Netgear A6200 Dual-Band USB Wireless AC Adaptor Review

Test Method & Admin Panel

As mentioned in my recent review of the R6250 wireless AC router from Netgear, to keep up-to-date with the latest in wireless technology, I’ve switched to using this wireless AC adaptoor instead of using the built-in wireless card on my laptop. Whilst I’ve made a slight alteration to the test hardware, the method of testing the routers reception and throughput remains unaltered.

When testing the wireless reception and throughput, the laptop will be positioned in three different locations, each with a greater distance than the one before. At each location, the throughput will be tested on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band, using the fasted wireless standard that each can support – 802.11n for 2.4GHz and 802.11ac for 5GHz. Once the network bandwidth has been tested, the Internet connection speed will then be checked to see how the adaptor reacts to a real world situation that we all can relate to.

To make the pool of test data even more concise, the adaptor will also be tested in two types of building. In once situation, the test environment will be in a building with a modern construction made up of plasterboard walls and this will have an ADSL internet connection. In the second test environment, the adaptor will be fighting against brick walls whilst a VDSL connection is on hand to test.

For those that live in a brick-built house right the way through, the fact that solid walls and wireless signals don’t mix particularly well is a well-known fact.

Test system:

• Asus Maximus V Formula
• Intel Core i7 3770k
• Corsair Vengeance 1866MHz 16GB
• Corsair H80
• Corsair HX1050W
• Kingston HyperX 240GB SSD
• Asus VS247

We would like to thank Asus, Corsair, Kingston, Lian Li and Netgear for supplying us with our test system components. Many different software applications are also used to gain the broadest spectrum of results, which allows for the fairest testing possible.

Software used:

• www.speedtest.net – connected to server with best ping.
• LAN Speed Test – 2000MB test file transferred.

Admin Panel:

All of Netgear’s latest routers and wireless adaptors come with Netgear’s own Genie desktop interface for easy management and control of the adaptors wireless functions. Within the Genie application, once connected to a wireless network, the adaptors IP address, signal strength and speed are shown along with the current channel that it is running on at the bottom of the window.