SOLVED: Slow wireless internet passthrough speed after firmware update

UPDATE: Yes, I actually tested the speeds with several different devices (an HP laptop, HTC One M7, and Nexus 9) all of them on 5G band, all ac enabled with latest updates. I also used a couple different speed test sites (speedtest.net, comcast speedtest, cnet speed test), inconsistently had the same result across all devices and hosts.

However, I've actually been communicating with Netgear L2 support for last month... beta testing a couple different versions of the Nighthawk's firmware and even spending over an hour on the phone one night with nice guy who told me he was on an island in Southeast Asia, part of the Philippines... that's where Netgear tech support is halfway between China where they build them and Taiwan where the engineers are. After trying every tweak he could think of for an hour and not getting better wireless speeds, he finally gave up and wished me a Merry Christmas lol. Not a one of those beta firmware's made a bit of difference and I loathe the hours they tricked me into screwing around with them!

BUT TODAY they released vR7000-V1.0.4.14_1.1.50 http://support.netgear.com/product/r7000

And to my shock it actually worked! Not only have my high wireless speeds returned (120+ Mbps)

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/4078979293 (laptop)
http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/1131321713 (nexus 9)
http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/1131332778 (htc one m7)

but also my previously incompatible Seagate SRD0SD0 (3TB) USB 3.0 external hard drive now works, too. What a bonus! The whole reason I bought the Nighthawk was to use as DLNA server and the monster external HD I picked up 6 months ago just happened to be on the long list of ones incompatible with this finicky router.

But now it all works (at least for now).

P.S. Maybe it's in my head but I swear since this last firmware update when running speedtest now or transferring files (any heavy streaming) I can hear the router making a higher pitched electrical humming/whistling noise, it's a little disconcerting... I'm not sure having my brain fried by overclocked wifi is going to be worth the high speeds in the end... :eek: