Everything you need to know about the NETGEAR AX1800 Mesh [A Review]

Mesh routers have been designed to fill your home with Wi-Fi. You may have separate mesh units however they all work under a single SSID and they all share the same network. An example of a mesh router is the NETGEAR AX1800 that has been designed to expand the wireless coverage and eliminate all the dead Wi-Fi spots around your household.

Before I purchased the NETEGAR AX1800, I would frequently experience connectivity failures such as dropping Wi-Fi signals on my connected devices. Another annoying problem that I had was that my network would not always reach my rooms or my backyard, so I couldn’t really pick video calls or even just surf the internet away from my router. Currently, with the NETGEAR AX1800, I have been able to wipe out all the dead spots in my home and entirely fill the gaps that were previously existing in my home coverage. I can literally enjoy Wi-Fi from any corner of my house which is totally worth the installation of this particular mesh router.

NETGEAR AX1800 Mesh Review and Breakdown

NETGEAR Nighthawk Whole Home Mesh WiFi 6 System (MK62) - AX1800 router with 1 satellite extender, coverage up to 3,000 sq. ft. and 25+ devices

• Coverage up to 3,000 sq. ft. and 25+ devices
• Fast AX1800 Gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and web...

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The NETGEAR AX1800 is a mesh router that supports the Wi-Fi 6 technology. It eliminates the dead zones all over your home as it provides a range coverage of up to 3,000 square feet. It provides throughput speeds of up to 18000 Mbps and allows you to have a connection log of 25+ Wi-Fi devices. This allows you to comfortably surf the internet, download large files and stream HD videos simultaneously without having to worry about your data transfer rates dropping.

Aside from that, the NETGEAR AX1800 mesh router is universally compatible with all Internet Service Providers and it works well with devices that have previous Wi-Fi standards and also with those that are equipped with Wi-Fi 6 technologies. It comes with two gigabit Ethernet ports that allow you to establish wired connections on your game consoles, computers and streaming players.

With the NETGEAR AX1800, you are able to create a guest network for your friends and family and with a single network name you are able to enjoy seamless roaming as you move around your home. Additionally, this router has been optimized with MU-MIMO and Beamforming technology which focus wireless signals directly to your connected devices and allows for multiple data streams simultaneously on all your devices. It is also featured with a smart connect feature that automatically connects your devices. Its NETEGAR Armor offers advances cyber threat protection for your network.

What we liked;

• It comes with a minimalistic and slick design
• It has fast throughput speeds
• It has excellent range coverage
• It is easy to use and install
• Has a great capacity for multiple devices

What we didn’t like;

• It does not come with a multi-gig network port
• You are unable to access advances settings on the mobile app

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NETGEAR AX1800 Mesh Specifications

NETGEAR AX1800 Mesh Features

Design and Structure

The NETEGAR AX1800 mesh router comes with a black color that blends into the aesthetic of your home. It is a slightly large router with its size dimensions at8.1 x 8 x 6.5 and it weighs 1.36 pounds which makes it sturdy. Towards the left side of the NETEGAR AX1800 mesh router, there are ventilation channels which help with air circulation to prevent it from overheating.

In as much as these air vents exist, you should always ensure that your router operates under 0 – 30 degrees Celsius for efficiency. It has been designed with seven LLED lights which indicate the power status and the internet connection status of your router. At the front of the router there is a WPS button and a power button. At the back of the router and the satellite, there are two Gigabit Ethernet ports. There is a reset button as well that you can use during your troubleshooting process.

Speed and Performance

The NETGEAR AX1800 router is a dual band router that has throughput speeds of up to 1,800 Mbps. The bandwidth speeds have been distributed as 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1200 Mbps on the 5 GHz and. This allows you to experience faster data transfer rates.

Its performance has been optimized with the OFDMA technology which increases the amount of data being sent and received between your connected devices simultaneously and it also makes the sharing of the Wi-Fi bandwidth by your devices better. Also, it has been equipped with MU-MIMO and Beamforming technologies which focus the wireless signals directly to your connected devices and also maintains the throughput speeds on your devices at all times.

Range and Capacity

The NETGEAR AX1800 mesh router has been designed to cover a range of up to 3,000 square feet. It works well in medium sized homes and when your devices are beyond this recommended range, you may find yourself dealing with connectivity issues such as no internet connection and dropping Wi-Fi signals.

Also, this mesh router can hold a capacity of about 25 Wi-Fi devices on your home network at the same time. No matter how heavy the load would be, it is able to maintain the throughput speeds and ensure that each of your devices receive stable network connection.

Security and Network Control

It has built in VPN and allows you to create a secure network for your guests and friends so that they can use your home network when they come to visit you. This way you are able to separate it from your personal network. Aside from that, the security of your home network has been strengthened by the NETGEAR Armor software that is powered by BitDefender. It offers protection against network viruses and malwares to all your connected devices. However, you need to pay for it so that you can renew your network protection annually.

Through the Nighthawk app you are able to manage, monitor and repair connectivity issues on your NETGEAR AX1800 Mesh router. Also, the Nighthawk app allows you to access Parental Control tools which allow you to further secure your network for your kids. This way you can restrict the devices that are connected to your network, you can block malicious sites and put an age limit to prevent access to adult content by your children.

The NETGEAR AX1800 mesh router is also secured with WPA 2/ WPA 3 security protocols with 128-bit encryption.

Who is it best suited for?

The NETGEAR AX1800 mesh router would be ideal for you if you intend to expand your wireless coverage throughout your home. Also, it is suitable for your home if you want to access the internet towards your backyard and towards the rooms which were previously Wi-Fi dead spots.

Are there any alternatives for the NETGEAR AX1800 Mesh?

Yes. The alternative routers to the NETEGAR AX1800 mesh router are the Linksys MR7350, the Asus RT-AX56U and the TP-Link AX3000.

Features of the alternative routers

Verdict: Should you get the NETGEAR AX1800?

Yes. In as much as the NETEGAR AX1800 mesh router lacks a multi-gig network port to power your wired connections, it has faster throughput speeds on your wireless connections. It has great capacity which allows you to connect may devices simultaneously and it maintains the speed on each device. All in all, it is reliable and it is manufactured with the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology that improves your network experience.

FAQs

Would it be possible for me to set my NETGEAR AX1800 to bridge mode and would it work with my already existing router?

Yes. The NETGEAR AX1800 is able to be placed into bridge mode and it will work perfectly fine with your already existing router.

How close should I place the satellites to my router?

Generally, the placement distance between your router and the satellites is often determined the environment surrounding them. However, the recommended distance is between 40 – 70 feet.