Netgear Essentials WAX206 AX3200 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Access Point $139 Delivered @ Computer Alliance via eBay AU

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rygle on 18/04/2023 - 08:40 ebay.com.au (449 clicks)
Last edited 18/04/2023 - 11:17 by 3 other users

SNSOAPRPLUSITUP

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This wireless access point is normally around $179 if you shop around. A bunch of stores seem to have dropped it to $149 plus postage, but this is $149 posted and you can take $10 off with the monthly eBay plus code OR the non-plus SNSOAPR code.

I personally have this wireless access point and I'm very happy with it. It has decent power, speed, range. The stock firmware is pretty good and allows several distinct SSID connection points/WiFi networks, including guest. It has a 2.5G WAN port. It can cope with a large number of connections. I have read that it is a big step up from the Netgear Wax202 as it has a much better CPU/processor and one more LAN port.

It is also a great candidate for the alternate OpenWRT open source operating system as it runs a Mediatek processor and has plenty of RAM and ROM space, and can be flashed very easily from the stock firmware. You currently have to flash a snapshot (development) build, but I've been running snapshot builds happily for 2 months, and it will be a fully fledged build when the next release comes out.

The only things that might count as negatives for this wireless access point include:

• No WiFi 6 (802.11AX) on the 2.4GHz band, only 5GHz, so it won't necessarily be as fast at distance as some WiFi 6 routers like the Netgear WAX202 (Edit: Thanks @MasterScythe)
• No USB port (can't serve media, but many don't)
• No external antennas (but the internal ones seem pretty good)
• Not a mesh setup with the stock firmware (but can be done with OpenWRT)

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• 

  MasterScythe on 18/04/2023 - 08:51

  +1

  Another con is no WiFi6 on the 2.4Ghz band.

  So if range is the major factor for you the WAX202 might be your better choice.

  • 

    rygle on 18/04/2023 - 08:57

    -1

    True, sorry I forgot that one. It will often be 802.11AC (WiFi 5) not 802.11AX (WiFi 6) when used at a distance (e.g. two rooms away through walls) as it is only AX on 5GHz, which does not travel as well through walls etc.

    • 

      resisting the urge on 18/04/2023 - 09:36

      Good deal, but I am yet to understand the point of buying a WiFi 6 router and enabling WiFi 5, even when only for long range, when the reason to go to WifI 6 is so largely security.

      • 

        darnmason on 18/04/2023 - 09:46

        It'll be a very very long time before all the devices in your home support wifi 6

        • 

          resisting the urge on 18/04/2023 - 10:01

          @darnmason: Which is a good point. Can you segregate the Wifi 5 (AC) radio to work on different network (eg VLAN) to the Wifi 6 one, and the ethernet LAN using an AX3200? I know you can using OpenWRT, but maybe it can also be done with the stock firmware, or in conjunction with an upstream router?

  • 

    bazingaa on 18/04/2023 - 11:19

    I got WAX202 for $95 and it is pretty good. I can even get WiFi around the main road lol.

    • 

      MasterScythe on 18/04/2023 - 11:55

      +1

      Yep, the wax206 is better for openwrt because of the better processor.

      The wax202 is better for general home users, since wifi6 will be available MUCH further thanks to the 2.4ghz option.

      For most people ax1800 is more than enough.

      • 

        bazingaa on 18/04/2023 - 18:37

        I planned to use OpenWRT on that initially, but later thought to just keep it stock. I have a small Lenovo M700 (6400T/16GB) running as a Hyper-V server with PiHole, Home Assistant etc anyway.

• 

  octleons on 18/04/2023 - 18:26

  +1

  You can also get it for $122 + delivery from MSY

  https://www.msy.com.au/product/netgear-essentials-wax206-wif…

  • 

    rygle on 18/04/2023 - 20:55

    Says $149 now unfortunately.

    • 

      octleons on 18/04/2023 - 21:01

      It's $122 with the Grand Opening Special. Under Click and Collect, select any store that says New, and the price should drop to $122. The price seem to stay at $122 even if you change it to be delivered (+$10).

      • 

        rygle on 18/04/2023 - 21:22

        +1

        Great, happy to be corrected. Just followed your link before but thanks for the further explanation!