NETGEAR Nighthawk AX4 4-Stream AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router (RAX35-100NAS) $99 @ Walmart.com (CyberMonday)

[VirtualLarry]

NETGEAR Nighthawk AX4 4-Stream AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router (RAX35-100NAS) $99

NETGEAR - Nighthawk AX3000 WiFi 6 Router, 3Gbps (RAX35) - Walmart.com

Buy NETGEAR - Nighthawk AX3000 WiFi 6 Router, 3Gbps (RAX35) at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Apparently (according to Netgear Community discussions), the only difference between the budget-priced RAX35-100NAS, and the RAX40, is a USB3.0 port that is present on the RAX40, but missing on the RAX35. Hardware is supposedly the same.

This router, judging by reviews, seems to be a bit hit-or-miss for some people. Plenty of really glowing reviews (and it DOES support 160Mhz channels, DFS channels, and OFDM/MU-MIMO, along with WPA3), but plenty of 1-star reviews as well, mostly around the wifi dropping repeatly and sporadically. I wonder if they're allowing the router to (probably by default), "Roam" (Auto-select channel) for the 5Ghz band, to the DFS freq. channels, which their client devices may be older and not support, so from their perspective, the wifi "just drops". Probably best, when configuring this router, if you're not sure, to select a non-DFS channel for the 5Ghz band, and set it to a fixed channel, and ENABLE 160Mhz channel width, if it you manage to utilize that. That should get you maximum bandwidth over the 5Ghz band.

Considering that the RAX40 is $199, this does seem like a bit of a deal, assuming that you don't have problems with it.

Would be fun to get something with WPA3 to play around with, and work with my Intel AX200 Wifi 6 adapters.

Edit: There's also these TP-Link Wifi 6 routers, for those of you on a tighter budget:

TP-Link Archer AX1500 4 Stream Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Router, Up to 1.5 Gbps Speeds, Upgrade Any Home Internet - Walmart.com

Buy TP-Link Archer AX1500 4 Stream Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Router, Up to 1.5 Gbps Speeds, Upgrade Any Home Internet at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

TP-Link | AX1800 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 1.8 Gbps Speeds| Upgrade Any Home Internet - Walmart.com

Buy TP-Link | AX1800 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 1.8 Gbps Speeds| Upgrade Any Home Internet at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[fralexandr]

Fyi picked up a linksys ea7200 ac1750 for $50 from office depot. Have to add a cheap filler item to get free shipping though.
Been looking for a cheapish router for a friends ~2400 sqft house, and tplinks generally seem to have poor long range performance, based mostly on pcworld's tests. Not much info out there on the 7200 though and I'd prefer replaceable antennas...

Site Maintenance

That said I dunno if I should've picked up something nicer, and ax routers seem to have some nice energy and network efficiency features.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't know if I would buying any Linksys routers any more, they have that manditory web filtering (spying on what you browse), and requiring a cloud account login to use. Seems to be antithetical to real security / privacy. Haven't bought Linksys in quite a long time.

 

[fralexandr]

Hmm forgot about that. Had an ea3500 that worked fine, but on firmware update required an account... maybe i'll see if ddwrt or tomato or something works on it...?

Edit: no openwrt/freshtomato, poot

 

[Lanyap]

I bought the RAX35-100NAS on clearance for $99 @ the local WM B&M about six months ago. I haven't had any problems with it. I don't do anything fancy with it just basic internet and streaming. Keep in mind this the WM version of the RAX40 like other electronics (e.g. Samsung LCDs) where the WM version is scaled down from the regular retail version and the hardware (like VL said) and firmware may be different. I haven't seen as many firmware updates as my NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 Smart WiFi Router (R8000) - AC3200.

 

[Pohemi]

I ordered a Netgear Nighthawk AX4300 yesterday, had kept an eye out over the weekend for any good deals but didn't see anything other than a few TP-LINK devices.

I've got a TP-LINK Archer C1900 now that has worked decently for the years I've had it, but I did some reading and research into different routers and it seems that TP-LINK is about to change their device sw/fw to a subscription-based service in order to get full functionality. Nope, fuck you, TP-LINK.

 

[fralexandr]

Fyi, I have a Netgear r6700 ac1750 and Netgear already has a subscription for their Netgear "Armor" router antivirus.

 

[Pohemi]

Fyi, I have a Netgear r6700 ac1750 and Netgear already has a subscription for their Netgear "Armor" router antivirus.

So the sub is only for the anti-V? Meh. I could overlook that much easier than requiring a sub just to control the router, which is basically what it sounds like TP-Link is doing.

It's more than one feature or an 'extra' software utility, it's essential and advanced functions of the router. Not some kind of extra, optional utility.

You could easily choose not to use some shitty router anti-V, but lacking control and basic operations? Nope.

 

[Ranulf]

I've been somewhat looking myself lately due to issue with my current netgear 7000. Good to know about tp-link filtering stuff though.

Costco has the AX4300 on sale online for members at $129 right now, may be at stores too.

 

[13Gigatons]

I don't know if I would buying any Linksys routers any more, they have that mandatory web filtering (spying on what you browse), and requiring a cloud account login to use. Seems to be antithetical to real security / privacy. Haven't bought Linksys in quite a long time.

Didn't hear about the mandatory web filtering....do you have a link?

I have a 6350-b4 that I will probably be returning...