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NETGEAR Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini Mesh System (SXK30) | Router with 1 Satellite Extender for Business or Home | VLAN, QoS | Coverage up to 4,000 sq. ft., 40 Devices | AX1800 802.11 AX (up to 1.8Gbps)
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | NETGEAR |
Model Name | AX1800 Dual-Band Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini Mesh System |
Special Feature | QoS, WPS |
Frequency Band Class | Dual-Band |
Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11ax |
Compatible Devices | iPhone, Laptop, Gaming Console |
Recommended Uses For Product | Security, Gaming, Home, Business |
Included Components | One (1) Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini Router (SXR30), One (1) Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini Satellite (SXS30), One (1) 2m Ethernet cable, Two (2) wallmounts with screws, Two (2) 12V/1.5A power adapters, Installation guide See more |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
Color | white |
About this item
- Business-grade security with 4 SSIDs linked to 4 separate VLANs, with 4 independent DHCP servers to assign IP addresses for complete network segmentation; QoS and WPA3 latest WiFi security; capable of dedicating any SSID to 2.4GHz devices to prevent congestion
- Add-on Business VPN subscription service to enable one-step secure VPN site-to-site, site-to-multi-site connections between corporate to branch and home offices, under one corporate wireless SSID. 30-day free subscription included
- Fast AX1800 (up to 1.8Gbps) gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and web conferencing
- Coverage up to 4,000 sq. ft. and 40 concurrent users. Expandable mesh system supports up to 4 satellites and 10,000 sq. ft. of coverage (additional satellites sold separately)
Frequently bought together
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Compare with similar items
This Item NETGEAR Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini Mesh System (SXK30) | Router with 1 Satellite Extender for Business or Home | VLAN, QoS | Coverage up to 4,000 sq. ft., 40 Devices | AX1800 802.11 AX (up to 1.8Gbps) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $152.99$152.99 | -40% $269.99$269.99 List: $449.99 | -9% $299.99$299.99 Typical: $330.00 | -13% $1,299.99$1,299.99 List: $1,499.99 | -8% $349.99$349.99 List: $379.99 | $126.66$126.66 |
Delivery | Get it Apr 3 - 8 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it Mar 29 - Apr 2 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
WiFi signal | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
User interface | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
Tech Support | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
Value for money | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.1 | — |
Mobile App | 2.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.1 | — |
Sold By | busylittlebee | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | eTechtronics (Your Trusted Online Retailer) |
connectivity tech | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Tri-band WiFi |
number of ports | — | 6 | — | 6 | 6 | — |
data transfer rate | 1.8 gigabits per second | 4.2 gigabits per second | — | 10 gigabits per second | — | 3000 megabits per second |
wireless standard | 802 11 AX | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC | 802 11 AX | 802 11 AX | 802 11 AC, 802 11 A, 802 11 N, 802 11 AX | 802 11 BGN |
frequency band class | dual band | tri band | tri band | quad band | tri band | tri band |
lan port bandwidth | 1.8 gigabits per second | Gigabit Ethernet | 5 ghz | 10 Gigabit Ethernet | — | — |
From the manufacturer
SXK30 | SXK50 | SXK80 | SXS30 (Add-on Satellite | SXK50 (Add-on Satellite) | SXS80 (Add-on Satellite) | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars
1,258
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4.0 out of 5 stars
1,258
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4.0 out of 5 stars
1,258
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4.0 out of 5 stars
1,258
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4.0 out of 5 stars
1,258
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4.0 out of 5 stars
1,258
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WiFi Speed | AX1800 | AX5400 | AX6000 | |||
WiFi Band | Dual-Band | Tri-Band | Tri-Band | Dual-Band | Tri-Band | Tri-Band |
# of Concurrent Users | 40 | 75 | 100 | |||
Coverage | 4,000 sq. ft. | 5,000 sq. ft. | 6,000 sq. ft. | 2,000 sq. ft. | 2,500 sq. ft. | 3,000 sq. ft. |
Expandability | Up to 10,000 sq. ft. | Up to 12,500 sq. ft. | Up to 21,000 sq. ft. | |||
Compatibility | SXS30 | SXS50 | SXS80 | SXK30, SXK30B3, SXR30 | SXK50, SXK50B3, SXR50 | SXK80, SXK80B3, SXK80B4, SXR80 |
