Windows 10: Nighthawk Router or Nighthawk Switch? (Fiber Optic Internet)

From what I researched and remember, ethernet switches parse the internet evenly between connected devices on said switch so no one computer/device gets a leg up over the other, but it has no firewall capabilities like some routers do (unless there are switches with firewalls in them, then please tell me so)

Routers give the function of wifi channels so wireless devices with no ethernet capabilities can use the internet, and of course use LAN over WAN, and they have firewall capabilities to protect what they can internet connection wise

My house may be gearing up to switch from wireless internet ala this janky piece of crud Greenpacket Router/Modem (our ISP is Plateau), to their Fiber-Optic Internet (same ISP). I had a chance to test this internet when I went to a motel for a possible job and wow its fast. Problem is: me and my dad can't figure out if we want the nighthawk router (the xr700 mainly for extra ethernet ports), or the nighthawk switch. Can anyone tell me which nighthawk product I will truly need to have a functioning fiber optic internet setup for casual-to mid-heavy gaming and other non-gaming stuff?

:)

 

NETGEAR Announces the Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Router

NETGEAR, Inc., a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, is launching the new Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router (R7800) for people who value speed. Nighthawk X4S is an ideal router for fast-paced gaming hobbyists, as Nighthawk X4S not only delivers an extremely fast WiFi connection to any device, but 160MHz-capable mobile devices enjoy up to twice the throughput provided by other routers.

Nighthawk X4S is a CES Innovation Award honoree at this week's 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show for its advanced, industry-leading features supporting the outstanding Internet performance required for whole-home coverage in the connected home of today - and the smart home of tomorrow.





Nighthawk X4S is the newest addition to the premium NETGEAR Nighthawk range of products and represents a giant leap forward from the Nighthawk X4 AC2350 Smart WiFi Router (R7500) launched in 2014, taking it to the next level in terms of speed. The new Nighthawk X4S supports Wave 2 WiFi features like quad-stream architecture for both 2.4 and 5GHz, Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), and 160MHz bandwidth. It joins the company's top-end router launched in October, the award-winning Wave 2 Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Tri-Band Quad-Stream Smart WiFi Router (R8500), but with dual band and offered at a more aggressive price point.

"Nighthawk X4S is a great router choice if your family loves gaming and streaming at a breakneck pace," said Sandeep Harpalani, senior director of NETGEAR product marketing for Home Consumer Products. "It combines the fastest network processor used in a retail router with the latest WiFi technology for ensuring your mobile devices support the best possible online experiences today and in the future."

Nighthawk X4S optimizes usage of available bandwidth for supporting lag-free gaming and smoother streaming of HD video. With its powerful dual-core 1.7GHz processor, it provides extreme 802.11ac WiFi speeds up to 2.53Gbps* and supports up to four data streams in each WiFi band, maximizing connection speeds for sending data to multiple mobile devices simultaneously. You can stream your favorite 4K HD video to one device and play an intense multi-user online video game on a different device, with greater clarity and less buffering, throughout your home.

Even though the newest WiFi routers like Nighthawk X4S now support four streams for improved bandwidth, many mobile devices continue to have only single- or dual-stream support due to size and battery life constraints. To solve this problem, NETGEAR has designed Nighthawk X4S to support the highest possible 160MHz bandwidth, effectively doubling the throughput for supported mobile devices and ensuring the fastest possible speeds.

Technical Benefits of Nighthawk X4S
NETGEAR designs Nighthawk routers with best-in-class technology for speed, range, sharing, reliability, ease of use and security for your WiFi-enabled devices - smartphones, notebooks, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and media servers.

Hardware features of Nighthawk X4S

• The powerful 1.7GHz dual core processor boosts AC2600 WiFi, wired, and WAN-to-LAN network performance to deliver a combined speed of an astonishing 2.53Gbps (up to 1733Mbps on the 5GHz band + 800Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band).
• Quad-stream architecture with new Wave 2 WiFi improves WiFi range for mobile devices.
• MU-MIMO technology designed for simultaneous streaming to multiple devices provides major performance improvements with next-generation mobile devices.
• 80+80/160MHz supports maximum speeds for upcoming mobile devices.
• 4 high performance external antennas with powerful amplifiers combine with Beamforming+ to ensure the best WiFi coverage and reliability throughout large homes and even backyards, by focusing WiFi directly at connected devices.
• 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports (4 LAN and 1 WAN) offer multiple fast wired connections for home entertainment systems and game consoles.
• 2 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports and 1 eSATA port offer high-speed, storage-ready access and transfer of your content significantly faster than USB 2.0.

