NETGEAR RAXE300 (Nighthawk AXE7800) WiFi Router Review

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Pros

+ SuperFast WiFi Speed
+ Multi-Gig WAN Port

Cons

– Parental Control has monthly fee
– Low RAM

Introduction

In today’s hyperconnected world, a reliable and high-speed WiFi connection is essential for seamless home entertainment, uninterrupted work, and seamless online gaming. The NETGEAR RAXE300 (AXE7800) WiFi router is engineered to deliver exceptional performance, catering to the demands of even the most demanding users.

NETGEAR RAXE300: Unveiling a Sleek and Powerful Device

As a seasoned wireless engineer, I’m always on the lookout for cutting-edge networking solutions that push the boundaries of connectivity. The Netgear RAXE300, the latest tri-band WiFi 6E router from Netgear, fits the bill. Today, we’ll take a closer look at this impressive device, from its sleek design to its feature-packed capabilities. Let’s start with the unboxing experience. The RAXE300 arrives in a stylish black box bearing the Nighthawk insignia. Inside, the router is nestled in a protective foam casing, ensuring safe transportation.

• On the front panel, two LED buttons adorn the device. The WiFi Button (LED) toggles the Wi-Fi connection, while the WPS Button (LED) enables or disables Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
• Turning the router around, we encounter a wealth of ports and connectivity options. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports cater to wired devices, while two of them offer port aggregation functionality, doubling the network bandwidth for demanding applications. A multi-Gig 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN port (configurable as WAN or LAN) facilitates lightning-fast data transfers.
• For external storage or peripherals, a USB-C port provides additional connectivity options. Additionally, a reset button offers a quick way to restore the router to its factory default settings. Hidden within the router’s bending panels on either side are six pre-optimized antennas. These advanced antennas work seamlessly to optimize Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home, ensuring seamless connectivity even in challenging environments.

Elevating Your Wi-Fi Experience with the NETGEAR AXE7800

As a seasoned wireless engineer and reviewer, I’ve had the opportunity to put the Netgear AXE7800 (RAXE300) through its paces in various real-world scenarios, including densely populated urban areas, suburban homes, and even remote locations. While the router consistently delivers impressive speeds of up to 7,800Mbps on paper, real-world performance can vary depending on factors such as network congestion, interference from neighboring devices, and the construction materials of your home.

To assess the real-world performance of this netgear wifi router, we conducted a series of tests using an Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Supports WiFi 6E ) connected to each band at the designated locations. We measured the download and upload speeds using the Speedtest app and recorded the signal RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value using WiFi Analyzer tool. The tests were conducted with no other devices connected to the network.

Test Important Notes:

• The tests were conducted in a suburban home with average construction materials.
• The Samsung Galaxy S22+ was connected to the appropriate band for each test.
• The tests were conducted with no other devices connected to the network.
• The results may vary depending on your specific home environment, including the number of walls, the placement of furniture, and the construction materials

2.4 GHz Band Test Results

As you can see, the Netgear AXE7800 router delivers decent download speeds on the 2.4GHz band, even at distances of up to 30 feet. However, the signal strength and speeds start to drop off significantly at distances of 50 feet and beyond. For optimal performance, it is recommended to connect to the 5GHz or 6GHz bands if possible.

Location	Download Speed (Mbps)	Upload Speed (Mbps)	Signal RSSI (dBm)
Main Floor (10ft)	110	85	-36
Bedroom (30ft)	95	68	-44
Upstairs (50ft)	65	40	-63
Outdoor (100ft)	30	18	-76

5 GHz Band Test Results

As you can see, the Netgear RAXE300 router delivers significantly faster download speeds on the 5GHz band compared to the 2.4GHz band. This is due to the fact that the 5GHz band has more available channels, which allows for less congestion and interference. However, the signal strength and speeds on the 5GHz band still start to drop off at distances of 50 feet and beyond.

Location	Download Speed (Mbps)	Upload Speed (Mbps)	Signal RSSI (dBm)
Main Floor (10ft)	750	430	-39
Bedroom (30ft)	405	280	-56
Upstairs (50ft)	230	120	-67
Outdoor (100ft)	180	59	-79

6 GHz Band Test Results

As you can see, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 router delivers the fastest download speeds on the 6GHz band. This is because the 6GHz band is the newest and least congested band, which allows for even faster speeds and less interference. However, the signal strength and speeds on the 6GHz band start to drop off at distances of 50 feet and beyond.

Location	Download Speed (Mbps)	Upload Speed (Mbps)	Signal RSSI (dBm)
Main Floor (10ft)	1005	670	-39
Bedroom (30ft)	710	320	-59
Upstairs (50ft)	340	260	-71
Outdoor (100ft)	160	85	-81

The Netgear RAXE300’s support for 160MHz channel width on both the 5GHz and 6GHz bands plays a significant role in its ability to maintain high speeds even in congested environments. This wider channel width allows the router to transmit more data simultaneously, reducing the impact of interference and ensuring consistent performance.

Another key factor contributing to this router’s real-world performance is its powerful quad-core 1.7GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM. These components provide ample processing power to handle even the most demanding workloads, ensuring that the router can maintain smooth operation even when multiple devices are connected and actively utilizing the network.

Shield Your Home Network with Netgear Armor

As you know, many devices inside the network, such as cameras, thermostats, sensors, and other IOT devices, do not have the ability to install antivirus. On the other hand, most of the security programs that are installed on personal computers are only act as antivirus and do not have the ability to identify and deal with Internet security threats such as Ransomware, Phishing, Hackers, and etc.

This is where the Netgear Nighthawk AXE7800’s Armor cybersecurity suite steps in. Armor acts as a comprehensive guardian for your entire network, shielding all of your devices from a diverse range of cyber threats. Armor’s AI-powered (Bitdefender) threat detection and mitigation technologies continuously scan your network for suspicious activity, malicious files, and potential security vulnerabilities. Read More: Who is Connected to My WiFi?

Here are some of the key benefits of using Armor:

• Comprehensive protection: Armor safeguards all connected devices, including IoT devices that cannot install antivirus software.
• Advanced threat detection: Armor utilizes AI-powered threat detection to identify and neutralize a wide range of cyber threats, including viruses, malware, ransomware, phishing, and hackers.
• Continuous monitoring: Armor continuously scans your network for suspicious activity and malicious files, providing proactive protection.
• Secure browsing: Armor blocks access to malicious websites and filters suspicious links, safeguarding your devices from phishing attacks and malware downloads.
• Content filtering: Armor allows you to customize content filtering to restrict access to websites and applications that you deem inappropriate or harmful.

Conclusion

The Netgear RAXE300 WiFi 6E router is a wireless fortress, offering exceptional performance, unwavering security, and unparalleled coverage. Its powerful Armor security suite shields your network, its blazing-fast WiFi 6E speeds deliver exhilarating experiences, and its remarkable coverage ensures seamless Wi-Fi access throughout your home and beyond. Our testing has awarded it a resounding 9 out of 10, making it the undisputed king of wireless connectivity.