Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 router review
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 (R7850) router released in 2017. It is powered by Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8065 @ 1.7 GHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash. The AC3000 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 is 450 + 1300 + 1300 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 X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 is a popular router model from Netgear. Many users have given it positive reviews. This router has USB connectors. They add features and expand your network's capabilities. Netgear offers good customer support, including firmware updates, documentation, and technical assistance.
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 |
| Type | R7850 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2017 |
Body
| Dimensions | 295.5 x 226.8 x 54.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
If you plan to move or travel a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. It needs to be small to be easy to carry. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
| Chipset | Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8065 @ 1.7 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Power supply | 12 V / 3.5 A |
The Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8065 @ 1.7 GHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 router. You cannot expand the router's memory (256 MB). When choosing a router, it is important to consider the RAM specifications. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface. The Netgear packages the Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 router with 12 V / 3.5 A PSU.
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 |
The router supports many networking standards. It ensures compatibility with different devices and systems. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The router also supports IPv6. This allows you to use the latest Internet Protocol. The router has Gigabit Ethernet ports. They allow for faster communication between devices on your local network.
A Gigabit WAN port is helpful. It is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds. OpenVPN is popular for VPNs. This is because it is strong, flexible, and works on many devices.
Wireless
| Antennas | 6 x 2 dBi fixed |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 6 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC3000 |
| Speed | 450 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 28 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. 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 5GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4GHz band. This Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. The top speed, 450 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps, is the highest data rate the router can reach. It's the theoretical limit in perfect conditions.
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 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. By connecting a USB printer to the Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 router, you can make it accessible to all devices on your network. This router has a USB file server. It lets you connect external storage devices to your network. For example, you can connect USB flash drives or hard drives.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | password |
Changing the password often is a good security practice. It protects your network and devices from unauthorized access. Changing the default password improves your router's security. It reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals controlling your network.
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
- adequate flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- too weighty
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 photos
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