Ethernet Ports (Router + Satellites) | 7 (3+4) | 7 (3+4) | 9 (4+4 + 1 x 2.5G on Satellite), Supports Port Aggregation | 4 | 4 | 4 +1 x 2.5G, Supports Port Aggregation |
Set up & Configuration | orbilogin.com | orbilogin.com | orbilogin.com | |||
Remote Management | NETGEAR Insight | NETGEAR Insight | NETGEAR Insight | |||
Network Security | WPA/WPA2/WPA3, 4 SSIDs, Integrated NETGEAR Plus switch, VLAN, QoS | WPA/WPA2/WPA3, 4 SSIDs, Integrated NETGEAR Plus switch, VLAN, QoS | WPA/WPA2/WPA3, 4 SSIDs, Integrated NETGEAR Plus switch, VLAN, QoS |
What's in the box
Product information
Product Dimensions | 7 x 12 x 8 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 4.7 pounds |
ASIN | B0933NKXJR |
Item model number | SXK30-100NAS |
Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #45,496 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #217 in Whole Home & Mesh Wi-Fi Systems |
Date First Available | May 6, 2021 |
Manufacturer | Netgear |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Looking for specific info?
Product guides and documents
Videos
Videos for this product
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Introducing the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini | NETGEAR
Netgear Inc
Product Description
Equipped with the latest and fastest WiFi 6 technology, Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini is a Dual-Band Mesh System built to provide your business or your home office with next-level coverage, speed, and connection capacity for the ultimate business-grade WiFi experience, today and tomorrow at an affordable cost for budget conscious businesses. Ideal for home office or small businesses such as bed-and-breakfasts, professional services, and small education centers, Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini AX1800 offers better performance, easy management, supports a larger number of devices, and provides business-grade security standards. Each Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini AX1800 router and satellite is equipped with dual-band radios, each capable of connecting to next-generation WiFi 6 (802.11ax) devices, and delivers 1,800Mbps of total data throughput and 2,000 sq ft coverage. Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini AX1800 is fully compatible with legacy WiFi 5 (802.11ac) devices. Each router and satellite can connect to 4 times more devices as compared to a similar WiFi product in previous generations. process or sell your personal data.;The product is multiple voltage compatible, that voltage arrange is 100-240V.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers have negative opinions about the software, value, and connectivity of the networking router. They mention that the apps are confusing, limited, and the setup is pretty horrible. They also say that the product is an apparent waste of money. Customers also disagree on quality, ease of use, coverage, signal strength, and performance.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are mixed about the performance of the networking router. Some mention that it has great and sustained performance, while others say that it failed to operate after the very first firmware. The buttons are finicky and do not work in the suggested time frame. Some customers also report that the satellites do not operate as they should.
"...Conclusion: -This is a rock-solid performer and with over 20 devices connected to this system, I haven’t experienced any issues...." Read more
"...One reviewer said in June 2021 that the unit failed to operate after the very first firmware update, and they spent hours on the phone with..." Read more
"...This is a very solid platform that was pretty easy to setup with just a few bumps...." Read more
"...Installed almost a week ago, stability and performance have been consistent and without issue...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the signal strength of the router. Some mention that the Wi-Fi speeds and networks speeds are great, while others say that they were disappointed with the Wi -Fi speed and the router is total overkill for 100 Mbps.
"...Surprisingly, I get a strong signal in both my backyard and front lawn...." Read more
"...There is no bandwidth bottleneck or slowdown except at the limitations of the devices connected to the network...." Read more
"...So, this router is total overkill for 100Mbps...." Read more
"...Now I can connect to 5 for certain, and wow, the speed is amazing. I have a gigabit fiber connection. Now I am actually taking full advantage of it...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the networking router. Some mention that the directions are fairly straightforward, and the router interface is easy enough to use. However, others say that it was not at all straightforward, time consuming, and tedious. They also mention that instructions are just slightly wrong, and that the GUI is not very intuitive.
