This [highlight color=”orange”]Synology RT2600ac router[/highlight],is a router that really does anything you could ever request for, whether you are a network newbies who only wants to manage the setup wizard and have everything running in moments, or you are an advanced user who would like to mess with the deepest of configurations. Not just that, but it’s wickedly quick, has a really attractive cost and one of the best user interfaces we have ever seen on a router.
The double channels combine to provide a total of 2.53Gbps of bandwidth. The 2.4GHz channel delivers up to 800Mbps of bandwidth, while the 5GHz increases this to 1.73Gbps. These are each powered by the Qualcomm IPQ8065 802.11ac radio. It’s no record-breaker in comparison to the AC5300 routers that are on the marketplace, but this bandwidth is more than adequate for your standard home or small office. It uses a 4×4 transmitter-receiver antenna settings, which are installed externally to deliver the best possible efficiency. Each one can easily be angled both vertically and horizontally. 
It’s as well completely MU-MIMO compatible out of the box, with no require for beta firmware someday in the vague near future, unlike a lot of other routers being sold as MU-MIMO models. It’s run by a Qualcomm IPQ8065 dual core 1.7GHz processor, together with 512MB of ram. There are two USB ports, one 2.0, the other 3.0, so you can use it as a print server or network storage gadget, if you connect an external hard drive. There is also an SD Card reader, and it’ll work with almost all 3G/4G dongles.
We’ve lately moved test areas, and in the procedure have changed our testing process. Instead than use synthetic tests, we at this time copy a 1.12GB HD video file to a Wi-Fi connected laptop computer from our desktop PC, which is connected to the test router via Ethernet. This gives real world speed tests, and the RT2600ac did extremely good. At a range of around 9 metres, the 2.4GHz channel delivered 573Mbps. The 5GHz channel decreased to 132Mbps, but this is to be predicted, as its speed drops significantly over range and if there are any hurdles in the way, such as the two half-height walls among our two test Personal computers.
However, what actually makes this router shine is the amazing user interface. We’re intimately common with Synology’s incredible NAS interface, and the RT2600ac follows suit. To put it bluntly, this router has the best user interface we’ve seen in a consumer router. It’s got a quite similar design to Synology’s NAS operating system, and looks generally just like a Windows desktop. 
If you don’t want to mess with the configurations, the start-up wizard will have you good to go in less than a minute. On the other hand, if you’re the type who likes to get down and dirty with advanced networking options, there is a variety of settings to fine-tune. There’s also a large number of information offered to monitor your network, such as which devices are utilizing the most bandwidth, the overall CPU load, and a whole lot more.
Another fantastic feature of the interface is the help support for add-on apps, found in the Package Center. Currently there are merely a handful, but they’re all of use. The VPN package makes setting up a VPN an completely pain-free affair, while the Cloud Station Server makes it a piece of cake to fixed up your own personal cloud. Hopefully, much more applications are produced in future, but this feature alone makes the Synology RT2600ac deserving of your interest.
This router definitely does do it all, and at a excellent price point. We’d go so far as to say it’s the most effective 2600AC router on the current market, with high speeds, a unique feature set and that incredible interface. Really recommended for both beginners and network engineers equally.
photo:Synology
