Upgraded Router from Nighthawk R8000 to Nighthawk RS700S

[dweber]

I have used a Netgear Nighthawk R8000 Router for my home network since 2015. I currently have 50 devices on my home network including Eufy cameras. Recently Spectrum upgraded my internet speed to 400 Mbps download. I could receive the 400 download speed if I connected my laptop directly to the cable modem. But wired speeds through my old Router were 150-200 Mbps and the 5 GHz and 2.6 GHz WiFi would often drop to under 10 Mbps.
Netgear reduced the price of their triband Nighthawk RS700S to $599.99 and Best Buy offered a 15% coupon for recycling an old router. I recycled one of my old 10/100 routers and bought the Nighthawk RS700S.
I now get speeds of 400-470 on most wired devices. My Hopper 3 shows a download speed of 300 Mbps. Both the 2.5 and 5 GHz WiFi give speeds of 350-400.
The router comes with Armor Security enabled free for the first year.
The router has checked all of my devices and reported 2 vulnerabilities.
1) My Western Digital MyBook network storage has old software. That device is so old that there is no new firmware available.
2) Netgear Armor detected and blocked a suspicious connection from Family Room Hopper 3 Moca. I wonder if that is really an issue.
So far I am pleased with the Nighthawk RS700S. I don’t currently have any devices that utilize the new 6 GHz WiFi but buying this router will guarantee that future additional devices are satisfied.

 

[harshness]

For $510, more than your devices better be satisfied.

 

[arlo]

It is surprising that the R8000 didn't perform well with your upgraded speeds. I use two R7000 routers and if wired directly to my cable modem which I have 200 Mbps service. A speedtest.net over 5G wifi gives consistent 201 Mbps down/50 up. The cable modem is an Arris with 16 down/2 up. I own it.

Too bad you don't still have the R8000 to try DD-WRT or Fresh Tomato firmware. Long after the OEM goes staganat on firmware updates. These fellows tend to provide updates.
Funny thing. Your R8000 had two 5G radios and mine only have one. And it has triple the performance.

My always connected router is a quite dated Asus RT-AC68U. Running Merlin firmware. A duplicate of the Asus GUI in the web interface with more bells and whistles. The most recent Merlin firmware update addressed SSL vulnerabilities and updated the built-in Trend virus protection module.
With a couple of streaming boxes and a nice wireless "mesh" system using the two R7000 routers. I just ran a speed test and got 202 up/55 down. Not bragging. Not a bit. Just wondering how the R8000 would perform with alternate firmware. Seeing as how it was reported the Netgear firmware had some deficiencies. And typical of most devices. Upgrades go stagnant after a time.

All of the ipv6 stuff that was implemented to make you want a new router. And my ISP hasn't and wont use it.
They are very slowly upgrading to fiber and abandoning the very dated hard cable infrastructure.

But harshy is right. I know your pocket isn't very cheerfu even if you are.

 

[dweber]

It is surprising that the R8000 didn't perform well with your upgraded speeds. I use two R7000 routers and if wired directly to my cable modem which I have 200 Mbps service. A speedtest.net over 5G wifi gives consistent 201 Mbps down/50 up. The cable modem is an Arris with 16 down/2 up. I own it.

Too bad you don't still have the R8000 to try DD-WRT or Fresh Tomato firmware. Long after the OEM goes staganat on firmware updates. These fellows tend to provide updates.
Funny thing. Your R8000 had two 5G radios and mine only have one. And it has triple the performance.

My always connected router is a quite dated Asus RT-AC68U. Running Merlin firmware. A duplicate of the Asus GUI in the web interface with more bells and whistles. The most recent Merlin firmware update addressed SSL vulnerabilities and updated the built-in Trend virus protection module.
With a couple of streaming boxes and a nice wireless "mesh" system using the two R7000 routers. I just ran a speed test and got 202 up/55 down. Not bragging. Not a bit. Just wondering how the R8000 would perform with alternate firmware. Seeing as how it was reported the Netgear firmware had some deficiencies. And typical of most devices. Upgrades go stagnant after a time.

All of the ipv6 stuff that was implemented to make you want a new router. And my ISP hasn't and wont use it.
They are very slowly upgrading to fiber and abandoning the very dated hard cable infrastructure.

But harshy is right. I know your pocket isn't very cheerfu even if you are.

