Netgear Orbi provides an easy setup and a powerful Wi-Fi signal.

About five years ago, I installed my first Orbi system in my home. Since the technology behind WiFi networks has changed pretty dramatically since then, we’ve ended upgraded our wireless routers a couple of times in the meantime. The newest Orbi AXE11000 is the latest addition to our network.

DETAILS

The Netgear Orbi AXE11000 is an industry-first quad-band Wi-Fi 6E system. In addition to the dedicated Wi-Fi connections, users also get a 10 gigabit wired Internet port for ultra-fast speeds and a huge device capacity (can stream on up to 16 screens at one time). With this Netgear Orbi system, networks receive Wi-Fi speeds up to 10.8 Gbps across up to 9,000 square feet. The system comes with 1 year of Netgear Armor internet security.

Specs

• WiFi Coverage : 9,000 sq. ft
• Antennas : Twelve (12) high-performance internal antennas with high-power amplifiers
• Beamforming : Implicit & Explicit Beamforming for 2.4GHz, 5GHz & 6GHz bands MU-MIMO capable for simultaneous data streaming to multiple devices
• Processor : Powerful Quad-Core 2.2GHz processor
• AXE11000 Quad-Band WiFi : Netgear Orbi AXE11000 Router and AXE11000 Satellites (1200 + 2400 + 2400 + 4800Mbps)^†
• Router Ports : One (1) 10Gbps Multi-Gigbit Ethernet WAN port
• One (1) 2.5Gbps Multi-Gigabit Ethernet LAN port
• Three (3) 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
• Satellite Ports (each) : One (1) 2.5Gbps Multi-Gigabit Ethernet LAN port (each)
• Three (3) 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports (each)
• Memory : 512MB NAND Flash and 1GB RAM
• Security : Advanced cyber threat protection for your home network and connected devices, with comprehensive anti-virus & data theft protection for your PC, Mac^®, and mobile devices with NETGEAR Armor^™.
• Standards-based WiFi Security (802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK).
• Supports WPA3, the latest and cutting-edge WiFi security protocol.
• Guest WiFi Network is easy to setup separate & secure Internet access for guests
• Works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant : Yes

USER EXPERIENCE

Netgear Orbi does a great job of making the installation of this router system extremely user-friendly. To get started, you download the Orbi app and make sure you have an account with Netgear setup. Once that’s in place, you can proceed with the rest of the setup. You will want to place your router near your modem because it connects directly to it. The main router unit as well as the two satellites have Ethernet ports so that you can hardwire devices into them. The WiFi speed can be up to 10,800 MB/s while the Wired connections around only around 10,000 Mb/s.

Even though the app provides on-screen directions, I’ve found that it goes much smoother if you go ahead and place the Netgear Orbi satellites where you want them in your home or office. They have a range of 9,000 square feet (with the 3-pack), which is 4,000 square feet more than our original Netgear Orbi system. Each additional satellite covers 3,000 additional square feet In our home, which is also our offices, we have the main router in the main office located in the front of the house.

The first satellite is placed in the second office space, which is down the hall from the main office and it’s on the north wall of the house. The second satellite is installed in our living room, which is located at the back of the house. When it’s all said and done, the three units sort of form an obtuse triangle. We structured them this way because it hits all the places that we typically need our Internet signal to reach clearly.

Now, I do want to point out that our home is only 1,500 square feet in size. So, this system seems as though it is overkill for the space. But, we’ve found that having an advanced, dedicated mesh WiFi router is the way to go – even if you don’t have 9,000 square feet to cover. We never find ourselves with a dead zone in our house and because the Netgear Orbi reaches so far, our network even extends into our yard.

I’m excited that this system supports WiFi 6 even though a lot of devices haven’t caught up to that technology. We actually have two laptops – the MacBook Air M1 and the MacBook Pro M1 Max – in our home that can take advantage of WiFi 6 speeds. I was able to verify that the network is actually compatible with the technology, but looking up my laptop’s current network information in the System Profiler. The PHY Mode shows 802.11ax, which is WiFi 6.

One of the big benefits of using a stable WiFi system like this is its ability to handle smart devices. Years ago, we started adding smart devices to our house. We started small with just a few lightbulbs, but suddenly, we were swapping out ALL our bulbs for the smart ones. We now have 67 different devices on our network. This includes devices on the WiFi network and those hardwired into our switcher. This also includes many different smart home products including light bulbs, hubs, speakers, controllers, and other sensors. This Orbi system supports up to 200 devices on the network.

We have not had any issues with how the system handles all these devices. Better than that, the setup couldn’t have been easier. Aside from the initial Orbi system setup, if you have an existing WiFi network as we did, you can simply rename your new Orbi network with your old network name and password. All your old devices should reconnect within a few minutes. Since we had so many different items, it did take about 30 minutes for everything to reappear, but most of the major devices popped up right away.

Ever since we’ve set the Netgear Orbi AXE11000 system up in our home, we have had super-fast, consistent Wi-Fi speeds. The Orbi app actually includes a speed test built into the app and with that, I completed a speed test of our network as I was writing this article. The screenshot below shows what our typical Wi-Fi network speeds are. Thanks to this Netgear Orbi system, we don’t have to rely on Ethernet connections to get the fastest speed provided by our ISP.

CONCLUSION

Even though there is a considerable monetary investment for a system like this, I think, based on my experiences with this and other Orbi (and non-Orbi) systems, that it is extremely worth it. Our house will never end up going back to a non-mesh network.

For more information, visit netgear.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Boost your 3G/4G LTE Cell Phone Signal with the FusionTrrerk Cell Phone Signal Booster

When choosing a vacation destination, many families opt for trips to Disney, cruises, or other fantastic destinations.  I have talked with many friends/family who felt that they returned from their vacations more worked than when they left and poorer than they would like to admit.  My wife and I decided that we wanted more for our family.  We wanted to experience family time without the added work of vacation, larger money drains, and other distractions from family time.  To fulfill this dream, we chose to purchase a Class C Motorhome and to camp with our kids and their friends.  So far, this decision has proven to be one of the best decisions that we have made as a family.  We have played games, explored nature, the kids regularly ride their bikes, they can play on playgrounds, they have made new friends, and we have continued to pursue any number of fun-filled activities.  Even better, these activities create strong memories and at a fraction of the cost of the larger destinations.  If you want to enjoy the benefit of both types of vacation, you can still enjoy the destination locations and stay at their campgrounds.  This alone may save you thousands of dollars (Fort Wilderness Resort) over a traditional trip. 

During the days, we try to disconnect from electronics devices. However, we often allow time for individual or family electronic/movie time in the evenings.  The motorhome has several Blu-Ray players and televisions that we can use for gaming/television/movies.  However, as streaming services have become more prevalent, our kids have turned to their iPads for most of their electronic entertainment.  Many of the campgrounds have access to LTE/WiFi services but this has been spotty.  When outdoors, we can access many of the services that we would like to use.  Unfortunately, on rainy days or in the evenings, they will pile inside the motorhome only to find that the frame blocks LTE and the local WiFI.  This LTE/WiFi limitation has been one of the most frustrating parts of camping with our motorhome in more remote locations.  Luckily, there is an option that can enhance your vehicle LTE, without breaking the bank.  

The SureCall FusionTREK device arrived in a 6 inches wide by 9 1/2 inches tall by 5 inches thick retail package.  The cover panel was broken into three sections.  First, the upper white section provided the Fusion Trek Logo within a black box and listed “Boost Your Cell Signal On the Road” in English and French.  Second, the middle green section provided a visual image of the  “All-New Design” Cell booster.  The lower white-colored section provided five labeled icons in English and French and the SureCall icon along the bottom right: 1. Boosts cell signal for clearer voice and faster data.  2. Works with all North American carriers. 3. Easy to Install: set up in minutes.  4. Maximized performance while eliminating the need for an outside antenna.  5. Extends device battery life.  The top panel (opening panel) had the SureCall name along the top left and divided the panel into the same tri-color design.  You will find the FusionTREK name and “Simple, reliable, cellular signal in your vehicle.  The bottom panel, deviating slightly from the previous color theme, had a white upper and green lower section.  Similar to the other panels, you will find the SureCall FusionTREK name and the same “Simple, reliable cellular signal in your vehicle along the top white-colored section.  Along the bottom green-colored section, you will find the SKU barcode and small print legalese.  The two white side panels provided detailed information about the device and company.  They noted that this was the only device to enhance your signal without adding external antennae/cables, to provide signal in regions with poor connectivity.  Additionally, I learned a little more about the company, it’s founding in 2001, and its work in creating signal boosting technologies.   

The back panel, like the front panel, was also divided into three segments.  The upper segment provided the company name, product name, and a reassuring statement that the product could be installed in only a few minutes.  The middle section provided an outline view of a sedan and a three-step installation process: 1. Mount the booster inside the vehicle at or on the rear window. 2. Place the phone mount antenna on the dashboard/air ENT and route the cable to the booster.  3. Connect to power.  The diagram/design could not have been easier to understand.  The lower lime-green-colored section provided a useful list of the product contents: 1. Inside window mount booster with stand/suction cup. 2. Magnetic phone mount with an incorporated antenna. 3. Power adapter.  Excitedly, I lifted the lid of the box and removed the well-packaged contents.  I found the  3 1/16 inches wide by 5 3/4 inches tall magnetic phone mount resting within a black plastic tray. The 6 ounces (170g) device had a 176 inches long cord with a right-angled mini-coaxial cable, a four-pronged, rubberized vent mount on the back, and a 1 9/16 inches diameter magnetic mount on the front. The SureCall logo was etched along the lower section of the front panel, and there was a 3/8 inches wide by 3/16 inches tall LED.  Beneath the plastic tray, I found the 10.34 ounces (293g) 3 1/8 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches tall by 1 3/8 inches thick window mount booster with a lower suction cup.  You will find a 1 5/16 inches diameter screw with a ball joint along the bottom of the device.  The ball joint connected to the suction cup mount through a 1 5/8 inches long neck section.  To separate the ball joint from the suction mount, press the push button.  Lastly, I found the car DC adaptor with 46-inches long power cable and an on-off toggle.

The instructions noted that the FusionTrek tech combined an inside antenna to communicate with your cell phone with an outside antenna to communicate with the cell tower.  The instructions recommended mounting the booster near the center of the vehicle’s rear window with the suction cup mount and the SureCall logo facing the vehicle’s front. As a second step, the instructions recommended installing the mount cradle/antenna on your vent to route the cable to the antenna, followed by installing the DC adaptor.  To enhance the cell signal within my motorhome, I modified the installation a little beyond that shown in the instruction manual for the sedan.  Instead of placing the antenna in the rear glass, I placed it in the front window, placed the cell booster into the cup holder on the dash, and then added the DC adaptor. I used the included twist ties to manage the cables and was more than pleased with the device’s footprint.  I went from 0-1 bars to anywhere from 1-3 bars of service with the device installed. To show this further, I navigated to the iPhone Field Test App to show the decibel (signal strength) before and after the device.  To access the hidden field test App on your phone, turn off your WiFi to access the LTE network. You can open the phone App and type *3001#12345#* to access the Field Test Menu.  For devices running iOS <14, you will notice their older setup.  Once inside the app, tap LTE, look for and select the “Serving Cell Meas” option, and then look at the rsrp0 option (rsrp0=closest tower, rsrp1 is next closest).  The data will continue to update as you monitor the signal and should be a negative number.  Ideally, these numbers would be ~ -80 or closer to zero. Any numbers further negative, especially more negative than about -110 suggest poor signal strength.  For devices running iOS 14, you will need to tap the three horizontal bars and then tap “Rach Attempt” to find the rsrp. The signal booster helped my children stream on Disney+, Amazon  Prime, and Netflix, while inside the motorhome. Before activating the booster, the Field App showed an rsrp of -114.  Once the booster was activated, the value dropped to -107, -104, and ultimately to a value of -86.

I was quite pleased with the booster, with the setup, and with the packaging. The instruction manual was easy to understand, the product had ample cable length to add a professional feel, and the boosted signal felt significant. I loved that they thought to include an on-off toggle to prevent drain on your battery when the car is off. Since the device will constantly pull power, there is a chance that you could return to a dead battery. Thus, make sure you either unplug the device when not in use, or that you toggle the power to off. Before you use the device, however, make sure that you have checked with your carrier and registered your device. This step was not as easy as I would have liked. As a Verizon customer, I navigated to their website to register the booster.  I found the website to be outdated and lacked proper guidance in 2021.  As of 2013, the FCC changed rules for signal boosters.  At the bottom of the packaging, you will find a “THIS IS A CONSUMER DEVICE” and a paragraph detailing the FCC recommendations.  I tried several times to register the device but the website crashed and noted that the website could not open the page because too many redirects occurred.  Luckily, the devices built after 2014 were regulated by the FCC and were pre-approved by the major carriers.   

