Netgear AC200 Smart WiFi 5 router: Pros and Cons
The Netgear AC200 Smart WiFi 5 (R6850) router released in 2017. It is powered by MediaTek MT7621AT @ 880 MHz chipset, 128 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash. The AC2000 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with AC200 Smart WiFi 5 is 300 + 1733 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports.
Table of Contents
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Netgear AC200 Smart WiFi 5, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The AC200 Smart WiFi 5 is a good choice for users. It is reliable and feature-rich, and it supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. You can connect supported USB devices to the router. Netgear provides good customer support services through their website.
Netgear AC200 Smart WiFi 5 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | AC200 Smart WiFi 5 |
| Type | R6850 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2017 |
Body
| Dimensions | 235.51 x 150.76 x 54.5 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 377 g |
The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms. The weight of a router can matter in some situations. But, it is usually not as crucial as other factors. These factors include features and compatibility.
System
| Chipset | MediaTek MT7621AT @ 880 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 128 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1.5 A |
The Netgear AC200 Smart WiFi 5 router has a MediaTek MT7621AT @ 880 MHz processor. The amount of RAM in a router can affect its performance. It also affects its capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. The 128 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. Netgear often releases firmware updates. They improve the router's features, security, and bugs. They also add new features. The 12 V / 1.5 A PSU provides power to the router. If it breaks, you can replace it with a new one.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | OpenVPN |
Like many modern routers, the AC200 Smart WiFi 5 supports many network standards too. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP). It is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The latest firmware supports IPv6. It provides a system to identify and locate computers on networks. This router has Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. They provide data transfer speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) over Ethernet connections.
This router ensures that you can use fast internet from your ISP fully. OpenVPN is a full-featured SSL VPN solution. It uses OSI layer 2 or 3. It extends secure networks using SSL/TLS, an industry standard.
Wireless
| Antennas | 3 x 3.3 dBi fixed |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 6 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC2000 |
| Speed | 300 + 1733 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 27 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
This router has 3 x 3.3 dBi, fixed antennas. Antennas are key parts of wireless routers. They send and receive radio signals to make wireless connections. This router is 2.4 GHz capable. The 2.4GHz band refers to the portion of the radio spectrum between 2.400 and 2.4835 gigahertz. The 5 GHz band offers better noise immunity and less interference. It also has more available channels. Wi-Fi 5 uses the 5 GHz band. It uses wider channels and advanced techniques to send data faster.
Real-world AC200 Smart WiFi 5 router speeds are lower than its theoretical maximum speed. WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides an easy method. It connects devices to a Wi-Fi network.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). USB print servers let you connect a USB printer to your network. This makes it accessible to many devices. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | password |
If you can't log in to your Netgear router's setup panel, try resetting it. A reset can help you troubleshoot. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your AC200 Smart WiFi 5 router. Do this after the initial setup.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this Netgear one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- lightweight
- sufficient memory
- adequate flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- decent Wi-Fi performance
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Netgear AC200 Smart WiFi 5 photos
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