Actually, this is a tale of FOUR (4) different routers.
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 ;-)
This product is available as Renewed.
Netgear Renewed R8000-100NAR Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router (Renewed) $114.12 & FREE Shipping. Details
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Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
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Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
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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. |
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| R6900P | R7000P | R7800 | R8000 | R8000P | |
| Customer Reviews |
17,138
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17,138
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7,606
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9,218
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| Price | $157.99 | $134.95 | $90.00 | $54.00 | $130.63 |
| 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 |
Compare with similar items
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  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $54.00 | -25% $299.99 List: $399.99 | $699.99 | -18% $73.97 List: $89.99 | -9% $299.99 List: $329.99 | -23% $154.99 List: $199.99 |
| Delivery | Get it Nov 6 - 8 | Get it as soon as Friday, Nov 8 | Get it as soon as Friday, Nov 8 | Get it as soon as Friday, Nov 8 | Get it as soon as Friday, Nov 8 | Get it as soon as Friday, Nov 8 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | CellularStream | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| connectivity tech | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Ethernet, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi,USB,WAN,LAN |
| number of ports | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| data transfer rate | 3200 megabits per second | 7.8 gigabits per second | 19 gigabytes per second | 1.8 gigabits per second | 9.3 gigabits per second | 5400 megabits per second |
| wireless standard | 802 11 AC | 802 11 AX | 802 11 BE | 802 11 AX | 802 11 BE | 802 11 AX |
| frequency band class | tri band | tri band | tri band | dual band | tri band | tri band |
| lan port bandwidth | 3200 Mbps | — | 10 Gigabits per second | 1000 Mbps | 2500, 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps |
| max upstream rate | — | — | 19 gigabytes per second | — | 2500 megabits per second | 5400 megabits per second |
| security protocol | WPA, WPA2 | WPA2-PSK, WPA3-PSK | WPA3 | WPA2-PSK | WPA3 | WPA3 |
| frequency | 5 GHz | 6 GHz | — | 1.5 GHz | 6 GHz | 6 GHz |
| operating system | Microsoft Windows 7, 8, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, Linux | — | Cisco IOS, Junos OS, RouterOS, or ZyNOS | Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX , or Linux. Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome 55 or higher, Firefox 45 or higher, Safari 10 or higher | NETGEAR Proprietary OS | Proprietary router operating system |
Upgraded from Linksys EA4500
What an amazing device!My situation:Jcom (Japanese Comcast) 160Mb Cable internetXbox360 gamer: Battlefield series8+ networked devices including Macbook Air mid-2012, iPhone 6 x 2, Lenovo PC, printer, Synology DS214, AppleTV, iPad 2My problems prior to Netgear R8000:-Purchased Linksys EA4500 for $140. I would like to contribute a significant portion of my problems to this terrible company JCOM, who is known for throttling and poor overall performance. But the EA4500 had a lot of problems.-Never could get above 20 Mbps wireless using Speedtest.net with *local* servers. Trying other servers around the world, max was always 20Mbps but usually lower.-Could not quickly download iTunes rentals-Could never use AppleTV wirelessly due to hang-ups (could have been bad Apple firmware)-Poor overall performance: WiFi and believe it or not, wired too.-Battlefield BC2 would consistently (recently) lag to death. I would run 10 steps in the game and be pushed back 8 (imaging the scene on Monty Python Holy Grail where he is rushing the castle to save the prince). My character would move by itself. I would empty a clip into the head of a newbie and he would kill my character first and with a weak pistol. I have played the game for more than 2 years and am level 50 yet I would be killed first like I was a beginner. I would reload a gun or rocket launcher and it would not reload and the weapons would change by themselves. I was about to give up on my favorite game.Why I chose the R8000:So I am about to move and about to finally get Gigabit fiber internet. I needed a router that would run great and cast a much larger Wifi footprint. I was willing to spend money to achieve that. I was about to choose the newest Asus router but I was unsure about the Asus products due to their Taiwanese ownership. Netgear is at least American owned. That of course wasn’t the only reason. I was also planning on buying the Linksys WRT1900AC but right before I clicked “Purchase,” I saw a news clip that said Linksys was bought out by Belkin. Of all companies to buy a router from, Belkin is on the bottom of my list. My heart was broken because I really liked the design of the new Linksys router.I read review after review, looked at Cnet reviews and youtube videos. The Netgear design was nice and I could only imagine how much better the performance would be. I got it when Amazon had it at $250 so I got lucky. I was so excited to set it up.After set up and Awesome things:-I immediately upgraded the firmware. I set up my network. I ran several speed tests, both wired and wireless. I played with SmartConnect and found it better if off. On my Macbook Air, Wireless N, I checked the transmit speed (option click the Wifi icon) and it was at 300 Mbps. That speed is only at the network layer so it was only for reference that I was interested. I wasn’t expecting much because I know the limits of Wireless N. To my great surprise, I got 60 Mbps DL using Speedtest.net!!! This is already 3 times faster than my usual Linksys test was. I was happy. Now 2 weeks later, there was a firmware update. After the update, get this, I got 98 Mbps with a server 1000 Km away!!! Wireless N at 98 Mbps!? Granted, my internet sped up too (I think because I told JCOM that I was cancelling my contract) but regardless, my Macbook Air has NEVER had so much speed on wireless.-My iPhone 6 is an AC capable device but I found that I can never get higher than the speeds on my Macbook. Using a wifi speed tester app, I am pulling 270 Mbps just measuring network speeds but on speedtest.net, I cannot pull more than 30 Mbps using the same local and other servers. That is a bit disappointing.-No more problems with speed on my Mac.-A lot fewer problems with my game. Battlefield is still laggy by nature but I have had much less of the problems like before.Problems:-Wireless AC has not done much better than N on my iphone 6.-SmartConnect did not work well for me and it seemed that wifi speed suffered so I turned it off.-The browser interface is a bit antiquated looking, although it does allow for a lot more flexibility in changing things than Linksys.-My Synology Diskstation is throwing IP address conflict errors even though it is an address much higher than the rest of the group. This is not necessarily a Netgear problem but it came right after I upgraded the firmware.-I find that my iOS devices sometimes lose internet despite their solid Wifi connection. A simple on-off fixes it, but it is scary that phone messages cannot be sent or received during that time.Summary:I move in 3 weeks so when I have a chance to test the gigabit fiber, I will post another update. I think that the Netgear R8000 is a great router, although it is my first Netgear product. It is solid and Netgear seems to be fixing problems and posting new firmware a lot faster than Linksys ever did.The 4 star rating is just mainly because of the poor looking interface and the issues I’ve been having with my iphones and less than awesome AC performance. But I don’t have any more AC devices to test the speeds at except the iphone 6. If Netgear can post more firmware that can address the wifi drops and fix the SmartConnect, I will change to 5 stars.
Top reviews from other countries
Atif Rehmani
Amazing Performance 😎
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on September 23, 2019