Netgear Nighthawk X6S R8000p (AC4000) Router Review

The Netgear Nighthawk X6S R8000p is a powerful Ac4000 Wi-Fi standard router designed for home and office users. This router is powerful enough to provide high-speed Wi-Fi as it comes with tri-band technology.

It performs well at both closer and larger distances. The router offers a wide range of features and customization options. The interesting thing we have noticed about the R8000p router is its wired LAN aggregation potential.

Although it is an expensive router and offers a variety of features and functionalities, you need a third party account for parental control. In today’s review of the Netgear Nighthawk XS6 R8000p, we are going to make an in-depth analysis of the router based on our personal testing of the device. Read on!

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Specifications

Size: 11.0 x 9.0 x 2.1 inches

Antennas: 6 non-replaceable

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

Ports: 1 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0

Peak Performance: 4Gbps

Range: 3500 sqft.

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Unbox Video

Netgear Nighthawk X6S AC4000 Router Review Unboxing Setup and how to reach maximum speed

Networking

The Netgear R8000p is a top-performing router. We are saying this because we have performed multiple tests on the router. Although it works well for closer and longer distances, it excelled at middle distances. This Wi-Fi router has a tri-band 802.11ac network, which is based on the Broadcom BCM4365E chip. The Wi-Fi router has an Ac4000 rating, which means it can deliver 4,000 Megabits per second.

First, we performed the test at 5 feet close range where we measured the speed of 571 Mbps and then at 15 feet where the speed we measured was 628 Mbps. Likewise, at 50 feet, the speed of the device was 661 Mbps. Compared to the EA8300 router, the speed of the R8000p is much better.

Next, we tested the router at 100 feet and measured an average speed of 525 Mbps. Also, we measured an average speed of 411 Mbps at 150 feet. We have performed dozens of tests on different Wi-Fi routers of the same and different brands but have never found such amazing results.

R8000p is a great choice for people with homes that have thick walls. It is because the Netgear Nighthawk X6S R8000p pushes a strong 580 Mbps and 609 Mbps through metal walls and ceilings.

On the other hand, the EA8300, which is a popular Wi-Fi router produces 228 Mbps and 489 Mbps through thick walls. So, the comparison clearly shows that the Netgear XS6 R8000p is a better router in terms of speed.

The Netgear R8000p is a unique router and its functionality is innovative than many other routers available on the market. It allows the user to aggregate 2 wired connections to a single PC or laptop, which comprises RJ45 LAN ports. As a result, you get a double throughput – i.e. up to 2 Gbps for HD streaming, large file transfer, and high-speed online gaming.

Design

The Netgear R8000p is a large-size router, which is one-quarter bigger than its competitor the Linksys WRT32X router. It has a glossy black finish. The size measurements of the device are 11.0 x 9.0 x 2.1 inches. You can set it up on a tabletop, windowsill, and shelf.

Also, you can easily mount the device on the wall using the cutouts located at the bottom. However, we don’t recommend you mount the router because it has 6 pull-out antennas. So, it is not a good idea to mount the router on the wall.

Anyway, let’s talk about the antennas. Keep in mind that the antennas can’t be replaced. This is a huge disadvantage for such a high-speed router. The Netgear R8000p is an old-school router with 11 LEDs located on the front side. The LED indicators are for the power, internet, 4 downstream LAN ports, and 3 wireless channels.

On the backside of the router, you will see 1 Gigabit WAN port and 4 LAN ports. This router has 1 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0 ports, which means you can use it as HDD and printer in the networked devices.

Moreover, there is a power connection, ON-OFF button, and reset switch. There are buttons up the front for a quick connection to a client through the WPS button. There is also a button used for turning ON and OFF the Wi-Fi transmissions.

Hardware

The Netgear X6S R8000p is powered by the Broadcom BCM4365E chip. The Wi-Fi router has a dual-core processor with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz. It has 128 MB of RAM and 512 MB storage to hold the firmware and settings of the system.

This router does not have bandwidth-expansion technology. However, it does come with the latest, cutting-edge MU-MIMO technology, which supports connecting multiple devices simultaneously.

The Netgear R8000p Wi-Fi router uses Beamforming technology and customized protocol to enable the high-speed signal. The protocol provides extra speed and is compatible with the 802.11 ac standard equipment.

The Netgear R8000p has a tri-band wireless design, which delivers 750 Mbps speed on 2.4 GHz radio frequency band and 1.6 Gbps on 5 GHz radio frequency band. The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio frequency bands are powered by the Broadcom BCM4365E chip.

Installation

The installation process and the setup procedure is relatively easy than other Wi-Fi models. You just need to connect the router through a LAN cable or Wi-Fi. Open your internet browser and type routerlogin.net. If it does not work, you can type 192.168.1.1 in the address bar of the internet browser.

When you are prompted there, you need to enter the password of the router. You can find the default password on the setup booklet or the instructional manual that comes with the router. Remember, you need to change the username and the password from the default to secure the network.

To configure the router, you can use the Netgear Genie User Interface “UI.” Not only does this software application allows you to configure the device but it also enables you to set parental controls, modify settings for the external storage, as well as the number of devices that are connected to the router. Guest Network setting is another important feature offered by the Netgear Genie Interface.

What We Liked

• Tri-band design
• Excellent overall performance
• Customization options
• Beamforming + MU-MIMO

What We didn’t Like

• Expensive
• Risky Wall Mounting

Related Topics

• Best Gaming Routers for Xbox One

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