New high-performance gaming router from Netgear

A new high-performance router targeting the gaming market has been released by Duxbury Networking, distributors of Netgear products in South Africa.

The Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 is a gigabit WiFi router built with data streaming and mobile devices in mind, says Andy Robb, chief technology officer at Duxbury Networking.

Key features of the Netgear Nighthawk include a 1GHZ dual core processor designed to help gamers enjoy less lag and buffering. A number of LED indicators highlight router status while there are options to turn the device’s wireless capability on or off. There is a facility to enable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) should a client device be connected.

The router has the ability to support physical link rates of 1300 mbps on its 5GHz radio (using the 802.1ac networking standard) and rates of 600 mbps on its 2.4GHz radio (using the 802.11n networking standard).

“The higher-than-usual 2.4GHz link rate is made possible by the device’s use of 256-QAM [quadrature amplitude modulation],” explains Robb. “Most routers rely on 64-QAM, which provides a maximum link rate of 450 mbps with 2.4GHz 802.11n networks.”

Unlike a number of routers which support only upstream QoS (Quality of Service), the Nighthawk offers downstream QoS giving it the ability to recognise and prioritise network traffic.

“In situations where users compete for bandwidth, the downstream QoS feature will help resolve video-streaming problems,” says Robb who adds that for users without a NAS device, the unit’s USB 3.0 port will be attractive.

The Nighthawk also has parental control features. In addition to supporting OpenDNS, users can block websites based on keywords, and operate parental controls according to a schedule.

“Users can exempt specific PCs from the controls, while the Nighthawk can send email alerts in the event that attempts to access blocked sites and services are made,” he notes.

The Nighthawk supports OpenVPN, which gives users secure access to home networks – and the PCs running on it – from any location providing Internet access.

The router has two USB ports and is able to support both a USB printer and a USB storage device. It comes with both DLNA media and iTunes music servers, so any DLNA-compatible or Apple AirPlay device can stream media from a hard drive attached to it.