Software features of Nighthawk X4S

• Application-aware and device-aware Dynamic QoS technology optimizes your connection speed for reduced lag and buffering.
• Security features include VPN support for secure remote access to your home network and Internet when away from home, separate guest network access, and a customized free URL to create a personal FTP server.
• ReadySHARE Vault, a free software application, automatically backs up Windows-based PCs on your network to a USB hard drive connected to Nighthawk X4S.
• The unique NETGEAR genie app, with more than 6 million downloads, is a personal dashboard to make it easy to install, monitor, control and repair your home network.
• Enhanced Parental Controls enable web filtering and accessibility by family member or devices.
• NETGEAR MyMedia helps you to find and play your stored media from anywhere on your network to your DLNA-ready TVs and music system.
• ReadySHARE USB storage access and ReadySHARE printing capability enable you to wirelessly access and share a USB hard drive and USB printer via the 2 USB ports.

Pricing and Availability
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router (R7800) is available now from major retailers in stores and online, at an MSRP of $269.99 in the U.S.

 

NETGEAR Introduces the Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Router

NETGEAR, Inc., a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, has launched its newest dual-band 802.11ac wireless router, Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (R7000). Soaring above the competition to provide the best performance with the world's fastest Gigabit WiFi speed, Nighthawk combines a powerful 1 GHz dual core processor with a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port and NETGEAR Beamforming+ to boost speed, reliability and range for unmatched connectivity in the home.

Nighthawk's blazing-fast combined WiFi connection speeds up to AC1900 WiFi (600 +1300 Mbps) make it ideal for bandwidth-hungry activities such as online gaming, video streaming, and for supporting the increasing number of mobile WiFi devices in the home. High-power WiFi amplifiers and three external antennas provide outstanding coverage around the home, inside and out - even in the garage and back yard. Wireless HD streaming can be enjoyed at its best thanks to Nighthawk features such as downstream Quality of Service, Beamforming+ and built-in iTunes server compatibility.







Gaming enthusiasts will thrill to the way Nighthawk's AC1900 WiFi, 1 Ghz dual core processor and advanced upstream Quality of Service are optimized for online gaming with exceptionally low-lag game play, making milliseconds count. Nighthawk automatically gives bandwidth priority to Xbox, for a frustration-free gaming experience.

"NETGEAR designed Nighthawk to be the best WiFi router in the world today, bar none. Our goal was to make the best router for data-intensive activities such as online gaming and video streaming," said Sandeep Harpalani, NETGEAR director of product marketing for Core Networking. "We've listened to the demands of high bandwidth users and packed Nighthawk with features to surpass their expectations for speed, range, sharing, reliability, ease of use and security - the must-haves for enabling an increasingly connected digital lifestyle. Simply put, Nighthawk is for anyone who wants the best."

Nighthawk includes a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port which is up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0. Content on a storage device attached to the USB 3.0 port can be accessed and transferred quickly across the network, making it ideal for streaming video to DLNA enabled screens around the home. Content can also be kept safe with NETGEAR ReadySHARE Vault, free software for automatic backup to a USB hard drive connected to Nighthawk. Mac users will be pleased to know that Time Machine is also supported.

Fastest WiFi Supports Advanced Features
NETGEAR Beamforming+ is a smart, signal-focusing technology that boosts the speed, range and reliability of WiFi connections by locking onto a wireless device on the network and pinpointing WiFi signals directly at the device. With Beamforming+, Nighthawk focuses its WiFi signals on phones, tablets and laptops throughout the home to deliver the best experience for fast downloads, clearer voice over internet calls, uninterrupted HD video, and lag-free gaming. WiFi devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, MacBook Air, and other 802.11ac devices will deliver particularly outstanding performance with Nighthawk.

Along with the other industry-leading next-generation dual band 802.11ac wireless products from NETGEAR, (www.netgear.com/fastestwifi), Nighthawk is also compatible with legacy 802.11a/b/g/n standards to provide optimum performance and compatibility with all WiFi devices.

NETGEAR has packed several advanced capabilities into Nighthawk:

• Dual Core 1 GHz processor to boost wireless, wired and WAN-to-LAN performance
• High-powered amplifiers with 3 external antennas to extend WiFi coverage
• Advanced QoS automatically recognizes and prioritizes streaming and gaming applications
• ReadySHARE Vault, a free software application for automatic Windows-based PC backup to a USB hard drive connected to Nighthawk
• Compatibility with Apple Time Machine for automatic Mac backup to a USB hard drive connected to Nighthawk
• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port that's up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0
• VPN support that ensures secure access to your home network
• Customized free URL to create an FTP server
• Open source firmware for download from www.myopenrouter.com, the premier online community for NETGEAR's family of open source and open platform routers.
• Five Gigabit Ethernet ports (one WAN and four LAN) if you want fast wired connections

