NETGEAR has announced an AC1900 router.
The R7000 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router is an AC1900 class wireless router with Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 port.
It uses Broadcom‘s proprietary "TurboQAM" technology to extend the maximum link rate in the 2.4 GHz band from the 450 Mbps supported by AC1750 routers to 600 Mbps. The 5 GHz band maximum link rate is 1300 Mbps. The higher 2.4 GHz link rate is only achieved when the client device also uses a Broadcom 802.11ac chipset for its 2.4 GHz radio.
NETGEAR R7000 "Nighthawk" AC1900 router
The R7000 joins ASUS’ RT-AC68U and Linksys’ EA6900 as the third AC1900 class router.
Other features of the Nighthawk include external, upgradeable (RP-SMA) antennas, beamforming support, automatic QoS, Live Parental Controls, guest networks and VPN server. The router also supports open source firmware that can be downloaded from NETGEAR-sponsored myopenrouter.com.
The USB ports both support NETGEAR’s ReadySHARE storage and printer sharing features that include ReadySHARE Vault, and MyMedia for remote media access. Support is also included for Apple Time Machine and AirPrint.
This new top-of-line router does not include support for NETGEAR’s genie+ marketplace. This app portal continues to primarily support NETGEAR NASes, with router support limited to the open source based WNR3500Lv2 wireless router.
The R7000 has been available at Fry’s since last week due to a timing snafu and is now officially available at its $199.99 suggested list.