"...You pretty much set it up and forget it – Minimal maintenance is required, and you can set it up to automatically get router firmware updates from..." Read more
"...The app does let you do this, but it was not at all straightforward, and applying the change took the networks down, and took a really long time...." Read more
"...That process was fairly simple...." Read more
"...Dislike: This system is NOT user friendly for anyone not well versed in networking and the use and access of native firmware networking software via..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the quality of the networking router. Some mention that it's the best wifi system they have used so far, with excellent bandwidth experience. However, others say that the design made it extremely unreliable, buggy, and has issues with their Netgear GC728X.
"...get what you pay for – For now, this system is one of the best performers of mesh routers...." Read more
"...For example, the wireless networks go offline when changing the VLAN on one of the LAN ports...." Read more
"...The wifi 6 has excellent penetration thru walls and the last satellite in the chain is just as fast as the router so I couldn’t be more pleased with..." Read more
"...It even has issues with our Netgear GC728X, even after disabling IGMP snooping, etc...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the coverage of the router. Some mention that it provides excellent coverage, fast speeds, and very reliable service for a larger house. They also say that it allows them to easily expand coverage if they need more. However, other customers report that the range is much less than the much older Orbi, and the coverage is not nearly as great as expected.
"...primary router and signal boosters/repeaters, this system allows you to move room to room and even between floors with no signal or bandwidth drop..." Read more
"...I am still tweaking the satellite locations, but I have excellent coverage inside and outside for all the iot stuff and when using all corners of..." Read more
"...router and will refuse to accept any clients, resulting in numerous offline devices...." Read more
"...When an Orbi works they are great. Strong signal and good range.2) When an Orbi does not work, good luck!..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the connectivity of the router. They mention that the network would still not let them connect, some devices can't connect, and the transitional connection is poor. They also ran into serious network issues and it stopped connecting. Some customers also mention that they were unable to connect to the router through any of the VLANs trunked to it.
"...automatically switch from AP to router thereby causing a poor transitional connection...." Read more
"...do this, but it was not at all straightforward, and applying the change took the networks down, and took a really long time...." Read more
"...working throughout the day, very well, but the mornings it’s just not connecting.Deplorable Technical service -..." Read more
"...Every room has solid connectivity and from what I've randomly tested getting ~300-400mbps in most areas now...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the value of the networking router. They mention that the support makes the router completely unusable, the monitoring is missing, and it's an apparent waste of money. They also say that the router is not the answer to their needs and lacks any sort of business level functionality.
"...It really doesn't seem very useful. I guess you can check to make sure it's up, and if it's not responding you can reboot it remotely...." Read more
"...While it's marketed for small businesses, it lacks any sort of business level functionality...." Read more
"...Over all... This is a good buy, though not a cheap purchase by any means, and will serve the Networking Guru's and SMB businesses or home's with..." Read more
"...have a replacement shipped for the on satellite which was clearly not functional..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the software of the networking router. They mention that the apps are confusing, limited, and missing tons of setup features. They also say that the app based setup is pretty horrible.
"...I went ahead and did it to check it out. The app is super limited, with only some of the basic features. It really doesn't seem very useful...." Read more
"...The Insight app is a load of hot garbage, that doesn't even detect the Orbi 3/4's of the time...." Read more
"...in the setup failing halfway through the process when the apps either crash or freeze due to a conflict between the app and the native system..." Read more
"...The Netgear Genie app won’t work at all and the nighthawk app is useless for orbi devices...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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As an IT Professional, I have been using Netgear routers for years in my home, and I’ve never had issues with them. My most recent is the 5-year-old Nighthawk R-7500 router and the Apple Air Extreme access point which are now retired as spares.
