Nighthawk X8 Ac5300 Mu Mimo Firmware Update
Which AC5300 router should you buy? Movie: Manolo Gómez (Flickr)
This is a group test of three of the latest AC5300 (and AC5400) 802.11ac, MU-MIMO wireless routers. It’southward function of a series of articles that has seen united states investigate the following:-
Does MU-MIMO currently make a divergence?
Linksys Max-Stream AC1900+ WiFi Range Extender RE7000 review
Linksys AC600 MU-MIMO WiFi USB adapter review
If you recollect that these are probably the dullest-sounding products in being recall that virtually every piece of engineering that anyone owns relies upon them these days, so pay attending!
Testing WiFi routers is something of a unique challenge. At that place’s very much a YMMV (your mileage may vary) chemical element about them as performance depends on and then many factors including location, surrounding building(southward), interference from nearby devices and fifty-fifty fourth dimension of mean solar day.
On top of this, the marketing materials and claims by router manufacturers get more hyperbolic with each product evolution. Now that we’re at $600, AC5300 routers with MU-MIMO technology and multiple antennae, it wouldn’t be a surprise to encounter, “power to fly” in the specs sheets. And looking at some of them, y’all wouldn’t be surprised if they did. And let’s not get started on names.
It’southward not too surprising though, these are expensive machines which by and large practise the same things using similar components – and then marketing volition always accept over. All of them claim to have special features for added stability, reliability and load balancing and all have different names for them. These are impossible to test for directly but overall performance, in our challenging, real-world test surround gave united states a good idea of what to await from each of them. We tested for performance, features and value before delivering our verdict.
What’s special about AC5300 and AC5400?
The 5300 refers to 5,300Mb/s theoretical throughput. This comes from having a three network bands in each router – 1 ii.4GHz network (1000Mb/s) and two 5GHz networks (2166Mb/s each). Linksys cheekily rounds this up to 5,400 and calls the same affair AC5400.
Which is a scrap Spinal Tap.
For comparison, the last generation of super routers was called AC3200 and supported a 3,200Mb/s throughput. We included 1 of these in the test every bit a comparison.
The contenders
We’re testing three of the latest products from Netgear, D-Link and Linksys. Despite the different marketing, most are based upon the same components and accept like specs and features. We listing the primary ones separately simply all of these accept the stalwart router features of: WPS button, VPN compatibility, USB printer sharing, USB storage sharing, Quality of Service (QoS) traffic prioritisation for voice and gaming plus DLNA media back up. These models also back up the newer guest network offerings plus varying degrees of parental controls as well as a ‘smart beam’ technology which supposedly follows y’all effectually your abode/part to go along you connected at optimal speeds. They all have smartphone apps for ease of configuration and all make it uncomplicated to connect to your home network from elsewhere. The models are:-
Price: $699 RRP (From $550 real world)
Stated Max throughput: five.3Gb/s
Processor: 1.4GHz dual-core
Antennae: iv external, iv internal
Ethernet ports: WAN plus 6 Gigabit (2 tin exist aggregated)
Bands: 1 x 2.4GHz, ii 10 5GHz (5GHz has Smart Connect)
MU-MIMO: Yes
USB: 1 x USB2, 1 x USB 3
Other features: WiFi off button, open up source support, backup software, port aggregator.
Warranty: 2 years
D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router
Toll: $700 RRP (From $590 existent world)
Stated Max throughput: 5.3Gb/s
Processor: 1.4GHz dual-core
Antennae: eight external
Ethernet ports: WAN plus 4 Gigabit
Bands: 1 x two.4GHz, 2 x 5GHz (All bands have Smart Connect)
MU-MIMO: In Beta
USB: 1 x USB2, i 10 USB three
Other features: N/A
Warranty: ii years
Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router
Price: $549 RRP (From $500 existent globe)
Stated Max throughput: 5.3Gb/southward
Processor: 1.4GHz dual-core
Antennae: eight external
Ethernet ports: WAN plus 8 Gigabit
Bands: ane 10 2.4GHz, two x 5GHz (combined via Smart Connect)
MU-MIMO: Yes
USB: 1 x USB2, one 10 USB three
Other features: N/A
Warranty: 3 years
Page one: Introduction
Page 2: How we tested
Page 3: Results
Folio 4: Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8 review
Page 5: D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router review
Page 6: Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
Page 7: Conclusion
Folio Break
How we tested
Testing was performed in a three-storey, Sydney townhouse. On the ground floor was our wireless router which was connected via Ethernet cablevision to our
Alienware Blastoff
test PC. The first thing we did was update the firmware on each router. We then performed three sets of speed tests: next to the router, in a sleeping room one floor up and finally two floors up in a second bedroom. In add-on to the three main routers we also used our existing router, an older $350
D-Link AC3200 DIR-890L
(which has just one 5GHz channel and no MU-MIMO) for comparison.
