Many of us would not have forged get entry to to cable or fiber-based web, however nonetheless desire a dependable connection always. However, some other people select to are living for longer phrases in RVs and require an web supply that may transfer with them. Whilst most of the best possible mobile phone plans have get entry to to a cellular hotspot characteristic, it is not the most efficient answer because of tool limits and the want to tie up your phone’s connection. The Netgear Nighthawk LAX20 is an AX1800 router that works with each a typical house web connection and LTE on the similar time.
This router comes with the promise of superb provider fortify and Wi-Fi 6 speeds so you’ll profit from your connection. It can be an excellent are compatible for any individual with an RV that desires to make use of cable or fiber web at house with the choice to select up and pass on that very same router. This router may be appropriate for common web outages, so you’ll seamlessly transfer to LTE when wanted. Nonetheless, this router is hampered by way of device problems out of the field and calls for a little extra tinkering to get operating correctly than many of us would really like.
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Netgear Nighthawk LAX20 review:
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20
Base line: The Nighthawk LAX20 is a quick WI-Fi 6 router with an AX1800 connection that may use both LTE or Ethernet for an web connection. This router is a brilliant are compatible for any individual with an RV or an unreliable house web connection that desires to stick attached.
The Excellent
- Rapid AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 connection
- Works with LTE on maximum carriers
- Netgear Armor and app setup to be had
- Great design and construct high quality
The Dangerous
- Tool insects require a guide replace
- LTE band fortify is not nice
- No 5G fortify
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20: Value and availability
This router used to be first to be had in January of 2021 for a prompt retail value of $299.99 in the USA and has since come right down to $199.99 on Netgear’s site. This router is to be had from maximum primary electronics outlets, together with Amazon and Perfect Purchase. You’ll select this router up in numerous different international locations, together with the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. Remember that provider compatibility will range by way of nation.
Within the U.S., this router formally has fortify for AT&T and T-Mobile. Sadly, dash fortify isn’t integrated, and whilst the specifications checklist Verizon compatibility, a sticky label at the field particularly says Verizon isn’t appropriate. Nonetheless, some other people on-line declare to have got Verizon to attach, however your mileage might range.
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20: Be sure you’re up to the moment
On every occasion I take a look at a router, I at all times be sure that I am the usage of the most recent firmware model and that my take a look at units are as up-to-date as conceivable. In most cases with a Nighthawk router, you obtain any newly to be had device all over the setup procedure, so you might be assured you might be up to the moment. It did not point out any replace, so it settled in with firmware model 1.1.4.20.
Sadly, this model has some severe insects, corresponding to being restricted to only 300Mbps regardless of your connection kind. This may increasingly pass overlooked by way of other people only the usage of LTE however is instantly obvious when you have a quick house connection. This model additionally had a frustratingly inconsistent connection to the Nighthawk app. So naturally, I used the Nighthawk app to test for an replace, however there used to be none.
Netgear has launched a firmware replace, model 1.1.6.28, that resolves the above problems. Nonetheless, it will have to be manually downloaded from the fortify web page for the router and implemented by the use of a internet browser. To do that, obtain the most recent firmware underneath the downloads segment for the LAX20 at fortify.netgear.com. Then, unpack the downloaded zip document.
Navigate on your router’s settings web page. In most cases that is 192.168.1.1, and input the admin username and password you created all over the preliminary setup. If you have not modified it, the default username is “admin,” and the password is “password.”
Make a selection Complicated from the highest menu, click on Management at the left, after which Router Replace. From this web page, make a selection browse to seek out the .chk document you unpacked previous. Add this document to replace the router. Be affected person, as this procedure will take a couple of mins. Additionally, your web connection, particularly LTE, will take a little longer to return again than the Wi-Fi identify.
Android Central reached out to Netgear about this factor and can replace our review if the issue is resolved. For now, it is a little further paintings to get began however value it if you want a router with features like this one.
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20: What you can like
(*6*)
Supply: Samuel Contreras / Android Central
I grew up within the nation and feature recognized many of us that merely did not have get entry to to high-speed web. Whilst choices for those people are making improvements to with forged speeds conceivable with satellite tv for pc suppliers or even one thing like Starlink proving to be slightly excellent, there are occasions the place you want a backup plan. 5G house web from an organization like T-Mobile is not at all times a excellent possibility since it is not but to be had to everybody.