The device comes with a three year warranty and works with all major carriers. The suction cup successfully kept the antenna in the rear view mirror of my car, as well as the front windshield of my motorhome. What more could you want than a light weight, low footprint device that adds a boost to your talk/text/data cell signal? Perhaps, one that works without having to modify your vehicle, or one that you have to add an external antennae. The device proved to be better than I had expected and it may drastically improve signal for the daily commuter as well as for the leisure camper. I do not think that you will find any disappointment in this device and would consider checking them out on the SureCall website.

Learn more about the SureCall FusionTrek
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Who knew setting up a home mesh WiFi could be so simple?

I am a proud father of four beautiful children, two boys (nine and eleven years old), and two girls (five years and twenty months old).  This spread of ages brings a variety of interests and a need for various levels of supervision/responsibility.  Very few parents will allow their school-aged children to travel to and from the local supermarket/gas station but may allow unsupervised internet.  Before you think that it cannot happen to you, consider the world around you.  Even though I trust my son, older children (middle and high school students) recommended that my eldest (then nine) lookup adult themes.  This led to additional searches and ultimately to sites that he should not have been viewing. Despite my overconfidence, I was grossly underprepared for raising a child in the era of the internet. So what is a modern parent to do?

The Gryphon Guardian 3-Pack Mesh WiFi Security Router & Parental Control System arrived in a 14 5/8 inches wide by 9 inches tall by 2 5/8 inches thick retail package.  The cover, divided into dark blue and white wedges, did a phenomenal job at defining the title at the top left, demonstrated 2.5 of the nodes, and relayed six product-defining icons: up to 5000 soft WiFi Coverage, AC120, 802.11 bgn/AC True Mesh WiFi, Simultaneous Dual-Band Radios, Malware filtering by ESET technology, 2×2 MU-MIMO w/ Beamforming, and Gryphon Homebound ON-The-Go Protection. The top and bottom panels provided the Gryphon Guardian name upon a white panel, while the back panel provided additional specifics about the device. Enjoy Advanced Internet Protection against hackers/malware, gain on-the-go protections and parent controls, and access assistance on a 24/7 basis.  The reverse panel detailed the ESET technology’s ability to protect your cameras, thermostats, home assistants, and electronic devices from intrusion into your network.  For the first six months, this service is provided free-of-charge but is then available for a subscription.  Additionally, the “Gryphon HomeBound” will add parental support for the first 90 days and then require a paid subscription.  Lastly, each of the three routers/power supplies will provide you with a WAN/Gigabit LAN port and Ethernet backhaul support. 

I removed the outer slipcover from the internal tan cardboard box and then lifted the lid.  Within the packaging, you will find three cardboard columns.  I removed the four-panel “Welcome Quick Start Guide” and downloaded the 3* IOS Gryphon Connect App.  The instruction manual recommended that I follow the setup process within the App and that I should be up and running within 5 minutes.  To best review this device, I wanted to assume the role of a parent with average tech skills. This means that we do not have IT training, nor do we have a skilled background in computer science/programming.  As an example, I do not know that the average parent would know/understand MU-MIMO, Beamforming, WAN/LAN, etc.  For those instances, I would hope that interested parties would use search engines or start with something akin to Wikipedia to gain some basic understanding of the topics.  Either way, my goal is to provide a review of the Gryphon router, setup/features not as an expert/Guru but as a parent, and how it might work in an average home.  

With the App downloaded, I searched my iPhone 11 Pro Max for the orange-colored Gryphon shield symbol.  I tapped the application and found the App immediately requested permission to send notifications.  The main panel of the app displayed the Gryphon “Love The Connection” title name along the top and then provided a “Let’s Get You Started” section beneath the main logo.  I loved the red-orange/yellow gradient and the overall color scheme of the main app.  It felt calm/refreshing and almost like a sunrise-sunset.  Along the bottom of the app screen, you can choose amongst the three tabs: online chat, call us, or email us options.  To get started select the peach-colored “CREATE AN ACCOUNT” tab.  I entered my name, email, password x 2, and then selected next. The password will need to be somewhat secure and will need 6-32 characters, an uppercase letter, lowercase letter, number, and special character.  The password will remain red until the criteria for complexity are met.  At that point, select next and move to the next panel to further edit or create your account.  The app sent an email code to my email; I navigated to my email, obtained the three digit code, and entered it into the App.  If you do not receive the code, you can request a new one, or request the app to send a message to a mobile number.  I luckily received my code within moments, entered this code into the boxes and excitedly found my account to be verified. 

Once the activation process was complete, the App asked me for access to the phone camera to be able to scan the QR codes. This sounded reasonable and so I accepted this request.  I removed the central Gryphon router and realized just how unobtrusive these routers were.  Measuring 4 1/4 inches square at the base and 1 9/16 inches tall, the pseudo-pyramid-shaped routers were clean and quite visually appealing.  I loved the clean white look, the grey Gryphon name along the bottom right, and that the cables/inputs were all hidden at the back of the router.  Along the back of each of the devices, you will find a power input port, a small reset port, an Internet (Ethernet) port, and a LAN (Ethernet) port. The V-shaped grey bottom had a large ventilation port and four rubberized feet.  The design was well thought out and I suspect the devices to remain well ventilated.  Just beneath the large ventilation port, you will find a fair-sized white label with the serial number, Mac information, and a large QR code.  The App requested that you scan that QR code by tapping the peach-colored “Scan Activation code.”  The green checkmark alerted me to the fact that I had successfully completed the purchase.  The App promised six months of pre-paid advanced network protection (AI Intrusion Detection, Malware Protection, Device Vulnerability Scanning, Ad Blocking).  

I unplugged my previous router, and removed the large power adapter to plug in the Gryphon router.  I liked the 72 inch long power cable, but I did not like the design of the power box.  I honestly felt that they could have designed this a little better.  The 1 1/8 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches tall by 1 11/16 inches thick power box did not easily hide behind furniture due to the large size.  Additionally, the tall boxy shape made it difficult to use a wall outlet or surge protector.  I would encourage a future design to mimic the Xbox charging brick and to have a standard Type-A wall outlet, or at least a rotatable Type B outlet.  Alas, you will want to make sure that you get a power strip with the outlet ports perpendicular to the strip.  If you buy one that stacks them, you will find that you either lose 3 ports or must use the very end port.  With the small frustration behind me, I returned to the App and resumed the setup.  If you do not already have an Ethernet cable (internet connection cable), the company did provide a modest 40 1/4 inches long white-colored Ethernet cable. With the device powered on, plugged into my modem, the App noted that Gryphon Guardian was online. There was a small blinking white light along the front lower lip of the router, which blinked slowly to alert me to the power-on status. The App asked me to join Wi-Fi Network “GryphonSecured7f3” and I selected to join.  It then asked to find and connect to local devices on the network.  After about three minutes of total setup time, the App noted “Pairing Successful.”  I added the 2-step verification, added my phone number, and then added their generated code.  

If desired, set the Gryphon Guardian SSID to your previous SSID (Service Set Identifier or the searchable router name), use the same password as previously utilized, and allow all of your previously programmed devices to connect to this new router without any additional steps. That step alone made the entire setup a breeze without having to reconnect every device on my network. If needed, however, you can setup the system anew. Make sure you use a strong password when you set the system up; the preset password with the device ghome1234 is woefully inadequate to keep as your main password.  If you have a smaller home, a single device may be all that you need.  However, for my multi-story, dead zones home, I needed to set up the other two mesh repeaters.  For my two-story home, plus basement (router in the basement), I found that one node per story provided exquisite connection. At the risk of sounding cliche, the setup was so easy a caveman could have done it.  Other than the shape/design of the router power box, I had only praises for the packaging, product design, App, and setup.  I would give the company a 10/10 on everything so far, even with the slight ding on the power cable. 

App:
Once the setup was complete, the App took me to the Dashboard.  I received an immediate notification that the Firmware was being upgraded and the App features were limited. Along the top left of the screen, I found a small tappable bug (“0 Blocked”) alerting me to the malware count.  Along the top right, I found a green Gryphon Shield icon that announced the end date of my 6month trial.  Beneath these, you will find a large yellow ring with “Suspend” as an option.  You can choose to suspend now, in 5 minutes, or in 15 minutes.  Beneath the ring, you will see a green checkmark with “Internet is on for all devices” and then four colored icons: red managed devices, yellow unmanaged devices, green things, and blue TV/Entertainment.  Along the bottom of the screen, you will find five icons: 1. Notifications, 2. Users. 3. Home. 4. Network. 5. Settings.  I tapped notifications and found information about the recent firmware update, and the connection of my iPhone.  Interestingly it showed the MAC ID but listed the manufacturer as unknown. Tap the phone, then select “Manage This Device” along the bottom or “Keep it Unmanaged.”  If you desire to add protections, you can select the device as a Family device, Guest, or you can add a user.  From that panel, snap a photo of the user, add a name, add an age group (toddler, elementary, middle school, high school, 18+ adult, unfiltered), toggle safe search to filter out adult content, toggle ad blocker, store browsing history to view later, manage screen time, control apps/timing/etc, and toggle on/off VPN (bypasses all content filtering features).  Once you set up individual users, activate the safe search option, your family can still request access to blocked sites from www.gryphoncare.com.  This will send a request to the administrator (me) and I could either approve or disapprove of their website through the app (home and away).

Tapping Users, you will be able to assign devices to individual users, to add pictures, and to be able to manage accessible content. Tapping Network, you can run an Internet Speed test (225 download/11Mbps upload), see connected devices (iPhone/Apple Watch to start), evaluate the security of your Gryphon network, and prioritize devices.  Under Settings, you can refer a friend to get a $15 Amazon Gift Card, update the firmware (toggle automatic updates), add a mesh repeater, set the time zone (leave as auto encouraged), evaluate your premium subscription (6 months free, then $79 for 1 year or $149 for 3 years or $199 for 3 years plus 2-years product warranty add-on), adjust the protection level (essential, recommended, all threats), block new devices, or enter into stealth mode (disables notification to the user that site is blocked/internet is suspended).  You can also tap “My Gryphon” to see information about your device, contact support (learn info/contact support for help), each Gryphon how-to videos, learn FAQ about the device, read the privacy policy, add a secondary administrator on another device, view/edit the user account, toggle Face ID on/off to access the App, unpair the Gryphon, or log out.

I was pleased with the packaging, with the product’s design, with the ease of setup, with the router speed, and with the App. If you are looking for a simple setup mesh WiFi for your home, look no further than the Gryphon Guardian. Watch the included how-to videos and learn about the safe search options about the real-time approval option. When my kids wanted to access a website, they could send me a request, the App would show a ranking score, and I could either approve it or deny it. For the gamers and more advanced users, you can set up port forwarding by selecting the device, port forwarding, and then add the desired ports within the App. Additionally, you can create a static IP address if desired. Suspend the entire Wifi system, individual users, individual devices. If you have small children, you can select “store browser history” to better understand the sites they visit. Whether you have used other mesh devices in the past or this is your very first, the price was quite reasonable for the device. I do not know how I feel about the premium subscription. At present, the system seems to be fluid, intuitive, and easy to navigate. I do not yet know what this system will feel like without a subscription. If you desire faster speeds, faster interconnection, and a broader more robust network, you can purchase one or more of the Gryphon Towers and enjoy more advanced features. Interconnect the systems with your guardian setup and enjoy internet in every corner of your home.

Learn More about the Gryphon Guardian Mesh Wifi System.
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A powerful WiFi solution for an average household.

I’ve been an Orbi fan for many years now. I used to dread setting up WiFi routers, but Netgear’s Orbi line of products makes it really easy and they produce a solid connection to the internet. My primary experience has been with Orbi’s Tri-Band routers, but I finally have the option to check out one of the mesh systems that rely on the dual-band WiFi – the Orbi AC1200 (RBK13). This system is designed to be more affordable while still providing the same level of support as the higher-priced Orbi systems. Before I outline all the details of the Orbi RBK13, let’s look at the differences of Orbi’s main systems – Orbi RBK852, Orbi RBK50, and the Orbi RBK13.

DETAILS

The Orbi WiFi System RBK13 features the award-winning Orbi technology that delivers high-performance throughout the whole home. The AC1200 system provides super-fast WiFi up to 1.2Gbps for streaming, gaming, and other internet-based needs. The RBK13 three-pack includes one WiFi router and two satellites to cover houses up to 4,500 square feet. The system is compatible with all internet service providers and is recommended for homes with more than 50Mbps internet plans. To get started, you simply connect the Orbi router to your cable modem.

