[Review] Netgear Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Smart Wi-Fi Router (Cnet called it : Router for the RICH )

[trichard]

I just came home with the newly arrival to my collection of routers - The Netgear Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Smart Wi-Fi Router.

Will spend some time to write a review .

Meanwhile here is the video

What is Active Antenna

Features

Get fastest speeds available up to 5.3Gbps
Tri-band WiFi delivers more WiFi to more devices
Quad Stream delivers up to four data streams per WiFi band
4 active antennas and 4 internal antennas amplify and maximize range
6 Gigabit Ethernet ports—aggregate two ports for faster file transfers
Smart Connect intelligently selects the fastest WiFi band for every device
MU-MIMO capable for simultaneous streaming of data to multiple devices
Dynamic QoS prioritizes bandwidth by application and device
ReadyCLOUD® USB Access — Secure personal access to USB storage from anywhere

Reference - http://www.netgear.com.sg/home/products/networking/wifi-routers/R8500.aspx

Technical @ SNB : http://www.snbforums.com/threads/nighthawk-x8-r8500-tri-band-quad-stream-wifi-router.27456/

 

[trichard]

Now unpacking the router , inside is simple

1) The unit with Antenna already attached.
2) Manual
3) Power adaptor

Side by Side with Asus AC3200 (in size).

 

[trichard]

Inside view (Picture from other site)

Source: http://en.sunningview.com/article/36735

 

[trichard]

As I do not have ASUS AC5300, I will use the AC3200 signal strength vs the X8500 (with Active Antenna ) as a comparison.

From the picture below , if base on the price of AC3200 ($409) vs X8 ($699) ............ there is sure a reason of why the close to $300 more...

AC3200 with 2 5Ghz SSID (Garfield and Genie) , Samaung A8 and 4 meter away from the router (no walls)

Netgear X8500 with 2 5Ghz SSID (Garfield and Genie) , Samaung A8 and 4 meter away from the router. (no walls)

 

[trichard]

Reviews Link

http://www.cnet.com/products/netgear-r8500-nighthawk-x8-ac5300-smart-wifi-router/

 

[trichard]

Q&A

1) Can we Smart Connect all the 3 bands - 2.4G/5G-1/5G-2?
Smart Connect works best automatically. It combines only 5GH band and shifting devices among the two 5G bands for best allocation. As for 2.4G, customer will need to allocate themselves.

2) Can we set the channel bandwidth manually to 80Mhz?
Customer can set speed, but not the MHz.

More FAQ ------- > http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29916

 

[Ah-Pin-Kor]

Wah, finally pulled the trigger liao

 

[mikengtw]

Wah I am totally speechless I must see your review just
how good it is . I have to give you thumb up good

 

[trichard]

Started the first 3 posts..........

And for people who think it is free , no I pay for and I remove the challenger price tag lah ....... scare wife see....

 

[Ah-Pin-Kor]

Nice comparison of the signal strength.
I've heard it's big but it's much bigger than I thought, seeing it beside the Asus AC3200.

 

[trichard]

Looks like this is a good feature ... and it bring the price way up .

Other antenna are Korsong and hence cheaper

 

[renfred89]

Looks like this is a good feature ... and it bring the price way up .

Other antenna are Korsong and hence cheaper

Lol.. just like asus ac5300/ac87u, the antennas got lobang one.. hahas

 

[danny]

Signal strength for X8500 seems to be better than AC3200

-40dBm vs -60dBm (Garfield)
-30dBm vs -50dBm (Genie)

How is the speed and range? Is there any drop connection when streaming HD and 4k videos through wifi?
How is the lan speed? Thanks.

 

[trichard]

Signal strength for X8500 seems to be better than AC3200

-40dBm vs -60dBm (Garfield)
-30dBm vs -50dBm (Genie)

How is the speed and range? Is there any drop connection when streaming HD and 4k videos through wifi?
How is the lan speed? Thanks.

I have no Lan connected devices all Wi-Fi so cannot test that.

Any idea how to I stream 4K video?

I also did a test by standing 1M away from the router and this is my SSID strength.

I am asking AC88/AC5200 user using their Android phone... try and measure the SSID strength 1 M away from the unit.. hope can get more data.

You have android phone ? ... what router u using and can try to measure ?

.

Test done using Samsung A8 mobile

 

[Apparatus]

Re

What app you used to measure?

 

[trichard]

What app you used to measure?

I am using Samsung A8 ............. and the apps is Wifi Analyser by Farproc.

Can help to measure standing 1 M away from your AC5300 ........... and what is the signal strength pick up from the router ?

 

[Apparatus]

Re

I am using Samsung A8 ............. and the apps is Wifi Analyser by Farproc.

Can help to measure standing 1 M away from your AC5300 ........... and what is the signal strength pick up from the router ?

I'm getting about -30dBm at Ch 6 with Note 4. Is this better than yours?

 

[Ah-Pin-Kor]

My AC68 with Note 4,
1m away is -25 dBm channel 140

Sent from the darknet using GAGT

 

[Apparatus]

Re

Brother........ why you CH 6 wan........ that is 2.4G wor......

Don't know leh. I'm on SINGTEL Combo 6 and I've 2 Note 4. One always on 5GHz and the other on 2.4GHz. I'm using Smart Connect on my router.

The 5GHz (which is mine) is the main line whereas the other (my maid) is on the supplementary line. This is the same when on previous AC3200 also

When I tested with my Note 4 the reading is the same as my maid's reading ie. -30dBm at Ch 6. However, when I use the ASUS Router mobile app to check my set it is on 5GHz leh

Anything wrong here?

 

[danny]

Linksys WRT1200AC on Note 5

1.5m with wall inbetween

2.4ghz -48dBm
5ghz -42dBm