NETGEAR’s debuts include new wireless routers with integrated cable modems, and two AC range extenders.
Cable Modem Routers
The C6300 AC1750 WiFi Cable Modem Router Gigabit Ethernet is based on an Intel Puma 6 processor and has an integrated 16×4 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem capable of supporting download speeds up to 680 Mbps.
Its two radios support wireless link rates of 1300 Mbps in 5 GHz and 450 Mbps in 2.4 GHz.
NETGEAR C6300 AC1750 WiFi Cable Modem Router Gigabit Ethernet and CG3000Dv2 N450 WiFi Cable Modem Router
A lower cost alternative is the CG3000Dv2 N450 WiFi Cable Modem Router with integrated 8×4 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem supporting a top download speed of 340 Mbps. Its built-in wireless access point supports link rates up to 450 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band only.
Both routers have four switched Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, ReadySHARE-enabled USB port for storage sharing, parental controls, wireless guest access and IPv6 support.
The CG3000Dv2 N450 WiFi Cable Modem Router is available now at an MSRP of $119.99. The C6300 will become available in the second quarter for $219.99 MSRP.
Range Extenders
The EX6200 AC1200 High Power WiFi Range Extender is a simultaneous dual-band 2×2 802.11ac range extender supporting maximum link rates of 867 Mbps in 5 GHz and 300 Mbps in 2.4 GHz. Its integrated five port Gigabit switch allows it to also be used as an AC1200 class wireless bridge. There is also a ReadySHARE-enabled USB 3.0 port for storage sharing.
NETGEAR seems to have caught the high-power bug from Amped Wireless with its claims of "high gain 5dBi external antennas and 10 amplifiers that boost output power to a staggering 700mW" (emphasis mine). The EX6200 will be shipping shortly at an MSRP of $129.99.
NETGEAR EX6200 AC1200 High Power WiFi Range Extender
If you have a bit less money to spend on wireless extension, the EX6100 AC750 WiFi Range Extender might be more your speed. It comes in a smaller, wall-plugged format and supports maximum link rates of 300 Mbps in 2.4 GHz and 433 Mbps in 5 GHz. It has a single Gigabit Ethernet port that also lets it be used as an access point or wireless bridge. It is also shipping as we speak and lists for a mere $89.99.
NETGEAR EX6100 AC750 WiFi Range Extender
Other Wi-Fi
NETGEAR also rolled out the PR2000 Trek N300 Travel Router and Range Extender and Facebook Wi-Fi. The former is a 2.4 GHz only N300 class travel router that supports router, range extender, access point and bridge modes. When in router mode, it can use either a Wi-Fi network or Ethernet as its WAN connection. (It looks a lot larger than it actually is in the photo below.)
It can be plugged directly into a wall socket or be powered via its micro USB port. The PR2000 will ship sometime this quarter and be MSRP’d at $49.99.
NETGEAR PR2000 Trek N300 Travel Router and Range Extender
In case you don’t have enough of Facebook’s tentacles trying to ensnare you, NETGEAR is teaming with FB to make it easier to check in for free Facebook Wi-Fi. The ability to turn some of NETGEAR’s 802.11ac routers into Facebook Wi-Fi hotspots will be rolled into the R7000 Nighthawk, R6300 and R6250 Smart WiFi Routers and the R6200 WiFi Router as a free firmware updated "over the coming months".
We can hope that NETGEAR will have learned from Cisco/Linksys’ ham-handed automatic Cisco Connect Cloud upgrade and make the Facebook Wi-Fi an opt-in when the upgrade containing it automatically downloads…
Service Provider
NETGEAR is adding a few products to its portfolio of products for service providers only. The HMNC100 Ocuity 100 Wireless IP Camera is a 720p HD IP camera connecting via a selectable dual-band 802.11n radio. It has a 107 degree field of view, IR LEDs for night vision and 30 second rolling buffer for pre-trigger event recording.
The HMNC500 Ocuity 500 Wireless IP Camera takes the Ocuity 100’s features and adds a magnetic mount, occupancy and security sensors and alert features. It also has a built-in mic and speaker supporting two-way audio, rechargeable two hour battery and micro SD slot for recording without a network connection.
Both Ocuity IP cams will be available this quarter only as part of security and home automation packages.
NETGEAR HMNC100 Ocuity 100 and Ocuity 500 Wireless IP Cameras
Also in the service provider realm is the NTV300D NeoMediacast HDMI Dongle. It’s an Android 4.2+ based USB media stick aimed at telecom providers wanting to create "curated content" services. It connects via 802.11ac wireless and supports 1080p/60 full HD, H.264/MPEG4 decoding, with integrated DRM support.
It also supports Miracast-enabled wireless display for mobile device screen-casting, is powered via its USB port and has a micro SD slot. Remote control is RF4CE (Zigbee) or Bluetooth.
NETGEAR NTV300D NeoMediacast HDMI Dongle
The NTV300D will be ready for service provider deployment in the first half of this year.
And A Few More Things
- The company is going to be demonstrating enhancements to its genie network management app including a Windows 8 version.
- Enhancements to its NeoTV Streaming Players "targeted" for release this quarter are also being demoed. These include new mobile apps for iOS and Android and new content including Spotify and Target Ticket.
- The ReadyCloud mobile app for iOS and Android is now released. It supports remote access to files on ReadyNASes without requiring any nasty ol’ subscription fees.