Conclusion
The gradual introduction of a new WiFi standard has given manufacturers the opportunity to launch premium routers that tout far greater potential than those supplied by most broadband service providers.
Aimed at ADSL users seeking maximum wireless throughput, the Netgear D6300 offers easy setup, eye-catching design and excellent performance on a 5GHz band by utilising the forward-looking 802.11ac standard.
There's plenty here to whet the appetite of high-end users, but the first wave of 802.11ac routers have left room for improvement. Performance on the widely-used 2.4GHz band leaves something to be desired, we suspect subsequent models will come armed with faster USB 3.0, and given the price point we'd like to see Netgear include an A6200 adapter as standard.
Tempting as the wireless throughput may be, it's the £170 price tag that will act as the biggest hurdle. The D6300 is a sign of things to come, but it will take the ratification of the 802.11ac standard and the proliferation of supporting devices for Gigabit WiFi to hit the mainstream.
The Good
Strong 5GHz 802.11ac speeds
Easy to setup and configure
Built-in ADSL2+ modem
The Bad
Lacklustre 2.4GHz performance
USB ports aren't of the SuperSpeed variety
Premium price tag
HEXUS Where2Buy
The Netgear D6300 WiFi Modem Router is available to purchase from Scan Computers*.
HEXUS Right2Reply
At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.