The Netgear Nighthawk LAX20 is a router with LTE connectivity that may transfer over seamlessly in case your number one web is going down. I really like the concept your router has a backup plan so you’ll keep attached.
The Netgear Nighthawk LAX20 at its core is an AX1800 dual-band WI-Fi 6 router with 4 streams. Those speeds are not anything loopy, however just like the TP-Hyperlink Archer AX21, it nonetheless has a lot of efficiency for the general public. The charges ruin right down to 1200Mbps at 5GHz and 600Mbps at 2.4GHz. The utmost width of the 5GHz band is 80MHz. There also are four-gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN connection plus a WAN Ethernet connection that may act as LAN when the usage of solely LTE.
I just like the {hardware} design of the Nighthawk LAX20. The 2 totally adjustable antennas on all sides glance great, and the design is discreet sufficient that it does not stand out an excessive amount of. It is also somewhat skinny at simply 2.25 inches, so in case you are wall-mounting it in an RV or small house, it mustn’t get in the best way an excessive amount of.
The antennas are detachable, so you’ll change them if wanted. You’ll additionally use a TS9 antenna for the LTE connection in case you are in a space with low protection. Many RV house owners will already be aware of this, however you’ll get antennas starting from roof-mounted panels to smaller whip antennas for indoor use. Both approach, it is a nice solution to have.
This router can also be arrange as LTE-only or Ethernet as a number one reference to failover to LTE. In my exams, the transition to LTE solely took a couple of minute to get going, which is not dangerous in any respect. The transfer again to Ethernet used to be just a few seconds. That is the mode I exploit more often than not.
As soon as attached to my house web, the router carried out precisely as one would possibly be expecting from an AX1800 router. Speeds had been constant, and protection used to be forged all over my condo, even with many neighbor wi-fi APs. My most connection is 940Mbps down although maximum 5GHz routers fight to recover from 600Mbps. General, I am glad with the efficiency of the LAX20.
2.4GHz effects (two exams):
| Location | Lounge (router) | Lounge | Toilet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zenfone 8 Wi-Fi 6 mode | 189 Mbps 182 Mbps | 133 Mbps 134 Mbps | 111 Mbps 94.9 Mbps |
| Galaxy S20+ Wi-Fi 6 | 108 Mbps 119 Mbps | 113 Mbps 110 Mbps | 108 Mbps 99 Mbps |
| LG G8 Wi-Fi 5 | 97.2 Mbps 105 Mbps | 63.7 Mbps 73.6 Mbps | 81.4 Mbps 81.3 Mbps |
2.4GHz speeds had been constant all over the home and greater than sufficient for surfing and HD streaming.
5GHz effects (two exams):
| Location | Lounge (router) | Lounge | Toilet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zenfone 8 Wi-Fi 6 mode | 571 Mbps 568 Mbps | 361 Mbps 425 Mbps | 300 Mbps 327 Mbps |
| Galaxy S20+ Wi-Fi 6 | 488 Mbps 535 Mbps | 350 Mbps 339 Mbps | 343 Mbps 293 Mbps |
| LG G8 Wi-Fi 5 | 491 Mbps 535 Mbps | 356 Mbps 378 Mbps | 240 Mbps 241 Mbps |
I extensively utilized this router for a couple of days on simply the LTE reference to an AT&T SIM. In my space, AT&T’s community is powerful. I were given speeds between 30Mbps and 100Mbps, relying at the time of day. Streaming labored tremendous at 720p on one tool however including any other streaming tool knocked the standard right down to 360p on YouTube. Nonetheless no longer too dangerous. Ping occasions had been forged at underneath 50ms more often than not.
It did not take too lengthy to get acquainted with the efficiency ranges. There is no longer a lot you could not get accomplished in this connection.
The preliminary Nighthawk app enjoy used to be a letdown, however with the firmware up to date, issues glance much better.
