Netgear N600 Vs Ac1600- Which router performs better?

Routers perform two functions in a network; one, they forward data packets to their destinations and two they act as an intersection between multiple IP networks.

The current trend of home domotics has seen many home devices configured to integrate with the smart homes, and that also includes the routers. Home automation systems control the lighting system of a home, they can power up the entertainment systems and the kitchen appliances, and can also integrate with your home networking router. So all you got to do is just give commands and Alexa or Siri will power up your router.

Well, routers do offer much more benefits apart from integrating with your smart home, for example, they give you the liberty to tweak your network through device prioritization, they allow the creation of a separate and secure guest network and ensure your Wi-Fi network is secure from external interferences. However, not all the routers offer the above services in one unit and that is why we reviewed the Netgear N600 and the Ac1600 to find out the features that they offer and their application.

What are the differences between the Netgear N600 vs the Ac1600

The Netgear N600 vs the Ac1600 –how do they compare?

Performance

A router’s performance is first determined by the incorporated technology that helps enhance the offered speeds and connectivity. Also, your ISP has to match the speed that your router offers, if the speeds are low then the devices connected to your network will also experience slow internet speeds.

The wireless communication standard incorporated in your router also enhances performance, Netgear N600 therefore, utilizes the 802.11a/b/g/n standard where n enables the router to use multiple frequency bands to carry out the Multiple Input Multiple Output, the above is a Wi-Fi technology that enables the router to get maximum throughput from a Wi-Fi device.

The Netgear Ac1600 on the other hand uses both the 802.11a/b/g/n and the 2.4GHz technology, which means that the router supports the 2.4GHz band. If we break it down is that the 802.11g combines both the 802.11a and the 802. 11b and g which will provide you with a bandwidth of up to 54mbps while using the 2.4GHz for greater coverage and frequency. Additionally, the 802.11g is backward compatible with the 802.11 b wireless communication standard.

The Netgear Ac1600 uses both the 2.4GHz band and the 802.11b wireless standard which has been determined to achieve a maximum data rate of 11mbps, while the wireless “g” offers maximum data rates of up to 54mbps enabling you to transfer files in less time. Wireless g is reliable for people who live in apartments, flats, or small houses. Wireless n on the other hand, will transfer large media files like music and videos at very high speeds, and even better is that they offer longer range coverage thus efficient and reliable.

The Ac1600 is the better router because it offers both the latest wireless communication standard the 802.11n and the 2.4GHz meant to enhance performance in the wireless network.

Connectivity technology

The Ac1600 offers the wireless connectivity technology, a wireless router enables the wireless network packet forwarding and routing. What happens is that the router replaces the wires with the wireless radio signals to enable communication within and to the external network environments.

The good thing about wireless routers is that they connect directly to the modem using a cable, and enables information transmission, the router then proceeds to communicate with your home Wi-Fi network through the built-in antennas. Wireless connections are available in three different types the WAN, LAN, and PAN.

Netgear N600 on the other hand, offers both Wireless and Wi-Fi connectivity technology, which, therefore, means that the router’s performance is enhanced when compared to the Ac1600. Wi-Fi technology enables computers to communicate over a wireless signal. The technology also comes with a lot of pros such as mobility, as you can be mobile while accessing your wireless network, the Wi-Fi network is expandable to offer longer range coverage and to cater to more devices.

Netgear N600 is the better router because it offers both Wi-Fi and wireless connectivity technology.

Data Transfer Rates

High data transfer rates mean faster networking, so if it is in a business environment, information is sent and received in real-time. The Ac1600 therefore is a high performer as it offers its users a data transfer rate of 1600mb per second, while the Netgear N600 offers low data transfer rates at 300mb per second when compared to the Ac1600.

The Netgear N600 vs the Ac1600- A Comparison Overview

Netgear N600 Overview

NETGEAR N600 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router (WNDR3400)

• Faster WiFi Speed: N600 Dual Band WiFi delivers 300 + 300Mbps
• Ideal WiFi range for medium to large homes. System Requirements: Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10,Vista, XP,...

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The Netgear N600 was built to cater to the basic internet activities such as browsing, streaming, and downloading. Being a dual-band router it obliterates the chances of interference with the neighboring Wi-Fi signals; also, the dual-band routers, tend to be more expensive than the single-band routers, because they offer higher performance.

The router also allows users to connect up to 5 Wi-Fi devices and can intelligently select between the dual bands thus minimizing interference while maximizing on the speeds. Connectivity via the wired feature has been provided through the four Ethernet ports that deliver fast internet speeds.

Pros

• Ease of installation and customization has been enabled through the network genie application
• Offer faster Wi-Fi speeds at 300 + 300mbps
• The simultaneous dual-band minimizes interferences
• Supports Windows 8

Cons

• Not convenient for the long haul
• Users complain of an awkward parental control

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The Netgear Ac1600 Overview

NETGEAR AC1600 Dual Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Router (R6250)

• Provides an extensible design that enables service prioritization for data
• Design that delivers high availability, scalability, and for maximum flexibility and price/performance

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The Ac1600 is a mass of newly advanced technological features that help enhance the router’s performance. For example, we have the beamforming and the QoS technology which prioritizes the devices that are into the bandwidth-intensive applications thus minimizing latency. High download and upload speeds, enhances interaction, and when gaming you can, expect to get clear HD videos.

The router also offers whole-home coverage via the next generation Ac Wi-Fi and the Gigabit Wired and Wireless connection. The incorporated USB port will help you share files with devices in your network, the router also offers watertight security for the devices in the wireless network.

Pros

• Users can customize their routers via the nighthawk application
• Incorporated the beamforming and QoS technology
• The router is compatible with the next generation Wi-Fi devices
• The router is scalable

Cons

• loses the signal constantly
• The speeds drop off with time

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Conclusion

Just because a router offers low networking speeds, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is any less effective, besides there are some people who don’t need the big router, and for this group, they have the Netgear N600. The Ac1600 router is for the big offices and business whose productivity is tied to strong internet signals and high data speeds.

Verdict; so which is the better router? The Netgear N600 or the Ac1600

The Netgear Ac1600 is the high performing router because it offers super high upload and download speeds thus attractive for the busy networking environments, the data transfer rates are also high at 1600mb per second meaning that entrepreneurs will be able to respond to their customers in real-time. The incorporated latest wireless communications standard also enhances the routers performance making it reliable for devices that are located at a farther distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many port forwarding entries are allowed for the Netgear N600?

You are allowed at least 64 entries for the new routers and 20 for the older routers.

2. Does the Netgear Ac1200 need a modem?

The Ac 1200 is a modem router because it has incorporated a built-in ADSL2 plus a modem router, enabling it to offer improved performance and enhanced wireless coverage.