NETGEAR R7000P Review (AC2300 Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router)

As the name of the router indicates, the Netgear R7000P is the successor of R7000, which is the most popular dual-band Wi-Fi router. Like its predecessor, the R7000P offers excellent Wi-Fi performance and has a stylish design. The Netgear R7000P supports the MU-MIMO technology and the 1024 QAM modulation.

In today’s article, we are going to review the R7000P. This review is based on our personal experience with the router. We have analyzed the networking features of the R7000P, tested the wireless speed, as well as evaluated the design, hardware specs, and installation.

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Specifications

Size: 11.22 x 7.26 x 1.97

Antennas: 3 upgradable + removable

Wi-Fi Spec: 5 GHz 802.11ac dual-band

Ports: 1x USB 2.0 and 1x USB 3.0

Peak Performance: 1,625 Mbps on 5 GHz

Range: 2,000 sqft.

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Unbox Video

Networking | Netgear AC2300 Router | R7000P | Unboxing | Up and Running in 20 Minutes or Less!

Networking

The Netgear Nighthawk R7000P is a fast wireless router. We have tested the device. We connected clients to the 5 GHz radio frequency band network. At 5 feet, we measured an average speed of 861 Mbps. At 15 feet, the speed we recorded was 805 Mbps. Also, at 30 feet, the speed reduced to 654 Mbps. This was an excellent performance by the R7000P due to compatibility with the PCE-AC88.

Next, we decided to perform the test using the PCE-AC68 adapter. At 5 feet, we measured an average speed of 753 Mbps. However, at 15 feet, the speed was 597 Mbps, which was the real difference. At 30 feet, we measured a speed of 348 Mbps. Then, we switched to the 2.4 GHz radio band network. We used the same PCE-AC88 adapter. From client to server, we measured a speed of 176 Mbps. At 15 feet, the speed was 158 Mbps and at 30 speed, we saw the speed went up slightly. It was 164 Mbps at 30 feet.

Design

We have reason to believe that the R7000 has the best design. It has Lock-heed F-118 Stealth Plane design. The Netgear R7000P has a similar design to R7000. It has an angular plastic case, which is covered by a grey matte finish. The lateral parts of the router are inclined towards the base, which exposes 2 sets of ventilation grills.

The Netgear R7000P is a large router and measures 11.22 x 7.26 x 1.97 inches. It has 3 omnidirectional antennas at the rear panel. The antennas have fins-like shape. You can remove and upgrade the antennas of the Netgear R7000P. On top of the router, there is an array of LED lights, which show the status of the router and the network.

Also, from the left, there is the power LED, which is solid white indicating that the router is ready for configuration. When the power LED flashes white, it shows that the router’s firmware needs to upgrade because it is corrupted. Besides, there is the Internet LED, 1 LED for the 2.4 GHz radio frequency band 1 for the 5 GHz radio band. There is also an LED for the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. You will also see 4 LED indicators for the 4 LAN Ethernet ports.

On the rear panel of the router, you will see that the router has positions a small Reset button. You can press and hold it for 7 seconds to make the router return to its factory default settings. There are 4 LAN ports next to it. Also, on the rear side, you will see a WAN port, a USB 3.0 and 2.0 port, and a Power ON-OFF button.

Hardware

The Netgear R7000P uses the Broadcom platform. It is powered by a dual-core BCM4708C0 chipset. The clock speed of the processor is 1GHz. It is not different from the dual-core BCM4709A0 1 GHz Broadcom processor. The CPU of the router is backed by 128 MB of storage flash memory and Samsung K4B2G1646F-BCK0 256 MB of RAM.

The storage memory uses the BCM4708CO switch chip. The R7000P is identical to its predecessor R7000. However, the wireless chip design for its 5GHz radio frequency band makes it different from the R7000. The R7000P uses Broadcom BCM4365E KMMLG SOC (3×3), which supports the MU-MIMO technology. Likewise, it comes with the QPF4519 Qorvo integrated FEM.

On the other hand, the 2.4 GHz radio frequency band is powered by the Broadcom BCM4360, which is the same for the R7000. The R7000 is an AC2300 router featuring a maximum data transfer rate of 650 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz radio band. In contrast, the data transfer rate at 5 GHz band is 1,625 Mbps. Remember, this is a theoretical data transfer rate. To get maximum Wi-Fi performance, you need a wireless adapter supporting 1024-QAM. Otherwise, the router won’t perform better than the AC1900 wireless router.

Installation

The installation and setup of the Netgear R7000P is easy and simple. First, you need to create a Netgear Account. This is a two-step verification process for additional security. You can also link it to your social media “Facebook” account in case you want to access the router from a remote location.

The next step is to connect the internet to the router’s Wi-Fi network. Keep in mind that the Netgear provides enough instructions for the installation of the hardware.

One thing you need to remember here is that when you are redirected to the Genie app while continuing the initial set up process, you will be asked for updating the firmware. If you want to upgrade it, just allow the Genie app to get the job done. Otherwise, skip it.

Next, the router will check your Internet Connection. You have to manually enter the username and the password provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). In the next step, you need to create an admin password.

Lastly, it is time to configure the device as per your requirements. The Netgear Genie app provides you basic and advanced configuration features. If you are a beginner, then go for the basic configuration. Otherwise, the advanced configuration is recommended.

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What We Liked

• Excellent 5GHz Band Wireless Performance
• Awesome Web Based Interface
• Decent Looking Design
• MU-MIMO Technology
• Smart Connect

What We didn’t Like

• High Price

Related Netgear Router

• Netgear AX6000
• Netgear R9000
• Netgear R8000P
• Netgear Orbi Mesh Router

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