In addition to the basic high-speed WiFi service the Orbi RBK13 provides, the system also features NETGEAR Armor (powered by Bitdefender) – a best-in-class anti-virus and data theft protection for all devices (smartphones, tablets, and computers) connected to your network. The service that is included is a 30-day trial. After that trial, users have the option to upgrade their service to a standard annual contract for $69.99 (at the time of publishing). Circle Smart Parental Controls are also included and easily managed through the Orbi app. Parents can pause device internet access, view site history usage, and filter websites for free. Other features like setting online time limits and scheduling device internet access are available for the premium monthly fee of $4.99 (the first month is free as a trial).

The Orbi RBK13 is compact and the design is meant to fit with most types of home decor. With this system, you can enjoy high-speed WiFi with the convenience of a single WiFi name for the entire home. Users have a seamless connection as they move from room-to-room. The router has two (2) Gigabit Ethernet Ports (1 WAN + 1 LAN) for wired connections and the system works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. A guest WiFi network is also a features owners can take advantage of so that they don’t have to share their personal network password.

TECH SPECS

USER EXPERIENCE

The Orbi RBK13 comes in a moderately sized box. The front of the box features an image of the RBK13 system (1 router and 2 satellites) and the main details of the Orbi (coverage, WiFi speeds, NETGEAR Armor, and parental controls). The back of the box shows a diagram of a house with suggestions of where to place the Orbi so that you get the best coverage and additional features are mentioned along with the Orbi app. The bottom of the box is where most of the detailed information on the product is located. I always prefer the companies include this information since it’s not always information that you can find online. For example, part of the technical specifications of the Orbi RBK13 is its WiFi standard. I was not able to find that information on the website from Netgear, but it was on the bottom of the box. As it turns out, the WiFi standard this Orbi uses is IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac or WiFi 5. The Orbi RBK852 unit I outlined above is compatible with WiFi 6.

The box is covered with cellophane, which is easily removed with a pair of scissors. Once you remove the outer carton, you can reveal the Orbi system by opening the interior box. Right on top of the box, you’ll find a “Let’s get started” card that informs you to Download the Orbi app, Secure your system with the NETGEAR Armor trial, and then Explore the Orbi app. The back of this card shows what should be included in the box and an overview diagram of the layout of the units. Beneath that card you will find the three Orbi parts (the router and satellites). Once you lift those out, you can remove the carton they were sitting in and then pull out the box that has three power adapters and one Ethernet cable (to connect the router to the modem) wrapped up inside.

Aside from the quick start card, there is no instruction manual. You can always visit the Netgear support page for the RBK13 or pull it up on the app, but there is not a printed copy in the box. The reason behind this is because you typically just follow the set-up instructions provided by the app. The Orbi app really does a great job of helping to get you set-up and connected wirelessly through the Orbi. While I’m on the subject, the app has some great features to it including a device manager, control of the NETGEAR Armor and parental controls (if applicable), WiFi settings, a Network Map, Guest WiFi, and Traffic Meter. My favorite feature is the Device Manager because you can see exactly what devices are pulling traffic from your network and you have complete control of each one. Let’s say that you find an iPad connected to your network that you don’t recognize. You can turn off the WiFi signal just to that iPad without affecting the rest of the devices that are connected.

So, back to the set-up process. As I mentioned from the beginning, Netgear and Orbi make this incredibly painless. You download the app and set-up an account. Before you go any further in the app, you will want to make sure that your router is plugged into the modem using the provided Ethernet cable, and that you have power connected to the router, too. Then you use the app to scan the QR code on the router and follow the additional instructions given by the app. You will need to reboot the modem and then wait for the system to come online. You will want to select places for your satellites to live and connect them to power, too. Once the router comes online, the satellites will follow shortly. All in all I think the set-up process took less than 15 minutes to complete. If you have a firmware update it may take longer, but it’s a very easy process that the app walks you through.

Once the system is up and running, you can fine-tune your settings and you can complete activities like Speed Tests. In the speed tests I did, the Orbi reached speeds over 400Mbps on the 5GHz network. Our service caps at 500 Mbps and the results I got were comparable to other Orbi Router’s I’ve tested. The biggest difference I noticed with the RBK13 is that it can only accommodate up to 15 devices wirelessly. This ends up being a problem for anyone who has smart devices that use a WiFi signal.

CONCLUSION

Netgear makes a solid product with the Orbi systems. The Orbi RBK13 is a good choice if you need to fill out dead spots in your home and on a tight budget. It provides a strong mesh network for your home and even though it’s not a feature-rich as its more pro-level cousins, the RBK13 does deliver on its promises. I wouldn’t buy this version of the Orbi if you have a lot of WiFi-dependent smart devices in your home, but if you are a standard user and just trying to get a better signal throughout your house for your computers, tablets, and smartphones, you will likely have good luck with the Orbi RBK13.

For more details, visit NETGEAR, Facebook, and Twitter.

Most Powerful Cell Signal Booster with Simplified Install for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Devices

There is nothing more annoying than being on a phone call with a service provider and having that call suddenly drop. I’ve had that happen to me more times than I can count. The worst instances are when it literally took an hour to get a hold of a human agent only to have the call end without warning. In this day and age, landlines are thing of the past. Very few households still have them and so most people utilize their cell phones as their main option for voice calls. A few years back, I lived in a dead zone. I had monthly calls to our mobile provider about the issues and the only thing they did was provide a cell phone signal booster (femtocell base station) for the house. Back then, the only way to get a signal booster of that sort was through the service provider. Now, there are companies like SureCall who make it possible for consumers to get a full-service booster unit for their homes without any hassle. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to test out the FlareDB+ from SureCall to see how well it would work for our house and the surrounding property. 

DETAILS

The FlareDB+ is designed to boost voice and 4G LTE data speeds for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile devices. SureCall has the claim on the product page that it’s the “most powerful cell phone signal booster of its kind.” It is designed to have a simplified installation for mid-size (up to 3,500 square feet) homes. The FlareDB+ package includes SureCall’s powerful outdoor yagi antenna and the indoor signal booster with omni-directional antenna in one housing. This design allows for more coverage than traditional booster designs. The one-piece base unit is meant to be placed on and open tabletop or shelf for easier installation. SureCall features US-based customer support. The FlareDB+ has a 3-year warranty, 30-day money-back guarantee, and is FCC approved. 

MAIN FEATURES

• Boosts voice & 4G LTE for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
• Improves cellular connectivity inside any home, cabin or small building in 2-4 rooms, up to 3,500 sq ft
• 2XP technology delivers twice the uplink power when compared to the closest competitor to maintain connectivity in the weakest signal areas
• Reduces missed and dropped calls and increases 4G LTE data speeds
• Supports multiple simultaneous users
• 5G Phone Compatible – Boosts voice and 4G LTE data signals on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 5G devices
• FCC-approved booster system with one-time simple DIY install & no recurring fees
• Assembled and tested in the USA

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

USER EXPERIENCE

The FlareDB+ comes in a fairly nondescript brown cardboard box. There is an identifying sticker on the outside that lets the consumer know what product they are getting, but other than that, it’s pretty plain. The manual provides extensive instructions on how to install the system in your home. The first step is to mount the outdoor antenna. This should be done at the highest level possible. For most people, it will be their roof. The FlareDB+ is designed to be attached to a pole or pipe (not included) and they provide all the hardware for that type of installation. SureCall provides 50 feet of coaxial cable to allow for you to run the cable from the outside to the inside of your home. For me, this was the most difficult part of the installation – figuring out where to mount it. We do have satellite TV as a service so we ended up installing it on that pole along with the dish. 

The next most difficult part is running in the cable. The instructions suggest that you place the antenna and the booster at least 25 feet apart and the example provided in the instructions has the cable routing through the roof, attic, and around the borders of walls in the example home. I know from my experience watching cable installers that properly hiding coaxial cable involves drilling holes through floors, walls and ceilings. My point in saying this is to be prepared for some moderate construction when installing this booster. 

In order to be able to mount the antenna outside, you have to attached the mounting bracket to the bottom of the casing. The bolts to attach the bracket come pre-installed in the antenna case. The provided u-bolt and bracket wrap around poles and then the bolts tighten onto the mounting bracket. After the antenna is mounted, you are instructed to connect the coaxial cable to the extension on the antenna case and run it to the place where the booster will be located. The booster should be in a central location in your home and able to connect to the coaxial cable from the antenna to it. We chose our kitchen table because it is located at the center of our house. It’s suggested that you connect the coaxial cable to the booster prior to attaching the power cable. 

Once you power the booster on, you will see a series of LEDs that indicate the status of the FlareDB+ system. The chart from the manual below indicates what each LED represents. 

So, how do you know if the FlareDB+ is working? The user manual states that “bars are not always a reliable measure of signal” and that the best way to confirm a signal is to be able to place and hold a call without being disconnected. The manual also suggests putting a phone in field test mode and check the number of decibels (dB) a phone is receiving. These are the three areas we tested the FlareDB+ with. 

BARS: We have Verizon as our wireless carrier. For the most part, bars on our iPhones (iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max) are at 100%. There are times, however, that the 11 Pro Max drops a bar or two depending on where it is in the house. With this in mind, we were hoping the Booster would provide a more consistent signal. Before the booster was installed, the iPhone 11 Pro Max had a 2-bar signal. This was out of 4 bars. After the booster was connected it gained one bar. 

HOLDING A CALL: This is another area where we’ve never really had an issue inside the house unless the other party drops the call. After the booster was installed, signal was still consistent and we made several calls without any issues. 

DECIBEL SIGNAL: This is the method of testing that is most recommended by SureCall as well as other booster companies. Cell Phone signal strength is measured in decibels (dB) and when a phone is in field test mode, a user can access the phone’s actual signal strength. The number is expressed in a negative integer so the lower the numeric figure the higher the signal. According to signalboosters.com, “Usually -50 dB represents great signal (full bars) and -110 dB is virtually no signal (dead zone).” When you view the field test mode, there are a lot of abbreviations listed. In order to judge the strength of the signal, you want to look for the rsrp0 figure. “rsrp” stands for Reference Signal Received Power and the “0” references the primary cell tower the phone is connected to. There is also a rsrp1 listed. That is the next closest tower. 

With that in mind, I took several screenshots at various locations throughout the house. I have included the screenshots below in order of when they were taken. You will notice that the figures bounce around from line-to-line and so I compiled the data into a graph for easier analysis. At the point where the graph reaches -59 dB, that is when the signal booster was activated. Shortly after that, we deactivated the booster to see if the signal would drop again. And as you can see, it did. 

CONCLUSION

I was in complete shock about how poor our signal actually was in our house. I had never put my phone into field test mode before and so, I assumed (incorrectly) that our full bars and non-dropped calls was an accurate representation of our signal strength. Now that I know otherwise, I’m glad that signal boosters are an option for consumers without having to go to your cell provider to get them. Even though the installation takes some leg work, I think the FlareDB+ from SureCall is an easy system to work with. After the outdoor antenna is installed, your phone automatically gets the new signal and there is very little you have to do at that point other than make sure the booster is getting power. At the time of this article posting, the FlareDB+ retails for $207 on sale ($249 regular price). 

For more information, visit surecall.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Orbi covers my whole home and yard. It’s the best money can buy

Just a few months ago the world found itself thrust into the digital world when the physical world around us became off-limits. Some people were ready for it, but some were not. Many people suddenly found themselves working from home and using systems like Zoom and relying 100% on email to connect with each other. I was one of the few people who was prepared for this type of transition because our home network was set-up for super fast speeds and allowed for lots of bandwidth usage. Even though I didn’t have to play catch-up, we did make the decision to upgrade our WiFi network to a router that would be compatible with WiFi 6. 

WHAT IS WiFi 6? WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS?

You might be wondering, “What is WiFi 6? Is this something I need?” or, “Isn’t all WiFi, just WiFi?” WiFi is the world’s most commonly used wireless communications technology. It’s been in use for more than 20 years now and is constantly evolving and being changed to suit the needs of the world. There are currently 3 main types of WiFi in use: WiFi 4, WiFi 5, and WiFi 6. You might recognize the different types by the standard they are using. For example, WiFi 5 uses 802.11ac technology while WiFi 4 uses 802.11n technology. The latest iteration in WiFi technology is WiFi 6 and it utilizes 802.11ax technology. Most items being created and shipping to consumers today are still using WiFi 5 with a few exceptions. Some of those exceptions include the most recent iPad Pro that was released in 2020, all models of iPhone 11, and Samsung Galaxy Note 20.  

So, do you need a WiFi 6 compatible router today? I would say, it wouldn’t hurt to upgrade now. By doing that, not only will your newest devices get faster wireless speeds, but you will also be prepared for future upgrades. Some of the key benefits of WiFi 6 include higher data rates, increased capacity, performance in environments with many connected devices, and improved power efficiency. Some of the places utilizing WiFi 6 include congested networks like airports or busy office buildings. In our case, we have a lot of devices on our wireless network because we have lots of smart devices connected. With our last count, we had 22 devices connected to our WiFi network. I would venture a guess that most homes would have maybe 10 or less connected devices for their wireless network. Therefore, it may not warrant upgrading to a WiFi 6 compatible router, however, if you are looking for something that can accommodate multiple devices without sacrificing performance to those devices, I would recommend upgrading. Our router of choice if the Orbi WiFi 6 System from Netgear since Netgear was one of the first manufacturers to use the new 802.11ax standard.

