Do you seek a fancy modem-router combo that is adequately powerful? If so, you might want to consider the Netgear Nighthawk C7800. It combines a DOCSIS 3.1 modem with 32 x 8 channels and a Wi-Fi 5 router with an aggregated speed of 3200 Mbps.
With powerful hardware, it seems a great combo device on paper, especially for gig internet. But do you want to know how it results in the real world? Well, I used this Netgear Nighthawk cable modem WiFi router for three weeks to get into the nooks and crannies of the same.
Netgear C7800 Specs
Not interested in tech stack? Skip to the detailed review of the Netgear C7800!
| Technology | DOCSIS 3.1 |
| Backward Compatibility | Yes |
| Channel Bonding | 32 x 8 |
| Ports | 4 x Gig Ethernet + 2 x USB 3.0 |
| Phone Jack(s) | No |
| Modem Router Combo | Yes |
| Built-in Router Speed | AC3200 (3200 Mbps) |
| Wireless Standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| WiFi Range | Up to 3,000 Sq Ft |
| No. of Devices Supported | Up to 45 Devices |
| Suitable Internet Plan | Up to 1 Gbps |
| Compatible ISPs | Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, Mediacom, Midco, and WOW Internet. |
| Processor | 1.5GHz Dual-Core Broadcom BCM3390 |
| RAM | 256MB |
| NAND Storage | 128MB |
Netgear C7800 Review: The Most Powerful Modem-Router Combo?
Unlike Motorola MT7711, C7800-200NAS is not a regular budget modem-router combo. Instead, it is powered to the teeth just to ensure that you can churn out the best possible wired & wireless speeds.
I tested it across various aspects, including speeds, coverage, device capacity, security, ease of setup, management, etc. Keep reading this review of the Netgear C7800 to understand if it's worth investing around $350 in this networking device.
Speeds & WiFi Coverage
When testing the Netgear C7800 modem and router device with an 800 Mbps plan from Xfinity Internet, the speeds were good enough — both wired and wireless.
As you can see in the speed test result screenshot below, I could witness close to 504 Mbps in download and 36 Mbps in upload.
On the other hand, the wired speeds were even more impressive, clocking 710 Mbps in downloads and over 38 Mbps in uploads. My gaming console was running without any lag or latency. Besides, I also connected a printer, and it was working just fine.
As for the WiFi coverage, the Nighthawk C7800 claims to cover large homes of up to 3,000 Sq Ft. I installed it in my 2,700 Sq Ft test center, and it didn't disappoint me. I was getting consistent signals in every corner no matter how far I take my devices.
However, note that it was a test center with no major objects or thick walls. So, the actual WiFi coverage may vary based on the wall size and the structure of your place. Also, Netgear C7800 is one of the few modem-router combos to support 45 devices.
Ports & Connectivity
Moving further in the Netgear Nighthawk C7800 review, there are 4 high-speed Ethernet ports, making it one of the more promising modem-router combos on the market. You can use each Gig ethernet port to establish wired connections with multiple devices.
Plus, 2 high-speed USB 3.0 ports are located on the side of the device, allowing you to share data across the LAN and WAN networks.
Wireless connectivity doesn’t take a backseat with Netgear, including OFDM/OFDMA, Beamforming, and Signal focus. Plus, you have regular 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands catering to your bandwidth requirements.
Compatibility with ISPs
This Netgear modem/router combo is compatible with the following ISPs:
- Xfinity by Comcast
- Cox
- Charter Spectrum
- Mediacom
- Midco
- WOW Internet
Security Features
In terms of security, Netgear allows you to set parental controls, guest network, and manage the network remotely via the NETGEAR Nighthawk App.
Other relevant specs include DLNA support, ReadyShare support for USB connections, and enhanced security, courtesy of the WPA/WPA2 functionality.
Design & Looks
Unlike Netgear C7000 and combo devices from other brands I've reviewed so far, the Nighthawk C7800 is a tad heavier at 3.15 pounds. However, it assumes a different design altogether, with Netgear introducing the much-anticipated horizontal form factor.
And as usual, C7800 also boasts a series of Netgear router lights to show the status of the internet connection/connected device. But the router symbols' position is slightly different at the left top of the C7800.
As far as the dimensions are concerned, the device measures 12.4 x 10.4 x 7.5 inches. Despite the heft, the Netgear C7800 looks way sleeker than some of its peers. But that’s not what separates it from the rest.
Netgear C7800 Setup
Setting up Netgear C7800 was pretty simple. Start with powering up the modem. Then, you can opt for either web-based or app-based installation.
Both methods don’t involve vast knowledge of modems and would take around 15-20 minutes to get them up and running.
Apart from setup, the app has multiple features that let you take total control over the modem without even touching it.
To start, you can check the workload, manage it, and ensure no unwanted devices can access the bandwidth. Besides, you can toggle through security tools and parental controls using the app.
Hardware Configuration
As for the Netgear C7800 specs and internals, a lot is going right for this AC3200 WiFi cable modem router.
Firstly, it comes equipped with a 1.5GHz Broadcom BCM3390 dual-core chipset, working in tandem with 512MB RAM. Complementing the same is the DOCSIS 3.1 support with 32 x 8 channels to work with. Also, there is 128MB of flash memory for your firmware updates and internal specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Netgear app has a responsive UI and comes packed with a wide range of device management specs, including the ASM (Automatic Signal Management), parental controls, guest network management, and more.
You can connect an access point or Wi-Fi extender to the Nighthawk C7800 via the Ethernet slot. Once the extender is connected, you can increase the overall coverage and ensure that the AC3200 WiFi cable modem router (C7800) manages to cover double the present area.
Not at all. I tried connecting the combo with a 4K gaming console while it was busy catering to other devices across the far band. The device hardly heated up, more so, with several heat-dissipating vents added into the scheme of things by Netgear.
Verdict
Netgear Nighthawk AC3200 modem router is replete with features. As a cable combo device, it lets you experience the best of both worlds by ensuring excellent throughput, consistent wired and wireless speeds, and the ability to keep the latency and lags to a minimum.
Therefore, if you can overlook the Wi-Fi 5 standard, this sleek, aesthetic, and futuristic networking device is worth the investment.