Due to my house being 2400 Sq. ft two story structure, I had to use the access point for upstairs, and the R-7500 downstairs to maintain performance and minimize dead spots. The problem was I had to have two SSID’s for the router and access point, and two SSID’s for guests. Sometimes, my devices wouldn’t automatically switch from AP to router thereby causing a poor transitional connection. I also wanted to utilize the latest Wi-Fi 6 protocol available in my iPhone12.
I chose the Orbi pro6 mesh system due to following options: -
1. Great reviews from nearly every vendor on the net.
2. Professional web-based GUI that rivals enterprise class GUI’s. This product was meant for small businesses, and for those who aren’t IT savvy, you can download a Netgear Insight app to set up and operate this router.
3. Single SSID for the entire house. Unlike Wi-Fi range extenders and access points where you get disconnected from one SSID and then reconnected to another as you go around the house, the Orbi pro6 system let's you connect to whatever SSID you assigned the device on the network. No more disconnections/reconnections!
4. A mesh network that will use one SSID for Admin for personal and home products use, and a choice of three more SSID’s for guests and IOT’s.
5. Won’t go obsolete soon – Supports maximum bandwidth of 2.5 Ghz. from ISP’s, latest Wi-Fi protocol Wi-Fi 6 (802.1 ax) and older protocol such as A, B, G, and N. Wi-Fi 6 is supported by newer devices such as the Apple iPhone12.
6. Can use a backhaul cable between the router and satellite – I have a CAT-7 cable that is already installed to support faster data transfer between both systems.
7. Mounting Brackets – As you can see in the picture, both router and satellite came with wall mounting brackets, and this made hardware installation very easy.
Install and configuration: -
Install was easy. Turn power off cable modem and old router. Disconnect old router, and once modem is fully re-booted, connect new router. When the Orbi router booted, it automatically connected to my XFinity service without any issues. Also, since the router came paired with the Satellite from the factory, it automatically synchronized with the router and they recommend a separation distance of 10 ft. during pairing. Once you logged into the router, it forced you change the admin password to a more sophisticated password.
You do not have to program the satellite, the router passes on the configuration information to the satellite.
Performance: - After a month of usage, I here are my experiences: -
I routinely get around 900 Mbps from my ISP and that’s what I’m getting when I measure the speed using the router’s GUI.
Without the Cat7 cable, and a direct distance of over 50 Ft. between several walls, a heater, and second story floor, I was getting a bandwidth of 500 Mbps on the satellite and over 700 Mbps connected to the router’s Wi-Fi.
With the satellite connected to the router using the CAT7 cable, I get over 700 Mbps on my iPhone12 that utilizes WiFi6 and this is true for all locations in the house. I haven’t experienced any dead spots, and I settled on permanently using the CAT7 cable for the backhaul.
Roaming around the house, the router and satellite automatically switch you to whatever device you are closest to, and gone are the days of having to sometimes manually switch SSID’s. Surprisingly, I get a strong signal in both my backyard and front lawn. You can continue streaming whatever you like while enjoying your summer barbeque.
All devices that support both 2.4 and 5Ghz. radio stay connected to the 5Ghz, radio. All devices that utilize the 2.4 Ghz. radio such as printers and security camera’s stay on the 2.4 Ghz. radio.
The router and Satellite lights stay off unless they have problems, and blink at you to confirm configuration changes. Power saver - Gone are the days of flashing Christmas lights (LED’s) all the time.
Streaming video from the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook pro to my new 65” Vizio TV is a breeze since all systems are on the same SSID. Gone are the days of needing special adapters for this.
Improved security software - I used to see a lot of DOS attacks attempts in the old router logs. For this Orbi6 Pro, I barely see any in its logs, and good luck to neighborhood hackers trying to get free Wi-Fi.
Conclusion: -
This is a rock-solid performer and with over 20 devices connected to this system, I haven’t experienced any issues. It may be pricier and bigger/heavier than the competition but if you want great performance and security, this is it. You pretty much set it up and forget it – Minimal maintenance is required, and you can set it up to automatically get router firmware updates from Netgear.
The saying goes that you get what you pay for – For now, this system is one of the best performers of mesh routers. Supporting a maximum ISP bandwidth of 2.5 Ghz, and latest WiFi6 protocol, I’m looking forward to many years of great service from it.