This router works with the Nighthawk app on Android and iOS. Right here you’ll get entry to fundamental Wi-Fi settings, together with web connection kind. You’ll additionally see your attached units. The house display will display your connection standing on the best so you’ll temporarily see which community you might be the usage of. The preliminary Nighthawk app enjoy used to be a letdown, however with the firmware up to date, issues glance much better.
For extra in-depth sign data, it would be best to bookmark the internet interface. The default deal with for that is 192.168.1.1. Right here you are able to see the proper sign energy.
Netgear armor is to be had in this router which is a brilliant contact. Armor can stay monitor of who’s connecting on your community and will forestall safety problems of their tracks. As an example, if any individual visits a website online with a recognized exploit, Armor can block it. And because of a partnership with Bitdefender, Armor is aware of near to each exploit.
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20: What you will not like
As discussed on the best of this review, this router got here with firmware that did not paintings proper. The Nighthawk app would not attach persistently and would disconnect ceaselessly. Somebody who buys this router will want to manually replace the device, which shall be very difficult to customers that are not too tech-savvy.
This router additionally has somewhat susceptible fortify for LTE bands with CAT 6 LTE fortify. Whilst it’s going to paintings with each AT&T and T-Mobile, it lacks crucial T-Mobile band. T-Mobile’s band 71 is one among its main protection bands for rural spaces and is not supported by way of this router.
Verizon fortify may be indexed on outlets’ product pages and Netgear’s product web page; alternatively, a sticky label at the field confirms that this tool is solely appropriate within the U.S. with AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon and Dash are particularly no longer supported. This may increasingly lead to a few confusion for purchasers.
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20: Festival
The Netgear Nighthawk M5 is a compact Wi-Fi 6 hotspot supporting 5G and extra LTE bands than the LAX20. Whilst it can’t transfer between a house web connection and cellular, it can be a greater answer for any individual on the lookout for a trip router. It has a unmarried Ethernet port, and when you have a robust mobile sign, it’s going to be greater than sufficient for the general public. The Nighthawk M5 additionally has an AT&T-specific fashion with mmWave fortify.
Nighthawk M1 is likely one of the best possible LTE hotspots you’ll get. With a an identical construct and {hardware} characteristic to the M5, it is a lot less expensive. This hotspot has no 5G fortify, however with CAT 16 LTE, it’s going to paintings with near to any provider and band you’ll to find. Just like the M5, it has a unmarried Ethernet port and won’t paintings as a router for your house web connection.
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20: Must you purchase it?
You must purchase this if …
- You want nice uptime with an inconsistent connection
- You need an excellent router to your RV
- You want LTE web however need conventional router options
You should not purchase this if …
- You are not able to get entry to a pc for a firmware replace
- You do not want Ethernet connections
- You’ll’t get entry to LTE out of your location
This router is a superb are compatible for any individual that works from house and desires 100% uptime. LTE is not the most efficient answer for high-speed web, but when you want to stay operating, it is speedy sufficient for many programs. This router may be a competent are compatible for any individual who needs to select up and pass immediately with out dropping connection or wanting to reconnect all in their wi-fi units. This router can stay you off public Wi-Fi near to anyplace you’ll get an LTE sign and an influence outlet.
Nonetheless, this router does not make a lot sense for any individual that by no means connects to house web. For the ones other people, a small hotspot could be a greater are compatible. This router additionally is determined by LTE protection to make sense. Whilst you’ll use antennas to give a boost to the sign, you would possibly not get the consistency you might be after in case you are slightly inside of sign vary.
General this router is a forged possibility for the correct particular person. As any individual that works from house, I really like the concept I do not want to depend on my phone’s hotspot if my web connection is going out. It is also great that it will probably fortify a couple of units, stressed out or wi-fi, when some hotspot connections are restricted to only a unmarried tool. The LAX20 is a actually forged router with nice efficiency so long as you get it up to date and feature a robust LTE sign.
Netgear Nighthawk LAX20
Base line: The Nighthawk LAX20 is a forged AX1800 router with excellent efficiency and fortify for LTE web. Whether or not you could have restricted web choices or be afflicted by outages, the LAX20 is a great possibility for staying attached.