DETAILS 

The Orbi WiFi 6 System (RBK752) is a whole-home mesh WiFi system that is designed to cover homes up to 5,000 square feet in size. The system includes one WiFi router and one satellite. It is designed to keep all connections strong in every room of your house. It is powerful enough to provide 4K/8K UHD streaming capabilities and online gaming to multiple screens simultaneously without interruption. WiFi 6 technology provides up to 4X more increased capacity than WiFi 5 (802.11ac) systems. The Orbi WiFi 6 System will deliver a consistent signal to up to 100 devices — inside or outside your home. It has a dedicated quad-stream WiFi 6 backhaul that allows gigabit throughput throughout the home thanks to the tri-band WiFi. The system comes with a companion app that gives you the option to modify all the settings on the network including creating a guest network, viewing connected devices, and performing speed tests. The router has one WAN + three LAN ports built-in and the system works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. 

SPECS

OLD VS. NEW

Our previous WiFi router was also an Orbi mesh system, but it was the Orbi Trio-Band WiFi System and it was only compatible up to WiFi 5. In March of this year, when all of us ended up being homebound, we realized that we were experiencing a lot of dropouts and lagging connections — especially between the online gaming system and our media streaming devices. As it turns out, the Orbi Tri-Band system only guarantees coverage for 25 devices and up to 3Gbps. The Orbi WiFi 6 provides up to 6 Gbps speed and as noted above, it can sustain up to 100 devices on its network. The Orbi Tri-Band was a great router for a very long time, but we simply outgrew it. I do want to pause here to note that either Orbi is just a router. That means, you still need a modem to pull in the Internet signal from your service provider. We were running a DOCSIS 3.0 modem, which can work with the new Orbi, but we ultimately decided to upgrade the modem as well to the NETGEAR Nighthawk CM1200, a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. While that level of modem isn’t required to take advantage of WiFi 6, you do want to make sure you have a powerful enough modem to have the highest speed Internet possible from your service provider. I also want to make note that you will need service from your ISP of at least 500Mbps. 

INSTALLATION & PERFORMANCE

The installation of the Orbi WiFi 6 was very simple. NETGEAR makes the process painless thanks to their mobile app. The first thing you are instructed to do is reboot your modem and then connect the Orbi to the modem and a power source. Once it’s connected, you are instructed to position the satellite and connect it to power, too. It takes the WiFi system a few minutes to fully power on and pull in the signal from the modem. The app walks you through each step of the process as it’s happening, which is a pretty cool feature. Once the router is live you can customize the settings by renaming the WiFi Network and changing the password. Each router has a default network name and password that is pre-programmed into the router, but you should never use this as your permanent network settings as others with the same router model could potentially have the same network name and password. 

Now, if you had a pre-existing WiFi network as we did, you can change the network name and password to match the previous network’s details so that you don’t have to re-program devices with the new network information. If you had concerns about your network being secure, I would recommend that you start the network from scratch with a new name and password. Once you have settled on your network details, you will likely have to complete the firmware update. Again, the app walks you through all the steps. The process can take a few minutes to complete and the router will reboot when it’s done. When that step is completed, the WiFi network is up and running. NETGEAR does offer ProSupport in the form of their ProSupport plans (an extra charge) and network security through NETGEAR Armor powered by BitDefender (also an additional fee). 

There are two tests I completed to assess the performance of the Orbi WiFi 6. The first was just a standard speed test. The Orbi app has a Speedtest built-in and it’s powered by Ookla. I used that speed test with the older Orbi set-up and registered 404.66 Mbps Download and 23.49 Mbps Upload. After the installation was complete of the Orbi WiFi 6, I got 480.64 Mbps Download and 23.91 Mbps Upload. I want to note here that our ISP only provides us with speeds between 450-500 Mbps. Even though the speed test only shows a moderate increase, the real test has been how our devices are working with the new set-up. I’ve done speed tests throughout our house and had a very consistent measurement no matter where I am. Since we’ve installed the Orbi WiFi 6, we’ve not experienced any lag or issues with network speed dropping due to the number of devices we have connected to it. 

Another really helpful tool that is included with the app is the traffic meter. This allows you to see the total amount or average amount of data transferred over a certain period of time. This is a nice option for those who want to monitor network usage closely. The only thing that is ‘missing’ from the Orbi WiFi 6 set-up is parental controls, but that can be added in through Circle.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m a big fan of NETGEAR in general when it comes to networking devices. They provide a quick, easy set-up and full-featured options for monitoring and modifying the settings through mobile apps and browser-based user interfaces. This is now the third Orbi system I’ve used and I’ve been happy with them all-the-way-around. The only real downside to it is that it’s very expensive. The 2-pack AX6000 system retails for around $700 at the time of this review being published. There is also a 3-pack version that retails for $1,000. Netgear does offer a less expensive model (AX4200) that also provides WiFi 6 to households up to 5,000 sq ft but its specs are not quite as advanced as the AX6000. The differences between the two models are outlined below.

The Orbi WiFi 6 is exceptional and it’s been amazing to be able to trust that all our devices are getting the best possible signal and that they aren’t going to get kicked off the network anymore because there are too many devices connected. 

For more information, visit netgear.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Device exceeds expectations with a simple install process.

With the state of everything going on in the world today, I try to stay at home as much as possible. One caveat of that is trying to still stay connected to the outside world. Like much of the country and world, we find ourselves working from home, schooling our children from home, shopping from home as much as possible, and getting our entertainment online in one form or another. With everyone using online all the time, having a reliable easy-to-use network makes life that much better. Working without a lifeline is silly. I know this because during all of this my router(s) went out leaving me scrambling. Usually, I would just go out and buy a cheap router that wouldn’t be very great but had a good price point. With the uncertainty of everything thing now I decided to go a different route. With a bit of digging, commercial routers seemed to be the way to go for reliability. The downside was that I am not an IT specialist, so ease of use is of the utmost importance. With a little bit of luck, I ran across GL.Net’s Cirrus Ceiling Wireless Networks Access Point. I’ll just call it Cirrus for short.

DETAILS

Cirrus is an elite business-class level wireless gateway. With it, users can expect to receive 400Mbps (2.4G) + 867Mbps (5G) combined WiFi Speeds. The device supports MU-MIMO and features 2 x Gigabit port. Cirrus has built-in Watchdog and a PoE power supply. It’s also OpenWrt Ready. There are several optional features that commercial operators can take advantage of such as an RTC Module, 4G LTE Module, Bluetooth Module, and Zigbee Module.

FULL DETAILS

USER EXPERIENCE

Don’t let the long name or “Ceiling” fool you, Cirrus is quite simple. I’m used to my router just sitting next to my modem, but with Cirrus’s mounting bracket I was easily able to mount Cirrus on my wall tucked away hidden behind a television. Now if I was running a small business I probably would have mounted on the ceiling but the wall just seemed to have easier access should the need arise to reset the router. Luckily, a mounting bracket, hardware, and template are included. I just had to figure out the exact spot, tape the template to the wall, and drill 4 holes for the drywall anchors. Once done you insert the Drywall anchors put the screws through the bracket and tighten down until secure. The router slides into place nice and easy. One thing I didn’t take into consideration was the included Ethernet cable was a bit short for my application, but I always have an assortment of cables laying around. 

Set up was probably the easiest that I have ever run across. Once Cirrus is mounted, you plug in the power supply and connect the cable to your modem. It is worth mentioning that there are only two ports, one for LAN and one for WAN. This isn’t a deal-breaker for me since I have pretty much converted over to a complete wireless style. It is easy enough to just use your own multi-port switch if needed. There is the option for PoE (Power over Ethernet), but that didn’t suit my needs. Having the option is nice though. Once everything is hooked up and powered on, you have two options for setup. Connect to the WiFi or Connect via LAN. I opted for WiFi set up because my MacBook Pro doesn’t have an Ethernet port without a hub.  Once connected to the wireless network named in the included “Let’s Get Started” booklet. After this step, you go to the named address on your browser and go from there. 

The user interface for Cirrus is again, one of the easiest I have ever used. Once I changed the default password, which I was prompted to do upon loading, it was easy to do basic maintenance. Navigating Cirrus’ interface was a breeze. I’m no computer wizard, but I can get by with the basics, and this is very basic. If I was running a small business and didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg for an IT Specialist this would be a huge selling point by its self. The only tricky part for me was navigating through the menu to change my network names (2 and 5GHz). After around 39 seconds I had it changed and applied. Easy as pie. 

One of the nice features for a small businesses is the ability to insert a SIM Card into Cirrus and use cellular 4G/LTE internet access from this when local internet might be down due to a storm or whatever else life throws our way. For my home use, ill most likely never use it, but it’s a nice little feature that gives me peace of mind should the need ever arise. 

Some of the other features that come in handy are accessible through the simple to use interface. An easy to use firewall, the ability to see all clients on your networks, the option to turn access off with one simple toggle, and Remote Access are all part of the interface. Also included is an easy to use VPN with a KillSwitch. All of the menus and features are available to use on your laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. I tend to use my phone more often than other devices. Cirrus’ user interface works smoother on my iPhone that most of the routers I have used in the last without losing any features from device to device. 

CONCLUSIONS

GL.Net definitely exceeded my expectations for a simple to use router at home or in small business with Cirrus. It’s loaded with features and is moderately priced at just under $200 (at the time of writing this review). Even though it has ‘enterprise’ in the name, don’t let that spook you away if you planning on using this at home. It’s a great upgrade for people who need a boost for their network.

GL.Net also just launched a Pocket-sized Wireless Gateway called the Brume-M on Kickstarter. Based on my experience with the Cirrus, I’m excited to see what comes from the Brume-W.

For more information, visit GL.Net, Facebook, or Twitter.

Upgrade your connection by adding this 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet adapter to any system

When I made the switch to using a newer model MacBook Pro, I knew I was sacrificing i/o options for power and other modern upgrades. I have a 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro, which only has USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 input/output ports. Therefore, I am somewhat limited when it comes to activities that involve a straight Ethernet connection. Fortunately, Plugable, one of my new favorite accessory companies, has designed a USB-C Ethernet Adapter specifically for this use case. 

DETAILS 

The Plugable 2.5Gbps USB Ethernet Adapter makes it possible for USB-C computer to connect directly to Ethernet without a larger docking solution. This adapter has been tested to be faster than a traditional Gigabit Ethernet connection and is compatible with both USB-C and USB-A connections thanks to the included attached USB-A adapter. The 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet signals that the Plugable adapter provides are designed to work with existing Category 5e cabling. The adapter is compatible with all modern operating systems including Windows (10, 8.X, and 7), macOS (10.7+), and Linux (Kernal 3.2+). 

Specs

• Chipset: Realtek RTL8156
• USB Connection: USB Type-C or USB Type-A with attached adapter
• Transfer Rates: 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T, and 2.5GBASE-T (IEEE 802.3bz) with Auto-Negation
• Supported OS: Windows 10, 8.x, and 7; macOS 10.7 and above; Linux Kernel 3.2 and above
• 1x USB-C to Host: SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps
• 1x USB-C to USB-A Adapter: SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps
• 1x Ethernet (8P8C) Port: NBASE-T 100/1000/2500 requires CAT 5e and 2.5GBASE-T network equipment for full performance. Reduced performance with half-duplex
• Additional Features: 9k Jumbo Frame Support, Auto MDI-X (Crossover Detection and Correction), and IEEE 802.1Q VLAN support (Depending on OS), and Power/Activity LEDs

USER IMPRESSIONS

The adapter came boxed in a standard retail package. Plugable’s brand colors include white and green and so the box features green as an accent color. There is a photo of the adapter on the front that clearly shows the attached USB-A adapter that makes this device universally compatible with modern USB connections. The back of the box provides specs and details about the product including the model number. Once you open the box, you’ll find the adapter and a quick start guide. That’s all that’s in the box. While it’s a very nice box, I do think that the packaging could be reduced a bit given the compact size of the device. 

The instructions are very simple, but this isn’t just a ‘plug-n-play’ device. You will likely have install drivers prior to connecting to the Internet using the adapter. The first step is to connect the Ethernet adapter to your computer. The second step is to install the driver. Now, the driver must be downloaded from Plugable’s support information prior to installation (the box indicates that the driver is not included with the product). So, you will need to have your computer connected to the Internet using an alternate method to the adapter before installing the driver. 