Both D-Link routers offer a
Smart Connect
characteristic whereby only one network is displayed and the router chooses the fastest style to connect to it (the user doesn’t run across if it’south 2.4GHz or 5GHz). As this is the default setting we left information technology
as is
for this test. The Netgear and Linksys routers take similar features simply they merely work on the 5GHz bands. Netgear’s is off past default while Linksys’ is always on. Again, we used the default settings.
Notation too the
DIR-895L’s MU-MIMO function is still in Beta. Every bit we’ve seen elsewhere, though, we don’t wait this to brand much of a difference.
We ensured that each exam was stable and ran it again if it was not (unless otherwise stated).
In order to test the MU-MIMO engineering, we added other equipment to each network: nosotros had an old iPad 2 playing
V for Vendetta
on Netflix (by the router) and
Tinkerbell and The Lost Treasure
playing on Netflix on an Xbox Ane upstairs in the second bedchamber. We likewise performed tests on an empty network from the
one-floor-up
bedroom for comparison.
Nosotros then transferred a 2GB moving picture file across the networks using both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi bands (we let the D-Links decide for themselves). We did this using both the native WiFi adapter in a Surface Pro three – a Marvell AVSTAR Wireless-Ac Network Controller – and so we disabled that and ran the tests using the Surface Pro 3 with a
Linksys MU-MIMO Max-Stream AC600 Wi-Fi Micro USB Adapter. All computers were running Windows 10.
Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: How nosotros tested
Folio 3: Results
Folio 4: Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8 review
Page 5: D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router review
Page 6: Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
Folio 7: Conclusion
Page Break
Results
All results are posted in
MegaBYTES
per second (multiply by eight if y’all want the figure in
MegaBITS
per second). Results from the Surface Pro 3 are in orange while the results which used the MU-MIMO dongle are in Bluish.
Up shut
Up close, it looks as though the older D-Link AC3200 router destroyed the field on 2.4GHz (scoring 68MB/southward). This is likely due to the proprietary Smart Connect feature which ways information technology probable was actually working on a 5GHz band only due to the automated nature of the network handling on D-Link’southward devices nosotros can’t know for certain.
Using the SP3, the D-Link scored 11MB/southward while the Netgear and Linksys scored 9.three and 9.2MB/south respectively. With the MU-MIMO adapter the results all dropped and reversed with the Linksys achieving 6MB/s, the Netgear 5MB/s and the D-Link 3.9MB/due south.
While testing the 5GHz channels on the SP3 nosotros were disappointed to see the D-Link AC5300 looks as though it chose the slower 2.4GHz connection. Meanwhile, the Netgear scored a mighty 57MB/s and a 39MB/s on its two networks (which operate on different channels). The Linksys nearly matched the Netgear’s slower speed, with 37MB/due south.
Using the MU-MIMO dongle and all results dropped once more but to a similar level. The Netgear scored 26 and 27MB/s, the Linksys edged alee with 28MB/due south while the older D-Link AC3200 gave an indication of true D-Link performance with a score of 27MB/s.
Then what looks like a wide range of results really paint an interesting picture. The 5GHz speeds are indeed much faster up close but using a MU-MIMO adapter makes things slower – probably because the WiFi antennae integration in the SP3 is stronger than a pocket-sized, split up dongle. As the Netgear and older D-Link demonstrate, choosing different 5GHz channels can make a pregnant divergence to speed. As well, every bit the D-Link AC5300 unit demonstrated, Smart Connect is not always smart.
One floor upwardly
At 2.4GHz In the commencement bedroom, There wasn’t much change among near of the Surface Pro three scores (the older D-Link model looks to accept dropped back to a decent ii.4GHz speed here). The routers all seem comfy beaming to this distance. Interestingly, while all the MU-MIMO dongle scores were lower than the SP3 (again) both the Netgear and D-Link scores stayed the same and the Linksys got faster. This suggests that the MU-MIMO adapter is a bit happier when slightly-further abroad from the router.