I kept my old Nighthawk R8000 router. I traded in my ancient Netgear 10/100 routers.
I suspect that the cameras are what loaded down my R8000 router. I have Netgear Gigabit switches throughout the house and a cat6 cable running to my access point in my barn. When my WiFi speeds would drop to 5-10 Mbps I could reboot my R8000 router and the speeds would recover to 100-150.
I may try to load generic firmware on my R8000 when I get time after the holidays. I have a lot of automation throughout my home controlling lights, curtains, entertainment, temperature, with Alexa,
Google, and Siri. As a retired process chemical engineer it is a hobby so I don’t mind spending money on equipment.
I wish I had your upload speed of 50. Spectrum only allows an upload speed of 10 Mbps which hurts Dish Anywhere.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[arlo]

*Ding*!!!! Cameras! Are they IP cameras? And perhaps 1080 at that?
You should be able to go in the router management console and monitor bandwidth usage by device/IP.
Or maybe a DVR with multiple cameras plugged in. At any rate I can confirm some systems and IP cameras will use as much bandwidth is available on your LAN. Which will broadcast to your WAN depending on the many factors in the install and system and software. Variables that can be looked at in bandwidth monitoring in the router.

There should be a QOS. Quality of Service section in the router web interface where you can set bandwidth per connected device. Many managed Ethernet switches do the same thing. Assign a VLAN to how many cameras (or other bandwidth eaters) and set parameters accordingly. Geeky stuff, yeah. But very doable without much trouble.
DD-WRT or Fresh Tomato would work nicely for that on the R8000.

Pretty sure you'll get it.

 

[harshness]

Using technologies other than Wi-fi (such as Zwave and Zigbee) is often helpful in relieving LAN stress from automation.

Automation-wise, I use Zwave devices for everything other than my doorbell and it seems to work great without impacting other systems.

I note that my surveillance system is entirely wired and that takes a huge load off Wi-fi (and eliminates the need for batteries or solar panels). I have a standalone PTZ camera that is wired for weather assessment.

Wi-fi is mostly reserved for tablets, phones and IoT devices; none of which require breakneck speeds.

 

[navychop]

I note that my surveillance system is entirely wired and that takes a huge load off Wi-fi (and eliminates the need for batteries or solar panels). I have a standalone PTZ camera that is wired for weather assessment.

I would be interested in your setup, or “improved” versions because I am considering installing cameras around my home. Batteries are not under consideration. PPOE?

 

[arlo]

Not name dropping. Avermedia makes a range of DVR surveillance products that are surprisingly not that expensive.
I personally believe using wired (coax and power cables to the cameras) would be the better way to put a system together. Some of their packages allow the use of IP cameras also. PTZ is no problem. It's been awhile.

I put 3 pc based camera systems together in Florida from the ground up using Avermedia pci cards. No holds barred.
The 3 cities had 12-13 HD cameras with several of them PTZ. The BBM (big boss man) could monitor the whole operation from his office on a big screen TV.
Bandwidth was the issue. At the time the company just didn't have the oopmh of Internet speed to provide what the boss expected. Live frame video of every camera. In house on the LAN, sure. Combined with the 36 all piping into the plant. Sacrifices had to be made and frame rates had to be reduced.
When I went on vacation a few years afterwards he had ADT come in to each location and install their own DVR systems. I think I strung 4200 feet of cable in the main plant. They used that coax and power wiring for their cameras.
Man was he pissed! I tried and tried to explain that until more bandwidth was purchased or a dedicated service purchased. No how, no way will you get live video unless you shut down a mess of cameras. At least I got paid the bonus I demanded.

Anyway. A greenhouse owner here asked me if I could put a camera system together. On the weekends when the place was closed folks were helping themselves to plants and stuff. He said 5 grand losses in 3 years estimated.

I put a quote together. $1500. Too much. No Internet at the greenhouse. $1200. Still too much. He said he was thinking around $500. Installed. He is a close friend, Off to YouTube land and up came Annke.
I was skeptical. A DVR and 8 IR cameras and all cabling for $250 or so.
I told him "There, you get what you get". "And I don't know what two-fifty will get you". Cuz I didn't.
Plus a point to point wifi connection to the house way across the yard. I mean like Way!

My neighbor has Ring cameras. He goes to Florida for the winter. Seems happy with them. Sent me a few shots of a bear messing around and he got a motion detection phone notification. So. Those work. I guess.

POE works. For the greenhouse I supplied the DD-WRT router in client bridge mode with power using the unused two pair CAT cable wires. Remember. We were on a tight budget. A pair of Alfa flat panel directional router antennas gave pretty acceptable signal strength and therefore link speed. That worked.