My installation process was pretty simple on my end. I was able to find the driver download quickly and easily (the link is noted in the quick start guide) and it only took a few minutes to complete the installation process. I will admit that at first, I didn’t look at the quick start guide right away and I wasn’t sure how to get connected. When you plug the adapter into a connected Ethernet cable and a computer, an orange LED comes on. I thought that meant the connection was live. When I went to the preferences on my computer, I saw that I had no connection and then I turned back to the quick start guide, which pointed me in the right direction. 

While I was on Plugable’s website, I also found the following information about the LEDs on the adapter.

The orange link LED on the Plugable USBC-E2500 is an indication that the Ethernet cable plugged into the adapter is live and it stays steady as long as the live cable is plugged in. The blinking white activity LED is an indication that data is transferring through the adapter. Both these LEDs will not light up when:

1. The adapter is not receiving enough power because it is plugged into a port that does not provide the required 900mA (max) of power.
2. The drivers for the adapter have not installed properly or are corrupted.
3. The Ethernet Cable plugged in is not live or is faulty.
4. The adapter has failed.

I thought this was very useful information and an easy way to determine if the product was working properly. In addition to simply connecting to our network using this adapter, I also completed a speed test through Ookla. The results showed that I was getting the super-fast speeds that I should based on my Internet plan. I also noticed that the adapter did not get exceptionally hot when it was in use. While I was using the adapter I didn’t have any interruption of signal or speed. In fact, using the Plugable adapter caused me to have a much more reliable signal no matter what activity I was completing on the Internet. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

While most of the world turns to wireless connections as the answer to the Internet, it’s not the only answer. A good wired connection comes in handy when you really need a dependable signal. The Plugable 2.5Gbps USB Ethernet Adapter provides an impressive, fast connection that is hard to beat. The device I compact, lightweight and easy to carry around. It will definitely make its way into my standard laptop kit for those times when I have to connect through Ethernet.

For more information, visit plugable.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Enjoy a portable Wireless Router, share media wirelessly, and keep your phone charged with the included 6700mAh External Battery, without breaking the bank.

Let’s be honest, nobody likes to be sick.  Even worse, nobody wants to be sick enough to go to the Emergency Room on their one day off for the week. This past weekend, my mother flew into town for my son’s birthday.  She arrived sick, experiencing ten days of upper respiratory symptoms, and continued to worsen.  We ended up in the emergency room on Sunday afternoon and spent several hours waiting in the lobby and in the room.  During that time, we turned to the RAVPOWER ALL-IN-1 FILEHUB and a Toshiba 1TB portable hard drive for some much-needed attention diversion.  Sometimes, just like in this instance, a product title does not adequately describe how the product should be used, could be used, nor the potential benefits of the device.  I do not think that I appreciated the scope of this device until I used it to charge my mothers phone and used it to stream a movie to her iPhone 8 plus. 

The RAVPOWER All-IN-1 FILEHUB arrived in a 3 1/2 inches wide by 5 3/8 inches tall by 1 1/2 inches thick retail package.  Starting with the slipcover, I was pleased with the method that the company presented the product.  The RAVPOWER name was clearly visible along the top left of the cover, followed by the green “ALL-IN-1 FILEHUB” name starkly contrasting against the white background.  Beneath the title, RAVPOWER provided three bullet points detailing the main features of the device: Wireless Router, Wireless Media Sharing, 6700mAh external battery.  More than 50% of the cover was dedicated to the three by three inch images of the black/white model RP-WD03 FILEHUB.  Lastly, the company added a product SKU sticker along the bottom right.  The right side panel provided the www.ravpower.com web address, while the left side essentially restated the cover details.  Located along the bottom right of the left panel, I found two small boxes with “black” and “white” options.  My device had a black check mark next to the black color choice.  The rear panel provided the company name/model along the top, a 1 inch tall by 3 inch wide image of the top/bottom of the device, and three bullet points detailing the 6700mAh/24.12Wh capacity, DC 5V/1A input/output.  Beneath this section, the company provided a list of support web addresses (US, CA, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT) a QR code, several of the traditional product manufacturing labels, and website/phone number/address data.  Each of the top/bottom cardboard panels displayed “RAVPOWER” in black font. 

To access the FILEHUB, slide the inner brown cardboard box out of the outer slipcover.  Within the box, you will find a 48-panel, multi-lingual instruction manual, a 3 3/4 inches long by 2 1/8 inches wide by 1 inch thick FILEHUB, and a flat 25 1/2 inches long USB-A to USB-micro charging cable.  The matte black RAVPOWER FILEHUB had an SD card port along the top panel, a microUSB input port along the upper right panel, and a rubberized access panel protecting the WAN input and USB input/output ports along the lower panel.  The front panel had a 1/2 inch diameter power button along the lower 1/3 of the device and “RAVPOWER” etched into the superior aspect of the panel.  The instruction manual proved to be quite useful and was well laid out.  It started by detailing the meanings of the LED colors for the Wi-Fi, SD card, Power, and RJ45 Ethernet (WAN port).  For example, when the Wi-FI LED blinked solid blue, the system was loading, and once it turned solid blue, the system was fully loaded.  The LED illuminated solid green when the internet was active and was off when the internet was deactivated.   If you tap the power button, the four power LED will indicate the remaining power and if you hold the power button for three seconds, you can turn on the device.

To connect to the device, you will need to download the FileHub Plus App from the IOS/Google Play Store, which is currently sitting at 3*.  You can insert a USB thumb drive/USB storage device into the USB port, and then press the power button on the FILEHUB.  If you navigate to Settings, and then to WIFI on your smart device, you can select FileHubPlus-XXXX.   To use the device as a wireless access point, you can essentially repeat the steps above.  However, instead of plugging a USB device into the FileHub, you can plug the Ethernet cable into the WAN port.  Once connected to the FileHub, you can access administrative features by opening a web browser and navigating to 10.10.10.254.  You can then type “admin” into the user name section, while leaving the password blank.  You will be able to adjust dynamic/static IP, PPOE and other router features.  Lastly, the device also served as 6700 mAh portable battery.  

As noted in the introduction, I plugged a borrowed Toshiba 1TB portable hard drive into the USB port on the FileHub.  I pressed the central button for 3 seconds and watched as the ascending LEDs illuminated sequentially.  When the device was powered on, I navigated to settings on my phone and selected Wi-Fi.  As noted in the instructions, FileHubPlus-XXXX (not actually XXXX, but a string of characters for the device ID) was present within the list.  I joined the network, typed the 11111111 password given in the instruction manual and navigated to the FileHubPlus App.  The hard drive had most of the Game of Thrones episodes, TNMT cartoon episodes, and several movies saved onto it.  Across the top, I was able to see a battery icon detailing the remaining power, followed by sections for Videos, Photos, Music, Documents, File/Folder and System.  Tapping File/Folder, I was able to visualize the saved files in a similar manner to Finder/File Manager. When I selected the movie, it started to play and she was able to enjoy a few minutes of reprieve from her abdominal pain and difficulty breathing.  The device was on the slow side and took a while to index the drive and to play the videos.

To further test the device, we used a USB-A to Lightning cable to charge her iPhone 8 Plus 1821 mAh battery at about 1% for every 3 minutes of charge.  This was not as fast as plugging directly into the wall, but it worked very well for us when we did not have access to a wall charger. I did not test the AP/Bridge system during this review to assess speeds, but in a pinch, this little device will provide WI-FI signal.  Imagine that you are at a sporting event, messing with your drone footage, or out on a field mission with your camera and you want to offload images from an SD card to a portable drive. Similar to the issue with the hard drive above, indexing proved to be quite slow/tedious. I liked that I was able to transfer files but the UI of the App needs an upgrade and the software would benefit from some tweaking. The biggest limitation of this system is the security software on our media (DRM). To fully access the system and to use it as a portable streaming machine, you will need to consider additional software.

You can use this portable All-IN-One system to transfer your images and leave your heavier laptop at home.  Perhaps you do not want to spend extra money to buy more SDcards; this system could save you money by allowing you to use a portable hard drive instead.  Unfortunately, iOS devices cannot fully enjoy the same features as Android users.  For example, due to limitations set by Apple iOS system, you can only access photos on your iPhone/iPad.  DRM (Digital Rights Management) limits the ability to access files through iTunes.  If I could make one suggestion, make sure that you access 10.10.10.254 within your browser and update the SSID password before you take the device into the wild.  I was pleased with the size of the device and with the ease to which it would fit into a pocket.  I highly enjoyed this portable and pocketable device.  More than a simple 2.5x (6700mAh battery) portable battery, the RAVPower FILEHUB will allow you more freedom with your data.  For more FAQ and useful downloads, look to the RAVPOWER website.  

For more how-to information, navigate to ravpower.com
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Create extra storage wherever you go. 

One of the downfalls of owning Apple mobile products is a lack of storage space. I remember years ago when my friends would brag about being able to add a micro SD card to their phones to expand their storage and I was jealous because, at the time, my iPhone only had 8GB of storage. That was barely enough for my music library let alone storing videos and photos. Fortunately, Apple has introduced some very large storage options for their mobile devices at this point in time. That said, it’s always nice to be able to expand your storage as needed and that’s why I’m glad that RAVPower has updated their portable FileHub for users like me.

DETAILS

The RAVPower AC750 FileHub and Wireless Travel Router is an updated version of its 2018 model. The device is designed to provide wireless storage backup for mobile phones and tablets and a travel router with AP, Bridge, and Router modes. With it, you can enjoy a one-key backup option for SD card to a USB hard drive and a shoot-and-save photo/video feature.  Users can also enjoy using the FileHub as a portable power bank. The FileHub supports both 5GHz and 2.4GHz wireless band frequencies with a data transfer rate of 300 MB per second. It only weighs 7 ounces and is approximately the size of an external hard drive (4.45 x 3.03 x 0.91 in). 

Some of the main features include the ability to:

• free up space on Android or iOS devices using our dedicated app
• transfer all your media files and documents between SD cards / USB flash drives / external hard drives and smart devices including your phone, tablet, and laptop without an internet connection
• simultaneously connect and stream data from SD cards/USB drives to up to 5 mobile devices, or directly share files between two different storage devices
• connect to a DSL or cable modem and turns any wired network to wireless
• differentiate data access and enhance data encryption by setting up Admin or guest user Wi-Fi accounts
• wirelessly stream videos from USB storage to your TV screen and more via DLNA, SamBa, etc.

Some of the key differences between the 2019 version of FileHub and the previous model (RP-WD0007) include: 

• An improved One-Key Backup speed (now 12-18MB/s)
• No overheating issues
• Battery capacity increased to 6700mAh
• Upgraded user manual
• Upgraded app with regular updates

USER EXPERIENCE

The FileHub comes in a fairly nondescript box. It is the RAVPower green but aside from the name and model of the product stamped on the back (Portable Wireless Router with Power Bank/RP-WD009), I would have no way of knowing what is actually in this particular box. In the box, you will receive the FileHub, a flat micro USB cable, and a user manual. The RAVPower product page for the FileHub refers to this product being ‘future proof’ and having USB-C integrated but the version I have still has Micro USB as it’s charging port option. Everything on the box indicates that this is the 2019 version of the product but it’s missing the aforementioned USB-C port. 

Despite this small design hiccup, I did complete the testing of the device and was very happy with the results. I have broken the review up according to the three top features of the FileHub: power bank, wireless storage backup, and wireless router. 

Power Bank

This is the most basic function the FileHub has. To activate the power bank option of the device, you simply plug in a USB cable into the USB-A port and press the power button on the side of the FileHub once and charging will commence. The battery LED light should remain illuminated while a device is being charged. The battery LED, like the other LEDs, can indicate several different phases of the battery. If it turns on white, the battery has a 30% charge or more. If it’s red, it’s less than 30% and fast flashing red indicates less than 10% charge. At this point, the FileHub should be plugged in for charging. When it‘s charging, the LED will be white and blink every two seconds. A faster blink means the device is shutting down. I used the power bank function to charge my iPhone XS and found that it was charging at a rate of 0.33% per minute, which is a little slower than some power banks I’ve used, but it gets the job done. 

Wireless Storage Backup

The set-up for this isn’t complicated, but it’s also not well detailed in the user manual. I was impressed with the amount of information included in the 45-page booklet, but it didn’t properly outline the steps one needs to take to actually get the FileHub into transfer mode. For example, on page 5 of the manual, the instructions for the One Key Backup are outlined. Step 1 is “Turn on the FileHub” and step 2 is “Plug in your flash drives/hard drive…” I tried turning on the FileHub the same way I did for the PowerBank function and found that wasn’t allowing me to access the other functions of the device. After a bit of research online, I found that to activate the advanced file transfer options of the FileHub I needed to press/hold the power button for up to 5 seconds in order for those functions to work. 

Once I got the FileHub to be active, the rest of the set-up was pretty easy. I had the app already downloaded onto my device and from there, I simply had to find the FileHub on my WiFi network list and join it. Once you join the device’s network,  you can access the files stored on it through the app. I was able to set-up a new folder and copy some photos from my iPhone directly onto it (8 photos took about 5 seconds to transfer). I was very impressed with how smooth the transferring process was and how easy it is to use the app. Aside from the small problem with the initial set-up, I really thought the interface was spectacular. 

