Below (at the VERY bottom of this article) is a link to a review of the latest "Super Router" from Netgear called the Netgear Nighthawk X10. This router is so "super" it comes with a, now get this...a Fiber Channel port on the back of the router. It also has a built in Plex Media Server for all you video junkies who just LOVE to watch videos and see pictures of yourself.
All that bitchen stuff said, the router DOES NOT WORK WITH A NAS when it comes to the Plex Media Server. So, if you are like yours truly, and you have a NAS cause you simply are out of space and have all your precious photos and videos stored on a RAID 5 system well...your screwed. You will need to copy them to a USB external stick or a "compatible" USB drive in order to take advantage of the built-in Plex Media Server. $500.00 bucks and no NAS support with the Media Server...huh.
I truly only believe you should consider this router IF:
1 - You're a super Nerd (that would be me).
2 - You own a Small Business - Why? Well, one you can load-up a USB stick with all your Marketing Campaign stuff you have worked so hard on and just stream it to the CONF rooms or the lobby where your customers are. Also, believe it or not, it has a Fibre Channel port on the back of the router. Hook that baby up to your switch (you will need an SFP switch port on your switch to make this work) and "feel the speed". It's a 10Gb port (pretty fast). That said, a Fibre Channel port requires TWO pieces to work: the port itself AND the SFP adaptor to go INTO the port. The Netgear switch does not come with a SFP adaptor that I can see and trust me, I looked! You will need to purchase one. That will set you back eh....anywhere from 60.00 to 120.00 PER. So...if you are thinking of taking advantage of that make sure you build the cost in.
3 - You are a home user sitting there just chumming in your pants about the possibility of having fibre connected to your desktop. If that's you, make sure you add in the cost. You will need: 1xFibre Card for your PC. 2xSFP's (one for your new fibre card and one for the router). So...about...300.00 ADDITIONAL dollars. But come on...10GB from the router to your PC...god...please drop $300.00 dollars my way. Please?
**Note about the SFP's** - What's compatible? That was the one thing I could not find on the Netgear site. What SFP's are "certified" or "compatible" to work with the router? Dear Netgear: Really? No FAQ? No nothing?
Another interesting titbit I ran across is the range of this router. I was reading some of the reviews on Amazon (check them out for yourself here) and found some folks are having issues in larger environments. This is nothing new. When you purchase ANY router you need to make SURE you take into account things like:
- Walls (Cement? Wood? Drywall? Thickness? Wire-mesh?)
- Proximity to other routers. This is more for the folks who live in apartments and Condo's. You have to remember that MOST wireless routers come with a default channel set. NO ONE changes those channels. Basically, the "bandwidth highway" becomes congested. Oh, and by the way, in MOST routers you CAN change the channel. Just run WiFiInfo from NearSoft (free), find the channel NOT being used the most and change your router to that channel. Some of you will have to change two channels (2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz). It's really not rocket science. Grab the manual from your manufactures website and you should be good to go. You will have to reboot the router but...so what. The kids will only scream for like...30 seconds.
- Pure Size - This is a LARGE ROUTER! I would not recommnend you stick in the living room where your wife will just stare at it and then you and then the router and then you and finally go "do we REALLY need that RIGHT THERE?"
As far as the distance complaints go, here's my take: If you can afford a 4K square foot house, get an extender (which Netgear does sell for the X10 for like...128.00 bucks.). Put it on the...what 12th floor... of your home and you should be fine. If you can afford a 500 dollar router, you can afford the extender.
Look, from what I can tell, this is a very good router. If you own a SMB or just have a s****load of stuff you connect to your router this might be the answer to your prayers. If you have, say...less than 10 devices that connect over the wireless look elsewhere. This is so over the top even I have a hard time justifying the expense.
Oh...oh...you want to me to recommend a different router for those who have only about 10 or less devices? Sure I will! Get two tin cans and some wire...na...just kidding.
Actually, I use two routers at home (not for this article) but my primary router (which I love and reviewed and have answered a TON of questions about) is the NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 Dual Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Router (R7000) with Open Source support. What? Did I just hear all the Open Source folks stir from the couch a little? YES! Open Source support which means you can run...wait for it...wait....okay...dd-wrt! Holy garden hose! Mind BLOWN! YES! You can run it! It's AMAZING and the router is only 175.00 at Amazon. So...enjoy...and clean up that mess you just made. That's nasty.
Read the entire review here - Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 WiFi Router Review