Nighthawk naturally includes the many features you already enjoy on other NETGEAR routers:

• NETGEAR genie app for easy network monitoring and management
• NETGEAR MyMedia to find and stream photos, video or music files anywhere on the network
• Free Live Parental Controls
• ReadySHARE USB access, ReadySHARE printer, and AirPrint support
• Guest networks and NETGEAR EZ Mobile Connect for scanning a QR code to connect your guests' mobile devices
• WPA/WPA2 highest level of wireless security
• No CD required for easy set up with smartphones, tablets and ultrabooks

Pricing and Availability
Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (R7000) is available now via major retailers and online at an MSRP in the U.S. of $199.99.

 

NETGEAR Announces the Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Router

Netgear, Inc., the leading provider of networking devices that powers today's smart home, introduced the Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart WiFi Router, the industry's first -and fastest- router for media streaming and instant backup. The Nighthawk X10 Smart WiFi router combines a powerful 1.70 GHz Quad Core processor - the fastest processor in a home router - and Quad-Stream Wave 2 WiFi architecture plus next generation high speed 802.11ad WiFi, so you can enjoy blazing-fast combined wireless speeds up to a furious 7.2 Gbps. The latest MU-MIMO technology supports simultaneous streaming, while 160 MHz doubles WiFi speeds to mobile devices. Four patent-pending external Active Antennas amplify Nighthawk X10 WiFi signals to maximize range and throughput.

"The superior capabilities of '802.11ad will greatly enhance the user experience when dealing with applications that require the transferring of large amounts of data. 802.11ad also provides approximately one-tenth the latency as compared to 802.11ac, which is absolutely critical for applications like virtual reality or augmented reality," said Michael Thelander, President of Signals Research Group.





The Nighthawk X10 supports Plex Media Server with transcoding for ultra-smooth 4K streaming, even to remote devices. The Nighthawk X10 is the industry's first router to run Plex Media Server without the need for a computer. From locally connected storage, Plex organizes your movies, TV shows, music, video, and photo collections, making it easy to find and enjoy the content you love. Smoothly stream anywhere you go, on virtually any device-phones, tablets, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and smart TVs all support Plex apps. Compared to storing video content on a PC, Plex Media Server with Nighthawk X10 Smart WiFi router is easy to set up and always on. With the purchase of a Nighthawk X10, enjoy these premium features with a free three-month Plex Pass.

NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 is also the industry's first router designed for the home market that includes a 10Gigabit port, which supports a fiber connection. Offering lightning-fast backup and streaming from Network Attached Storage devices - such as NETGEAR ReadyNAS - Nighthawk X10 is the ideal solution for personal HD video collections. The two USB 3.0 ports make it easy to add storage for backup and file transfer over WiFi. Additional storage options with the Nighthawk X10 includes six months of free unlimited Amazon Drive backup for an off-site cloud copy of one's files.

"Nighthawk X10 sets a new bar for performance and a new record for speed when moving large video files within your network and to the cloud," said David Henry, senior vice president for home networking at Netgear. "Today's video files are getting larger with 4k and VR video. Offloading from capture devices and moving these large files within a network often becomes a time-consuming and challenging task. The Nighthawk X10 is powerful enough to move these files at unprecedented speed and provides easy access once the file is stored on the network."

Key Technical Features of Nighthawk X10

• AD7200 Quad Stream Wave2 WiFi supports wireless speeds up to 4600+1733+800Mbps*
• Fastest 60GHz 802.11ad WiFi technology for instant downloads, backup and minimal latency during online game play
• Plex Media Server for all of your media, anytime, anywhere
• Powerful 1.7GHz Quad Core Processor boosts performance for 4K streaming or VR gaming
• High-performance Active Antennas for better WiFi coverage & faster speeds
• Six (6) Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports with dual ports that can be operated in line aggregation mode for faster file transfers (up to 2Gbps wired speeds)
• Two (2) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports for faster streaming, backup and easy access to your stored media.
• Automatic backup to the cloud with Amazon Drive
• NETGEAR ReadyCLOUD provides easy, private and secure remote access to USB connected storage
• 10Gigabit fiber port for lightning-fast backup and media streaming to/from ReadyNAS or other NAS
• MU-MIMO capable for simultaneous streaming of data to multiple devices
• New NETGEAR Up app will have your router up, running and configured to your liking all from the convenience of any Android or iOS mobile device.
• NETGEAR genie app for a personal dashboard to monitor, control and repair your home network, even when you're away from home.

Pricing and Availability
The Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart WiFi Router is now available. You can purchase it in retail shops and online at an MSRP of $499.99 in the U.S.