per second | — | 7.8 gigabits per second | — | 5400 megabits per second | 1000 megabits per second |
wireless standard | 802 11 AC | — | 802 11 AX | — | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B | — |
frequency band class | tri band | dual band | tri band | tri band | tri band | tri band |
lan port bandwidth | — | — | — | 1.5 ghz | 10/100/1000 Mbps | 10/100/1000 megabits per second |
security protocol | WPA, WPA2 | WPA3 | WPA2-PSK, WPA3-PSK | — | WPA3, WPA2, WPA2-Enterprise | — |
From the manufacturer
Better Wi-Fi? We’ve got you covered.
Up to 3,500 sq. ft of powerful WiFi coverage
Easily upgrade your Wi-Fi experience and coverage with the Nighthawk R8000. Range-boosting Beamforming+ antennas and Tri-Band streaming deliver fast, reliable Wi-Fi to every corner of your home.
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Built for Heavy-Duty StreamingUp to 3200Mbps wireless speed for demanding activities like 4k Ultra-HD streaming and multi-player online gaming. |
Seamless WiFi for up to 50 DevicesIntelligently selects between three bands to minimize interference and maximize speed for your many smart wireless devices. |
Essential Internet Security & Smart Parental ControlsNETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices. Smart Parental Controls provide a safe, online experience for your kids. Both include a 30-day free trial. |
Four High-Speed 1G Wired ConnectionsGigabit Ports give you fast wired connections to your computer, game box and other devices. Two USB ports let you share a storage drive or printer across your network. |
R6900P | R7000P | R7800 | R8000 | R8000P | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars
17,096
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4.2 out of 5 stars
17,096
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4.4 out of 5 stars
7,610
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4.2 out of 5 stars
9,221
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4.2 out of 5 stars
17,096
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WiFi Speed | AC1900 (Up to 1900Mbps) | AC2300 (Up to 2300 Mbps) | AC2600 (Up to 2600Mbps) | AC3200 (Up to 3200Mbps) | AC4000 (Up to 4000Mbps) |
WiFi Coverage | Up to 1800 sq ft | Up to 2000 sq ft | Up to 2500 sq ft | Up to 3500 sq ft | Up to 3500 sq ft |
Recommended # of Devices | Up to 30 | Up to 35 | Up to 45 | Up to 50 | Up to 55 |
Wired Ethernet Ports | 4 x 1G | 4 x 1G | 4 x 1G | 4 x 1G | 4 x 1G, Supports 2G Port Aggregation |
USB ports - For Shared Storage/Printer | 1 x 3.0 | 1 x 3.0, 1 x 2.0 | 2 x 3.0, 1 x eSATA | 1 x 3.0, 1 x 2.0 | 1 x 3.0, 1 x 2.0 |
Network Security | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, DoS, Double Firewall | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, DoS, Double Firewall | WPA2, DoS, Double Firewall | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, DoS, Double Firewall | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, DoS, Double Firewall |
Advanced Technology | Dual Band, MU-MIMO, Beamforming+, Smart Connect | Dual Band, MU-MIMO, Beamforming+, Smart Connect | Dual Band, MU-MIMO, Beamforming+ | Tri-Band, Beamforming+, Smart Connect | Tri-Band, MU-MIMO, Beamforming+, Smart Connect |
Additional Features | NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls, Personal Cloud Storage, VPN, Guest WiFi Secure Access, Amazon Alexa Voice Control | NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls, Personal Cloud Storage, VPN, Guest WiFi Secure Access, Amazon Alexa Voice Control | Personal Cloud Storage, VPN, Guest WiFi Secure Access, Amazon Alexa Voice Control | NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls, Personal Cloud Storage, VPN, Guest WiFi Secure Access, Amazon Alexa Voice Control | NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls, Personal Cloud Storage, VPN, Guest WiFi Secure Access, Amazon Alexa Voice Control |
What's in the box
Product Description
The NETGEAR Nighthawk x6 AC3200 router, with breakthrough Tri-band WiFi delivers multiple bands for homes with many WiFi devices. Wifi speed up to 3.2Gbps and 6 high performance antennas provide maximum speed and range.The Smart connect allows you to game, stream, and download mega-sized files without lags provides an extensible design that enables Service prioritization for data. A Design that delivers high availability, scalability, and for maximum flexibility and price/performance. The country of Origin is China. WiFi Range - Very large homes.