As an IT Professional, I have been using Netgear routers for years in my home, and I’ve never had issues with them. My most recent is the 5-year-old Nighthawk R-7500 router and the Apple Air Extreme access point which are now retired as spares.
Due to my house being 2400 Sq. ft two story structure, I had to use the access point for upstairs, and the R-7500 downstairs to maintain performance and minimize dead spots. The problem was I had to have two SSID’s for the router and access point, and two SSID’s for guests. Sometimes, my devices wouldn’t automatically switch from AP to router thereby causing a poor transitional connection. I also wanted to utilize the latest Wi-Fi 6 protocol available in my iPhone12.
I chose the Orbi pro6 mesh system due to following options: -
1. Great reviews from nearly every vendor on the net.
2. Professional web-based GUI that rivals enterprise class GUI’s. This product was meant for small businesses, and for those who aren’t IT savvy, you can download a Netgear Insight app to set up and operate this router.
3. Single SSID for the entire house. Unlike Wi-Fi range extenders and access points where you get disconnected from one SSID and then reconnected to another as you go around the house, the Orbi pro6 system let's you connect to whatever SSID you assigned the device on the network. No more disconnections/reconnections!
4. A mesh network that will use one SSID for Admin for personal and home products use, and a choice of three more SSID’s for guests and IOT’s.
5. Won’t go obsolete soon – Supports maximum bandwidth of 2.5 Ghz. from ISP’s, latest Wi-Fi protocol Wi-Fi 6 (802.1 ax) and older protocol such as A, B, G, and N. Wi-Fi 6 is supported by newer devices such as the Apple iPhone12.
6. Can use a backhaul cable between the router and satellite – I have a CAT-7 cable that is already installed to support faster data transfer between both systems.
7. Mounting Brackets – As you can see in the picture, both router and satellite came with wall mounting brackets, and this made hardware installation very easy.
Install and configuration: -
Install was easy. Turn power off cable modem and old router. Disconnect old router, and once modem is fully re-booted, connect new router. When the Orbi router booted, it automatically connected to my XFinity service without any issues. Also, since the router came paired with the Satellite from the factory, it automatically synchronized with the router and they recommend a separation distance of 10 ft. during pairing. Once you logged into the router, it forced you change the admin password to a more sophisticated password.
You do not have to program the satellite, the router passes on the configuration information to the satellite.
Performance: - After a month of usage, I here are my experiences: -
I routinely get around 900 Mbps from my ISP and that’s what I’m getting when I measure the speed using the router’s GUI.
Without the Cat7 cable, and a direct distance of over 50 Ft. between several walls, a heater, and second story floor, I was getting a bandwidth of 500 Mbps on the satellite and over 700 Mbps connected to the router’s Wi-Fi.
With the satellite connected to the router using the CAT7 cable, I get over 700 Mbps on my iPhone12 that utilizes WiFi6 and this is true for all locations in the house. I haven’t experienced any dead spots, and I settled on permanently using the CAT7 cable for the backhaul.
Roaming around the house, the router and satellite automatically switch you to whatever device you are closest to, and gone are the days of having to sometimes manually switch SSID’s. Surprisingly, I get a strong signal in both my backyard and front lawn. You can continue streaming whatever you like while enjoying your summer barbeque.
All devices that support both 2.4 and 5Ghz. radio stay connected to the 5Ghz, radio. All devices that utilize the 2.4 Ghz. radio such as printers and security camera’s stay on the 2.4 Ghz. radio.
The router and Satellite lights stay off unless they have problems, and blink at you to confirm configuration changes. Power saver - Gone are the days of flashing Christmas lights (LED’s) all the time.
Streaming video from the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook pro to my new 65” Vizio TV is a breeze since all systems are on the same SSID. Gone are the days of needing special adapters for this.
Improved security software - I used to see a lot of DOS attacks attempts in the old router logs. For this Orbi6 Pro, I barely see any in its logs, and good luck to neighborhood hackers trying to get free Wi-Fi.
