Everything you need to know about the Nighthawk AC3000 [A Review]

Are you a gadget guru looking for quality over quantity? NETGEAR allows you to get excellent network quality through its Nighthawk AC3000 router which is not only an affordable router but is also one that delivers fast and stable Wi-Fi. Let us take a look at its features and analyze its performance.

I need the internet for so many activities in my life- entertainment, work, hobbies, education and to also communicate with my family and friends who live quite a distance from me. Majority of the time, a wired connection seems to give me better network connection but because most of my devices are portable, there has been the constant need to find myself a wireless router that delivers excellent network quality in terms of speed and its overall performance. This led me to the Nighthawk AC3000 router by NETGEAR which provides me with fast and reliable Wi-Fi throughout my household.

Nighthawk AC3000 review and breakdown

NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Dual Band Smart WiFi Router, Gigabit Ethernet, Compatible with Amazon Echo/Alexa (R7900)

• 3.0Gbps—Fast combined WiFi speed for uninterrupted streaming
• Tri-Band MU-MIMO—Simultaneous streaming to more devices

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The Nighthawk ac3000 is among the long-range routers by NETGEAR that cover up to 2,500 square feet meaning that you can comfortably use it in both large and multi-story homes. It has throughput speeds of up to 3000 Mbps which has been distributed as 450 Mbps for devices using the 2.4 GHz channel and 1300 Mbps each for the devices using the two 5 GHz channels. It has been equipped with the genie software which allows for easy setup and configuration of the router. It is a tri-band router that has a single 2.4 GHz and a pair of 5 GHz channels which work together simultaneously to ensure that all your devices are connected to the internet without a lag. This way you are able to easily play online games and stream through Netflix or YouTube.

It has been designed with six antennas that are high performing for added coverage in all parts of your household. This router is compatible with Amazon Alexa which allows you to use voice commands to control your network.It has been optimized with the beamforming technology and it is secured with the WPA/WPA 2 security protocols. It comes with both the USB 3.0 and USB 2.0which allow you to share files across your router. The Nighthawk AC3000 allows you to control and monitor your home network through the Nighthawk app.

What we liked;

• It has a simple setup process because of the Genie software
• It does not overheat due to its efficient heat dissipation
• It is a tri-band router whose operation improves network efficiency
• It has fast throughput speeds
• It comes with six antennas for added network coverage and an improved signal
• You can control your home network on the Nighthawk app

What we didn’t like;

• It does not come with the Advanced QoS feature
• It has a large design with non-detachable antennas that takes up a lot of space
• Its Network map feature does not work so well

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Nighthawk AC3000 Specifications

Nighthawk AC3000 Features

Speed and performance

The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC3000 router is able to provide your connected devices with throughput speeds of up to 3000 Mbps. It is a tri-band router which has its speed distributed as 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz channel and 1300 Mbps each on the other two 5 GHz channels. These channels have been designed to work together simultaneously so that you can experience your network without frequent buffering and any other kind of network glitches.

The beamforming technology on the Nighthawk AC3000 focuses the Wi-Fi signal directly to your connected devices and ensures that they are maintained. This way you are able to prevent network interruptions from other devices around your network. Through Smart Connect technology you can pick out the devices you would want to be majorly focused on through the network and ensure it receives maximum speeds. The Nighthawk AC6000 is equipped with six antennas that work together to extend the signal to all parts of your house. They are adjustable and detachable as well.

It is powered by the Broadcom BCM4709A0 1 GHz chipset and it has 3.0 USB ports which are used to provide you with space for external storage. These USB ports have a data transfer rate of up to 4.8 Gbps and it has been featured with NAS functionality.

Range and capacity

The recommended range coverage area of the Nighthawk AC3000 router is up to 2,500 square feet which shows that it is able to work effectively in large homes and cover outdoor parts such as the backyard as well. It holds a capacity of 50 devices as the maximum. Connecting more than this may cause glitches to your connection. It allows for a wide connection load because its tri-band operation distributes your devices throughout each band and maintains the throughput speed. It has 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB flash memory which stores the NETGEAR operating system.

Design and structure

The Nighthawk AC3000 is an all-black router with an elegant and modern design. It is a pretty large router with its dimensions at 295.5 x 226.8 x 54.5 mm. this may be a challenge to store it in a small storage area. It weighs 1.1 kg which makes it a bit bulky to carry around. It has been featured with mounting holes in case you prefer to keep it on your wall instead of placing it on the table surface flat.

At the back of the router, there is a USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 port that allows you to connect your storage devices (flash disc/ hard drive). On the surface of the router, there are LED lights which have been designed to indicate the power status of your router, the LAN and WAN port status, the connection status of the frequency band channels and the status of your internet connection. At the rear panel of the Nighthawk AC3000, there is the power button that you use to turn it on or off and at the back there is a reset button which you can use to hard reset it to its default factory settings.

Security and Network Control

The Nighthawk AC3000 router through its Genie software can easily setup and configure your router once you have plugged it into your power source.  You can connect your router to your Android or IOS mobile device by installing the Nighthawk app. The Nighthawk app further allows you to monitor and control your home network. You can create a separate guest network for your friends and visitors when they come to visit.

Through the Nighthawk app you are also able to secure your children’s internet access by blocking malicious content and restricting the devices access to your network. The Nighthawk AC3000 supports WPS / WEP / WPA/ WPA 2 security protocols. It is further secured by 128-bit encryption that prevents hacking and access by other users.

Who is it best suited for?

If you are frequently involved in demanding and heavy duty activities such as multi-player online gaming and 4K Ultra HD streaming, you should consider using the Nighthawk AC3000. It has throughput speeds of up to 3000 Mbps which would support this and give you seamless streaming and gaming.

Are there any alternatives for the Nighthawk AC3000?

Yes. You can use the Linksys AC3000, NETGEAR Nighthawk AC3200 or the D-Link DIR 3060 routers as alternatives to the Nighthawk AC3000.

Features of alternative routers

Verdict: Should you get the Nighthawk AC3000?

Yes, you should.  The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC3000 is an exceptional router that is worth your while.

FAQs

Is my Nighthawk AC3000 router compatible with Amazon Alexa?

Yes it is. You can control your home network using voice commands because the Nighthawk AC3000 is compatible with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant as well.

Why would I need to reset my Nighthawk AC3000?

When you are in need of a firmware update, or you have experienced a sudden power outage and are experiencing connectivity failures or when you are having a modem problem then you should reset your router in attempt to fix the problem.