NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi 7 Router (BE17000) – Security Features, 17 Gbps Wireless Speed, 10 Gig Internet Port, Tri-Band Gaming Router, Covers 3,300 sq. ft., 150 Devices, Built-in VPN, USB 3.0

We were using a Spectrum WiFi 7 router that they were charging us $10 a month for, and honestly, its performance wasn't great – especially when it came to getting a strong signal to my bedroom through walls. That's why I decided to try this one out.Setup was a breeze, and updating the firmware was easy. Performance-wise, the BE9300, is a noticeable improvement. It's much faster and more stable than the Spectrum router.Ditching the Spectrum rental fee means this will save us money over time.The only thing I noticed that wasn't ideal was that the guest WiFi was automatically enabled by default on my unit without a password. Definitely something you'd want to change immediately for security.Overall, though, the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 seems like a worthwhile upgrade for me and I’m happy with it thus far.

Works great! Every few years we have found we need to update our router to keep up with new technology.

RS300 ReviewBy Wally DRS300 NETGEAR Nighthawk BE9300 WiFi7 - Router Review..../Replacing RAX50 .... this was required as the increasing number of connected devices were overloading the 50...installation was fairly smooth...reconfigured the RAX50 as a Bridge ....everything now - WIN/WIN! Wally D

So far so good, but not without compatibility issues and annoyances.1. Basic setup was very easy, but you have to have an active cable modem or other digital service internet connection to setup the router. 2.5 Gb Ethernet RJ-45 interface is there. There are also 2 additional 2.5 Gb RJ-45 internet interfaces plus 2 1 Gb RJ-45 internet interfaces.Annoyance: The Nighthawk phone/ipad app only supports basic setup.If you want to do something like disable SSID broadcast, you need to manually login directly to the router via laptop from a browser.Other routers can be setup without the connection, and then plugged into a live internet connection like a cable router.2. Some older networked appliance type devices may have WiFi compatibility issues.Example: Older Apple TV boxes like the Generation 2 Apple TV A1469 will hang on initial connection request to the network. You will get to the screen where you can select a network SSID for AppleTV to choose, but it will bomb out with a message:"There was a problem connecting to the internet. The WIFI password entered is not correct. Try Again. (-3900)"- or -"There was a problem connecting to the internet. The WIFI password entered is not correct. Try Again. (-100)"Often this happens before the system has even prompted you to enter in a password. You have only selected the network.This is a modem chip type communications issue which is actually somewhat common with older WiFi devices built to older WiFi specs and newer WiFi6/WiFi6E/WiFi7 routers, not just Apple and not just NETGEAR.One workaround in my case was to DISABLE Access Control on the router and retry setup of the old Apple TV device. This did not work.Another workaround of changing authentication to downgrade WPA2/WPA3 back to WPA2 on the router and retry setup. WPA2 is apparently not always reliably detected by the NETGEAR Router. This did not work, either.Annoyance: The Nighthawk app also is too basic to handle this as well, and info on the WPA settings is not under the SECURITY tab, but under the INFO on the wireless network - but not changeable there. Again, you have to login.Another workaround of disabling all router security also did not work. With some routers it will work, but the older Apple TV boxes will return to an error state of (-100) or (-3900) once security is turned back on.Before you return your router, consider replacing the older devices unless you have no option. In my instance, the Gen 2 Apple TV 1469 box is the only device I have that had connection issues. The device is very old and getting a new one is not that expensive. You may run into similar problems with older Home WiFi appliances adhering to older WiFi specs, even if you replace the router with a different brand. Search their knowledge bases before deciding to return the router and getting something else. Do your research on the device and the specific routers you are looking at, and don’t blindly trust what the router vendor tells you..Keep in mind that WiFi7 is also still an interim draft specification at this time (January 2025), but it has backwards compatibility. WiFi7 is faster than WiFi6 or 6E, but not much can take advantage of the speed yet.WiFi6 is a released spec.WiFi6E is somewhat proprietary and has no backwards compatibility or limited backwards compatibility, but it is faster than 6.I did, however, still notice a definite improvement in my Internet TV devices on the new NETGEAR RS300 Router.

No external antennas to break off like my last wireless router.

A boon to my home network. Has worked flawlessly since installed.

I used the R700 for 10 years. This one is amazing. It works perfectly, is safe and powerful

I installed this less than a month ago and I've been regretting it ever since. The 5GHz band does not work at all. I've configured it and confirmed it should be broadcasting. 2.4 and 6GHz works without issue but 5 is simply not there. I happen to be a network engineer and have an Ekahau Sidekick handy. I can confirm without a shadow of a doubt that the signal isn't there dispite the router showing it's online.My first call to netgear was over an hour long, as the tech stumbled his way through the basic troubleshooting steps. I had already done them previously, but I understand they have to do what they have to do to get on with the process. So after the hour long call with no resolution, they stated that they "need to give it a week and see if it changes." I reluctantly agreed to go along so I can just get through the process. Wouldn't ya know it, a week later the problem didn't magically fix itself so I called back Netgear. This time I had an hour of my life wasted by a extremely rude and condescending level 2 tech who insisted on doing all the same troubleshooting steps we did on the first call. At the end of the hour and being no closer to fixing the issue , he stated he'd have to transfer me again to a level 3 tech. It's pretty clear at this point the router is defective and no amount of reboots or resets is going to fix it, so I asked if we can just replace it. He said "No we cannot replace it as this is not a known issue." When I asked to speak with a supervisor, he said he'd transfer me and then my call was dropped.At this point I have a expensive and defective router that is just over a month old, have had two hours of my life wasted by the worst customer service I've ever experienced and I'm no closer to having this resolved. It was my hope that Netgear would do the right thing and replace it now that I can't return it to Amazon. No such luck.I STRONGLY urge anyone looking at this router to not only go with a different model, but go with another manufacturer as well. Netgear has really been absolutely terrible. Cisco and Asus both have better options.