Synology RT6600AX Router Review
If you want to buy a router, Synology is unlikely to be among the first three brands that come to mind, despite the fact that the Taiwanese firm is not only an established player in the network storage industry but also manufactures routers.
Previously, routers, like network devices in general, didn't give much thought to the outside because it wasn't a factor when purchasing. With the expansion of home networks, routers, NASs, and access points are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in our living rooms, having a significant impact on most mesh systems, such as AVM's next-generation FritzBoxain or ASUS elegant " blue cave ".
In comparison, the Synology RT6600ax conceals far less, and with its conspicuous antennae and flat, front-facing aggressive appearance, offers high performance and speed.
The gadget is rather large and flat, with four antennae on the back and two additional rotatable and tilting antennas on both sides (these are not detachable, but have a fixed connector), and all connectors are on the back. A USB 3.0 port is located in a row on the left side and can be used to connect printers, mobile internet adapters, and external storage devices.
Then there's the WAN1 port, which is also known as the normal WAN port and has a speed of 1 Gbps. The first of the four yellow LAN ports has a speed of 2.5 Gbps and can be used as a WAN connection.
We had mixed feelings about it because while the availability of 2.5GbE is welcome, it's a shame we only get one because, with a fast internet connection and contemporary home technology, we have to determine which side is more important to us.
Finally, on the right edge, the power button, a reset switch, and a standard power connector can be found.
When viewed from the front, we have two buttons on the right, one for the WPS function and the other for turning the Wi-Fi network (s) off or on at the touch of a button. The numerous indicator lights are situated on the front of the router, and their brightness is adjustable.
Hardware
The Qualcomm / Atheros IPQ6018, a quad-core 1.8 GHz ARM A53 system chip with dual 2x2 MU-MIMO capability for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz lanes, is housed inside the router.
The second 5 GHz radio is provided by a 4x4 Qualcomm QCN9024. The Qualcomm QCA8075 plays the main role on the LAN, which is supplemented by the QCA8081, due to the 2.5GbE port.
In terms of radio, one of the highlights of the Synology RT6600ax is (could be) support for UNII-4 channels, which are the top (5.9 GHz) section of the 5 GHz band for Wi-Fi 6, and allow the construction of an additional 160 MHz channel between them.
The Synology RT6600ax router is a pleasant and flexible device, with the SRM 1.3 operating system serving as its main draw. As a result, the powerful hardware has a very user-friendly interface, allowing users who are less network-savvy to set up the device and use more advanced functions.
We have expanded on VLAN management within this, which we believe is a particularly helpful extra in today's world of home networks loaded with IoT devices that are frequently concerned with security.
In addition to the user-friendly web interface, the mobile phone application (s) are excellent, and device knowledge can even be enhanced via the Package Installation Center.
So, as previously stated, the hardware is acceptable, though we would criticize it for having only one 2.5GbE port - the price of the router is high enough to place twice as much on the back. This is partially countered by the three radios (1 x 2.4 GHz and 2 x 5 GHz) and the USB port, which genuinely supports USB 3.0 speeds.
Based on this, it's no surprise that the RT6600ax loved the fee - but its price is over $370, putting it definitely in the top category, while those who merely want Wi-Fi 6 can get a router for much less.