Conclusion: -
This is a rock-solid performer and with over 20 devices connected to this system, I haven’t experienced any issues. It may be pricier and bigger/heavier than the competition but if you want great performance and security, this is it. You pretty much set it up and forget it – Minimal maintenance is required, and you can set it up to automatically get router firmware updates from Netgear.
The saying goes that you get what you pay for – For now, this system is one of the best performers of mesh routers. Supporting a maximum ISP bandwidth of 2.5 Ghz, and latest WiFi6 protocol, I’m looking forward to many years of great service from it.
Even better, there was a slight issue with a firmware update, and their tech support was some of the best I have ever experienced. I was expecting an annoying phone tree and to get routed to various representatives who had no idea how to assist. Instead, there was just very brief phone tree navigation, and I was connected with someone who resolved the issue! He was really knowledgeable. I was VERY impressed.
Yes, it would have been better if there had not been an issue in the first place, or failing that if there had been a warning in the release notes. But Netgear did resolve it, and did so relatively painlessly, which is more than most companies can say. A prerecorded message did warn me that my 90 day free support had expired, and I may need to pay for further support. But then it immediately routed me to an experienced representative, and he did not try to get me to pay for support. So if you get that warning, just ignore it.
The issue was that after the version 4.2.3.102 firmware update, the password for the admin config stopped working. The router came right back up and was working fine; I just could not get into it. Even though I had backed up the configs right before the update, they had the same password. I hesitated to do a factory reset and re-apply those configs just to have the same problem.
I didn't see an option in Insight to change the password, but it's actually in there. In the app, on the "Location" tab, in "Location Configuration". It's a strange place to put it, and I don't know why it isn't under the settings for the router instead, but it worked. Insight had an old password, and the firmware update had overwritten the password from the admin config with the password from Insight. This had never happened for previous firmware updates, and the representative said this is likely because this firmware version (4.2.3.102) modified functionality related to Insight, whereas previous firmware versions probably had not.
I changed the password in Insight, and this automatically and immediately changed the password in the admin config (it immediately logged me out, and I had to use the new password I had just specified to log in). The representative said pushing the password like that from Insight to the router is supposed to be a "Professional" feature, which I am apparently getting for free even though he said my account is only a free "Premium" account. Possibly this has to do with initially getting free limited time subscription with the purchase of the router. I got an email after 30 days indicating my free trial of "Insight Premium" would expire, and I did not renew it.
Insight did initially warn me when I added the router to it over a year ago that it would override the admin password on the router (annoying). I thought that was a one-time thing. Apparently even though I had since then changed the password on the router through the admin config, that old password was lying in wait in Insight, just waiting for a firmware update with the right functionality to spring into action and overwrite the password in the admin config again, lol.
In summary, don't change the password in the router admin config, do it in Insight. I rather wish Insight did not let you change the password on the router at all. It would be more secure, and it would keep this issue from happening. But, it does give users a way back in if they forget the password, so they don't have to reconfigure the router from scratch. And, I did get an email and the Insight app popped up a notification warning me the password had been changed, so at least you will know when it is changed.
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ORIGINAL REVIEW 1/11/22 - Not that many reviews for the SXK30 (AX1800), so I'm leaving a comprehensive review. tldr: highly recommended for anyone who wants a secure, stable router, whether they are a home user or a small business. But for beginners, the advanced features may be difficult to configure. And, if you're not going to use the advanced features, then this router is overkill. It's working great for me with 60+ devices, but most of those are IoT.
I don't need mesh, but I wanted the 4 SSIDs for a segmented network. I could have gotten just the router, instead of the set with a router and a satellite / extender, but at the time I bought it, it was only a $30 difference. I went ahead and set up the extender, and used it to replace my switch. The satellite does NOT have line of sight to the router, though it is close by in an adjacent room. I have a CAT-6 cable running between the 2 (I had already run the cable for the switch). I also tested it out WITHOUT the cable, and it worked fine. It takes the satellite a few minutes to connect anytime the router reboots, or while it's applying settings. But once it connects, it seems to work great.
