Netgear Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router review
The Netgear Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 (RAX43) router released in 2020. It is powered by Broadcom BCM6750 @ 1.5 GHz chipset, 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash. The AX4200 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 is 574 + 3603 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 Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 is a popular router. It offers great networking. This is thanks to its advanced features and cutting-edge technology. The USB connectors on the router add versatility to your network. They enable file sharing, printer sharing, and other USB functions. Netgear offers networking solutions that cater to different scales of networks.
Netgear Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 |
| Type | RAX43 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2020 |
Body
| Dimensions | 295.8 x 206 x 57.2 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 566 g |
If you have limited space, like in a small apartment or office, the dimensions can determine if it can fit there. 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 | Broadcom BCM6750 @ 1.5 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Flash | 256 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Power supply | 12 V / 2.5 A |
The Broadcom BCM6750 @ 1.5 GHz CPU is key. It, along with factors like RAM and firmware, decides how well the router works. The amount of RAM in a router can affect its performance. It also affects its capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. The 256 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. Upgrading router firmware has become simple and user-friendly. The Netgear provides the right power supply. It is 12 V / 2.5 A, this matches the router's voltage needs.
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 Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 supports many network standards too. Most networking equipment, like routers and switches, supports IPv4. The Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router is also compatible with IPv6. IPv6 has a much bigger address space. It also offers many enhancements and improvements over IPv4. 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 | 4 x 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/ax |
| Class | AX4200 |
| Speed | 574 + 3603 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 30 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPA3 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
The 4 x 3 dBi, RP-SMA antennas allow sending and getting many data streams at once. This boosts overall throughput and improves Wi-Fi performance. 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. This router operates on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. It lets you connect devices to the best band for their needs. The Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 AX router typically offers improved range and coverage.
Real-world Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 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. The WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is the latest Wi-Fi security protocol. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides an easy method. It connects devices to a Wi-Fi network.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
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 adds print functionality. You can manage settings, watch queues, and control access from one place. The Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 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 AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 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
- generous memory
- plentiful flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- 802.11ax certified
- lightning-fast Wi-Fi connection
- WPA3 compatible
- WPS friendly
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- none
Netgear Nighthawk AX5 Dual-Band WiFi 6 photos
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