Netgear Nighthawk AX1800 WiFi 6 RAX10

Not worth the money. I gave it it's best shot, but it failed – I bought a Netgear Nighthawk AX1800 MK63 WiFi extender to cover the WiFI black spots in my home on recommendation from a tech-savvy friend. The system consists of a base router which connects via a LAN cable to your existing Internet router. The base then communicates wirelessly to two satellites strategically placed to boost the WiFI internet signal. Great idea..!

I went to JB HiFI to get the device. (Good discount!) I set the router and two satellites up as per the app instructions. BTW, you need to install an app on your phone first to do the setup as the unit comes with no setup instructions apart from installing the app on a mobile device. All seemed to be fine when first installed. We had full WiFI internet throughout the home. Even up to my shed some 40m from the base..! However, the cracks started to appear very soon. First, one or both satellites would randomly disconnect from the router. Then the app refused to connect to the router even though the mobile device with the app was connecter to the router. I tried on multiple mobile devices with the same negative result. I reinstalled the app. I restarted and re-setup the router. Still app would not connect.

Then one time when the internet dropped out again, I found the router sitting there with a blinking white light (normally blue when connected to internet) meaning that it had lost the plot completely!! I sought assistance through the Netgear Community website with no real solution. In a last effort, I phoned the Netgear support number. I was put through to Mumbai. The chap on the other end of the phone was not very helpful as he said the problem was with the existing Telstra internet and Telstra needed to make an adjustment to their Telstra router for the Netgear router to work. Also, he did not explain why the Netgear app would not connect to the Netgear router, which is the only way to configure the damn thing. The router is not as plug-and-play as they make it out to be. It requires constant fiddling with it to keep it working. It seems that this device is only suitable for tech-savvy individuals who understand all the jargon and technical mumbo-jumbo to work it out and keep it going. Definitely not for the tech challenged individuals among us, of whom I am one. I am not happy with this product. It is going back to the store for a refund...!

BTW. Our Telstra NBN WiFi router still works perfectly. I'll just have to be mindful of where we use the WiFI. I have grown a few more grey hairs since owning this device. IMHO, this device is not worth the hassle and frustration it creates.