I got a call one Monday morning. I had to rush down to the greenhouse. "I got 'em, I got those <expletive>"
"The Staties are coming and I nee you to show me how to get some pictures".
I blew over. Transferred the video and some still frames to a USB.
A PSP Officer was taking a report for retail theft. Sent the content to his phone.
Then. He called his wife. Asking if the stuff was good enough to post on social media to help identify them.
An older couple. Meandering around the greenhouses and the lady picking out a few potted plants.
They put them in the car. Went over to the "honor box". Where you're supposed to fill out a sticky back with what you got and how much. And slip your cash in the door slot with it.
The lady fiddled around for a few seconds. Then they both went to the car. Closed the trunk. And drove away without paying. Clear as day on the video. And the sills showed the plate number.
The cop's wife. On speakerphone. Blurted out something like. "Well heck yeah they're good enough. But you don't have to post it on FB. They live 3 houses down from us.

Small town. The couple were busted. Had a history of shoplifting and stuff I guess from what I heard.
And there were no more help-yourself potted plants taken.
I guess his daughter forgot there were night vision cameras there. Because she and her boyfriend decided to play some heated kissy-face over a 6 pack of beer one late hot summer night. Busted!

 

[harshness]

I would be interested in your setup, or “improved” versions because I am considering installing cameras around my home.

PoE (Power over Ethernet) is what you're looking for. Most IVRs can drive a few cameras and PoE Ethernet switches are pretty cheap.

If you must run a wire, it might as well be Ethernet.

I use a Lorex system that I bought at Costco. Just add a hard drive.

 

[arlo]

Not name dropping. Avermedia makes a range of DVR surveillance products that are surprisingly not that expensive.
I personally believe using wired (coax and power cables to the cameras) would be the better way to put a system together. Some of their packages allow the use of IP cameras also. PTZ is no problem. It's been awhile.

I put 3 pc based camera systems together in Florida from the ground up using Avermedia pci cards. No holds barred.
The 3 cities had 12-13 HD cameras with several of them PTZ. The BBM (big boss man) could monitor the whole operation from his office on a big screen TV.
Bandwidth was the issue. At the time the company just didn't have the oopmh of Internet speed to provide what the boss expected. Live frame video of every camera. In house on the LAN, sure. Combined with the 36 all piping into the plant. Sacrifices had to be made and frame rates had to be reduced.
When I went on vacation a few years afterwards he had ADT come in to each location and install their own DVR systems. I think I strung 4200 feet of cable in the main plant. They used that coax and power wiring for their cameras.
Man was he pissed! I tried and tried to explain that until more bandwidth was purchased or a dedicated service purchased. No how, no way will you get live video unless you shut down a mess of cameras. At least I got paid the bonus I demanded.

Anyway. A greenhouse owner here asked me if I could put a camera system together. On the weekends when the place was closed folks were helping themselves to plants and stuff. He said 5 grand losses in 3 years estimated.

I put a quote together. $1500. Too much. No Internet at the greenhouse. $1200. Still too much. He said he was thinking around $500. Installed. He is a close friend, Off to YouTube land and up came Annke.
I was skeptical. A DVR and 8 IR cameras and all cabling for $250 or so.
I told him "There, you get what you get". "And I don't know what two-fifty will get you". Cuz I didn't.
Plus a point to point wifi connection to the house way across the yard. I mean like Way!

My neighbor has Ring cameras. He goes to Florida for the winter. Seems happy with them. Sent me a few shots of a bear messing around and he got a motion detection phone notification. So. Those work. I guess.

POE works. For the greenhouse I supplied the DD-WRT router in client bridge mode with power using the unused two pair CAT cable wires. Remember. We were on a tight budget. A pair of Alfa flat panel directional router antennas gave pretty acceptable signal strength and therefore link speed. That worked.

I got a call one Monday morning. I had to rush down to the greenhouse. "I got 'em, I got those <expletive>"
"The Staties are coming and I nee you to show me how to get some pictures".
I blew over. Transferred the video and some still frames to a USB.
A PSP Officer was taking a report for retail theft. Sent the content to his phone.
Then. He called his wife. Asking if the stuff was good enough to post on social media to help identify them.
An older couple. Meandering around the greenhouses and the lady picking out a few potted plants.
They put them in the car. Went over to the "honor box". Where you're supposed to fill out a sticky back with what you got and how much. And slip your cash in the door slot with it.
The lady fiddled around for a few seconds. Then they both went to the car. Closed the trunk. And drove away without paying. Clear as day on the video. And the sills showed the plate number.
The cop's wife. On speakerphone. Blurted out something like. "Well heck yeah they're good enough. But you don't have to post it on FB. They live 3 houses down from us.

Small town. The couple were busted. Had a history of shoplifting and stuff I guess from what I heard.
And there were no more help-yourself potted plants taken.
I guess his daughter forgot there were night vision cameras there. Because she and her boyfriend decided to play some heated kissy-face over a 6 pack of beer one late hot summer night. Busted!

Oops. "Avermedia makes a range of DVR surveillance products...."
I meant Annke