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Forum Discussion
Netgear AC2100 End of life?
I have a Netgear AC2100 router and was curious if anyone knows if it's reached it's end of life for firmware updates? I do not know the model # as it only says AC2100 on the sticker on the bottom of the router. I bought it about 5 or 6 years ago at Staples here in the US.
7 Replies
listedguru wrote:
I do not know the model # as it only says AC2100 on the sticker on the bottom of the router.
The AC2100 is one of those weird models where Netgear went mad and used the wifi tag as the model number. So there really is an AC2100. It came out in 2018.
Visit the support pages:
Support | NETGEAR
Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.
That page will also have any software, firmware and drivers for your device, if they exist.
The latest firmware is not that old:AC2100 Firmware Version 1.2.0.92 - NETGEAR Support
A couple of years. But you aren't likely to see much in the way of fresh firmware. There shouldn't be many bugs left from the original release. New features won't be on the agenda, and security updates might happen, but only if something earth shattering comes along.
It is a mid-range router that is now several generations behind newer stuff on the WiFi front.
Nothing wrong with this router if it meets your needs.
Just another user with time on their hands.
Thanks for the informative reply. Honestly the router does still work well I'm just thinking about making the jump to wifi 6 or gasp even wifi 7,lol but still thinking it over. I think the sweet spot for me pricewise would be a wifi 6 router as we have several wifi 6 devices in the household now. I appreciate you pointing me in the right direction about the firmware,etc.
listedguru wrote:
I think the sweet spot for me pricewise would be a wifi 6 router as we have several wifi 6 devices in the household now.
Be careful there. The "WiFi 6" thing is designed to confuse us. WiFi 6 is fancy 5 GHz while WiFi 6e is 6 GHz.
You are on the right track when looking at your WiFi clients. It is pointless paying squillions for WiFi 7 gubbins when you don't have anything that can use it.
Just another user with time on their hands.
what speeds do you pay for?
if you're only paying for 100mbps, that router will max it out without issues. If you're paying for gigabit, then its time to upgrade.
Yes I currently have Gigabit Extra through Comcast - it's rated at 1200Mbps but with over provisioning it's supposed to be around 1400Mbps. This issue is my other equipment too - My Netgear CM1100 cable modem and my computer only allow me to see around 940mbps hard wired in. I did recently buy a new computer but I will need to get a 2.5gbps network card in there and like I mentioned upgrade my router and cable modem. Honestly I probably wouldn't notice the higher speed but at some point I might was well get all that I'm paying for.
The coverage with my Netgear AC2100 has been fantastic so I wouldn't need anything fancy in a new router. I would even be open to other brands of routers as well.
For anything over 1Gb from the ISP, you'll need a new modem and router.
