INTRODUCTION

   While most of us are always looking for the best possible PC hardware including CPUs, memory modules, graphics cards and solid state drives there are others who are struggling to find the best possible WiFi router to complete or to expand their home or work wireless network. Personally I’ll try to always use wired connection for my home and work network but there's no denying that wireless connectivity is also important especially if you want to use it at work (for example at a cafe) or if you just happen to own a tablet and you want access to the internet via the local network. In the 25 years I’ve been using and working with computers Netgear has been one of the 3 names in the network industry that I’ve learned to trust and respect not only because i consider their products of being top notch both in terms of quality and performance but also because their support has been exemplary the few times I’ve had to ask for their help. Today with us we have one of their latest routers to hit the market the Nighthawk R7000 AC1900 Smart WiFi Router.

   NETGEAR (NASDAQGM: NTGR) is a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers. For consumers, the company makes high performance, dependable and easy to use home networking, storage and digital media products to connect people with the Internet and their content and devices. For businesses, NETGEAR provides networking, storage and security solutions without the cost and complexity of big IT. The company also supplies top service providers with retail-proven, mobile broadband solutions for their customers on the go. NETGEAR products are built on a variety of proven technologies such as wireless, Ethernet and Powerline, with a focus on reliability and ease-of-use. NETGEAR products are sold in approximately 44,000 retail locations around the globe, and through approximately 37,000 value-added resellers. The company's headquarters are in San Jose, Calif., with additional offices in over 25 countries. NETGEAR is an ENERGY STAR® partner.

   The Nighthawk R7000 may not be the first AC1900 compatible router to reach our hands but it's certainly better looking compared to the Linksys EA6900 and true to the name Netgear has given it since the exterior does remind us of the F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft by Lockheed (Janes A.T.F anyone?). As for the why did Netgear choose to name the R7000 after a stealth attack aircraft well the answer is power and features. So aside the Broadcom BCM4708A chipset the R7000 Nighthawk is powered by a Cortex A9 dual-core 1GHz processor (making it one of the fastest 802.11ac routers currently in the market) paired with 256MB of RAM and 128MB of flash memory. Other important features include beamforming technology (focuses the transmission of the wireless signal where detected devices are located), TurboQAM technology (boosts 802.11n 2.4GHz speeds to 600Mbps from the typical 450Mbps), Time Machine backup-ready (works with external storage devices), built-in OpenVPN server and support for third-party firmware. Of course as we've pointed out many times in the past much like with the EA6900 and the previous AC1750 routers the R7000 doesn't really offer 1900Mbps of total WiFi speed but a combination of 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band (802.11ac) and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band (802.11n). Still since on paper this looks like the most advanced router to have reached our lab let's not spend any more time in the introduction page.