Review of the Rock Space AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router (RSD0619)

The Rock Space RSD0619 is a low-cost dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with good 2.4GHz throughput and easy management.

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AX1800 DUAL BAND WIFI 6 2.0 VERSION ROUTER

POSITIVES

NEGATIVES

ROCK SPACE AX1800 DUAL-BAND WI-FI 6 ROUTER (RSD0619) SPECS

Not everyone requires a high-end wireless router that costs several hundred dollars. With a budget router like the Rock Space AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router, you can still take advantage of the latest Wi-Fi technology (model RSD0619). It’s a very reasonable method to upgrade your home network to Wi-Fi 6 for $79.99. This router doesn’t come with many frills, and its 5GHz performance didn’t break any speed records in our tests, coming in slower than the . Nonetheless, the RSD0619 offers quick 2.4GHz performance and is simple to set up, giving it a good value overall.

The Look: A Black Finish That’s Right On Trend

The black finish on the RSD0619 is ideal for keeping up with the newest home decor trends. Four non-removable antennae protrude from the sides of the device, which measures 1.5 by 9.5 by 6.5 inches (HWD). The top of the device has a tiny LED indicator that shines solid blue when everything is connected and blinks blue during setup.

This router is a bare-bones router in terms of functionalities. It lacks multi-gigabit LAN/WAN ports, USB connectors, and link aggregation capabilities. It does, however, come with four 1Gbps LAN ports and a 1Gbps WAN port on the back panel, as well as a power socket and a Reset/WPS button. Gigabit ports provide the minimum wired speeds that current routers are expected to provide.

The RSD0619 is a dual-band router with maximum (theoretical) data rates of 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,200Mbps on the 5GHz band, earning it the AX1800 certification. It has a dual-core CPU and supports most Wi-Fi 6 protocols, including MU-MIMO data streaming, direct-to-client beamforming, WPA3 encryption, BSS Color technology for less interference from surrounding devices, and OFDMA data transfers. However, unlike some more expensive Wi-Fi 6 routers, wide 160MHz channel bandwidth is not available here.

The RSD0619, like most inexpensive routers, does not have any network security or anti-malware software. It has basic parental controls, such as access schedules and blacklists for each device, but it lacks the age-based filters and usage monitoring capabilities found on more expensive routers like the Asus ROG Strix GS-AX5400.

You can use the web-based interface or the Rock Space Home app for iOS and Android to control the router. The software launches to a home screen with a panel for each installed router and buttons for Homepage, Devices, and Account at the bottom of the screen.

To see a list of linked devices and how they’re connected, tap the router panel (wireless radio band or wired). You may check a device’s MAC and IP address, discover which SSID it’s connected to, add it to a block list, and enable parental controls by tapping it. To access LAN, Wi-Fi, and Guest Network options, tap More Settings. Create blocklists, configure port forwarding, enable Quality of Service (QoS), change passwords, reboot the router, and update the firmware all from this page.

The Rock Space AX1800 is better at 2.4GHz than it is at 5GHz

In a matter of minutes, I had the RSD0619 up and running. I turned on the router, used the provided LAN cable to connect it to my modem, then downloaded the mobile app. I established an account, then chose the RSD0619 from the list of routers by tapping the Add symbol on the first screen. When prompted, I connected my phone to the router’s SSID, chose my connection type (DHCP), time zone, and assigned a name and password to the new network. The installation was finished when the router rebooted.

In our 2.4GHz throughput tests, the RSD0619 performed wonderfully. It outperformed the TP-Link Archer AX10 (79Mbps) and the in the close-proximity (same room) test with a score of 126Mbps. The RSD0619 also earned first place in the 30-foot 2.4GHz test, with a score of 53Mbps. The TP-Link Archer AX10 had a speed of 40Mbps, while the had a speed of 38Mbps.

In the 5GHz throughput testing, the RSD0619 did not do as well. In the close-proximity test, it managed 614Mbps, trailing both the TP-Link Archer AX10 (755Mbps) and the (712Mbps). On the 30-foot 5GHz test, it scored 175Mbps, which was slower than the TP-Link Archer AX10 (215Mbps) and D-Link DIR-X1560 (207Mbps).

We utilize an Ekahau Sidekick Wi-Fi diagnostic gadget and Ekahau’s Survey mobile app to generate heat maps that show the router’s 2.4GHz and 5GHz signal strength in our test home in addition to throughput testing. (PCMag’s parent company, Ziff Davis, owns Ekahau.) The heat map’s circle reflects the router’s position, while the colors represent signal strength. The strongest signal is dark green, while the weakest signal is dark yellow.

The RSD0619 maintained relatively decent signal strength across most of our test homes, as shown on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz maps, but it struggled to maintain a strong signal in the garage, which is the farthest position from the router.

Still, Wi-Fi 6 on the Cheap is unbeatable.

The Rock Space AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router RSD0619 is a good option if you want a cheap router with most of the current Wi-Fi 6 technology. This $80 router has few features, but it was simple to set up and provided reliable 2.4GHz throughput in our tests. The TP-Link Archer AX10 is a better choice if you need quicker 5GHz throughput speed, while it isn’t universally better: Its 2.4GHz performance is slower than the RSD0619 in our tests, and it lacks customizability.

If you have more money to spend, consider the $150 . It has a substantially higher throughput and includes virus protection and parental controls for the rest of your life. It’s our top affordable Wi-Fi router option.