NETGEAR’s Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) is a newly announced product for residential use. It creates a seamless wireless network throughout the premises and allows mobile devices to stay connected even when they are carried from one corner of the home to another. Let us take a look at the specifications and features of NETGEAR’s Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) and determine if it is worth considering.
Specifications
NETGEAR’s Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) is designed for large homes and will suit residential properties that span across an area of up to 6750 sq. ft. or 750 sq. yds. The package includes one MR80 mesh Wi-Fi 6 router along with two MS80 mesh Wi-Fi satellites. You can purchase additional MS80 satellites for extending the coverage. Each extra MS80 unit will cost a couple of hundred bucks. There are three adapters provided, one for powering each device. All three devices feature a quad-core 1.5GHz processor that packs adequate power for demanding streaming scenarios. You can use multiple 4K streaming devices with the MK83 mesh Wi-Fi router system.
The router has three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for connecting devices like a laptop or streaming media box in addition to a Gigabit WAN port. There are two Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports on each of the satellites as well. In total, you get seven Gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting devices that require low latency connections like gaming consoles or desktops.
The mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system offers up to 600Mbps speed on the 2.4G network, up to 1200Mbps speed on the 5G network, and up to 1800Mbps on the third band. However, the satellites only support simultaneous dual-band operation. They use 2.4G and 5G networks for connecting to devices for a maximum speed of up to 1800Mbps (600+1200). NETGEAR’s Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) delivers a collective speed of up to 3.6Gbps (3600 Mbps). It is more than adequate for 4K streaming on multiple devices.
Features
NETGEAR’s latest offering is feature-rich and supports some of the latest wireless technologies. Here are the main selling points of the MK83 system.
Explicit Beamforming – NETGEAR’s Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) supports explicit beamforming. It targets its 2.4G and 5G signals in the direction of the connected devices instead of broadcasting them all around. The technology improves the range, strength, and throughput of the network.
MU-MIMO – The MK83 mesh router system also supports MU-MIMO (Multiple User-Multiple Input Multiple Output). It can handle simultaneous request from multiple user devices at the same time, minimizing network congestion.
Wi-Fi 6 – The mesh system features Wi-Fi 6 to support a larger number of devices and increase data throughput. It provides maximum speed for devices featuring the latest wireless standard while also being compatible with older Wi-Fi versions.
Simultaneous Tri-Band – Being a Tri-band device, the MR80 router uses three different frequency bands simultaneously to enable wireless connectivity. The third band is reserved for communication between the router and the satellites. It frees the two primary channels, 2.4G and 5G, for your devices and minimizes network congestion. Also, as the maximum speed of this band is 1.7Gbps, it ensures that the satellites facilitate access to fast internet throughout the home.
Single SSID – The mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system creates a single SSID, i.e. there is only one network name for the entire premises. It ensures seamless connectivity as you move a device like a smartphone from one end of the house to the other. Also, devices like printers and scanners that are connected to the network can be accessed throughout the home.
Nighthawk App – Owners have to use the Nighthawk App to set up and control their MK83 mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system through remote management. They can access their home’s wireless network even when they are not at home. It allows them to check devices connected to the network, test speed, implement parental control, change Wi-Fi network name and password, and update the router’s firmware. Users can create a Guest Wi-Fi network to provide temporary internet access to visitors without compromising the privacy or security of their devices like storage disks. However, they can’t access the router’s settings secured by admin credentials. The app can be used to set up voice commands for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is available for both iOS and Android devices.
NETGEAR Armor – Buyers can optionally subscribe to the NETGEAR Armor service to protect their devices from online threats. They get access to the Bitdefender Security antivirus and Bitdefender VPN to protect themselves on the web. A 30-day free trial for the NETGEAR Armor service is available for users.
Price and Launch Date
NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) carries a price tag of $499.99, which puts it in the premium segment. However, it is being sold right now at a discount of 20% for $399.99 on Amazon. It nets you a saving of $100, which is quite significant. NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) has started shipping since the beginning of the April of 2021. Orders are already live on different platforms, and you can buy one for yourself. Customers can place the order on the company’s website or through one of the popular e-commerce platforms.
Should You Buy It?
NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) is a premium product with a price tag of $499.99. However, it is being sold on Amazon at a 20% discount, saving you $100. You only have to pay $399.99 for it. Mesh Wi-Fi 6 router systems are available for around $250. So, why should you spend more? Cheaper mesh Wi-Fi 6 router systems may cover a smaller area, have less speed, or include only one satellite in addition to the router. NETGEAR’s MK83 does not lack in any of these departments.
The mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system is suitable for individuals who have a large home, connect multiple devices to their network, and need a wireless network with high speed. It will also fit the requirements of users who want to stream content on more than one 4K devices. Paying a little more for NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router System (MK83) will be worth it for such scenarios. However, if you live in a small home or don’t connect as many devices, you may consider a cheaper mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system from NETGEAR or other brands. Otherwise, the NETGEAR MK83 mesh Wi-Fi 6 router system is an excellent choice. And the 20% discount on Amazon makes it a lucrative offering.
NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh WiFi 6 System (MK83) on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tqg4xL