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Product information
Technical Details
Brand | NETGEAR |
---|---|
Series | R8000-100NAS |
Item model number | R8000-100NAS |
Hardware Platform | PC |
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7, 8, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, Linux |
Item Weight | 1.03 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 2.14 x 11.54 x 8.92 inches |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 2.14 x 11.54 x 8.92 inches |
Color | Black |
Number of Processors | 1 |
Flash Memory Size | 128 |
Voltage | 100240 Volts |
Manufacturer | Netgear |
ASIN | B00KWHMR6G |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | June 25, 2014 |
Additional Information
Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
---|---|
Best Sellers Rank | #13,265 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories) #547 in Computer Routers |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
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Netgear NightHawk X6 AC3200 R8000 Setup and Test
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance, quality and ease of installation of the networking router. For example, they mention that it works well, is solid and reliable. Some appreciate the speed, saying that it has phenomenal speeds. That said, opinions are mixed on connectivity and value.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the performance of the router. For example, they mention it works well, is pleased with its performance, and is fantastically for video streaming and wireless computing. They appreciate the QOS option and say it works flawlessly with the USB3. Some say it's a lovely piece of hardware and never stops working or requires rebooting.
"...Specifically, the AC5300 now works FLAWLESSLY with the USB3 (my Drobo, external), and "wakes-up" 100 times faster than the older model, and..." Read more
"...Works perfectly so I guess I got that right. My old Mac loads almost like new on the 5ghz1. Difficult to reach cams, switches etc on the 2.4ghz...." Read more
"...Overall, the signal strength is really good, the performance is great, and the options are easier to work with and broader than any Router I've..." Read more
"...Amazon goofed and then made it good. The 1st replacement was a very well used unit, NOT refurbished, just very well used and dinged up in an open..." Read more
Customers like the quality of the networking router. They say it's a solid router with excellent reliability. Some customers also mention that the build quality, fit and finish are on par with what you'd expect. Overall, customers are satisfied with the performance and reliability of the product.
"...All of our woes are on the 5ghz portion. The 2.4ghz segment seems stable and solid. I put my daughter on that and no more issues for her...." Read more
"...FastLane is more stable - while the signal to the Extender may suffer from time to time, I'm not having to reboot the Extender on a regular..." Read more
"...It is solid and Netgear seems to be fixing problems and posting new firmware a lot faster than Linksys ever did...." Read more
"...1st replacement was a very well used unit, NOT refurbished, just very well used and dinged up in an open package...." Read more
Customers find the installation process of the networking router to be easy. They mention that the device is easy to set up, with a tried and true setup interface. The interface is easy for beginners to use, but it offers advanced settings for experienced users. Customers also mention that getting the router up and running was quick. They say that the router connects easily to their ASUS router and does the job it was meant to do.
"...The Nighthawk X6 was easy to set up as I anticipated working with Netgear Genie which I happen to like...." Read more
"...Set up was very easy...." Read more
"...It seems smooth but I'm using 2.4ghz for that. I believe the signal strength is now on par with the R7000 as well...." Read more
"...you'll love the fact that not only is DHCP reservation fairly easy to put together, and all the granular controls you'd expect on a router..." Read more
Customers like the speed of the router. They mention that it's phenomenal, super fast, and has high throughput. They also say that it runs smoothly and has good high-speed connectivity all over the house. Customers also say the download speed is over 55 Mbps and the upload speed is 12 Mbps.
"...older model (a year or so ago), the AC3200/R8000 - and I must say, it was FAST, but....it had a few "Flaws" (see below)...." Read more
"...That is a bit disappointing.-No more problems with speed on my Mac.-A lot fewer problems with my game...." Read more
"...perfect, it took a few seconds more to load, but when it loaded, it ran smoothly...." Read more
"...It is very fast and don’t have any issues with it. I can connect multiple devices to this at the same time with no problem or lag...." Read more
Customers like the range of the router. For example, they say it gives them the best range and signal strength they've had with any router on both 2.4 and 5 GHz. The ability to separate the different signals is pretty straightforward. That said, they mention that it works for them and that it provides a strong signal in all areas of their home.