Wireless Router

I do love that this feature is included with this device. I think that it enhances the user experience quite a bit. First of all, this is a very compact, easy to carry device so traveling with it is a no-brainer. When you get to a hotel, you can easily plug an ethernet cable into it and turn the hotel’s wired connection into a personal WiFi network. The WiFi can accommodate up to 5 devices. In addition to the personal WiFi network, this wireless router function can also serve as a repeater or bridge for existing WiFi networks. While I was testing out the Wireless Router functions I found that it not only worked well and was pretty easy to set-up, but you can’t power the FileHub off while a device is connected to it. I thought this was a nice feature to protect data transfer processes. 

CONCLUSION

The RAVPower AC750 FileHub and Wireless Travel Router is a must-have for anyone who regularly travels. It’s such a budget-friendly option for wirelessly transferring files and having a private, secure WiFi network. The concept of this product is innovative and I love that RAVPower updated their previous model. I’ve worked with other wireless file hubs in the past and this one has a much smoother set-up and interface to work with. It’s an impressive device and highly recommended by this reviewer. 

For more information, visit ravpower.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

A secure network that travels with you.

In one of my former jobs, I was required to travel quite a bit and one of my biggest frustrations was that the hotels I was staying in didn’t have WiFi included as a part of the room rate. When I travel for personal reasons now, that’s one of the main things I look for — WiFi availability. At the time that I would hit those establishments with no or poor WiFi, I just suffered through it. I didn’t know there was another option other than connecting an extremely long Ethernet cable (which I did do more than once) and string it across the room. Nowadays, I might take one or two personal trips a year and WiFi availability is much more popular in hotels than it was several years ago. Nowadays, the concern is actually security and not so much how fast my connection is. Since so many people use WiFi and want to tap into other people’s business frequently, I started safeguarding myself with the aide of a VPN service. I was recently introduced to the Slate (GL-AR759S) Travel Router, which can actually solve both of my travel/shared network woes.

DETAILS

The Slate Travel Router is a tiny device about the size of a deck of playing cards. It has the ability to provide you with a private internet connection with multiple VPN protocols support. The Slate is the first dual-band Gigabit travel router. It has a Micro SD card slot integrated into the device to increase storage space up to 128GB. It comes packaged with a short Ethernet cable, Micro USB-to-USB-A cable, and power adapter. The router has three Ethernet ports, one USB-A port, and one Micro USB port available on the device itself. There are two antennae located on each side of the unit that can be flipped upward to enhance the signal of the router. The front of the router showcases three LEDs — one to indicate power and the other two indicate the availability of a 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz networks. The router also comes with a quick start guide.

USER EXPERIENCE

Getting started with the Slate router is very, very easy. The first step is powering it on. To do this, you will need to connect the Micro USB cable and power adapter to a power outlet. While you don’t necessarily have to use the power adapter, it is recommended that you have a power source that is producing 5V/2A worth of power. As an experiment, I connect the USB cable and the router to a power bank that pushed out that amount for power delivery and it worked just fine. This is one of the things I really like about this router — you could potentially use it a lot of different places with the aide of a power bank.

After you’ve established a power source, you will connect to the 2.4GHz WiFi called GL-AR750S-xxx and enter a default password provided by GL-iNet. Once you connect to it, you will have to ‘set up’ the router by visiting http://192.168.8.1. At this point in the set-up process, you will have to set an admin password and then adjust the router and network settings in the dashboard. You actually have a few options of how you want to use the Slate. You can use it as a private WiFi network, a WiFi Repeater, a 3G/4G modem, or as a tethered device. I connected the Slate to our home Wifi network and decided to attempt using a VPN through the Slate. Since this would be the primary method I would use when I was away from home, I thought it only fitting that I test out the router in that fashion.

Connecting to my home WiFi was incredibly easy. The Slate held its connection well and tweaking various settings within the network were easy to deal with in the dashboard of the router. I did, however, run into some issues when it came to setting up the VPN. Slate uses OpenVPN as its main source for VPN. The service I subscribe to is NordVPN. It works really well and from what I can tell, it works well with OpenVPN, but for some reason, I was never able to make it work. I tried several different paths to get the OpenVPN config files to work, but I kept getting an error upon upload. I’m sure that this was a user error though as I read how many others have had great success getting the VPN to work with this router.

Aside from the VPN feature, I didn’t have any issues with having the router connected to WiFi and being able to connect my laptop to it. Since I wasn’t able to test the VPN features successfully, I did complete several different speed tests using the Slate as the pass-thru for our home WiFi network. I used the Speedtest by Ookla app for Mac to test the network connection. I have included the screenshots below of the results. They were unfortunately not very good for the Slate. While I still had a solid connection to the WiFi Network, it was nowhere near as a fast as being directly connected to the WiFi. I ran the Speedtest first when I was directly connected to the network. Then, I ran it again when I was connected through the Slate. Since the results were so different from the initial test, I ran the Speedtest one more time connected directly to the WiFi and got a result that was closer to the original test.

CONCLUSION

Even though I had some issues with the router, I don’t feel that it was the fault of the product. It is very easy to set up and it really makes it possible for you to have a secure internet wherever you go. If you invest in the Slate, you won’t have to configure a VPN client on every device or start an encrypted tunnel when you are on a public network. I can recommend the Slate for those who want to be protected wherever they go.

For more information, gl-inet.com.
Find GL.iNet on Facebook and Twitter.

Device is in the “sweet spot” of small business routers.

I had the privilege of winning a Cisco RV345 small business router during one of Cisco’s contests, and I have also had the opportunity to “battle test” the Cisco RV345 in my network environment for a little over a year. I am certainly not a stranger to Cisco small business products, using an RVS4000 and SG100-08, RV042G and SG200-08, and RV180 and SG200-18 over the years. When the RV345 was released, I was excited about upgrading to the RV345, and winning one in a contest was the icing on the cake. Nevertheless, I am an objective technology reviewer, so this review will be my honest assessment of the RV345, as well as Cisco in general as a small business networking solutions provider.

Hands-on with the Cisco RV345

The Cisco RV345 comes in an attractive metal case that complements any desktop environment, as well as offers the added benefit of being rack-mountable. While mine is installed in my office sitting on my desk, those needing a rack-mountable router will enjoy adding the RV345 to their environment.

One of my favorite benefits of the RV345 is that the router includes a sixteen-port Gigabit Ethernet switch in the same chassis as the router. As someone who needs more than four ports (which are included on many standard router configurations) but fewer than sixteen, having my router and switch all in one device has been a huge benefit and a solid upgrade to my RV180 and SG200-18 combination. Having one device to manage, saving desk space and a little energy, as well as having only one device to reboot when I need to occasionally reboot my networking equipment, has been luxurious. I have plenty of space on the RV345 to service my entire network (two computers, a wireless access point, a network printer, a VOIP phone system, an IOT hub, a weather station, a weather camera, a NAS, a LTE signal booster, and a DVR) and still have room to spare for future expansion.

The RV345 also features a dual WAN configuration, which is ideal for customers needing an automatic backup Internet connection or load balancing on their WAN configuration. In the past, the Cisco routers I have used came in single WAN configurations, so having a dual-WAN configuration on the RV345 has been a beneficial upgrade, one which I am glad to see Cisco adding to small business routers, and one that would be beneficial for Cisco to add as a standard feature on all routers as a competitive advantage.

An even better benefit to the RV345 is that it offers a USB port (actually two) which can be used with a mobile broadband connection for the backup WAN, allowing customers to use both a fixed and mobile broadband connection in a dual WAN configuration. I have not had a chance to test it yet, but I am curious if the USB port could be used with a smartphone running in mobile hotspot mode (since my iPhone offers unlimited mobile hotspot with T-Mobile). If so, it would be interesting to be able to plug in my iPhone into the RV345 as an instant mobile broadband backup in the event my primary connection goes offline (although my primary connection is generally reliable being a local WISP with its own dedicated fiber connection to the tower I access). Another option I could try to test this as a backup with is with a dedicated mobile broadband device, possibly next time T-Mobile offers an add a line for free promo again (to John Legere, hint hint).

Firmware Features

The RV345 offers robust firmware with a powerful yet easy-to-configure administration interface. Compared to the RV180, the RV345 firmware is noticeably faster, and configuring my network on the RV345 was overall straightforward to get up and running (I had a few questions for Cisco support concerning how to configure QoS on the RV345). It would be a nice benefit in the future if Cisco offered a standard firmware for all of its small business routers (possibly an “IOS Lite” which primarily uses a GUI but allows small business customers to get their feet wet with dabbling in IOS commands) which would allow customers to upgrade to new router models and be able to migrate their configuration settings in a couple of clicks (although the RV345 does an excellent job backing up and migrating settings between two RV345 models). Another benefit of the RV345 firmware is that it can update firmware automatically over the Internet, which is a great way to ensure the router remains up-to-date without manual intervention.

The RV345 firmware also features everything that a small business depends on in a router (DHCP reservation, port forwarding, and firewall configurations, etc.), and accessing and configuring these settings are effortless to make the most out of one’s network environment. The RV345 also offers IPv6 support, which is valuable for future-proofing any small business network environment (my ISP is still running IPv4, but when they eventually transition to IPv6, I can rest assured I will be ready to support it with my Cisco RV345).

A super beneficial feature of the RV345 is VLAN and QoS, especially having VLAN paired with the sixteen-port Gigabit Ethernet switch on board. My network environment utilizes three separate VLAN configurations (one for the majority of my network, one for my VOIP phone system, and one for an LTE signal booster to improve in-building LTE coverage), and I also have VOIP phone system and LTE signal booster voice traffic prioritized in QoS. Pairing VLAN with QoS offers a solid combination to ensure I have crystal-clear voice traffic going over my network. Setting up the VLAN was straightforward, although the QoS settings changed from the RV180 to the RV345 (although for the better as one can more granularly fine-tune the QoS settings on the RV345).

I have not had a chance yet to try out some of the Cisco Smart Licensing features on the RV345 such as dynamic web filtering, client and application identification, and VPN functionality. I would like to have a discussion with Cisco to get a briefing on the Smart Licensing features in the RV345 and how they improve network security in a small business environment, as they seem to be beneficial additions to the RV345. In terms of VPN, I am currently using a hosted Cisco IPSec VPN solution for network security, but comparing what I’m using with the VPN functionality of the RV345 would be interesting to look into.

Network Performance and Reliability

The network performance and reliability on the RV345 have been solid and what small businesses expect to keep their network environments running speedily for years to come. All Cisco networking solutions I have used over the years support Gigabit Ethernet for the LAN, plus every WAN connection is certainly limited by the customer’s ISP, but overall, the RV345 has still been a solid running router and an ideal upgrade to my RV180. The firmware is noticeably faster, and my connections both at the WAN and at the LAN have been speedy and solid.
I have had a chance to fully “battle test” the RV345 as well in a demanding network environment. I transitioned from a PC to a Mac for my day-to-day work machine, and I had plenty of content to move over the network, both over the LAN and over the Internet over the WAN. The RV345 handled everything flawlessly during the transition, and it continues to handle my bandwidth-hungry network effortlessly today. The bulk of my work occurs over the Internet, and the Internet powers my VOIP phone system, the majority of the video streaming content I view, meetings I attend for work and school, and everything in between. I need solid, reliable, proven networking solutions powering my network, and the Cisco RV345 certainly does not disappoint but handles everything without breaking a sweat. The only thing that would improve my network performance is upgrading my old wireless access point to one of Cisco’s newer wireless access point models, something I will discuss with Cisco at some point when I am ready to supercharge my wireless network.

Cisco Small Business Support

Not only is the RV345 a solid performing router, but it is also backed by top-notch Cisco small business support. I highly recommend Cisco customers add a Cisco small business support contract to their RV345 model (I am in the process of getting a service contract added to mine as soon as I confirm the proper service contract SKU from Cisco), as the benefits of a service contract are certainly worth the investment. I enjoy having 24/7 access to the Cisco small business support center, creating support cases with Cisco, using the Cisco Technical Support iPhone app, and having next business day replacement in the event of a hardware issue. It is simply affordable added peace of mind to know that the best small business router is backed by the best small business support in the industry. Cisco also offers a range of support options for small business customers, from phone and email support to the excellent Cisco Technical Support mobile app, to the super-beneficial Cisco small business support community (a place where I have enjoyed interacting with other Cisco customers and Cisco engineers), plus Cisco is also responsive on social media as well. Cisco ensures that small business customers receive the ideal combination of solid networking solutions backed up with solid support when customers need it, allowing customers to trust and depend on Cisco’s proven solutions for small businesses.

