Netgear n300 vs D-link n300 – Which one has a better range and speed?

Routers are used to provide internet connectivity with good speeds and in the market are a variety of routers with different bandwidth and speeds. The Netgear n300 and D-link n300 are N model routers that come with 300 Mbps transfer speeds for HD streaming and online gaming.

I have been using an older 150 Mbps router for the last 5 years and I wanted to replace it with an n300 to improve on the router’s wifi speeds and range. The Netgear n300 and d-link n300 are great N routers that can provide what I need.

What are the differences between Netgear n300 and D-link n300?

Netgear n300 vs D-link n300 – How do they compare?

Design

The Netgear n300 is a stylish router that is designed with a sleek casing, a vertical stand design, and internal antennas. You can’t mount it on your wall or lie horizontally on your shelf. At the front are LED lights for the status of each port, internet, and wireless connections. The WPS button is at the front and the power button, 4 LAN ports, and a WAN port at the back. However, the D-link n300 has a different design. It has a rectangular shape with two antennas at the back as well as the 4 LAN ports and a WAN port that are all regular Ethernet ports instead of the gigabit Ethernet ports you will find in other N routers. These routers lack both gigabit Ethernet ports, 5 GHz band, and USB ports, but still provide decent throughput speeds and range.

Netgear n300 has a better design. It’s compact with no external antennas and doesn’t occupy much space.

Setup

The Netgear n300 uses the Netgear genie software app to walk you through the setup process or you can use the web interface to go through the same process on your computer. As for the D-link n300, it comes with a quick router setup software on a CD that has few simple steps on how to set up the router and also a manual in a CD format. Alternatively, you can use the web browser on your computer which is shared with other d-link routers. It’s very intuitive and responsive and will allow you to access and manage your router’s network features very easily.

Netgear n300 has a better and simpler setup process that is compatible with all advanced PCs and phones.

Features

Both N routers come with useful features that make it easy to control and manage the routers. The Netgear n300 has some common features you will find in most routers but with a slight difference. The semi-web based parental controls are only accessible after you open an OpenDNS account then you can use the web filtering feature to set the content that each filtering level will block. However, the d-link n300 router also has a parental control feature but you don’t need to open an account to use it. It has a set of tools like the website filter, network filter, inbound control, and access control that gives you control of your network and allows you to limit access to the internet using some settings.

D-link n300 is easier to access since it doesn’t need an OpenDNS account.

Netgear n300 vs D-link n300 – A comparison review

Netgear n300

NETGEAR Wireless Router - N300 (WNR2000)

• Supports Windows 8
• Fast downloads and online gaming with speeds up to 300 Mbps

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This n300 is a simple and compact wireless N router that is budget-friendly with decent throughput speeds and range despite missing the 5 GHz band, gigabit Ethernet, and USB ports. It can only operate in a vertical position and you can’t mount it on your wall or place it flat on a surface. It’s very easy to set up this router. You can either use the software app or use the router’s web interface for a step by the step setup process. This router has lots of features that include the OpenDNS parental control which is a very effective and convenient way of setting and controlling the websites to block or limit access.

Some networking features you will find include the ability to assign a specific PC in your network a fixed IP and use it for certain services like an FTP or a web server. When it comes to security features, this router has all encryption standards found in a router and it also supports WPS, a feature that allows you to quickly add wireless devices to your network without typing in the encryption key. The port forwarding is relatively simple to use and the QoS function allows you to prioritize streaming or gaming traffic. When it comes to performance, its mid-range wireless speed is not as fast, but it performs better over longer distances. It can score throughput speeds of about 33.6 Mbps that will be enough to transmit 500 MB of data in 2 minutes. When it comes to range, the n300 can do much better at 32.2 Mbps and still keep a stable connection even at 300 feet, but this will depend on your environment and obstacles around.

Pros

• Good wifi speeds
• Excellent coverage range
• Very affordable
• Easy to use

Cons

• Has no USB or guest network features
• The web interface is sluggish

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D-link n300

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An entry-level N wireless router with decent performance and a responsive and intuitive web interface. Although it lacks the gigabit Ethernet and the USB port, it has everything else you would want from an N wireless router. The n300router has 2 antennas and Ethernet ports located at the back. It comes with a CD that contains the setup software and also a manual in CD format to take you through the simple process or you can launch the web interface from your browser. The web interface is very intuitive and response and it will allow you to configure and control your network.

This router doesn’t have a guest network or a shared port for the USB. The parental control has a set of tools like access control, website filter, etc. that will allow you to limit internet access and control access to your network. You can also customize the router’s firewall so you determine which services to allow and which ones not to. It features all the encryption standards to protect your network and it supports WPS. This n300 router delivers pretty decent wireless performance with a data transfer rate of 32 Mbps for a 500MB and 21.7 Mbps range coverage that can hold steady up to 230 feet, but it will depend on the environment.

Pros

• Good for a small home and office
• Very affordable
• Decent coverage range
• Good throughput speeds

Cons

• Lacks USB ports

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Conclusion

Both the Netgear n300 and d-link n300 are decent N wireless routers that can provide enough wifi speeds for a small home or office.

So which one is better Netgear n300 or d-link n300?

Netgear n300 is better because although it’s not fast in mid-range, its long-range speeds can hold steady and its parental control feature has more advanced features that give you better control of your network.

FAQ

Is n300 enough for streaming 4K content?

An n300 router is capable of delivering speeds of 300 Mbps which has an average speed of 100 and 150 Mbps. For smooth 4K streaming, you want a router with a minimum of 25 Mbps so an n300 router is sufficient.

What is the difference between n300 and ac1200?

N300 devices are mostly single-band with a single band with speeds of 300 Mbps, but ac1200 devices are dual-band devices with 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz and 900 Mbps on the 5 GHz.