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Forum Discussion
RAX40 and Smart Connect
Just bought the RAX 40 to replace my dying Airport Extreme. One of my main reasons for buying this router was to utilize the smart connect feature so I only have one SSID. I guess this router doesn't have that feature.
Is this something that may appear with a firmware update?
Is this feature necessary?
24 Replies
If it's not available yet in the current firmware [you have checked the Netgear support download pages for the WAX40, right? 1.0.1.46 released 09 April 2019], I'm convinced it will show up later. Technially, there is a little bit more going on behind the UI and over the air than just the same SSID.
As per the Netgear KB What is Smart Connect and how do I enable or disable it on my NETGEAR router? the RAX40 is included, too.
Christian_R this might be one more chapter for the currenlty ongoing meeting.
Hi schumaku ,
Thanks for your response. I do have the latest firmware (1.0.1.41) loaded which is weird because the one listed on the Netgear website is 1.0.1.36.
Good call on the supported routers for the Smart Connect. Looks like it might be on its way in a future release.
The other router I was considering was the RP7000p. Does the RAX40, aside from having support for wi-fi 6, also have superior performance to the R7000p (similar price point)?
UpsidedownWorld wrote:
Does the RAX40, aside from having support for wi-fi 6, also have superior performance to the R7000p (similar price point)?
Expect similar performance for wired and 802.11ac (5 GHz)/.11n (2.4 GHz) clients - the allowed power is the same, the standards are the same.
Both the slightly older RAX80 and RAX120 support smart connect.
- Ac2600(R7800) or ax3000 (Rax40) which on should I get?
Re: Want to Buy a Neatgear router - NETGEAR Communities
I don't think the subject is intended to be ironic.
I am really disappointed. I spent a few sessions last week with the support folks looking at various routers that supported smart connect. They assured me that the AX4 did. Now I install one and there is no smart connect option.
- In addition to the lack of smart connect, I wasn’t happy with the speeds. Didn’t think it was any better than my AirPort Extreme. I took it back, and bought the rax80. Should have done it from the start. So happy with it. This thing screams! Close to 1gig over WiFi!
Well I spent a few minutes on the phone with support. They confirmed I was given bad information. Originally smart connect was included in the RAX40, specs and user manual but it never made it into the firmware. So they deleted it from the user manual a couple days ago. Support said it should be out in a future firmware release but specific timeframe. Seriously?
jjw001 wrote:
Seriously?
TIme-to-market at every price ... Yes, this matches to the information provided above here in the thread earlier this week by Christian_R (Netgear).
I have been going round and round with Netgear customer support and they are unable to provide any meaningful information about the lack of the 'smart connect' feature or when it will be made available, if ever. They have suggested I return the router to the seller, like it is the seller’s responsibility to bail out Netgear deceptions. I am thinking about filing a deceptive trade practices complaint with the Texas Attorney General office.
The Attorney General's Office recommend the following action. 'If the business refuses to fix your problem, you can file a complaint with us, with the Better Business Bureau, and with the Federal Trade Commission. ' This might get the problem escalated to someone at Netgear that will actually go something.
- I’m disappointed this doesn’t have smart connect yet. I bought a rax80 and a rax40 expecting the rax40 to have smart connect. I’m going to take them both back and get a different brand that has this feature. I want the same brand and management interface, so I’ll go with another brand that has a lower cost router that has smart connect analog to Netgear. How disappointing. So much on the web says it has these features. I will also file a complaint with the bbb. I HATE when manufactures waste my time, misrepresent their products, and then don’t come through with anything other than empty promises.
Amilcoppens wrote:
I’m disappointed this doesn’t have smart connect yet.Initially around product launch, there had ben some traces of Smart Connect on the RAX40.
Amilcoppens wrote:
So much on the web says it has these features. I will also file a complaint with the bbb.So where is this "so much on the Web" please? Neither the RAX40 marketing blush nor the documentation nor e.g. the KB entry indicate that Smart Connect is available.
Netgear was transparent with this - some posts above here Christian_R (as a Netgear rep) stated (around 26 April 2019):
Christian_R wrote:Hello (xxxx) Smart Connect will be supported in the near future but we do not have an ETA of when.
Not convinced there are many other vendors with such a competitive line-up of Wi-Fi 6 routers as Netgear has, and including a basic Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 (four streams) offering.