I configured it via the web interface. Be sure to back up the configs often as you configure it, in case you have any problems. If you are looking for a fast, easy setup, then this router may not be the best fit for you. If you are a beginner, but you want to take advantage of the advanced features, you should check out the user manual (on the Netgear site). If the user guide seems too complicated, then this router may not be a good choice.
It's a beautiful, sleek design, without a bunch of annoying LEDs that are on all the time. The LED indicators on the front turn different colors when it's booting / connecting, and to let you know if there's a problem, but otherwise they are off. They come with little shelves to mount them securely to the wall.
One reviewer said in June 2021 that the unit failed to operate after the very first firmware update, and they spent hours on the phone with technical support and finally threw the router away. I bought this in August 2021, and at that time, the newest firmware version was from July 2021. I had no problems with the July update (V3.2.33.108). So, it looks like Netgear fixed the problem. Typically, I do like to wait a few weeks with firmware releases, just to make sure there are no serious issues. I make an exception for a brand new device, because I want to make sure everything is working while I am within the return window.
I have 60+ devices, and it's been working fine so far. This router (SXK30) says it supports 40 concurrent devices, but I really didn't want to pay 3x as much for the SXK80. The majority of my devices (about 45 of them) are IoT devices that ARE online all the time, but are low bandwidth. There's always the risk that if I run into any problems, Netgear will point to the fact that I am exceeding the device limit as an excuse, whether that is the actual problem or not. If that happens, I'll temporarily take some devices offline to get it under 40, to prove that isn't the problem. Your results may vary, but I've been totally fine so far.
I really can't speak to the speed. I used to have fiber gigabit, but I downgraded to 100Mbps (my company is paying for my internet connection now that I'm a telecommuter, and I can't tell that much of a difference). So, this router is total overkill for 100Mbps. I'm getting the same speeds on the router as I get connected directly to the modem from my ISP, usually somewhere between 70 - 120Mbps.
It lets you configure "Client Isolation", which it describes as: "Client isolation prevents hosts and clients in the VLAN from reaching ports, hosts, and clients in the same VLAN, thereby increasing security." Sure sounds like layer 2 isolation, which can be called INTRAnetwork routing. Different companies have different terms for it. It means devices on the same network can't communicate with each other. I actually posed this as a question before I bought it, and "Netgear Team" responded that layer 2 isolation / disabling intranetwork routing was NOT supported. I tested it out using Fing, and they were right, devices on a network that has "Client Isolation" enabled CAN see each other. Even on the guest network, I could see the other devices on the guest network with Fing.
So what does "Client Isolation" do...? Apparently, the devices can SEE each other, but it prevents them from "REACHING" each other. When "Client Isolation" is enabled, I can see the other devices on the network with Fing, but I could not ping them, connect to them, etc. True layer 2 isolation would be more secure.
Netgear calls disabling INTERnetwork routing (communication between networks) "Network Isolation": "Network isolation, also referred to as network segmentation, prevents hosts and clients in the VLAN from reaching ports, hosts, and clients in other VLANs, thereby increasing security." Fing confirms that devices on one network cannot see devices on the other networks. I should hope so, otherwise what would be the point of segmenting the network?
It actually has 5 LANs, although the first LAN is the native VLAN, which must be VLAN 1. This cannot be changed or removed. This is a complaint with many network devices, not just from Netgear (because for security reasons it's best to avoid VLAN 1).
Apparently the web configuration is on this VLAN, because I could NOT access it under any other VLAN. I've seen this on other network devices also. UPDATE 11/11/22 - the release notes for firmware updates list this as a "known issue": "The device UI can be accessed via the default VLAN network only. Workaround: Connect to a WiFi network that uses the default VLAN profile when you want to access the device UI."
It's good security to limit access to the configuration to a particular VLAN, but it would be better to move it off of VLAN 1. When you are planning your network, remember to leave at least one secure admin computer on VLAN 1 to configure the router. Otherwise, if there's no wireless for that VLAN, you may need to do a factory reset (it's a good idea to make frequent backups).