Bottom Line

The Cisco RV345 is truly the sweet spot of small business routers and the ideal small business router to install in any network environment, especially those with the most demanding network performance and reliability needs. I am thrilled to be powering my network with the RV345, and I look forward to enjoying the benefits of the RV345 for years to come. The integrated sixteen-port Gigabit Ethernet switch and dual WAN with mobile broadband support is a small business network administrator’s dream, the firmware is speedy and a joy to use to get one’s network environment up-and-running quickly, and small business features such as VLAN support offer solid performance when paired with QoS. There is a wealth of features on the RV345 for every small business to use, and I likely still could dig into some of the additional features and benefits to supercharge my network further. I highly recommend customers include a Cisco small business support contract with their RV345 purchase to tap into Cisco’s wide array of support options available to customers, and customers can purchase the RV345 with the confidence they are receiving the best small business router and support in the industry.

I will also take a moment to evaluate Cisco in general as a networking solutions provider. As a long-time Cisco customer and one who has worked in IT (and will be continuing to serve in IT in academic and education environments), I would not power any network I administer or service with anything else but Cisco networking solutions. From small business environments to the largest enterprise deployments, Cisco offers solutions that fit everyone’s needs of all sizes, all backed with proven performance, reliability, and support. With Cisco small business networking solutions offering affordable solutions near or only slightly more than the cost of premium residential networking solutions, I even recommend Cisco small business networking solutions to residential customers in addition to small businesses. As residential customers operate home office or telecommuting working environments, and as more of our digital lives are powered by the Internet, the additional benefits of Cisco small business routers are handy to have at one’s disposal when one needs them while still offering solid performance, reliability, and support out-of-the-box. Every network of every size should be powered by Cisco. Cisco has been the backbone of my network for years, and I will continue to be both a Cisco customer as well as recommend Cisco networking solutions to everyone I consult with for years to come. I look forward to looking into opportunities to assist Cisco in driving further deployments of Cisco networking solutions into additional environments such as academic and educational networking environments.

Submitted by Nathan Parker
Nathan is an IT consultant for Earth Networks and contributes to the WeatherTogether.net blog. Earth Networks used to own WeatherBug (it was sold to GroundTruth), but Nathan still consults for them on support and training projects. On the WeatherTogether blog, Nathan writes a weekly column for Arkansas weather (hence why he also tweets often with severe weather posts for Arkansas). Follow Nathan on Twitter.

For more information, visit cisco.com.
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Kwilt Shoebox gives you the ability to offload your mobile images, videos and data files to a personal cloud with potentially unlimited storage

The modern smartphone has become so much more than a phone, acting as a music player, video player, handheld gaming system, GPS device, internet surfing device, weight loss assistant, activity tracker, calendar, pedometer, HR tracker, etc.  Most interestingly, our phones have mostly replaced the need for an expensive camera.  With each successive generation of phone, we receive enhancements to our ability to capture memories.  Furthermore, Apps like Filmic Pro Mobile can significantly add to the hardware functionality of the camera, and allow for some truly amazing shots.  With my smart device at the ready, I find that I capture more videos, pictures, and audio with my youngest child than I did when I had the Samsung SCH-i760 (2009 when my first son was born).  I have experienced the data limitation frustration of having to manage apps/data, after purchasing the low storage sized phones.  To circumvent this, I have opted for the middle/high tiered storage sizes.   Personal data cloud devices provide another way to offload data.

Upon first impression, I was drawn to the quilted cover of the box, which was adorned with fifteen 1 3/8 inches wide by 1 3/8 inches tall picture squares.  The solid central red square stood apart from the multiple colors of the surrounding pictures and served as a clean canvas to display the white “Kwilt Shoebox” title along the middle of the box.  The cover did not provide any details about the product and did not tell me what I was holding.  Despite the title, there was a 1 3/4 inches long by 1/2 inches wide “YOUR FIRST CLOUD IS ON US! Free 32 GB memory stick inside” sticker along the middle.  A few of the images had a 5/8 inch circle with inset triangle and the top/bottom of the cover had smartphone screen icons.  Turning the 4 1/8 inches wide by 7 1/4 inches tall by 2 1/8 inches thick box to either side, I found that the panels promised the ability to “Offload memories, Preserve memory, Access anywhere.”  The top and bottom panels had a red square with an off-white quilted “k,” the “Kwilt Shoebox” title and the “Unlimited personal storage for your phone” subtitle. To learn about the nature of the product, you will need to evaluate the back panel. The upper section was a bit wordy, providing four paragraphs of information.  The first paragraph championed the image capturing benefits of our modern smartphones but then humbly discussed our storage limitation woes.  The second paragraph walked through a few options for data management, namely the need to delete images/videos/apps, or to pay for storage options.  Furthermore, it detailed the ability to utilize the Kwilt app to easily move data from your smartphone to the Kwilt Shoebox, from anywhere.  The packaging promised an unlimited, expandable system, limited only by the size of your USB drive.  I was excited for the opportunity to “Seamlessly offload your phone’s photos & Videos, enjoy unlimited storage for your mobile, keep your full resolution originals safe at home and access them from anywhere.”  Lastly, the fourth paragraph promised all of the above features without any monthly fees.

Beneath the paragraphs, the company provided a list of seven bulleted features: Store and access any file type, Easy Photo & video sharing, Rich mobile photo editing, Play your photos & videos on your TV, directly order custom photo prints from your phone, Web, Windows and Mac compatible, and FREE iOS/Android Apps.  At the bottom of the panel, I was both pleased and let down by the image of the device.  I liked that they chose to display the input ports of the Kwilt Shoebox but wish that I was able to also see the device from top-down and frontal views.   The Wi-Fi enabled device had an HDMI port and separate USB-micro ports for USB sticks/drives (any size) and an outer power port.  Despite the nonspecific details of the cover/sides/top, the back panel redeemed the Kwilt Shoebox.  The information listed on the reverse panel promised an interesting, feature rich device.  The image provided a glimpse of the device and I was shocked when I read that the 3 1/8 inches long by 11/16 inches tall image was the “Actual Product Size.”  Lifting the lid from the packaging, I found a 6 3/4 inches tall by 3 1/2 inches wide trifold instruction manual, a similarly sized red/white tip/troubleshooting page, two Kwilt Shoebox stickers, and a square welcome/referral rebate card.  Beneath the paperwork, I was pleased to find a 3 1/8 inches long by 11/16 inches tall by 1 1/2 inches wide Kwilt Shoebox device, a 1 3/8 inches long HDMI extension (13/16 inches wide by 1/2 inches tall face), a white 6 inches long USB-micro to USB-A cable and a white box.  Inside of the white box, the company added the AC adaptor with a generous 41 1/2 inch long USB-micro cable. Lastly, along the top of the box, you will find a silica packet and a tiny 1 1/2 inches long by 1/2 inches wide by 3/16 inches thick silver-colored 32 GB USB-A jumpdrive with a small 5/16 inch diameter loop

The trifold instruction manual was broken up into three simple steps: Connect the Shoebox, Download and Run the App, and Setup the Shoebox.  Since my iPhone X is 256GB and I have more than 32GB of pictures on my phone, I was concerned about the ability to complete the test.  However, as you will learn, you can choose how many pictures and which pictures you offload.  I plugged the power supply into my power strip and then into the rightmost port of the Shoebox.  I plugged the USB cable adaptor into the middle USB-Micro slot and then the USB-jumpdrive into the adaptor.  The power adaptor had a rather bulky type A wall prong end, which limited my ability to plug other devices into my power strip.  I initially thought that the power cable was long enough but this did not reach from my desk to the surge protector on the floor.  Luckily the WiFi device can be set just about anywhere and link to my WiFi.  With the device plugged in, I turned to the iOS App store and downloaded the 3.6* Kwilt mobile app.  The app will ask to use location, likely to sort them based on the location that the photos were taken.  I typically only allow location services while the app is running, so I chose to allow the app to monitor my location.  The app will then ask to access your photos and then you will need to log in with Facebook, Google, Microsoft, kik or email.  I chose to login with my email, added a password and began to enjoy the app.  If you look along the top left of the app, you will find a tappable shoebox icon.  When you tap the icon, you will see two new icons appear: a cog icon “Setup a new Kwilt Shoebox” or a shopping cart with “Buy a Kwilt Shoebox.”  I chose to set up a new device and then followed the on-screen prompts.  My iPhone X connected to the WiFi and then it wanted to link to my home network.  The device will only connect to 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz) Wi-Fi networks.  The next steps were very straightforward and took about a minute to complete.  Simply select the network of choice, enter the password and wait for the system to complete the setup.  Step three allowed you to enter a name and password to protect the device.

There were four informational screens detailing the features of the device.  The Kwilt app links to your social media, suggests that we can offload mobile memories to the shoebox (automatically), save any filetype, view photos in timeline, location, media source, search and you can create a KwiltKeys keyboard for messaging (settings general, keyboard, add new keyboard, kwilt, kwiltkeys, allow access).  The app states that it does not track keystrokes, they do not access or store information that is sent or received, that no information is shared other than app performance data.  For my first test, I selected 9 pictures and transferred them to the kwilt shoebox.  The process took 28 seconds for the 9 items and then asked if I wanted to delete the items from my mobile.  I selected yes and then the device asked me if I was sure and wanted to continue. I loved the option to either transfer and backup or to transfer and delete because both of these options may be valid in certain circumstances.  For my second test, I transferred 25 photos from my phone to the shoebox, which took 32 seconds. You can select all or you can choose select item but you cannot hold and drag your finger to tap multiple images.   For test 3, I transferred 50 items to the shoebox, which took 2:23.35. Once the 113 photo files were transferred, I navigated back to the main page.  Having tested numerous apps, I had an idea of what I needed to do to navigate the App.  There should have been more tutorial for the average user.  If you tap the shoebox again you can choose to Transfer to Shoebox, Browse Shoebox Filesystem, Transfer Preferences, Manage Kwilt Shoebox.  You can automatically offload your phone data to the device, just photos, just videos or both.  If you tap the Browse Shoebox Filesystem, you can navigate through the extensions as you would inside of File Manager on a PC.  If you tap “Transfer Preferences,” you can enable cloud transfer and automatic transfer features.  For the first use, I waited about an hour to check back on the app and the indexing was complete.  If you transfer all of your data, you may have to wait a while for this to index.

As I played with the app, I realized that if you tap the central lower button, you can sort the images in collage form, calendar form, location form, all sources (cloud icon) and you can search.  If you tap the cog icon to the side, you can see all the sources and turn on/off which sources you see, you can adjust preferences (theme color, thumbnail columns to 1-5, show source of photos and toggle email notifications on/off), and if you tap help you can access tutorials.  If you tap the “Use Kwilt App” button, you will get to see the four panels that I discussed previously.  If you tap Connecting your shoebox video, it will play a 1:38 slideshow of the instruction manual.  You can also select Kwilt Keyboard setup video to utilize the Kwilt Keyboard.  It was about this time that I became curious about the ability to take my drive with me.  I removed the jump drive from the Kwilt Shoebox and inserted it into my MacBook Pro USB A slot. I loved that this saved the files to the disk just like a computer would save them and did not use some weird format or data file type.  This was one of the biggest complaints of the LIMA and Lima Ultra Personal Cloud Storage.   I was able to directly utilize the images, drag them to my desktop, copy them etc.  I used the included 32 GB jump drive for a while and then I used a 1 TB hard drive.   This system is dependent on flash memory and is not redundant.  It is also not backed up into the cloud, so be cautious of offloading and deleting from your mobile device.   I was able to transfer files over WiFi and was able to free up space.  When you change drives, you will be able to see the new files but not the old files.  There are more features to this system that I have not covered.  For example, you can access the drive from your laptop/PC etc and use it as a shared drive and delete files/add files etc over your local network. The website has a very useful FAQ system and I did not experience any negatives from the device. It was easy to set up, it was easy to navigate and it worked on multiple WiFi networks and cellular connection.

Learn more about Kwilt Shoebox.
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There is life after AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule

With the announcement from Apple that they were discontinuing their wireless router products — AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and the Time Capsule — many people began wondering what they were going to turn to for their Wireless support. Even though Apple has ceased to continue development on their AirPort line of products, they will support them for some time. Apple is currently trying to sell off their current stock, but will no longer be making new units.

Even though this may be disappointing for devoted Apple users it’s really not a huge shock considering that it was reported in November 2016 by Bloomberg that Apple disbanded the development team at Apple for the wireless routers. And for several months now, you have been able to order third-party mesh Wi-Fi routers from the Apple Store online. But as of April 26, the AirPort products should officially be considered ‘dead’.

So, what now?

