Netgear A6200 WiFi USB Adapter Review (802.11ac Dual Band)
Summary: Needless to say if your laptop is stuck on older WiFi technologies than the A6200 will definitely improve your connection but given the price of around $80AUD, we do find the product a little on the expensive side. The device is also backward compatible with other 802.11 a/b/g/n devices and is also compatible with Windows 8 that is definitely a bonus. It does it's job but we did have a few teething issues with the speed of the adapter.
3.5
Rollercoaster
If you’re looking for an easy way to enable high speed WiFi on your PC, than the Netgear A6200 WiFi USB Adapter may be the solution to create a wireless network in your home or office without the need for a complex installation process or cabling system. If you already own a Netgear Router, the installation process is made easier opposed to a non-Netgear router but either way, most users should have only minimal to no issues at all when installing this product.
The adapter is a little on the large size and measures at 95.3 x 31.4 x 14.3mm with a 90-degree adjustable USB connector which is needed on where you install the item. If you install the adapter into the side of your laptop or PC, you need to flick the antenna up, however if you install it on the top of your desktop case, you don’t need to change the positioning. The unit also comes with a desktop dock that does allow you to find the best signal if you have interference issues.
Package Contents
- A6200 WiFi USB Adapter—11ac Dual Band (A6200)
- USB cable with desktop dock
- Installation guide
- NETGEAR genie® installation CD
Warranty
- Localized to country of sale.
System Requirements
- Intel® Pentium® class PC
- Available USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 slot
- Microsoft® Windows® 7, XP, Vista®: (32/64-bit)
- Supports Windows® 8
Standards
- IEEE® 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz
- IEEE 802.11 a/n/ac 5.0 GHz
Physical Specifications
- Dimensions: 95.3 x 31.4 x 14.3 mm (3.75 x 1.23 x .56 in)
- Weight: 19.5 g (0.69 oz)
To install the adapter, you need to use the included CD which sets up the software for the adapter and allows you to access your network through the WiFi router. Although the adapter supports 802.11ac speeds, it was a little bit of a mixed bag. For the majority, speeds did push the 80% boundaries of its capabilities but this was dependent on where our wireless router was. An interesting feature of this adapter is that it only supports USB 1 or 2 that makes me wonder if the speeds would have been better on USB 3.0? Given that, the adapter did perform well at distances, even pushing 20 – 25 metres for FULL HD video streaming. However I did find that walls effected the performance of the unit.
Final Thoughts?
Needless to say if your laptop is stuck on older WiFi technologies than the A6200 will definitely improve your connection but given the price of around $80AUD, we do find the product a little on the expensive side. The device is also backward compatible with other 802.11 a/b/g/n devices and is also compatible with Windows 8 that is definitely a bonus. It does it’s job but we did have a few teething issues with the speed of the adapter.
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