Netgear Nighthawk XR300: DumaOS for gamers
DumaOS is a router software like the new Netgear XR300 that offers a series of tools designed for gaming needs like Geo-Filter and QoS. After seeing it on XR500, here it is available on a cheaper solution.
We have already talked about new-generation technologies at Netgear in terms of routers and gaming. With the integration of the DumaOS operating system within the Nighthawk XR500, it provides players with a widely configurable and versatile device, capable of offering excellent performance, which adapts to almost all gaming-related needs. The only drawback is the price, really very high.
With the new Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR300, which we have had the chance to try in the last few days, Netgear wants to remedy this problem, offering a solution that costs around $200 and that, although slightly weakened compared to the more equipped counterpart, preserves the advantages related to the game.
While XR500 is an AC2600 solution, with XR300 one speaks of AC1750 (but it is also available at other speeds), capable of reaching slightly lower throughput speeds, with possible repercussions, especially in the case of transfer of large files between two connected clients to the network. Furthermore, Netgear’s cheaper router has a slightly less powerful 1 GHz processor against its big brother’s 1.7 GHz processor, as well as fewer connection ports and less appealing aesthetics.
While in the case of XR500, we talk about MU-MIMO 4×4, for XR300 we have a multi-user MIMO type 3×3: the router is able to send and receive data streams simultaneously from a lower number of devices than a unit. Supported Beamforming+, a technology that optimizes transmissions along the trajectory that unites clients and routers.
Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR300 is a Dual Band solution able to simultaneously supply two WiFi bands, one of 2.4 GHz and the other of 5 GHz, in order to guarantee a solid and performing network infrastructure at any time.
In our tests, Netgear’s recent solutions have always been reliable from these points of view, providing networks without lag spikes and with reduced latencies in almost every circumstance. Furthermore, compared to similar devices supplied by the competition, they guarantee an extended network in many cases, even in the absence of WiFi Mesh configurations.
The flagship of these solutions is the DumaOS software, which offers support similar to that of other gaming routers in terms of traffic prioritization, monitoring of network conditions and management of connected devices, but with the addition of the service of Geo-Filter. Let’s talk about a software developed by NetDuma, specifically for gaming needs.
This means that we find tools such as Geo-Filter and QoS that not only aim to improve network performance according to the needs of the game, but are above all simple to use for any type of audience.
It is a widely customizable ecosystem, to which we can add the so-called R-App to be able to enjoy additional supports regarding areas different from those contemplated by default. But as we saw in the previous article on DumaOS, Geo Filter is the most ” spectacular ” system among those made available.
Specifically, the Geo-Filter function aims to reduce the lag by limiting the distance from the server or other players. On the simple map visualized by the software, it is possible to increase or reduce the radius of distance with respect to the server or to the position of the player who hosts the game in the case of game sessions without a dedicated server.
First, you need to configure the starting position, or communicate to the software where you are, and then configure the radius within which the online opponents can find themselves.
In fact, all players or servers that are beyond this radius are inhibited from hosting a game that involves us. Geo Filter offers various types of functionality, including the possibility to find out in detail the location in which the game server is located and its network address.
Thought the base to be as usable as possible even by the less-experienced public, the DumaOS QoS is designed to offer expert users the margin of control. The most savvy user who wants to manually change the value associated with the available bandwidth can press on the QoS screen, on the device to which the band is to be assigned in the list on the left and then change the numerical value that appears on the right.
These features can be very valuable for the player, who can configure their router to privilege the clients on which video games run, minimizing latencies and guaranteeing them a very stable connection. Together with the Dual Band, with the possibility of reserving a network for gaming applications, DumaOS is a valuable resource for the player, both for QoS and Geo-Filter. Of course, at the same time, these are features that make the price grow a lot.
Returning to the physical characteristics, the XR300 uses four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports that are placed side by side with the WAN port. XR500 is equipped with additional connections, for example: USB 3.0, while neither model has a faster Ethernet LAN port than Gigabit, often present in such expensive routing solutions.
According to our tests, the XR300 is very powerful when the client is near the router, and loses slightly compared to the XR500 if it moves away. While the latter was the only router to keep the connection even when the client was out of the office, the XR300 does not repeat the performance.
As for the bandwidth, the fact of being ” only ” AC1700 is reflected in a slightly lower peak speed compared to the other high-end routers with which we have compared it.
Note that this is a router-only solution devoid of the modem component, following the same approach adopted by other router manufacturers who wanted to make their entry into the gaming ecosystem.
Very high prices but the XR300, as well as the XR500 before, has continued to amaze us for the stability of the network that it manages to deliver. Finally, consider how the XR300 can be found in the various stores in different denominations as far as the supported WiFi specification is concerned.
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