"...It gave me the best range and signal strength I've had with any router on both 2.4 and 5.0 at all distances within my home...." Read more
"...Difficult to reach cams, switches etc on the 2.4ghz. It also has a guest signal that you can customize for those that don't live with you, so I..." Read more
"...Overall, the signal strength is really good, the performance is great, and the options are easier to work with and broader than any Router I've..." Read more
"...I'm not seeing dead connections but now, I'm seeing the signal strength bottom out and completely be lost for a few seconds and then come back again..." Read more
Customers like the coverage of the router. They mention it offers a large range of coverage, it covers their entire home without issues, and it handles a lot of devices at once. Some say that the 5G coverage is great and has no problems reaching every room in their house. Overall, most are satisfied with the coverage and performance of the product.
"...Over the last month the router has been stable. It is easily handling at least 20 devices without bumping anyone...." Read more
"...Otherwise this covers my entire home without issues and there are no problems with obtaining a signal anywhere in the building." Read more
"...So far, this router has been able to handle the quantity of devices with ease...." Read more
"...'s definitely one of the fastest routers available and it offers a large range of coverage...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the router. Some mention that it handles multiple concurrent wireless users with no real issues, providing consistent WiFi access. However, others say that it performs pretty well with intermittent connection issues, dropped connections, and random slowdowns. Some customers also report that their iOS devices sometimes lose internet despite their solid WiFi connection.
"...It also doesn’t connect well to the USB3 of the Drobo (will only do so with the USB2), but it doesn’t seem to matter much, and streaming speed is..." Read more
"...Again, I was very surprised. I really like that it has separate bands for 5ghz and 2.4ghz...." Read more
"...Then after three days the wired connections all started to fail. Download speeds were now down to 1-3 Mbps on all four LAN ports...." Read more
"...N600: Very consistent WiFi access : Same set up location. 20 to 50 Mbps downstairs and 15 to 19 Mbps upstairs...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the value of the networking router. Some say it's well worth the money and price competitive with other routers. However, others say that it'd be better off with another router.
"...This is a fantastic system and provides exactly what we need. Worth the money...." Read more
"...Yes, it is a LOT more expensive (than others, and the older model), but it IS WORTH IT - 99.9% ;-) -- Enjoy!..." Read more
"...In the end I feel like it has definitely been worth the money I have spent on it(twice), $300 is a lot to spend on a wireless router...." Read more
"...That was a waste of money. You can barely understand Netgear support and they are just trying things from a script...." Read more
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Two of these four are VERY old style routers (an old [very old] NetGear AC1600 [R6250] and a Apple Extreme [AC] router [see below], which I "retired" to a NetGear AC3200/R8000 [the third] then, lastly, to the MOST RECENT NetGear AC5300/R8500 [the forth].
Here is the 1st part (the 2nd/3rd part, to follow):
I must admit, that the NetGear guys/company always seems to AMAZE (when you see my 2nd/3rd part of this [below] then you'll know what I'm talking about).
But, let me give you a [quick] preview (of 3 & 4):
> I had the older model (a year or so ago), the AC3200/R8000 - and I must say, it was FAST, but....it had a few "Flaws" (see below).
BUT, the [newer] AC5300/R8500 model performed ABOVE (and BEYOND) the older model. -- It seems like the NetGear guys/Corp there Are INDEED listening!!! - cause they FIXED ALL the main problems/issues that I had with the AC3200.
Specifically, the AC5300 now works FLAWLESSLY with the USB3 (my Drobo, external), and "wakes-up" 100 times faster than the older model, and doesn't lose the connection most of the time when I put it into sleep mode! (This last one was the best, and most important, for me).
So read my two (2nd/3rd) reviews below if you wish. But I can sum it up by saying that I am VERY much [now] pleased with the newer model, and can wholeheartedly recommend the newer AC5300/R8500, or as I stated it (below) the [former] "Ugly Duckling" is NOW a full-fledged SUPER Swan!! ---- Yes, it is a LOT more expensive (than others, and the older model), but it IS WORTH IT - 99.9% ;-) -- Enjoy!
