There are now routers for all budgets but these devices are not all the same and to make the (significant) difference between one model rather than another, are the technologies supported, the range of Wifi connections and the range of features offered in the operating system. / integrated web server.
Among the leaders in the sector, with valid and varied proposals, there is certainly Netgear and the latest offers from the manufacturer in this sector are the WiFi 6 routers .
What is WiFi 6 technology
WiFi 6 technology allows simultaneous connection and playback of streams from multiple devices, without compromising speed or reliability, by scheduling up to 12 streams simultaneously and efficiency in data packing and scheduling. The advantage of routers that support this technology is the ability to provide fast WiFi connectivity to all connected devices today and in the future. There is also some chance that the new 2019 iPhones can support WiFi 6.
With higher capacity, speeds are faster, making it possible to stream streams to your devices without interruption, while maintaining fast, reliable connections. There are also advantages from the point of view of the batteries, allowing you to save the charge with all the WiFi 6 devices used. WiFi 6 is backward compatible with previous standards, offers a significant increase in data throughput and is basically the gateway to 8k streaming.
The NighthaWK AX8 router (RAX80 model) subject of this test offers WiFi AX 8 streams with speeds up to 6 Gbps, boasts uplinks and downlinks OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) with 4x higher network capacity for multiple devices (enables efficient data transmission to up to 8 devices simultaneously), 4 × 4 MU-MIMO technology, a quad-core 64-bit processor 1.8 GHz and Gigabit WiFi connectivity for compatible mobile devices and laptops.
Package appearance and contents
Inside the package we find the real router that immediately catches the eye for the two resealable “wings” (which integrate four high performance antennas). The dimensions with open wings are: 305 x 202 x 161 mm and the weight is 1.281g. In addition to the router we find: the power supply (19V, 3.16A), the adapter for the Italian socket, an Ethernet cable and a quick introductory guide. The “wings” (the antennas) open and close easily and the design is serious and less “toy” than other products of the same brand already seen in the past.
On the back of the router we find: two USB 3.0 ports, five Gigabit LAN ports for connecting wired devices (4 and 5 can be used for aggregation), the Internet port, the on / off button, the 'input for the power supply. There is also the traditional hole for the reset and a button (switch) to activate / deactivate the LEDs.
The manufacturer explains that the antennas are designed to deliver superior WiFi performance by reliably extending WiFi coverage both indoors and outdoors. The Nighthawk AX8 router is also wall mountable using the mounting slots at the bottom of the device.
Configuration
The configuration can be completed in various ways. A sticker on the router (complete with a QR code) shows the default network name and password, which can of course be changed. You can complete it by configuring using the Netgear app (downloadable from the Apple App Store or Google Play) for iOS or Android devices, or a Mac or PC.
We carried out the first configuration from Mac: we selected from the list of WiFi networks “Netgear06-5G”, indicated the default name and password indicated on the sticker; we opened Safari and indicated the address “http://www.routerlogin.net” in the URL. Just follow the setup procedure to finish the configuration. The more experienced can skip the automatic setup procedure and manually set the various parameters.
“Traditional” functions
There are obviously all the features offered by Netgear in other lower-end products, including SPI (Stateful Packet Inspections) firewall, the ability to create networks for guests, access control to authorize or block computers or devices that intend to access the network, functions to block sites based on domains or that contain certain keywords (for example profanity or sexually explicit language), to switch to those to block services to specific users, to programming (to define the day and hours during which the block will occur or when access will be restricted).
The more experienced can change advanced settings for wireless, access point mode, port forwarding / activation, dynamic DNS, VPN service (to access the home network securely via the Internet, when we are not at home), management features from remote, UPnP, IPv6. A specific section allows you to view the traffic indicator with statistics relating to the traffic that passes on the internet port of the router.
It is also possible to divide the traffic by categories (file sharing, web, Voip, social media) and understand, for example, how much bandwidth Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and so on are occupying. Netgear also provides a specific monitoring application for iOS and Android.
The ReadyShare function
The ReadyShare function allows you to access and share USB storage devices (flash drives, hard drives, and the like) connected to the router. Just connect the device to one USB 3.0 port of the modem (we find one on the right side and one on the left side); after a couple of minutes it is ready and manageable like a network device. On the Mac just select “Go” from the Finder, choose “Connect to server” and indicate in the address box of the server “smb: // readyshare” (without quotes) by choosing “Guest” when prompted for a name and password.
The device will be “mounted” like any other network connection and it will be possible to share various documents and files. The mechanism is also convenient for making backups (from Mac and PC) over the network to USB drives that do not have this connection. From the “ReadyShare” section of the administration panel it is possible to check the USB connection, change the name of the network / device, indicate any work group, activate or deactivate advanced sharing functions (HTTP, FTP, HTTPS, etc.) and remove securely your device.
The door aggregation
Aggregating Ethernet ports between two devices allows you to manage multiple Ethernet links as if they were a single link. As mentioned, the aggregation of two network connections allows you to increase the bandwidth and at the same time provides network redundancy should a connection be interrupted.
From a technical point of view, the device connected to the AX8 router must support the LACP protocol for the aggregation to work correctly.
The configuration is in any case simple: just log in to the router access window (http://www.routerlogin.net), enter the username and password of the router, select the item “Advanced”, from here ” Advanced Configuration ”, and“ Ethernet Port Aggregation. On the page presented, it is now possible to select “Activate” (LACP-IEEE 802.3ad) and click Apply.
The manufacturer recommends not connecting devices together using more than one Ethernet cable until a LAG has been configured on each device. In fact, if multiple connections are made between two devices and no device has loop prevention, a network loop is created. Network loops can slow down or interrupt normal data traffic on the network.
After completing the configuration, using two Ethernet cables you can connect ports 4 and 5 to the aggregate ports on the other network device. After connecting the linked aggregate ports (i.e. port 4 and 5) on the AX8 router to the two ports connected on the additional supported device, the Ethernet Port Aggregation Status changes from Inactive to Active.
Tests and Conclusions
Testing a Wifi router is not easy because there are many parameters that could affect the actual speed. For several days we carried out tests trying to squeeze the device to the maximum using it at the same time to stream videos of all kinds on smart TVs, iPhones, iPads, Macs, PCs, copy data via the network at the same time, perform other activities that kept the computer busy. Wifi. In all cases the router proved to be excellent, with connections always up and running. In the worst case, in combination with an Android device placed 20 meters away and two thick walls in the middle, we recorded a signal strength of -30dbm and 130 megabits per second on the 5GHz channel.
The aggregation of the two Ethernet ports is interesting and allows you to speed up by obtaining greater bandwidth: for example, coupled with a good quality NAS it is possible to obtain greater speed in file transfer and better balance the traffic. In any case, the AX6000 router is powerful, very easy to configure and offers everything a user can imagine.
It is easy to navigate through the various system items and even those unfamiliar with the perfect configuration of a router will be at ease. It is a complete device that is difficult to criticize. The price is high but in line with the performance and functions offered. If you are looking for the ultimate router for gaming, streaming, projected into the future and without compromise, this product is to be seriously considered. The price is high but in line with products from other brands that offer similar functionality and features.
Pro
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Retail price
On Amazon at the time of writing it is sold for € 408.38 including VAT.
