In many larger, or particularly solid, homes one Wi-Fi router can’t quite get to the edges, so it is necessary to add an extender or second access point. There are many options about there, but AFAIK this is the first, and only, touch screen model. I’m not sure what the touch screen really adds to the mix after first run […]
Read more
The pace of innovation in the 802.11AC space over the last couple years has been breathtaking. With the iteration from AC1750 -> AC1900, the main improvement was realized in 2.4GHz bandwidth, and not focused on enhancing the speed of the primary 5GHz radio. The recent release of “Wave 2” 802.11AC chipsets has changed this by adding features like Multi-user MIMO […]
Read more
The pace of improvement in the 802.11AC market has been blistering, and I had a chance to talk to NETGEAR about their newest top-end entrant the $299 Nighthawk X6 (R8000) – AC3200 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Router yesterday. Before digging into the specifics of the R8000 it is critical to understand what exactly the X6’s AC3200 actually means. Unlike the AC1750 […]
Read more
Even in a mid-sized home, it is quite common to end up with a few “dead spots” where the main Wi-Fi router just does not provide enough signal to make the network work smoothly. Until recently–if your network is based on 802.11AC–the only way to address this, and take advantage of AC’s performance was by adding another full-on router acting […]
Read more
When you cannot install Ethernet throughout your house there are a few options available, but none tantalize the same way as 802.11AC’s promise of Gigabit-esque bandwidth with ease of wireless installation. Admittedly the recent trend in marketing routers by summing their potential speed is a bit confusing, but given the chance to redefine the home networking landscape we can forgive […]
Read moreContinuing the recent push towards summing Wi-Fi bands to classify wireless routers NETGEAR announced today their newest AC1900 (1300Mbps 5GHz AC + 600Mbps 2.4GHz N) Wi-Fi all-in-one the R7000 “Nighthawk”. This three stream router/access point/repeater/media bridge is based on the Broadcom 4709 Communication Processor; which is interesting for a few reasons – academically a shift away from MIPS to ARM […]
Read more
The myriad of network permutations encountered when traveling with multiple devices is so diverse that covering them all seems impossible. Wired only access, web based authentication or per-device access charges? The ASUS WL-330N 5-in-1 Wireless-N150 Mobile Router has it covered, offering five discrete operating modes: NAT firewall router, access point, repeater, Ethernet adapter or [the almost magical] hotspot. Naturally, packing […]
Read more
The prospect of wiring surround or multi-zone loudspeakers is often fraught with difficulty and may be a job best left to someone who can open up walls, fish speaker wire and install a wallplate with wire terminals. Instead of hiring a costly contractor or spending several hours and dollars in parts, Aperion Audio presents the Zona Wireless Speaker System which […]
Read more
I often find that that good networking kit is neglected when it comes to building an solid connected home theater, with low-end network interface cards (NIC), routers and wireless access points (AP) creating a sub-standard experience. It’s also an area where we haven’t done as much as we should to spread the word through guides and reviews – something that […]
Read moreThere was a booth setup in a small little corner of the Eureka section of CES. It was from a company called Wi3. They are offering a home solution that you install a box into your house and using MoCA specs you can send wireless and make a AP or you can send Ethernet, or you can send HDMI connections. […]
Read more