Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 WiFi router: Pros and Cons
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 (R8000) router released in 2014. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4709A0 @ 1 GHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash. The AC3200 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with Nighthawk X6 AC3200 is 600 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports.
The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 is a good choice for users seeking a reliable and feature-rich router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. You can connect supported USB devices to the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router. The external storage devices such as USB flash drives or external hard drives add file-server functionality to this router. Netgear has a history of introducing innovative features and technologies into their products.
Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 (R8000) pictures




The specifications below are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.
Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 (R8000) specifications
Brand | Netgear |
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Name | Nighthawk X6 AC3200 |
Type | R8000 |
Rating | |
Launch | 2014 |
Body
Dimensions | 295.5 x 226.8 x 54.5 mm |
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Weight | 1.1 kg |
The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms, such as larger fans or heat sinks, which can help dissipate heat more effectively. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
Chipset | Broadcom BCM4709A0 @ 1 GHz |
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RAM | 256 MB |
Flash | 128 MB |
OS | Netgear |
Alternative OS | OpenWRT |
Power supply | 12 V / 5 A |
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router is equipped with Broadcom BCM4709A0 @ 1 GHz processor. The router's memory (256 MB) cannot be expanded. When choosing a router, it is important to consider both the flash memory and RAM specifications. The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 has 128 MB of flash. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. It enables you to save multiple versions of your router's configuration settings, which can be useful for restoring previous configurations or reverting changes if needed.
Within the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router's interface, look for a section related to firmware or system settings. The exact location and wording may vary depending on the router's make and model. Using a custom OS on a router can offer certain benefits and advantages, but it also comes with potential risks and considerations. Installing custom firmware on theNetgear router voids the manufacturer's warranty and may impact your ability to receive official support.
This router is OpenWRT compatible. OpenWrt has an active development community that continuously works on improving the security of the firmware. The Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router comes with 12 V / 5 A PSU. This unit is responsible for providing electrical power to the router, and if it becomes faulty, it can be replaced with a new, compatible one.
Network
Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
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LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
Mobile network | no |
VPN support | OpenVPN |
The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router supports multiple networking standards to ensure compatibility with various devices and systems. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP) and is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The latest firmware supports IPv6 protocol that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet.
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 has 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN and 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN ports. LAN or Ethernet ports (RJ-45) are used to connect devices to the local area network (LAN). Gigabit Ethernet ports of the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router allow for faster communication between devices within your local network. WAN ports are the entry point to your local network, making them a potential target for unauthorized access or attacks. It's important to secure your WAN connection by using strong passwords, enabling encryption protocols, and keeping the router's firmware up to date to mitigate security risks.
The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router supports Gigabit WAN. Having a Gigabit WAN port is beneficial when your internet service plan supports high-speed connectivity, as it ensures that your router's WAN connection can handle the maximum speed provided by your ISP. OpenVPN is a popular choice for VPN deployments due to its strong security, flexibility, and broad compatibility. It is commonly used by individuals, businesses, and organizations to establish secure remote access connections and protect sensitive data transmitted over public networks.
Wireless
Antennas | 6 x 6 dBi |
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2.4 GHz | yes |
5 GHz | yes |
60 GHz | no |
Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
Class | AC3200 |
Speed | 600 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps |
Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
Guest network | yes |
This router has 6 x 6 dBi antennas. Antennas play a significant role in Wi-Fi performance and coverage. They are essential components of wireless routers that transmit and receive radio signals to establish wireless connections with devices. The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. It is one of the most common frequency bands used for Wi-Fi networks. The 2.4 GHz band is heavily utilized by various devices like cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, and microwaves, leading to higher interference levels. The 5 GHz band is less congested, resulting in reduced interference and a clearer wireless signal. The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router is 5 GHz capable.
The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. This allows for higher data throughput and improved performance, especially when multiple devices are connected to the router simultaneously. The AC3200 is a performance indicator that represents the router's theoretical maximum speed. The theoretical maximum speed (600 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps) represents the highest data transfer rate that the router is capable of achieving under ideal conditions.
The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router offers several security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2. The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the first security protocol for Wi-Fi networks but is now considered weak and easily compromised. It uses a static encryption key and has known vulnerabilities, so it is no longer recommended for securing Wi-Fi networks. The WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) was introduced as an improvement over WEP and provides stronger security. If WPA3 is not available, WPA2-Personal with AES encryption is still considered secure. A guest network on the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 router is a separate network that provides internet access to guests or visitors without giving them access to your main or primary network. It allows you to create a dedicated network segment for guests, keeping their devices isolated from your private network, thereby enhancing security and privacy.
Connectivity
USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 1 x USB 3.0 |
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Print server | yes |
File server | yes |
USB ports can offer additional functionality depending on the router's capabilities. The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps), which is equivalent to 60 megabytes per second (MB/s). The USB 3 ports provide a fast interface for external storage with data transfer rates of up to 4.8 Gbps. You can attach a compatible USB printer to the Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 device. USB print servers allow you to connect a USB printer to your network, making it accessible to multiple devices. This eliminates the need for each device to have a direct USB connection to the printer. It has built-in NAS functionality. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router. This allows you to share files, documents, photos, and media across devices on your network. It can be convenient for accessing and sharing files without the need for separate file servers or cloud storage.
Administration
Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
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Default username | admin |
Default password | password |
The default IP addresses of the Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 device is 192.168.1.1. These address allows you to access the router's console login page. Regularly changing the password is a good security practice to protect your network and devices from unauthorized access. It is also recommended to use strong, unique passwords for other devices and online accounts connected to your network for enhanced security. By changing the default password, you improve the security of your router and reduce the risk of unauthorized individuals gaining control over your network. It helps prevent unauthorized access to your router's settings, network configurations, and sensitive information.
Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200 (R8000) comparisons
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