If you thought that cable networking is superior in speed, reliability and features to Wi-Fi, then you can be sure Netgear is aiming to challenge. The release of the Nighthawk X4S Router marks the point where wireless home routers overpower the classical cabled Gigabit Ethernet connections.
The Nighthawk X4S Router offers users a hub ready to accommodate complex home networks containing desktop computers, notebooks, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and Blue-Ray players, among others.
Netgear states that X4S can reach a maximum wireless speed of 2.54 Gigabits per second, by summing up the two signals: 800Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1733Mbps at 5GHz. To reach full speed, specific conditions of the home, such as distances between devices, building materials, interference or noise, will have to be met.
The modem supports ADSL, ADSL2 and ADSL2+ legacy, just as it does VDSL and VDSL2 protocols found on the fiber-to-the-node networks in Australia. The implement of the latest Wi-Fi technology standard, quad-stream Wave 2 Wi-Fi, translates into having four information streams in each Wi-Fi band. The resulting connection speeds allow online gamers and HD streamers to live in harmony under the same roof.
"With the Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Wi-Fi VDSL/ADSL Modem Router, you'll take advantage of the fastest processor in a DSL modem router combined with the latest innovations in wireless technology for the best experience you can get today for streaming, gaming and file sharing." said David Henry, vice president of product marketing and engineering of Netgear Home Networking.
The modem router utilizes beamforming, a technology able to focus the Wi-Fi signal in the direction of the gadgets. Also, instead of allocating data to devices subsequently, the Nighthawk X4S with MU-MIMO is sending data to several electronics at the same time. Netgear affirms that the Dynamic QoS prioritization should recognize both apps and the devices that run them, and then adjust the traffic accordingly.
The modem router has four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, two USB 3.0 ports and one eSATA port for linking external hard drives. It is easy to connect printers that are AirPrint compatible to the home network, and use them from your iPhone or iPad.
To keep the data of the users safe and private, there is VPN support for secure access to the network. The Netgear ReadySHARE Vault, a free application, backs up important data points from your PCs and stores them to a USB. If you wish to open a private FTP server, you can do so by creating your own URL.
Some 6 million clients are also enjoying the user-friendly and intuitive software Netgear genie app. With it, customers can install, optimize, change, control or repair their home networks. It allows a full range of actions, from managing parental control to opening guest connections, blocking devices or connecting iPads or iPhones to AirPrint compatible devices.
The Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Wi-Fi VDSL/ADSL Modem Router (D7800) is currently on the market in Australia, and is expected to reach the UK and Europe by the middle of September.
The expected prices are of $529 (AUD), £269 (GBP), €299 (EUR) and $371 (USD).