With the SP3, the D-Link scored 9.7MB/s, the Netgear 9MB/s and Linksys 8MB/s which are all broadly similar. Using the MU-MIMO dongle things changed a fleck with D-Link dropping to 4MB/due south, Netgear dropping to iv.9MB/s and Linksys to vii.8MB/s.
At 5GHz using the SP3 the Netgear scored 6.7 and 4.1MB/southward with its 2 bands while the Linksys sat between the two with v.5MB/s. Both D-Links appears to take defaulted to the 2.4GHz channel.
With the MU-MIMO dongle we finally saw some acceleration. Netgear roared ahead with 17.6 and 12.5MB/southward connection speeds. Linksys increased to 10MB/s. The AC5300 D-Link’s current lack of MU-MIMO may business relationship for its lower score and the older AC3200’s score of 7.5MB/s is cryptic in terms of which channel it was using.
As tin can be seen, we afterwards ran these tests on an empty network (it had become evident that
one-floor-upward
was the MU-MIMO dongle’south sweetness spot) in gild to see how much difference having ‘slow’ devices on the network actually fabricated. On the SP3’s WiFi, at two.4GHz, across the board, speeds slowed down less than 3MB/due south when there was other traffic present. All speeds were all the same faster than with the MU-MIMO dongle although slowdowns simply ranged between 0.three and ane.1MB/south. That slightly-narrower range may correspond a win for MU-MIMO. A very pocket-size win. We investigate this farther,
hither.
Two floors up
At 2 floors up, at 2.4GHz, using the Surface Pro three the AC5300 D-Link finally came skilful, scoring 8MB/s. The Linksys followed with 7.8MB/s while the Netgear scored 6MB/s. With MU-MIMO dongles, the D-Link couldn’t connect at all, while the Netgear dropped to 2MB/south and the Linksys dropped to 4.6MB/s.
At 5GHz results became messy. The Netgear couldn’t connect at all (Our XBox couldn’t connect to it either). The Linksys managed ane.5MB/s using the SP3 simply a meliorate iv.2MB/s using the MU-MIMO dongle. Meanwhile the D-Link scored 8MB/s with the SP3 but we suspect this was using the 2.4GHz band. It couldn’t connect to at all using the MU-MIMO dongle.
Folio 1: Introduction
Folio 2: How nosotros tested
Folio 3: Results
Page four: Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8 review
Page v: D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router review
Page 6: Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
Page 7: Conclusion
Page Intermission
Review
Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8
Price: $699 RRP (From $550 real globe)
Stated Max throughput: 5.3Gb/southward
Processor: 1.4GHz dual-cadre
Antennae: iv external, 4 internal
Ethernet ports: WAN plus vi Gigabit (two can be aggregated)
Bands: 1 ten 2.4GHz, two 10 5GHz (5GHz has Smart Connect)
MU-MIMO: Yep
USB: 1 10 USB2, i x USB three
Other features: WiFi off button, www.myopenrouter.com support
Warranty: two years
The Netgear (like the D-Link) is expensive at $700. It’due south the most sober looking in this test with only 4 antennae visible at the back. We were a bit concerned about congenital quality, though, as one of the rear antennae housings cruel off after a very minor knock. The rest of the casing is potent though. The LED lighting prevents it from looking too boxy and these lights tin can be turned off with a switch at the forepart. Adjacent to that push is a WPS connect button and a WiFi ability button. At the side is a cover which reveals the USB ports.
Setting up is elementary enough, one time the network is joined and a browser opened, the Netgear Genie software appears. This takes you through basic settings and invites you to install both its
Genie app
and also an online fill-in service called ReadySHARE Vault for continuously backing upward your PC (onto locally-attached storage).
The settings pages won’t surprise anyone whose seen router settings in the past, but we’re not convinced the Basic Settings layout is
basic
enough for beginners. What do people really need here beyond network name and countersign? Nonetheless at that place are settings hither to set up a invitee network and access to the USB ports. Advanced settings provide access to all the usual settings though the language isn’t that friendly.
Parental controls
are the most comprehensive on prove merely also quite complex to gear up and not foolproof. Another unique feature is compatibility with
www.myopenrouter.com
which allows hacking types to more-hands modify their router’south firmware.
One of the most interesting features is the actress two Gigabit Ethernet ports which can be “Aggregated” together for extra speed. This may improve performance for people who constantly employ Network Fastened Storage but bottlenecks elsewhere will make information technology unlikely for regular users to notice much difference. Having two extra wired ports is a boon, though.
