Netgear c3000 vs c3700 – Which one has the best wireless speeds?
Many benefits come with converting or upgrading to a modem router combo, one being you get to save on space, money for rental fees, and some extra features that you won’t find in your router. The Netgear c3000 and c3700 are great modem router combos that both support gigabit Ethernet, Docsis 3.0, and 802.11n standards.
After two years of paying for my cable service, a realized I can be saving a lot every month if I got a modem router combo for my home network. I have always trusted Netgear products so I didn’t have a hard choice on the brand. Netgear is a well-known brand that manufacturers reliable and quality modem routers that can deliver great speeds. The c3000 and c3700 are excellent modem routers that have the potential to deliver what I need.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Netgear c3000 and c3700?
Netgear modem router |
C3000 |
C3700 (Winner) |
N model |
N300 |
N600 |
Bandwidth |
Single-band |
Dual-band |
Speeds |
340 Mbps |
340 Mbps |
Wifi speeds |
2.4 GHz- 300 Mbps |
2.4 GHz- 300 Mbps
5 GHz- 300 Mbps |
Docsis version |
3.0 |
3.0 with backward compatibility with Docsis 2.0 devices |
Netgear c3000 vs c3700. How do they compare?
Docsis 3.0
Both the c3000 and c3700 support the Docsis 3.0 8×4 cable modem that can deliver fast broadband speeds of up to 340 Mbps, and both support gigabit Ethernet with 4 LAN ports. This is the latest modem standard that allows for much faster internet speeds than the older Docsis 2.0 standards by bonding multiple channels together allowing for greater throughput speeds. However, these speeds will depend on the number of channels a modem can bond. Both routers can bond 8 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels which means the router can deliver theoretical speeds of up to 340 Mbps from your ISP which is more than enough for HD streaming and online gaming. However, the actual speeds will depend on your ISP plan.
Both modem routers support the Docsis 3.0 and gigabit ports which allows for fast speeds.
Gigabit Ethernet
Both modem routers have 2 gigabit Ethernet ports that allow you to connect your wired devices with speeds of up to 1 Gbps that is very effective for network transfers. However, for you to take advantage of such speeds, your ISP should be able to provide more than 100 Mbps so you can enjoy higher internet speeds. Ethernet routers are more efficient and have less latency and interference than wired connections.
They both can use gigabit Ethernet ports to connect your wired devices for fast transfer speeds.
Bandwidth
The c3700 is a dual-band router which means it uses both the 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band frequencies which help to reduce congestion in your connected devices and also provide extra network throughput fro the devices connected devices. You have the option of using the 5 GHz band that is less congested and has less interference from other wireless networks or devices in your neighborhood. On the other hand, the c3000 is a single-band wifi router that only uses the 2.4 GHz band and this makes it slow.
The c3700 is a faster and less congested router with two band frequencies that you can connect more wireless devices.
Wireless N speeds
Both the c3000 and c3700 use wireless N standards. The c3000 uses the n300 with networking speeds of up to 300 Mbps, while c3700 uses the n600 with speeds of up to 600 Mbps. The c3000 uses a single antenna so there’s no dual-band wifi, so you’re limited to the 2.4 GHz band with low performance and short-range, but reliable wired connection. On the other hand, the c3700 uses two frequencies for quicker file transfers although the wifi won’t be that fast on your devices, with a really fast internet connection, it might be perfect to use with an external wireless router.
The c3700 has better N speeds and wifi performance than c3000.
Netgear c3000 vs c3700 – A comparison review
Netgear c3000
- Compatible with Xfinity from Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, CableONE & more; Double firewall protection (SPI and...
- Three in one DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + N300 WiFi Router+ 2 Gigabit Wired Switch. ELIMINTE MONTHLY CABLE...
Netgear c3000 is an 8×4 Docsis 3.0 cable router with a slow n300 wireless speed. It’s a small compact device with a black plastic casing and a stand at the base for stability. It uses the Docsis 3.0 platform for faster downloading speeds of up to 340 Mbps with faster and smoother wifi speeds. It supports all major cable internet providers including Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Time Warner, Spectrum, CableOne, and many others. The c3000 can provide internet connection for your home with enough speeds for smooth HD streaming, uninterrupted and fast online gaming, and reliable internet for all your connected devices.
It has a USB port that allows you to wirelessly access and shares content in your hard drive with other devices and you can also search and play media on DNLA TVs and game consoles. The modem uses the 8×4 channel bonding, 8 downstream channels, and 4 upstream channels, to deliver fast cable internet speed even during peak hours. When it comes to range, the c3000 can deliver an enhanced range that is needed in every room which makes it perfect for medium-sized homes. WPA/WPA2 will ensure that your network and your devices are safe and secure when using the internet.
Pros
- Fast wifi speeds
- Reliable connectivity
- Can work with most of the cable internet providers
- Has a sleek design
Cons
- You can’t connect to a VPN with this device
Netgear c3700
- ELIMINATE MONTHLY CABLE MODEM RENTAL FEES Up to $120 per year
- Two in One DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + WiFi Router with 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1 USB 2.0 port.System...
Netgear c3700 is also a modem router combo that looks identical to the c3000 but has a few differences the main one being it’s a dual-band N600router that can deliver theoretical speeds of up to 300 Mbps on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It’s also an 8×4 Docsis 3.0 modem with a capacity to handle internet speeds of up to 340 Mbps. It has 2 gigabit LAN ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports for plugging in your hard drive or printer for network access. C3700 is designed as a Docsis 3.0 devices but also has backward compatibility with Docsis 2.0 devices.
It uses 8×4 channel bonding which means it has 8 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels to deliver fast downloading and uploading speeds. It has a Netgear genie that will assist you to easily manage your network from the parental controls, guest access, security settings, and many more. It comes with a browser version and a mobile app that you can use on your smartphone to control your network from anywhere. This n600 router is compatible with the current and next-generation wifi devices and provides the highest level of wireless security and support for IPv6. With the Gigabit Ethernet ports, you can enjoy fast wired speeds with your computer and other wired devices connected to your network.
Pros
- Has a nice and simple design
- Fast and reliable speeds
- The genie software is intuitive and easy to use
Cons
- It’s expensive
- Has a short-range
Conclusion
Both the Netgear c3000 and c3700 are very similar devices in that they’re both Docsis 3.0 routers with 8 downstream and 4 upstream channels with gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 ports. However, the c3000 is an N300 with a single-band while c3700 is an N600 with a dual-band which means it’s a bit more powerful with faster speeds.
So which one is better Netgear c3000 or c3700?
Netgear c3700 is better because it’s has a dual-band router with faster wifi speeds which means your devices will be less congested and you can connect more devices to your network.
FAQ
Can I use Netgear c3700 as a router only?
This will largely depend if you want to use the c3700 to only provide your home network with 2 wifi networks and 2 ethernet ports. Simply don’t connect the cable port, but you can use the router section that will allow you to connect your wired and wireless devices.
Is Netgear c3700 compatible with Xfinity?
C3700 is an N600 wifi Docsis 3.0 modem router that is certified to work with Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, and many more.
