NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) AX1800 1.8Gbps Wireless Speed – Dual-Band Gigabit Internet Router – Covers 1,500 sq. ft., 20 Devices – Built-in VPN, Gaming, Alexa Enabled

I ordered this router to replace the Spectrum router I was paying $5 a month for, now having gone to $7 a month. It’s the router that looks like a charred meatloaf, standing on its’ head. It’s nothing special, so finding a substitute was like hurdling a very low bar.
This R6700AX is an exact clone of the NETGEAR RAX10. The specs are identical, but not the price. Why, I don’t know. Of note is that this router omits the “NIGHTHAWK” designation, which, aside from generally lower speeds and area coverage, also lacks a USB port and an on/off switch on the back. These are not deal breakers though. My networking demands are quite modest, so I didn’t need a gaming level router. One Dell workstation, two tablets, and a 2000 square foot house, where all the activity is confined to a single quadrant.
After reading the user manual, downloaded from the NETGEAR website (146 pages, does not cover NIGHTHAWK app), I opted to do a website interface, desktop installation, rather than using the highly touted NIGHTHAWK app. Though the NIGHTHAWK app has a lot of appeal for its’ simplicity and features, I wanted more in-depth control of the routers options than the app provided. For example, by electing to choose the “Smart Connect” feature, the router automatically chooses which band, the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, that gives the best performance for each particular device that’s connected. You can still choose to configure each band separately by assigning a different network name (SSID) to each band (and that configuration is generated, by default, in your setup procedure). But with only two devices connected at a time, the “Smart Connect” option did not offer any benefit to me. I actually went several steps further and disabled the 2.4 GHz band and both Guest Network bands leaving only the 5 GHz band active for my two tablets. A word of caution for either of these connection preferences. Unlike some other NETGEAR routers, neither option will disable the WPS feature. That’s a potential security threat lurking under the radar.
The installation process was simple and straight forward. Just sit back and answer the questions, click next, page by page, and you’re done. I chose the automatic set up option, the Setup Wizard, with the ability to go back through and tune the features important to me. This is done using the routers web interface, for which you must sign back into with your newly created password. There are a couple of You Tube videos, search: TONOR NETGEAR R6700AX SETUP, and search: BROK3N1MAGE NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK, that can give you a visual “heads up” as to how the router interface is laid out beforehand. I found them helpful.
And the results were, well, underwhelming. LAN speeds to my workstation were almost identical to the Spectrum router at 366 Mbps download and 12 Mbps upload, with an assigned 300 Mbps service from Spectrum. Wi Fi speeds for the tablets were about 10% faster with the R6700AX, but if not for doing a speed test, I would not have detected any difference.
Overall, I am satisfied with this router. Price, features, speed and coverage are all adequate for my minimalist inclinations. I also opted for the 4-year Asurion protection coverage. If the thing blows up before its’ time, it’s replaced. If I get past 11 months, it will pay for itself in monthly rental fees.

I upgraded from an older NETGEAR router and this definitely improved every aspect. Set up was very easy with the Nighthawk app. The app itself is very clean and easy to understand. Upgrading from an old NETGEAR router, the coverage is noticeably better. This router reaches from one side of the house to the other easily. However, the 5GHz struggles at the other end of the house and often disconnects, so 2.4GHz is the better option. My wireless security camera used to disconnect with my old router, but now it holds a stable connection on 2.4GHz easily. I ran a speedtest using the Nighthawk app, and speeds are extremely consistent and very fast with minimal ping. Lastly, the 2.4GHz connection reaches into my backyard very well. This is a solid router, especially for those on a budget.

I was worried this would be slow at a busy apartment complex however we have had this model at 2 different apartments with no issue. It works decent for streaming and wifi for 2 phones. If you’re a gamer you may want to invest in a more high coverage or upgraded version for faster speed.
The app is easy to use and seems secure enough. We have never had to call tech support using this model yet. I also like that it’s small enough to hide it easily to match the aesthetic.