In terms of performance it was consistently similar to the Linksys upwards close. It got faster on the 5GHz tests mainly considering it used ii unlike channels. The big permit downwards was its inability to connect at 5GHz when two floors up – fifty-fifty to our Xbox.
Ultimately, at $150 more than the Linksys, information technology doesn’t offer many compelling reasons to choose information technology instead, merely some of the niche features may appeal to ability users.
Page one: Introduction
Page 2: How nosotros tested
Page iii: Results
Page 4: Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8 review
Page 5: D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router review
Page 6: Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
Page 7: Determination
Folio Break
Review
D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router
Cost: $700 RRP (From $590 existent world)
Stated Max throughput: 5.3Gb/due south
Processor: 1.4GHz dual-cadre
Antennae: 8 external
Ethernet ports: WAN plus 4 Gigabit
Bands: i 10 2.4GHz, 2 x 5GHz (All bands have Smart Connect)
MU-MIMO: In Beta
USB: one x USB2, one x USB 3
Other features: N/A
Warranty: 2 years
The D-Link DIR-895L is basically the upgrade to the D-Link DIR-890L that nosotros’ve been living with for some time. Information technology’s arguably the best looking of the competitors – reminiscent of a space ship from the video game,
Aristocracy
– but that might put other people off.
It’s a shame that the MU-MIMO firmware isn’t yet widely available but this didn’t announced to brand much departure at this betoken.
All buttons and connectors are at the back: 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB2 and USB3, a WPS connect push button plus a switch which turns information technology from a premium wireless router into a colossally-overpriced WiFi extender.
The quick start manual isn’t the almost helpful but D-Link helpfully provides a sticker with the default network proper noun and password. Yay!
The settings layout is more modern than what we saw with Netgear just not by much. The standard settings are all in the standard places, but at least you lot feel more like y’all’re browsing a modern website rather than router firmware.
Beginners will love the unproblematic Smart Connect feature – you only slide a switch, cull a network proper name and password and and so don’t take to worry most 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands and channels – information technology just appears equally i network and everything else is automatic. Nosotros’ve been large fans of this over the past year as explaining which network to connect to for visitors and family members is simple. As well, connecting games consoles and the similar is made much easier equally you don’t feel obliged to examination each channel before connecting.
All the same, as we saw with our functioning tests, information technology’southward not e’er so Smart. It frequently chose slower channels for connections when even its older sibling didn’t. Mayhap experience and a lack of a disruptive secondary 5GHz channel counts for something?
Notwithstanding, information technology effectively matched the field upwards shut in the 2.4GHz tests. Yet, information technology should actually have been using the 5GHz band instead and missed out on some considerable performance boosts.
It got the hang of things when ane flooring upward – consistently scoring well when connected to our Surface Pro 3. However, it didn’t like connecting to our MU-MIMO dongle equally much – probably because the antennae is smaller than the SP3’s and the MU-MIMO isn’t enabled withal. Indeed, while other 5GHz MU-MIMO scores soared, the 895L’s went backwards which was the only fourth dimension MU-MIMO may accept provided a significant advantage.
It did redeem itself at long range though with the best connection speed that nosotros saw.
In terms of other features, there’due south only the standard fare. At that place are no parental controls per se but you tin create up to 24 access restriction rules, if that helps?
The main problem for the AC5300 is that while its AC3200 sibling is basically the aforementioned thing with one less network band and no MU-MIMO ability, it costs literally half the toll. However, if, similar us, you lot just want to run across one WiFi network in your settings without wondering which volition be fastest (and you want MU-MIMO compatibility down the line) the D-Link makes a good AC5300 choice. Information technology might get things incorrect a lot, but you’ll only find this on very large file transfers.
Nevertheless, for now, with the Linksys costing $150 less, we still can’t recommend it.
Page ane: Introduction
Page 2: How we tested
Page 3: Results
Page 4: Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8 review
Page v: D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router review
Page 6: Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
Page seven: Conclusion
Page Suspension
Review
Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router
Price: $549 RRP (From $500 real globe)
Stated Max throughput: 5.3Gb/s
Processor: i.4GHz dual-cadre
Antennae: eight external
Ethernet ports: WAN plus 8 Gigabit
Bands: 1 ten 2.4GHz, two x 5GHz (combined via Smart Connect)
MU-MIMO: Yeah
USB: one 10 USB2, ane x USB iii
Other features: Due north/A
Warranty: 3 years
Linksys’ latest looks a chip like a massive upturned spider which tin exist a chip disconcerting in low light and shadow-rich environments. It’due south no looker, although the LED lights on the front have a certain
Knight Passenger
quality to them. At the side are ii buttons, one for WPS connection and the other turns off WiFi. They are not clearly labelled(!)
