Improved signal strength, faster communication, stylish look, tight security, enough device support, and more range; those are the comments from the router’s current users. Read through our Netgear AC1200 router review and you will find out that those words are backed by data and facts.
We often hear complaints about small range and issues with many devices being connected at once. But that will not be a problem for the newest version named R6120. Also, we will know why you will experience smooth and uninterrupted connectivity due to the 802.11ac WiFi technology.
Noticeable Features of Netgear AC1200
- The term Netgear AC1200 indicates that you will get a download speed of 300+900Mbps with its 802.11ac Dual Band WiFi.
- Its external dual antenna setup will give you a range of up to 1200 sq. ft.
- With the router’s USB 2.0 port, you can create a local FTP server for the fastest file-sharing method of all.
- It can concentrate the signal on the direction of the connected user for smooth and fast internet connectivity.
- Netgear created a very user-friendly web interface to configure the router for a quick and easy setup.
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Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) About Netgear AC1200
Q. The manufacturer says that they have used the 802.11ac WiFi technology, what does it mean for us?
The technology mentioned in the tech specs of the router means that it is the 5th generation of the WiFi technology which is twice faster than the previous version. As a result, you can stream high-resolution videos without buffering.
Q. Can I use my cable connection on this router? I don’t want to buy 2 devices for my internet connection and cable TV.
No, this is only a router for internet connectivity and you can check out some of the best modem router combos for Comcast. Those devices will save you money as you won’t have to buy different devices for cable TV and internet connectivity.
Q. Why can’t I use the full speed given by my internet service provider?
Most probably, you are using the Ethernet ports and you are experiencing speed no more than 100Mbps on your desktop. If it’s the case, it happens because of the limitations of the LAN ports. Instead of using the LAN ports, transfer data through the WiFi and you will get the maximum bandwidth.
Q. Can I connect it to my other upgraded router as I don’t want to through it away?
Yes, all routers from Netgear can be used to extend your WiFi range. Keep the upgraded router as the primary source of your internet connection, take an Ethernet cable, and connect this one to the primary router. This way, you can use WiFi in your home where the signal strength is weak.
What users saying about Netgear AC1200
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We got hundreds of Netgear AC1200 router reviews and almost all of them are positive about it. But some of them were complaining about not being able to connect their cable connection.
We explained to them that there are different products for using both cable and internet connection at the same time. You can check out the best cable modem for Xfinity and the devices are worth every penny.
From the users, we also heard some issues about download speed but it turned out that the problem was with the provider. Overall, we think this is a reliable product for the price.
Comparison between NETGEAR R6220 AC1200 and NETGEAR R6120 AC1200
The NETGEAR R6120 AC1200 is reviewed in this article which is a newer model and we are going to compare it with the NETGEAR R6220 AC1200 which is an older model. Price-wise, the R6120 costs less but both of them are within a tight-budget range.
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Both of the routers can connect enough devices at the same time than your requirement and the newer model can support a maximum of 20 devices.
Both routers got a decent signal range for covering a medium or slightly large home. You won’t have to worry about any of the router’s security or performance.
Key Features of the Netgear AC1200
Performance
The performance of a router means how fast and efficiently it can handle the traffic. With multiple users browsing the internet at the same time, a router has to manage hundreds and thousands of different data packets every minute.
That is why the manufacturers need to build these devices with a powerful processor and supporting hardware. The R6120 has an 880MHz processor, 128MB NAND Flash, and 128MB DDR3 RAM.
For this reason, we connected 20 devices to the router and used the internet for browsing, video streaming, audio streaming, and gaming. After some time, we checked and found out that none of the devices were disconnected and streaming perfectly.
Speed
Regarding speed, you have already seen that you can download with a maximum speed of 300+900Mbps. It means that the 2.5GHz channel has 300Mpbs speed and the 5Ghz channel has 900Mpbs speed.
This dual-band or dual-channel is very effective for load balancing when the network becomes too busy. With intelligent software and hardware, you won’t see much difference in speed even if the network is packed with a lot of users.
Range
Seeing the product image, you have seen the 2 external antennas of the router. Those are redesigned and improved comparing to the older model. As a result, the router can keep you connected within 1200 sq. feet.
That is the range considering many obstacles between you and the router. But you can browse the internet far away from the R6120 if you are in the line of sight and on the same plain.
Security
A long-time age, the security features of routers had been improved by most of the manufacturers. Netgear is one of them and your router can impenetrable if you configure it correctly.
Choose a strong password and its WPA/WPA2-PSK encryption will give your WiFi signal the necessary strength. On the other hand, it has SPI and NAT firewalls to ensure different types of attacks. Moreover, the firewall of this router can prevent a DoS attack.
Connectivity
On the back of the router, you will see one USB 2.0 port, 1 WAN, and 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports with auto-sensing technology. So, you can connect a maximum of four devices through the Ethernet ports. The devices can be your desktop, printer, or anything else. With the USB 2.0 port, you can share files creating a local FTP server that will work even when there is no internet connection.
Ease of Use
Finally, we tested the router to see how difficult it is to set up for a non-technical person. The manual was very descriptive and the instructions were easy-to-follow. Also, the web interface was user-friendly and easy to find the options. As a result, anyone with basic instruction-following skills can set it up with internet connectivity in no time.
How Worthy is Netgear AC1200 Compared to its Features and Performance?
The straight answer is yes; Netgear AC1200 is worth your money considering the features and performances. Apart from the features, we need to know its durability. From trusted users, we got honest reviews which shows smooth performance for at least 4 or 5 years. The real question is who should buy this product.
If you have to cover an area of 3000/4000 sq. ft. or a mid-sized apartment, you can consider this router. Place the router choosing a middle and suitable position in your house and you will get good signal reception in every corner.
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Final Words
We are about to sign off from the Netgear AC1200 router review and let’s face the truth before that. This is an entry-level router but we are surprised seeing its features and performance. If you have a lower budget and need only a router for WiFi connectivity, you must check this one out. Or, you can find something cheaper and regret later.
