Wndr3700 v2 vs wndr3700 v3

[01R]

if you went from a v2 to v3 would you say its better faster more stable in speed and reliablity or woould you recomend maybe the WNDR3800 ?

[Scubbie]

Originally Posted by 01R

if you went from a v2 to v3 would you say its better faster more stable in speed and reliablity or woould you recommend maybe the WNDR3800 ?

I haven't used the WNDR3700, but I do have a WNDR3800 that is proving to be quite stable.

Do check out the WNDR3800 section of this forum though before committing.

I have the latest firmware installed and all seems well from my perspective.

The GUI is very different from that on the WNDR3700 though. All the options which you will be familiar with are still there, plus a few new ones. Netgear Genie is quite nice. I also have the app installed on my Android phone.

However, do take a look at the features you use on the WNDR3700. I had the DGND3700 previously and it allowed for a few Guest WiFi accounts on both the 2.4 and 5GHz channels. The WNDR3800 appear to only have 2 - one on each frequency range.

[mediatrek]

Originally Posted by 01R

if you went from a v2 to v3 would you say its better faster more stable in speed and reliablity or woould you recomend maybe the WNDR3800 ?

The WNDR3700v3 is what I call a neutered WNDR4000 (non-3x3:3 5GHz band), which means I would stay away from the WNDR3700v3. The WND4000 and WNDR3700v3 have poor range in the 2.4Ghz frequency due to the chipset used. Yes, there are power amps on all the units, but the default SOC that Broadcom chips give off sucks compared to Atheros chips. So, having the power amps really does not help Broadcom-based units enough.

Personally I would go for the WNDR3800 which is a modified WNDR3700v2 with more RAM. If you want to save the $30, you can order a WNDR37AV product from www.staples.com and you will get a WNDR3700v2 in the box. It is hard to see a WNDR37000v2 in the WNDR3700 boxes on store shelves now. Here is a “hardware” breakdown for you:

WNDR3700v2 (also known as WNDR37AVv2):
CPU: Atheros AR7161 @ 680 MHz (MIPS 24K)
Flash RAM: 16MB
RAM: 64MB
Gigabit Switch: Realtek RTL8366SR 10/100/1000
2.4Ghz Radio Antennas: 4 Metamaterial printed on the board w/ power amp
5 Ghz Radio Antennas: 2 internal U.FL connected w/ power amp
OEM Manufacture: Delta Networks
Retails: $99.99


WNDR3700v3:
CPU: Broadcom BCM4718A1 @ 480Mhz (MIPS 74K)
Flash RAM: 8MB
RAM: 64MB
Gigabit Switch: Broadcom BCM53115 10/100/1000
2.4 Ghz Radio Antennas: 2 internal Foxconn U.FL connected w/ power amp
5 Ghz Radio Antennas: 2 Rayspan internal U.FL connected w/ power amp
OEM Manufacture: Foxconn
Retails: $99.99


WNDR3800:
CPU: Atheros AR7161 @ 680 MHz (MIPS 24K)
Flash RAM: 16MB
RAM: 128MB
Gigabit Switch: Realtek RTL8366SR 10/100/1000
2.4Ghz Radio Antennas: 4 Metamaterial printed on the board w/ power amp
5 Ghz Radio Antennas: 2 internal Rayspan U.FL connected w/ power amp
OEM Manufacture: unconfirmed, but I think Delta Networks
Retails: $129.99

[mediatrek]

Originally Posted by 01R

if you went from a v2 to v3 would you say its better faster more stable in speed and reliablity or woould you recomend maybe the WNDR3800 ?

The WNDR3700v3 will get you a very small increase with 5Ghz frequency range. I must stress a VERY small increase over the v2. However, you will loose on 2.4Ghz range and throughput with the v3.

One thing with the WNDR3700v3 (and the majority of routers now) is that when they went for Wi-Fi certification, they have "40 MHz operation in 2.4 GHz with coexistence mechanisms" function, which gives you no way to override the router from stepping back to 20MHz only (or 145Mbps max). This mechanism was created so that routers could enforce a "good neighbour" policy that users could not override. The WNDR3700v2 and WNDR3800 (along w/ WNDRMac & WNDRMacv2) were Wi-Fi certified prior to having this “feature” be required. Even in very low 2.4Ghz frequency usage environments I see the coexistence mechanism kick in with no way to override it. This hinders throughput.

For example, over 2.4Ghz I am transferring a 2GB file to my Seagate Netowrk Atached Storage Device. On the WNDR3700v3 with the coexistence mechanisms my average transfer speed is 7.1 MB/second. Where with the WNDR3700v2 without the hindrance of the coexistence mechanisms my link rate stays at 300Mbps and my file transfer speed averages at 16.4 MB/second.

[01R]

ok from what you put here
WNDR3700v3:
CPU: Broadcom BCM4718A1 @ 480Mhz (MIPS 74K) that means the cpu is better faster cuz its the same as in the 4000 unless they did something to it ? i realy dont care about the wifi stuff i connect the stuff i got with cat6a cables to have the fastest connection i can get so did they do something to make it slow like the other 3700s ? talkin bout the gig ports not the wifi

[mediatrek]

The WNDR3700v3 is SLOWER in 2.4 GHz frequency connections (which is what the majority of devices connect to). The BCM4718A1 is an older chip. It even was used in the WNR3500Lv1 and the even older WNR3500v2. If you are connecting devices that support and connect to the 5GHz frequency then you will see somewhat better improvement in actual speed on the WNDR4000 and WNDR3700v3.

Here is a test for you with a breakdown of the data. The conditions where the same for each. Each router was set to channel 1+5 for the 2.4GHz radio. The 5 GHz radio was set to channel 44+48. There were no other 5GHz devices transmitting in range. In the 2.4 GHz frequency there were 6 other wireless routers in range. The others where in channels 3, 6, 11, 7+11 and one very weak (-92) on channel 1. I used a 2x2 Intel 6205 wireless card in my laptop running drivers 15.1.1.1 and the latest firmware currently for each router. Each router was placed in the same spot and in its stand 14 feet away from my laptop with no obstructions between the laptop and router.

2.4 GHz UP/DOWN THROUGHPUT (40 MHz B/W)
WNDR4000: 74.5 Mbps (note: router activated coexistence mechanisms)
WNDR3800: 102.5 Mbps
WNDR3700v3: 75.6 Mbps (note: router activated coexistence mechanisms)
WNDR3700v2: 100.5 Mbps

5 GHz UP/DOWN THROUGHPUT (40 MHz B/W)
WNDR4000: 111.4 Mbps
WNDR3800: 75.4 Mbps
WNDR3700v3: 86.5 Mbps
WNDR3700v2: 74.6 Mbps

If as you say you are only talking hardwired connections then the WNDR4000/WNDR3700v3 wins in the WAN to LAN area. I should note that if you do P2P & gaming, as the WNDR3800 supports 8,192 maximum simultaneous connections versus 4,096 on the WNDR400, WNDR3700v2, WNDR3700v3.