OK, this is now the 2nd part of this:
The "older" story is a tale of a “UGLY duckling” turning into a Beautiful Swan.
That duckling was a NetGear AC1600 [R6250], and the Swan a R8000/AC3200.
When I initially purchased a NetGear product, a few years ago – [see my old review, below] I reviewed it as the BAD piece-of-CRAP due to its vast limitations, as compared to the Apple Airport Extreme (that worked flawlessly).
The NetGear AC1600 was slow, buggy, hard to configure, and didn’t live up fully to its advertised promises or expectations (as an example, it didn’t connect well with my USB device, connect with other network devices, nor stream video content well).
NETGEAR HAS NOW REDEEMED THEMSELVES with this most recent router product (R8000/AC3200).
I cannot say enough good things about the R8000/AC3200, which has completely BLOWN away ALL the prior NetGear routers flaws or shortcomings.
The most MAJOR shortcoming with the prior router was that it didn’t connect properly with my external USB device (specifically, my Drobo 5D).
The NetGear R8000 [now] connects with the Drobo FLAWLESSLY, with its ReadyShare protocol - and even connects very easily with ALL my network shares. As an example, the R8000 connects to my KDLINKS media box ( kdLinks HD680 Extreme Network 1080P HD Media Player w/ Realtek 1185 & Built-In Wifi ), so that I can [now] “see” ALL of my DVD movie collection (on my Drobo). – and streams different movies, to DIFFERENT wireless devices, at the SAME time!! (HOW FREAKEN AWESOME IS THAT!!!).
IT EVEN ALLOWS ME TO DO FLAWLESS APPLE "TIME-MACHINE" BACK-UPS (I almost pee-ed in my pants over this one!! - LOL ;-)
The only [minor] negative or issue I’ve had with the R8000 is that it [sometimes] take a LONG time to “wake-up” (about anywhere from 5 to 20 seconds). The share also either doesn’t show up automatically, or takes a LONG time to do so [as it did [more instantly] with my [prior] Apple Airport Extreme]. I don’t know if this is because of some “sleep” mode within the router itself, or, cause it is waiting for the Drobo to wake up. I fixed this [somewhat] by my making a shared shortcut [with the IP address] on my desktop – this seems to make the old connection issues less of a hassle.
It also doesn’t connect well to the USB3 of the Drobo (will only do so with the USB2), but it doesn’t seem to matter much, and streaming speed is sufficient to be smooth, with no lag (I’m HAPPY ;-)
UPDATE (11/13/2015): I FOUND OUT how to get the USB3 working!!! (WOW!) - Apparently, the USB3 on the router is not "powerful" enough to be driven by the Drobo External drive (by itself) so it needs to have a USB [Booster] Hub (this one worked best Plugable 7-Port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Hub with 25W Power Adapter and Two Ports with BC 1.2 Charging Support for Android, Apple iOS, and Windows Mobile Devices ) - Use this if you want to have it see your Drobo - as an EXTRA treat, if you connect ANY USB device to the Hub, the ROUTER WILL SEE IT AS WELL!! (again, WOW!!), I never knew the R8000 is/was able to see "multiple" USB drives - But it DOES!!!!
It also didn’t work well after updating to the most recent firmware (it was slow, buggy, and video streaming no longer smooth) – but it was GREAT that I could “downgrade” to the older firmware, and it worked fine, again.
Anyway, this is all [again] minor, and I can say (without a doubt) that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new NetGear R8000/AC3200 router – so much so, that I got RID of my Airport Extreme router, as of yesterday!!! (APPLE – YOUR STUFF IS NOW CRAP!! [Still, with no USB3, or “true” universal file structure sharing]).
Lastly, the R8000 is a bit more extensive, but with ALL the things this thing now does (with Tri-Band connectivity, and better sharing) – it's WORTH IT!
So GOOD JOB NetGear!!! – THIS time, you hit a HOME RUN!!! (This is an example of a company that LISTENS to customers, and IMPROVES on their products [fix that wake up delay, and the share [auto] connection - and you will be PERFECT!!)
