Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 router review
Netgear introduced the Nighthawk AC2300 router in 2016. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4708C0 @ 1 GHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM, and 128 MB of flash memory.
Curious to know if the Nighthawk AC2300 is top-notch? Stay tuned!
Table of Contents
- Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 specifications
- Body, dimensions, weight
- System, chipset, RAM, flash, power supply
- Network, protocols, WAN and LAN ports
- Wireless, antennas, speed, security
- Connectivity
- Administration, user interface, login information
- Links
- Verdict, Pros and Cons
- Photos
- Comparisons
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. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Netgear Nighthawk AC2300, please let us know.
The Nighthawk AC2300 is a powerful router. It is full of features and made for advanced networking. Netgear is a well-known manufacturer in the networking industry.
Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | Nighthawk AC2300 |
| Type | R7000P |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2016 |
Body
| Dimensions | 285 x 184.5 x 50 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 750 g |
If you live in a small apartment, the size of the router is crucial to deciding whether it will fit. If you buy a router online or have it shipped, the weight may affect the total cost.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM4708C0 @ 1 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 3.5 A |
The Broadcom BCM4708C0 @ 1 GHz CPU affects the router's performance, working with RAM and firmware. Some router features and software work best when they have enough RAM to help them. OpenWrt has a community that actively develops it. They continuously work on improving its security.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| VPN support | OpenVPN |
The Nighthawk AC2300 router is compatible with IPv6. IPv6 offers many enhancements and improvements over IPv4. If you have a 1 Gbps or faster internet plan, you need gigabit Ethernet ports. The Nighthawk AC2300 ensures that you can use fast internet from your ISP fully. OpenVPN uses a certificate-based authentication system. This enhances security and provides a stronger method of verification.
Wireless
| Antennas | 3 x 3.3 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 6 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC2300 |
| Speed | 600 + 1625 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 24 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
The 2.4GHz band refers to the part of the radio spectrum between 2.400 and 2.4835 gigahertz. This router operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. The AC Wi-Fi router is backward compatible with older Wi-Fi devices that support 802.11a/b/g/n standards. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a safe wireless network with the push of a button or a simple PIN entry.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 1 x USB 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). The USB 3 ports provide a fast interface for external storage with data transfer rates of up to 4.8 Gbps. A USB print server lets you connect a printer to your network. Then, computers can print to it without a direct connection. The Nighthawk AC2300 router lets you schedule backups. You can back up to the connected USB storage device.
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 Nighthawk AC2300 router. Do this after the initial setup.
Links
| Official site | https://www.netgear.com/ |
|---|
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. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- generous memory
- adequate flash
- OpenWrt compatible
- 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
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 photos
Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 comparisons
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Updated: May 25, 2024
