While the router has a Guest network that can allow Web browsing while blocking access to network drives, it doesn't use industrial-strength LDAP client authentication for an added level of security. Visit our corporate site. Its true range is better, not to mention features like MU-MIMO, but we can’t help but think if you truly want to take advantage of mesh networking, you’d get something like the Netgear Orbi instead. With the Netgear Nighthawk X6S Tri-Band WiFi Mesh Extender (EX8000) you can get the same kind of seamless Wi-Fi coverage that you get from a mesh Wi-Fi system without having to replace your current router. To test the EX8000's MU-MIMO performance, I used three identical Acer Aspire E15 laptops equipped with Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 wireless 802.11ac network adapters as my clients. In an older building, it had an exceptional range of 165 feet, 15 feet longer than Trendnet's TEW-812DRU router. The Netgear Nighthawk X6 EX7700 Mesh Wi-Fi Extender looks great, performs reliably, and is feature-packed. Its signal-strength light glowed white, meaning it was in its extending sweet spot. MORE: Best Wireless Router - Routers for Strong, Long Range Wi-Fi. I clicked New Extender Setup, created an account using my email address, password, and two security questions, and selected Wi-FI Range Extender when asked how I wanted to use the extender (it can also be configured for use as an access point). 5 out of 5. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Other range extenders typically utilize the same radio bands as wireless clients and are therefore competing with clients for bandwidth. You’ll need to connect over wired or wireless connection to log in and troubleshoot. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Next, I picked the network to extend and matched its name and pass code. If you used WPS, then the X6 should have cloned the network settings from your router, keeping the same SSID and password, so you won't have to fiddle with connecting to separate network. Talk about customizable. The X6 additionally supports MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple input, multiple output), which can make it a good choice if a lot of devices are going to be used simultaneously on the extender. The X6S blew the competition away with the best performance for an extender we've seen. The same goes for if the extender loses connection with the router. But, unfortunately, the app is available for only Android phones and tablets, not iPhones or iPads. However, the R8000 blew the others away in 2.4-GHz testing with a throughput of 97.8 Mbps at 5 feet, compared with 74.7 Mbps for the Asus RT-AC68U. Best Buy has honest and unbiased customer reviews for NETGEAR - Nighthawk X6 AC2200 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender - Black. Wireless throughput performance was good in our testing, but not stellar. Overall, we were fairly happy with the amount of range the Nighthawk X6 added to our router. I then chose my home network from the list of scanned networks that I wanted to extend (you can extend both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, or just one), and made sure the Enable One WiFi Name box was checked. You've probably noticed them walking through the electronics department of your local big box store. At 140 feet, the R8000's throughput of 177.3 Mbps on 802.11ac was again slower than the ASUS (291.7 Mbps) and the Linksys (261.8 Mbps). New York, There was more than enough throughout left over for a Hearhtstone gaming session. It moved 472.6 Mbps in our 75-foot test (where the extender is 100 feet from the router), 11 percent more throughput than the TP-Link RE650. You will receive a verification email shortly. Using Netgear's Genie software, the R8000's setup wizard takes about 5 minutes to configure the router. If your router does not support WPS, use the Netgear Installation Assistant, which is also quick and easy and is the method I used. It showed the current data traffic, signal strength and potential sources of interference. The black enclosure stands upright on a permanent semi-circular base and cannot be mounted on a wall. The Netgear Nighthawk X6 is integrated with Amazon Alexa for voice command prompts and features six external high-performance antennas that combine with tri-band Wi ... for improved signal strength and range. That throughput was plenty for 4K videos and music. If you feel up to it, the R8000 can be manually configured. Netgear's enthusiast-grade Nighthawk line has been the flagship of the company's consumer-targeted networking products for quite some time. At $300, the Netgear R8000 router is one of the most expensive routers in its class. The router's six rectangular antennas use beam-forming techniques to sculpt the signal to suit the receiving antenna. Bigger can be better when it comes to filling in the gaps in your home's Wi-Fi network. The Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 offers the rare ability to use the same network name and password as your router, but other extenders offer better speed and range. Unlike other extenders, getting the X6S set up is a two-step process that took upward of 11 minutes, nearly twice as long as the Coredy E300; it's worth the time and effort, though. NY 10036. man that is ugly... but the unique SSID and PW is a good feature to have. One of our favorite aspects of the Nighthawk X6 is the design. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. You don't get as many settings with the EX8000 as you do with the Amped Wireless RE2600M. review process here. The 10 Best Budget Routers in 2020. If you're extending Wi-Fi in your home and only a few people will be using it, MU-MIMO isn't really that big of a deal. Alternatively, if you still don't have coverage in the dead spot, you'll have to move it further away. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Laptops, tablets, phones, TVs, game consoles, music streamers, cameras – if it’s WiFi enabled, it’s X6 accelerated. Fastlane3 feature can reduce network latency if multiple devices are connecting to the extender, High price compared to most extenders on the market, Features like mesh networking aren't worth the extra money for most users. It has a small AC adapter that only takes up one plug, with no awkward overlap, and can sit on a table, desk, or another flat surface. Both of these results are about 20 times the level of which the tiny and much less expensive Coredy E300 was capable. Follow us @tomsguide, on Facebook and on Google+. While you likely won't be turning it off much, it's nice to have the option with a simple push button. The router never got more than warm to the touch and doesn't need the annoying cooling fan on the WRT 1900AC. The Maximum Throughput LED glows solid white when the extender is using the 5GHz band for backhaul and is off when using the 2.4GHz band. We purchased the Netgear Nighthawk X6 Wi-Fi Mesh Extender so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. The easiest way to get coverage is by moving the extender to the halfway point between your router and the dead spot. See our other reviews of the best Wi-Fi extenders. If you want a range extender that delivers superior throughput, consider our Editor's Choice, the Amped Wireless Athena-EX High Power AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender RE2600M. The thicker they are, the more range they'll knock off your signal. The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Router with breakthrough Tri-Band WiFi technology was built to connect to each and every device in your home—automatically and simultaneously. Price is really where the Netgear Nighthawk X6 gets dicey. Don’t let the web interface scare you, though. There was a problem. In fact, if you use WPS to connect to your router, it's possible you may never have to see the extender's interface. With the configuration out of the way, I moved the X6S to an outlet about 50 feet away. To start, I placed the extender close to my router, plugged it in, and connected my desktop to one of the extender's LAN ports (you can also do this wirelessly by connecting to the extender's SSID). Features. Since you're not limited by having to place the X6 directly into a wall socket, you can place it higher or lower in a room to more easily find that sweet spot where you're at the optimum range from your router. It can be a frustrating little shuffle depending on your situation, but the Router Link LED helps a lot with pinpointing the outskirts of your router's Wi-Fi coverage without having to access the web interface. Visit our corporate site. Like other products in Netgear's Nighthawk line, the X6 EX7700 boasts mesh networking, and MU-MIMO technology, which sets it a notch above other extenders, but it also commands a premium price.