STACK #214 August 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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FEAR OF A DUMB SMART HOME Worried about changing routers and torpedoing settings in all of those Wi-Fi connected devices, ranging from consoles to tablets to smart devices? If you set your new router up with the same SSID names and passwords, and security protocols, as your old one then the majority of your devices won’t notice that anything’s changed, and will carry on as they should. You may find the odd device – such as, in our case, a Google Nest Hub – simply needs a reboot to hook into your speedy new Wi-Fi ecosystem. Of course, we don’t recommend doing this if your original password/security combo is very weak. If you’re investing in the latest gear, it may be worth the effort to reprogramme your home with more bulletproof security for extra peace of mind, taking advantage of the Nighthawk’s cutting edge WPA3 security.

Keeping up with advances in technology can be challenging, so when an opportunity comes along to get onto some serious futureproofing, it’s well worth checking out. Like Netgear’s super-powerful Nighthawk RAXE500 tri-bandWi-Fi 6E router. Words Amy Flower D esigned to provide the sort of raw performance that’s required for top connection speeds in all internet uses – and lower latency when using high-bandwidth applications. SUPER-SPEEDY WI-FI RIGHT OFF THE BAT!

all wired and wireless demands at blistering connection speeds. If you’ve invested in gigabit NBN then this latest Netgear wonder has the grunt to handle whatever’s thrown at it, with the ability to operate up to a blistering 10.8Gbps Wi-Fi speed. This Wi-Fi oomph can also be spread wider from where you install your new Nighthawk router, with eight powerful built-in beamforming antennae able to cover up to just over 30 square metres. Rather than going for the porcupine look

Plus, it can handle up to 60 Wi-Fi devices, so those days of various pieces of equipment in the home fighting for bandwidth are relegated to history. While the range of devices supporting Wi-Fi 6E isn’t massive currently, being

that you get with many routers, the antennae are sealed

ranging from streaming the highest resolution video content backwards and forwards, to running your small business (including those ever-present Zoom meetings) to, of course, gaming - the key to the latest Nighthawk’s technology leap is the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E, using the previously mainly emergency broadcasts-only 6GHz band. This is an advancement upon the fairly recently introduced Wi-Fi 6 protocol, providing faster speeds (depending upon your internet connection, of course) and band-exclusive congestion-free signal, with 200 per cent more spectrum than the well-established dual-band. If you imagine the 2.4GHz band as a laneway, and 5Ghz as an average two-way street, then 6GHz is essentially the equivalent of a multi lane freeway, allowing smoother streaming,

inside two folding wings, in a device that while larger than some – there’s a lot of power to house – looks sleek,

and not unlike something that you might find in the modern-day

the big new thing in connectivity means manufacturers are jostling to introduce support. Being prepared for the future is half the battle and, in the meantime, you’re getting full backwards compatibility from a device with an incredible specification sheet that’s an ode to power. This Nighthawk is equipped with

Batcave. Obviously where you place the router will affect that wireless range – unobstructed on a flat surface or mounted to a clear wall space is best, so that the antennae have room to do their stuff. That being said, we tested ours with it out of sight behind our entertainment centre and Wi-Fi was still solid at all extremes of our flat. Yes, power! If it’s finally time to upgrade from that functional but feature-lacking ISP router that you’ve been getting by with and experience the blazingly fast future of Wi Fi, it’s worth doing it properly. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router is amongst the most futureproof options available, offering best network performance that your gaming will thank you for – as will any other connected functionalities that you may throw at this superpowered device.

a 64-bit, 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, which can provide enough juice to cater for

GET YOURSELF CONNECTED When it comes to setting their new device up, Netgear have streamlined the process to make it as pain-free as possible. A dedicated Nighthawk mobile app simplifies things by starting with a mere scan of a QR code on your new router, all you have to do is quickly set up a Netgear account (unless you already have one). If you want to get into more nitty gritty settings, you can always go via your browser in classic style, too. This allows for much more tweaking, and offers an array of very informative real-time stats over and above what the app offers, plus advanced tools to check your connection speed, ping and more.

74 AUGUST 2022

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