Update (11/10/2015 - First Contact): Just an FYI - Just tried NETGEAR " tech support " - IT WAS TERRIBLE!!!!!!! - 1) The automated system could not understand my speech, so kept on making the mistake of hearing "Z" (Versus "C" --- do we Pittsburgh people have THAT BAD of an accent?!?, 2) Then when I did reach a "person" (it was someone from INDIA [can you say "Outsourcing?!?] - so I could BARELY understand what they were saying (plus, voice muffled). - THEN the ONLY thing they could recommend, was the tech "basic" SLASH and GASH (Reset, ReFlash, Reboot, and the like). If you have had read earlier you can see I already tried to update the firmware (it got WORST). So I will just "deal" with its minor foibles ;-)
************ OLD REVIEW *************
Title - From Apple (Airport Extreme [AE]) ...to NetGear (R6250) ...BACK To Apple...
Disclaimer: If you are Fan of Apple products then this review is for you (if you are NOT a Apple person then PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW [As you will obviously not agree, and be pissed! - so move on! (Seriously!)]).
So let me give you the highlights of my little "experiment" - I initially had the recent Apple Airport Extreme [AE] (Model ME918LL/A - Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (ME918LL/A) ), which is Apples "AC" version.
I was (and am) PISSED at Apple, for not having the most recent USB (Version 3) technology on their stuff, so I looked at the R6250 as a possible substitution for the AE (besides the fact that the AE, and ALL Apple products cost THROUGH-THE-MOON! (as compared with other products/vendors) -
But.....Apple has also been known for its infamous "plug-n-play" (that has ALWAYS been better than Windows - I don't care what ANYone says - it's STILL superior, to this day!)
Anyway, I was willing to try out this product (NetGear R6250) to see if it would/could truly surpass the AE.
Overall, everything mostly worked with the R6250 except for one major thing - The USB drive.
You see, I have a Drobo 5D as my back-up and archive - which has always worked with present, and past Apple (AE, etc) products, so a "replacement" would HAVE to work [with the Drobo], in order to replace the AE.
In a word, it DIDN'T!
The R6250 "saw" the Drobo, but did not let me fully ACCESS it!
Now I know what many of you guys [Geeks] and saying out there - "Well, why didn't you contact tech support," or "Update the Drivers," or something else "Techy."
I didn't do this - and the reason why is "time" (as in, I don't want to WASTE my time, trying to make this thing work [with its "SMB" windows sharing protocol, using paths [//], or some other Mumbo Jumbo) - All I wanted this thing to do WAS "WORK" 100% (and it did not, in a simple [Apple] way)...
....So with that, I'm BACK, with Apple [AE], cause....It Just WORKS!!!
(and for anyone else out there reading this...., pulling out your hair, trying to get this to work - I would STRONGLY suggest that you DROP this R6250 JUNK and go pay a little more, for TRUE plug & play, and get an Apple AE [Airport Extreme] - cause it WILL work!!!).
((( Again, especially if you have a DROBO drive )))
Yes, I'm still pissed about the no USB3, and paying [A LOT] more, but WORKING is the best reward in this "game" of technology - Ciao ;-)
I am now updating my review of the Netgear R8000 to 5 Stars.
I returned the original unit to Amazon. I was sent an replacement unit. Amazon goofed and then made it good. The 1st replacement was a very well used unit, NOT refurbished, just very well used and dinged up in an open package. I never even hooked it up, but contacted Amazon. They apologized and immediately sent a "New" replacement unit. Kudos to Amazon! The 2nd replacement unit arrived and I experienced none of the problems I had with the original unit. I have been running it for a month now without any problems and great performance. This unit lives up to expectations. I was also contacted by a high level and knowledgeable Tech/Customer support individual. He was very good, very responsive and I appreciated his follow-up. It was the opposite of the original experiences I had that were detailed below. Kudos to Netgear for the followup on this!
