NETGEAR

Nighthawk RS500 (BE12000)

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NETGEAR Nighthawk RS500 (BE12000)

Overall

#239 in

WiFi Routers

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

User sentiment56% positive
5
2
2

Top Pros

Top Cons

Last updated: Apr 6, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit IconCatStretchPics 1.0
r/HomeNetworkingWhat router should I get?
3 months ago

How big is your house? If it’s under 3000 sq ft you could get away with a strategically placed modern router (netgear rs500-700 for example). You’d most likely have to do some tweaking to the default settings for the most stable connection (I did)

Reddit IconCritorrus 1.0
r/wifii want to get a wifi 7 router which one of these should i pick?
10 months ago

In that case I would reccomend a tp link archer be 6500 for half the price. Its wifi7 with no 6ghz just mlo on 2.4ghz and 5ghz. I used one to replace a nighthawk be12000 that was $400 and absolute dogshit.

Reddit IconMediocre-Telephone74 1.0
r/SpectrumAny Recommendations For Good Wifi Router ?
3 months ago

I have netgears RS500 and it runs great. Its $298 on amazon. The rs700 is if u want every bell and whistle.

Reddit Iconpahoran2 1.0
r/HomeKitReliable Wi-Fi 6 Router for Smart Home & 100+ Devices
10 months ago

I bought both a TP-Link BE9300 and Netgear RS500. I ended up keeping both. I agree the WiFi7 for this number of devices. I would go to the top level of each vendor for 100+

Reddit Icontazman137 1.0
r/SpectrumCan anyone recommend a good router for me?
4 months ago

Netgear nighthawk. Spend what you can afford for the coverage you need.

r/wifiGood Wi-Fi Router in 2026. Any recommendation?
3 months ago

Just did this - 7 people, 3 floors. Went through a few mesh systems (tplink be4800, be5000, XE75). Hated the way mesh worked, walked to another room device would hang on the further node and online games were choppier (higher ping and latency) than a single nighthawk (even had wired backhaul from main to second of the 3 nodes). Then went through multiple Netgear Nighthawks (rs200, rs300, rs500, axe3000). Ordered a refurbed RS700S for $349, its a beast but better coverage, better speeds, lower pings, less latency than any of the Mesh systems. Dead spots where we got 5-10mb/sec now getting 550mb. Using the nighthawk app I could see with the RS500 60% signal level in some of the dead spot areas, now getting 90+%. I've got a 1GB connection from Spectrum and they overprovision so wirelessly with iphone 17 getting over 1gb a floor above or under the router and up to a room away still. Wired to PCs getting 1.1-1.2 gb too. I tested speeds in every room of my house with each system to record speeds. I found a single, more powerful router to be a much better and consistent solution for 3 floors and 7 people.

r/SpectrumThese pods aren't doing it for me. Looking for router recommendations, 1700 sqft, plaster walls :(
2 months ago

You're going to have a problem and its the house. I had some dead spots, tested multiple routers and mesh systems. The best fit for us was the Netgear Nighthawk RS700. Pushed through those dead spots and where we got 5mb/sec, now getting 450mb/sec. Even the mesh systems struggled there. I found a refurb on Amazon for $349. Its not cheap but it worked for me. (house is 3200sq ft, 7 users, 40+ devices w/ 1GB connection from Spectrum). I did try the RS300 and RS500 but neither pushed through like the RS700 did with the extra antennas. Looks like they bumped to $356 but mine was refurbed by netgear and had a 90 day warranty from them: [https://a.co/d/abj8BU7](https://a.co/d/abj8BU7)

r/SpectrumThese pods aren't doing it for me. Looking for router recommendations, 1700 sqft, plaster walls :(
2 months ago

You're going to have a problem and its the house. I had some dead spots, tested multiple routers and mesh systems. The best fit for us was the Netgear Nighthawk RS700. Pushed through those dead spots and where we got 5mb/sec, now getting 450mb/sec. Even the mesh systems struggled there. I found a refurb on Amazon for $349. Its not cheap but it worked for me. (house is 3200sq ft, 7 users, 40+ devices w/ 1GB connection from Spectrum). I did try the RS300 and RS500 but neither pushed through like the RS700 did with the extra antennas. Looks like they bumped to $356 but mine was refurbed by netgear and had a 90 day warranty from them: [https://a.co/d/abj8BU7](https://a.co/d/abj8BU7)

Reddit Iconchinob 0.2
r/HomeNetworkingAsus RT-BE92u or Netgear RS180?
7 months ago

ASUS, got better UI on the app as well. I used to have Netgear

Reddit IconMuchoBooterro 0.2
r/pcmasterraceGot the router all set up!
7 months ago

Almost went with this but the WIFI 7 Netgear Nighthawk was less than half the price so I went with that. 1 2.5gig port for desktop, one for laptop. It's awesome

Reddit IconWestern-Walk9792 0.2
r/SpectrumModem+router for 1G
10 months ago

Not everyone wants to shell out $500 for a wifi-7 nighthawk though. Seems redundant when the one provided for free runs the same frequencies and allows full wifi control with 250 simultaneous devices compared to nighthawks 50 devices.

Reddit Iconcodeman113501113 0.1
r/HomeNetworkingWifi 7 Routers - reviewed & compared
5 months ago

i've had nothing but problems with my net gear wi-fi 7, after few weeks stuff buffers for split second, social media doesn't load immediately, i also have the net gear wi-fi 6 AX5400 router and works fine. seems walmarts website also has allot of complaints about wi-fi 7, and seeing that you actually have to have devices that use wi-fi 7, which technically none do, im going back to wi-fi 6, ether a new net gear router from amazon or MSI gaming routers or something.

Reddit Iconi80west 0.1
r/SpectrumRouter?
11 months ago

I got a $110 wifi 7 Netgear router from Walmart. It works fine with my Spectrum cable modem.

r/SpectrumI need a modem and router for my first apartment and need some input.
11 months ago

Take their free modem, put a surge protector on the incoming coax, buy a router of your own. I got a wifi 7 Netgear at Walmart for $110. Get whatever bandwidth you can afford, as it sounds like you'll be using it. When/ if Spectrum brings fiber, it's their equipment they'll replace, not yours.