Netgear R6250 Dual Band Gigabit Smart WiFi Router Review

Test Method & Admin Panel

In order to keep up with the recent addition of the 802.11AC wireless standard, there has been the need to update the equipment that I use to test routers. Instead of using the built-in Intel wireless on the Dell XPS15 L502X laptop the I use, a Netgear A6200 dual band USB wireless AC adaptor has been employed due to the fact that it fully supports the AC standard and also features Beamforming technology.

Like my previous testing methodology, the router will first of all be tested on a fully wired connection between the host and remote systems to get an idea of its baseline performance. After this the laptop will be positioned in three different locations, each further than the one before so that we can see how the bandwidth reacts over a greater difference. The bandwidth will also be tested on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands – each running at their fastest standard – Wireless-N for 2.4GHz and the new AC standard for 5GHz.

Once the bandwidth has been tested, the internet connection speed will also be tested at the same three locations on both wireless bands. That is not all though. Once the router has been tested in our offices – an environment with plasterboard walls and an ADSL connection, the router will be moved to a location which has solid brick walls, which as we all know is the Achilles heel for wireless signals. In this case I will be using my home for this testing, but it also gives us a feel for how an 80Mbps connection is experienced at long range.

Test system:

• Asus Maximus V Forumla
• 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:

The R6250, like all of Netgear’s latest routers, uses the Genie user interface. Spit into two main sections for both basic and advanced users, everything is well laid out and is very easy to navigate around. The Genie desktop program accompanies the routers web interface and gives an easy access point for a number of the routers features as well as managing a Netgear wireless adaptor (if installed).