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The WNDR3700 N600 router is undoubtedly one of the more visually stunning entries from Netgear.
The aesthetic is designed to draw you in with its futuristic charm.
However, looks can only get you so far in this market.
Does it bring the steak as much as brings the sizzle? Let’s find out with this comprehensive review for the Netgear WNDR3700 N600 Wi-Fi Router.
Main Features:
- N600 802.11n Dual-Band Wi-Fi (300+300Mbps)
- Netgear Genie App Support
- WPA/WPA2, WEP, and DoS Attack Prevention Features
- ReadyShare USB Feature
- Guess Network Access
- 480MHz Processing Unit, 64MB RAM
Design
The Netgear N600 incorporates a sleeker design and uses internal antennas to boost its signal.
This means there won’t be anything jutting out of the unit. It has a prominent blue button in the middle of the panel that is dotted with LED lights.
The surrounding LED lights are used to determine which direction the interior antennas are currently directed.
This is a nifty little feature that can stylishly give users relevant information.
The interior antenna design allows the Netgear N600 to deliver a highly compact unit that won’t take too much space whether you plan on placing it in a horizontal or vertical position.
The shiny blue button also acts as the unit’s Wi-Fi Protected Setup switch. By pressing it, you have 2 minutes to have other WPS devices to access your network.
You can find the LAN ports at the back of the unit, four LAN ports and one WAN port available for the user.
These are not Gigabit ports though and are your standard Ethernet (10/100Mbps) ports.
This is to be expected as this is a budget-friendly router and will have certain limitations.
Alongside the LAN and WAN ports are the USB (2.0) port and the power button.
The N600 also sports two detachable stands that allow it to be positioned in a vertical position for maximum space-saving.
Setup
Setting up the Netgear N600 is quick and easy, as is the signature of the brand for years now.
- It comes with its smartphone app called the Netgear Genie, which streamlines the installation process.
- We timed the moment we turned the unit on to finishing up installation and got it all done under 5 minutes.
- The installation wizard uses a beginner-friendly installation process that even beginners will encounter no trouble following.
- This router supports the same convenient setup process as all other Netgear routers offer.
- You can use the Netgear Genie App or, if you prefer a more thorough approach, use the router’s web browser interface.
Opting for the browser interface will open up more options when tweaking your network to suit your needs entirely.
Functionalities and Features
The Netgear N600 features dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity and broadcasts both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies simultaneously.
The advantage of dual-bands is that it supports every type of network client today while also utilizing the strengths of 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies and covering their weaknesses.
For its low-price tag, you would expect this router to deliver the bare bones feature only.
Well, since this is a Netgear router, it manages to surprise positively pleasantly.
- We’ve already talked about its dual-frequency band but let’s get some essential numbers in there as well.
- For connection speed, we are looking at optimum 600Mbps with the N600.
- Of course, several factors will come into play in a real environment setting compared to an optimized one we did for this router.
- On average, expect it to realistically provide around 40% to 60% of its max speeds.
- If you do manage to optimize the location of your router, then enjoy that impressive 600 Mbps connection.
- As for other noteworthy features, the Netgear N600 features Guest Network Access which allows you to create a separate network for visitors.
- This allows other devices to access the internet via your Wi-Fi without actually using your system.
- This increases the security of your network from the risks of cyber-attacks.
- Speaking of security, the N600 router incorporates WPA/WPA2 and WEP protocols to safeguard your system from threats such as DoS attacks. Make sure to activate the security protocol during setup.
- Next, we have a staple with all Netgear routers, the Netgear Genie smartphone app.
- This application is compatible with Android and iOS devices and will allow users to access their router’s system anywhere at any time.
- Navigating the Netgear Genie interface is extremely easy with its simplified and user-friendly layout.
- You can also access the parental control though this app which makes setting filters and time allowances to specific devices a breeze.
- The Netgear N600 also comes with the ReadyShare USB software, which allows for easy and streamlined sharing of files with any device that is connected to your network.
- It also includes NAS functionality for external HDD but found the overall read/transfer speeds to be slightly lacking.
- One last feature that I would like to highlight is the N600’s Traffic Meter functionality.
It allows the admin to adjust the max bandwidth that the router has.
This is incredibly helpful for those who have limited data as you can set the router to disconnect to the internet once you’ve consumed a particular amount of data.
In regards to its performance, the Netgear WNDR4300 N600 router managed to hit 65Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 75Mbps in the 5GHz band.
This was tested from a distance of up to 15 feet away (unobstructed) from the router.
This is quite an impressive number for a budget router as it can download/upload data at decent speeds.
For example, with his calculation, it will be able to transmit data of up to 500MB within or just a little over a minute.
Pros:
- Maximum of 600Mbps speeds.
- Supports the easy to use Netgear Genie app.
- Excellent wireless range ideal for small to medium homes.
- Comes with built-in ReadyShare USB feature.
Cons:
- Only has standard Ethernet ports and not the Gigabit ones found in newer router models.
- NAS performance leaves much to be desired.
Conclusion
Overall, I would recommend the Netgear N600 for those who are looking for a robust router from a well-known brand at an affordable price.
However, keep in mind that this uses dual-band Wi-Fi which means it won’t be able to match up with some of the newer models that utilize Tri-Band Wi-Fi.
It also does not support Gigabit Ethernet, which might cause techies to steer away.
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