The packaging says you MIGHT get a free year subscription for the Netgear Insight app, and new users MIGHT get a free one month Premium subscription. I downloaded the app and it says 1 free month. It did not find the router in a network scan (although Fing could see it). I entered the info to add it manually, and it said adding it in the app would override the admin password on the router, which is annoying. I went ahead and did it to check it out. The app is super limited, with only some of the basic features. It really doesn't seem very useful. I guess you can check to make sure it's up, and if it's not responding you can reboot it remotely. But if it were that unstable, I would just return it! The ONLY thing I used it for is to move the LAN port for one of my desktops back onto VLAN 1, so I can configure the router from the web configuration (as mentioned, you do not seem to be able to configure the router from any other VLAN). The app does let you do this, but it was not at all straightforward, and applying the change took the networks down, and took a really long time. And it said it failed, though it actually worked. I wouldn't pay for a subscription for this.
Additional security features it has that I wanted:
- Change the address of the router
- Change the IP ranges for the different VLANs
- MAC address filtering
- Disable UPnP
- User ID / password can be changed
- Can disable remote management
- Can be configured via web interface. You do NOT need a Netgear account to configure it (you don't have to use the app at all)
- It seems like WPS can be de facto disabled by disabling the sync button, although WPS does still show as Locked on Lan 1 only (and disabled on the other LANs). The user guide says to use the button to use WPS, and mentions no other way to use WPS, so without the button, theoretically there should be no way to unlock WPS. The guide does not mention that you can disable the sync button, but it's an option in the web configuration (Advanced Setup -> Sync Button).
UPDATE 11/11/22 - According to the release notes, firmware version 4.2.3.102: "Removes WPS functionality from fronthaul due to security concerns". I'm hoping this means it disables WPS instead of just locking it in on LAN 1, but I haven't tested to be sure.
Cons
- No true layer 2 isolation
- Can't change native VLAN ID (to anything other than 1)
- Can only reach the web configuration from VLAN 1
- Limited number of LAN ports, especially if you wire the router and satellite(s) together (you lose a port on each). Most routers have 4, this router has only 3. But you do get another 4 on the satellite
- Limited number of LANs and SSIDs. The more segmentation, the better
- Email alerts are not particularly useful. It will email firewall alerts immediately, and the logs on a schedule. The logs don't record when new devices are connected
- WPS can't be completely disabled on LAN 1
- The Insight app can access the router, even though I had already changed the password and disabled remote configuration and UPnP! Hopefully the fact that I added my device in Insight will prevent someone else from doing the same and hijacking it. I would like to be able to disable management from Insight, in addition to disabling remote access.
- When applying config changes, a lot of the time it takes the networks offline when it should not be necessary. For example, the wireless networks go offline when changing the VLAN on one of the LAN ports. But, it's a minor inconvenience, because I don't make those kinds of changes often.
- I came across a strange bug, which is annoying, but seems harmless. Periodically, a bunch of wireless devices would start showing up as "Wired" under Attached Devices. It seems to come and go. The one time I used the Insight app, I saw the same thing. Netgear will hopefully fix this with a future firmware update
- It's slow to apply settings. Every time you apply the settings, you need to wait a few minutes. I typed this whole long review while I was waiting for it to apply each change I made. But, that's really only a drawback for the initial setup, when I was testing everything out. I don't make that many changes most of the time
All in all, it has some good features for an entry level business router. 5 stars, because I think it's the best option at this price point, with the most features that are important to me. I wish it had better security, but it's certainly more secure than consumer routers, especially ones from your ISP. It may seem like a lot of cons, but sadly these are quite common. If you can find a better router for a reasonable price, I'd REALLY like to hear about it. My last router was the Peplink Surf SOHO, which was very secure, but unusable because of the constant connection issues (you can read my review).
It's been about 5 months now, and it's been quite stable. Lost internet connection a few times, but it always reconnected right away, and I suspect that was the ISP. Netgear just emailed me that there is a firmware update available, but as mentioned, I will wait a few weeks to make sure there are no serious problems before upgrading.