**** Original Review below on January 7, 2015 with the title "Netgear Nighthawk X6 is a disaster and Netgear Customer service wasn't much better!" *******
I had previously have had very mixed results with Netgear routers. When they work, they are great. When they don't they are a disaster. I made the mistake of giving Netgear one more chance with this router. It arrived from Amazon even faster than I anticipated. Kudos to Amazon on that! Upon installation of the router I immediately updated the router to the latest firmware. The Nighthawk X6 was easy to set up as I anticipated working with Netgear Genie which I happen to like. I have multiple desktops, several laptops, some tablets, and numerous wireless devices in my home. Most older ones use 2.4 GHz and the newer items use 5GHz connections. So I had great need for both. I also have two AC adapters I bought to use but have not yet hooked them up. The router worked great for three days on wired and wireless 2.4 and 5.0. It gave me the best range and signal strength I've had with any router on both 2.4 and 5.0 at all distances within my home. On both wired and wireless I was getting 25-30 Mbps when within 20-30 feet of the router which is what my ISP provides. I was finally a happy camper.
Then after three days the wired connections all started to fail. Download speeds were now down to 1-3 Mbps on all four LAN ports. I tried a soft reset by removing power and that seemed to restore full wired speed temporarily. I played with this for several day and a few other tricks that have worked in the past. Nothing worked. Thank goodness I was still getting good speeds and connections on wireless.
Then tonight I called Netgear Tech Support because this was a newly purchased router. Bad decision! The telephone tree you need to navigate to get to them is interesting and frustrating at best. When I finally got someone, their English accent was very difficult to understand, but even worse I could hear everyone else in the background at the call center so trying to hear and understand them over the background noise was almost impossible. I had this same problem with three different people. Why three? Because the first one put me on hold and then disconnected me before he had even asked me for a call back number. The second one I got when I called back said that she would call back if we got disconnected within 60 seconds. She had my cell number. I don't think either of the first two could even understand what the problem was. They couldn't grasp that the wired connection to the LAN ports was the issue. Finally, after many missteps she seemed to grasp it. But she had no idea what to do. She put me on hold to talk to a supervisor. When she came back, she had me make a change in in one setting and then we disconnected again. She never called back! I waited about 10 minutes or more. Then made my third and final call to support. This one finally seemed to understand what the problem was, but didn't seem to know a lot more. Again, very difficult to understand and hear over the background noise from their call center. I used other devices to verify the problems for her, laptop, tablet, etc. She had we do a soft reset, but very different from any I have ever done before After she had me do this, the wired connection was worse, with download of 1-1.5 Mbps. Even worse, the 2.4 Ghz wireless no longer worked at all and 5 Ghz was dramatically slower. She had me download and re-install the firmware. Guess what, things were even worse. Final words from her, return it to Amazon as it must be defective! When you get a new one feel free to call us back to help you troubleshoot it! Just a very frustrating experience and a frustrating router for the top of the line router! So far it's a bunch of junk! I hope that Amazon Netgear Tech Support sees this Case # 19264928. Very disappointed in the router and support thus far!
I will be returning it to Amazon.
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First to get the bad points of the X6 out of the way. It's quite big and expensive.
The good. Setup was a breeze, a quick firmware up date I was good to go. Easily connected to another brands bridge which I have my printer connected to. I definitely prefer it's UI over my previous Linksys router. It's range is just amazing! Full signal everywhere in my house. I went to my neighbours place across the street and in the middle of their house I was getting 3/4 bars showing on my phone. I've barely had it a week, but so far it's been super stable with 100% uptime and have had zero dropped connections or any connection issues at all.
The best part is now I finally get the speeds I pay my ISP for. Full speed (in fact a little better as I regularly test at 31Mbps down), over wireless, anywhere in my house.
I highly recommend this router.
The thing to remember is that for AC connections to work properly and at their full capacity, you will need AC clients also at the rated speeds. So with all the varied connections I had (Wireless G devices, Wireless N 150 devices, Wireless N 600 devices and Wireless AC devices), the best wireless speed I got was equal to the slowest device's wireless speed. The smart connectivity did not work. So I had to invest in two wireless AC bridges which I placed in the other end of the house and the living room. The living room one hosted the TV, boxee box, XBOX 360 among others.
The connectivity and range of this router is very good and wireless speeds are brilliant. Good enough to steam my requirement so that no buffering takes place. The remotest corner of the house also gets the connection now and has no problems at all.
I will be providing another update to this review with the house design,and the throughput (hard numbers :-) ) I get.