But it’south at the back where the magic happens. In addition to the USB2 and USB3 ports, there are eight (count’em) Gigabit Ethernet ports. If that seems like overkill, you lot’d be utterly and completely wrong. These days they can fill up quickly. It’southward not uncommon to have a cable TV box, Apple Idiot box, other media streaming device, TV, game console and powerline extender all connected – four ports can be constrictive and piling them all onto WiFi tin can exist an unnecessary stress for even powerful routers like these.
Setting upwards requires making a Linksys online business relationship which is a flake weird. Settings are displayed a bit more
n00b-friendly than with Netgear but arguably not quite and then well as the D-Link. Yet, the near-interactive menu structure and condition display is well laid out.
Parental controls allow y’all simply choose devices and block them either permanently or at unlike times. It’s not as complex as Netgear’due south offering simply
on
or
off
are what many parents will want.
Linksys as well makes use of Smart Connect merely only for the 5GHz channels – you can’t really split up the 2 5GHz networks only few people will need to.
All other settings including USB storage handling and sharing are standard fare.
In terms of performance the Linksys was the most consequent. Information technology wasn’t ever the fastest but information technology was frequently up there. At shut range it held its ain at 2.4GHz and at 5GHz (mainly using the MU-MIMO dongle). One floor up information technology saw consistently-strong performance even though it didn’t come first in any tests. At ii floors up information technology arguably pulled abroad from the field equally the Netgear couldn’t connect at 5GHz and the D-Link appears to have resorted to choosing the two.4GHz ring.
At $150 less than the contest, information technology’due south a clear winner – the consistent performance at all ranges, the ease of utilise, those eight network ports all would take had it winning if it price $700 similar its rivals.
Page 1: Introduction
Page two: How we tested
Page 3: Results
Page 4: Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8 review
Page five: D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router review
Folio vi: Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
Page 7: Conclusion
Page Break
Determination
We learned a lot from this test and not merely that corrupt parliaments should be blown up (5 for Vendetta) or that our fairy friends shouldn’t be scolded when they’re only trying to help (Tinkerbell).
It’s hard to imagine anyone ownership one of these routers and regretting it. They’re all expert and they more often than not do the same affair.
The Netgear offers a few more configuration options than the competitors, including more circuitous parental controls, open source software compatibility, port aggregation and a backup app but these aren’t earth shattering. In performance terms information technology struggled two floors up more any other. Because it costs $700, nosotros’re confident in maxim that at that place’s better value to be had elsewhere.
Despite the haphazard performance of the D-Link router (or it’s current lack of MU-MIMO firmware), it can’t be underestimated how much, ‘not having to recollect about which network band to bring together’ makes. All environments have fluctuating WiFi conditions and if you see the D-Link network it will usually piece of work very well. Just in that location aren’t too many other features. It does expect the all-time unless you hate the sight of information technology. We’ll probably end up using it most ourselves simply really, at $150 more the Linksys, information technology loses this test on value.
The clear winner is the Linksys. Information technology would arguably win if it cost $700 similar its rivals but it’s actually $150 less. The 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports, the simple settings pages and consistently-strong performance at all ranges means that while it might not accept won many of the tests outright, overall it’south the champion.
Nonetheless, there needs to exist an honourable mention for the older,
D-Link AC3200 DIR-890L router. This is essentially the same as the (tested) D-Link AC5300 DIR-895L router but for one less 5GHz network and no MU-MIMO potential. It offers the same features, proved itself capable at all ranges and costs just $350!
Finally, for more than information on the
MU-MIMO WiFi adapter that we used, check out this review, here. We also
reviewed Linksys’ WiFi range extender, hither. Finally, we
investigated MU-MIMO itself and saw whether the benefits were worth paying actress for (at the moment), here.
Page 1: Introduction
Page ii: How we tested
Page iii: Results
Page 4: Netgear Nighthawk AC5300 X8 review
Page 5: D-Link DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router review
Page 6: Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
Page 7: Conclusion