As an avid fan of Apple products (in case you couldn’t tell from the name of my website), I have not only tried, but also owned all three of the AirPort products. In some cases, I’ve actually owned multiple units of each model. The AirPort Express was ideal for strengthening our WiFi signal throughout the house and turning a non-wireless audio source into one that is AirPlay capable. The AirPort Extreme was always a solid router. My signal never faltered and I stuck with this product until I upgraded to the AirPort Time Capsule. That beast was a great wireless router option and it allowed me to backup all my important data using Time Machine.

Apple extended their ecosystem into a strong set of wireless networking products. That said, when I started adding smart home products to my WiFi network, the Time Capsule was suddenly not enough. It became bogged down with devices and the management of two networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) was unbearably annoying. So, I started branching out into alternative router options. Even though I tried several different devices, I finally settled on the Orbi by Netgear. This flexible mesh network system is easy to set-up and robust enough to handle the heaviest amount of devices traffic.

The Orbi system consists of a base unit that plugs directly into your modem and one or more satellite units. Orbi was the first tri-band home WiFi system to hit the market and it provides an uninterrupted signal to the Internet. Orbi will reach up to 5,000 square feet of space and will send a signal through barriers like walls and doors. While our home is only 1,500 square feet, we are well covered throughout our home and even into our yard.

SPECS

• Combined WiFi speed:  3,000 Mbps (1733 + 866 + 400Mbps)
• Dedicated Backhaul: 4×4 (1.7Gbps)
• Memory: 4GB flash and 512MB RAM
• Six (6) high-performance antennas
• Beamforming
• Gigabit Ethernet ports (Router): 1 WAN and 3 LAN
• Gigabit Ethernet ports (per Satellite): 4 LAN
• Guest WiFi network
• WPA/PSK2 support
• Works with Amazon Alexa
• AC3000 tri-band WiFi

What about the office?

Apple products — especially the AirPort Extreme have been widely used in business offices as hotspots. So, what about the workplace? While Orbi can handle many sources of internet traffic — computers, tablets, mobile phones, smart devices, etc. — it does work best in the home or small office setting. Fortunately, Netgear saw a gap in services and developed a beefed up version of the Orbi — the Orbi Pro, which is a business WiFi System. It is built on the same premise as the Orbi and is dedicated to providing the best WiFi signal possible no matter where you are in your building. The biggest differences between the two systems are the price and the software. The Orbi Pro starts at $499 while the Orbi starts at $399 and the Orbi Pro offers users the ability to set-up three separate WiFi networks within the Orbi Pro system — Admin, Employee, and Guest. Even though these individual networks could benefit someone working in the home, they really are meant for the more advanced network administrator and it’s a great benefit for business offices that have a lot of foot-traffic.

Moving On

When I learned that Apple was going to discontinue the AirPort products, my heart was immediately saddened. I hate to hear of any products being discontinued by Apple, but I do understand where their motivations lie and think that it time for their planning and development to move on to the next level of consumer technology products. Orbi has been a very solid, reliable network for my uses. I have more than 50 smart devices on our network as well as multiple computer systems, mobile phones, and tablets. It’s never faltered. You have both iOS and web-based interfaces to use with this system and while the iOS app is a bit generic, it works and the product itself is incredibly elegant. I can comfortably recommend this system to any level of user because beginners can get it set up safely and securely since Orbi makes it so easy and advanced users still have all the management tools right at their fingertips with the Orbi system.

For more information, visit netgear.com/orbi.
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Prevent dropoffs and eliminate dead zones with the X6S.

Not too long ago, I started adding smart devices to my home network. I discovered very quickly that the router I had in place was not enough to handle the device load that I had produced from adding smart home items. So, I upgraded my wireless router to an Orbi system by Netgear. The Orbi is by design a mesh network with a base and satellite units included in the system. The satellite is meant to act as an extender for the base unit but sometimes it’s not enough. Even though the Orbi has made our network more stable — especially with the smart devices — there have still been some problem areas inside our house. So we recently decided to add a network extender and turned back to Netgear to try out their Nighthawk X6S Tri-Band Wifi Range Extender (EX8000).

Details

The Nighthawk X6S is the first Nighthawk tri-band range extender with patented FastLane3 technology. The device is designed to boost your WiFi to extreme speeds up to 3Gbps. The extender should eliminate WiFi dead zones and connect those hard-to-reach areas of your home to your network. The extender includes a dedicated 5GHz band with up to 1.7Gbps for providing internet speeds to your devices.

One of the features I really like about this extender is that it is designed to be seamless with your current network. The Nighthawk X6S doesn’t create a separate WiFi network name, it uses the same SSID as your current router. This prevents your devices from having to disconnect/reconnect to the extended network. Many other extenders cause this to happen.

You can choose to have the Nighthawk X6S become a wireless access point if you wish. This is helpful for those who have prewired homes (or businesses). In addition to creating a more solid network by boosting its signal, the EX8000 also features an option called ‘Smart Roaming,’ which connects your mobile devices to the most robust WiFi signal possible. The extender supports WiFi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2-PSK) and WEP standards for security. The system requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0, Firefox 20, Safari 5.1, or Google Chrome 25.0 (or higher) along with 2.4 and/or 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi router or gateway.

User Experience

The extender is VERY easy to work with. I have tried to set up other extenders that just refuse to connect to my existing network and I end up with nothing but frustration. The Nighthawk X6S is a blessing in disguise if you are looking for an easy way to enhance your home WiFi network. The hardware setup is pretty self-explanatory. Out of the box, there is no assembly required and all you really have to do is plug it into a power source. Since the X6S ties into your existing wireless network (or wired if you choose to make it an access point), you connect it in the same manner that you would a smart device. There are two methods — WPS or the Netgear Installation Assistant (requires a computer or mobile device). I prefer to use the Netgear Installation Assistant because I’ve had better luck with it being more consistent with setup and I just feel like I have more control throughout the process. NOTE: You cannot use the WPS method if your network is hidden or uses WEP. 

When you first power up the extender, it will show up as a separate network on your network list. You will need to connect to it and then visit http://mywifiext.local in your internet browser (for iOS and Mac devices – the address is slightly different if you are using a Windows computer or Android device). Once you type that in, you will be taken to the Installation Assistant page and you can set up your new extender. You will have the option to select WiFi Range Extender or Access Point. I selected the range extender option and then had to select the existing network that I wanted to extend. Our Orbi actually puts out a 2.4GHz and 5Ghz signal so I selected both. You will then have to enter the password for that network and the Nighthawk X6S will connect. At the end of the process, you will see a page that shows your network is up and running with a graphic that depicts how each of the bands are performing through the extender.

That’s pretty much it. The Nighthawk X6S has a very easy setup and interface to work with. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to wade through, but you can easily customize settings how you would like to. After the network is up an running, you can log into the extender to change settings. I have not worked with this much as I have been happy with the way the extender is performing with its native settings, but I did notice that the menu was easy to navigate and I didn’t have trouble finding different options within the settings menu. The entire process with the Nighthawk X6S has been very user-friendly in my opinion.

Conclusions

I have noticed that my WiFi signal has been stronger all the way through my house and I have had fewer dropoff issues since installing the Nighthawk X6S. Having the extender as a part of our network structure has simply solidified our Internet signal. Even though we have a mesh system set-up, we were still having a few issues with a slower signal in our bedroom, but by placing the extender in that room, we have a much more solid signal and the speed is maintained throughout the back of our house. I can recommend this device based on its easy setup and proven performance with Wifi networks.

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For more information, visit netgear.com.
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You can never underestimate the power of a good wireless router. A bad router has the power to cause you endless frustration when is not pushing a strong enough signal. I’ve had many different kinds and when I finally upgraded to a mesh system, I actually started enjoying the internet again instead of just being frustrated with it. The problem is that changing out your router for a new more advanced system can be horribly overwhelming. It can be — but it doesn’t have to be. Meet eero 2.

Details

So, you might ask yourself, why eero and why do I need a mesh system? A mesh network provides multiple access points into a space — in this case a home. In 2016, eero was introduced as a home WiFi system that could ensure that no matter where a person was in a home they would have steady, secure internet access. Eero operates off of a proprietary TrueMesh software that is built to work perfectly with the eero hardware. The eero system will update automatically once a week so that it is always optimized for the best possible internet signal to your home. The second generation eero (base unit) features the same design as the first gen eero, but it has twice the power. It is a triband system with the addition of a third 5Ghz radio. This updated system also has a Thread radio for low-power systems like locks, doorbells, and other sensors.

In addition to the automatic updates, which keep the system secure, the eero feature WPA-2 encryption and single-use codes for secure app login. Speaking of the app, the eero app has seen some remarkable updates, too. It now includes a home-type selector with helps the system to adapt to its placement within the home. The dashboard of the app has been updated so that you can quickly check the network status, connected devices, and run speed tests at-a-glance. The eero app gives you the option to view device usage, too. You can see which device is using the most data and you can even block devices from your network in this space.

User Experience

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of testing out the first generation of eero. It was my first experience with a mesh router system and I was completely blown away by the simplicity of its setup process. Eero has maintained that infrastructure into the second generation product but updated it to offer more speed and range inside consumers’ homes. I used to have the biggest headache setting up wireless networks. Eero is different. To get started you download the app (iOS or Android) and plug in the eero base into power and your network modem so that it pulls in a signal for the internet. Once that’s set-up, you can open your app and follow the instructions provided on-screen. You will need to set up an account with eero. If you already have an account, you will be sent a verification code to the email address you have on file in order to connect to your eero. I actually prefer this method because it ends up being more secure about who is connecting/controlling your network.

So aside from noticing how fast your machines and devices are running on a network, how do you go about testing a WiFi system? Well, you use a network speed test. There are a few options out there, but I tend to use Speedtest by Ookla on my MacBook Pro through Safari and I compare the results on my iPhone 7, which is using the same system, but in app form. I got some very interesting results. Since Internet signals can vary depending on when you run the test, I ran the speed tests back-to-back on the MacBook Pro and iPhone. All the tests were run within about 2 minutes. I first ran the speed test while I was connected to the eero and then I jumped over to our other network run by a Netgear Orbi. Both systems were tied into the same modem (Netgear Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.0 C7000). At the time I ran these tests, I was using very minimal internet resources.

I also want to point out that both the eero and Orbi apps have their own speed tests built into the iOS apps. Here are the results from those apps as well. Orbi’s speed test is actually powered by Ookla, too.

I was very happy to see that no matter which system I was connected to, I was getting a strong signal. I found the eero to be a very stable network no matter where I was in our house.

One of the things I love about the second generation system are the redesigned Beacons for the eero. The 2nd Gen Beacon is half the size of the original and all you need to do it plug it into a wall outlet. The older version was bulky and required tabletop space. They were just about the same size as the base unit. The new beacons also act as nightlights and have a built-in ambient light sensor. I found that with the addition of the Beacons, I was able to reach out to our garage, which I’m not able to do with a single router. The nice thing about the eero system is that you have the flexibility to design your system depending on the layout of your home or small business. The single eero base unit is said to cover a 1-2 bedroom home. If you add a Beacon, you can extend your coverage to cover a 2-3 bedroom home and 2 beacons will cover up to a 4 bedroom home. The Beacons are sold as add-on units so if you find that your original setup isn’t providing enough coverage, you can add a Beacon at any time to your base unit. The new Beacons are compatible with first and second generation eeros.

Conclusions

Eero provides a very strong, stable network for homes of varying sizes. I can recommend this system to any type of user since it’s so easy to set up and maintain. I’ve not had any issues with drop off or weak signals. It’s a little pricey (starting at $199 for a base unit only; $399 for 2-4 bedroom kit), but well worth the investment if you find that you need a stronger signal all the way through your home.
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For more information, visit eero.com.
Find eero on Facebook and Twitter.

As we dive further and further into the future, I become increasingly intrigued by all the ‘smart’ devices that are coming out to make our lives easier. Some skeptics might say that these devices that we can control with our voices are making our lives more sedentary, but I find that it just simplifies things for our household, which includes my 84-year-old grandmother. She is still incredibly independent, but there are some things that just take her a little longer to do than they used to. She gets around pretty well but did break her hip last fall so safe mobility is a concern and we do our best to make sure she stays strong and can get around with limited obstacles in the house. That said, we can’t watch her 24/7 and it’s those times that worry me. She doesn’t have a mobile phone and rarely remembers to take the portable house phone with her when she’s at home alone. So, what can we do? We recently added an Amazon Echo Connect to our home and it’s made a world of difference.

The Amazon Echo Connect is an Echo device that connects directly to your home phone line. The device will then connect to your WiFi network and transmit to other Amazon Alexa enabled devices in your home. You can then call out to your Echo Dots (we have two) and say, “Call Nick,” and the Echo will place the call. Echo Connect uses your existing home phone service (landline or VoIP) to make and receive calls. You can use it to call 911 in an emergency. The Alexa app will actually sync with your mobile contacts that are stored on your mobile phone and place calls from your stored contacts. Echo Connect will work with all of your registered Echo Devices and you only need one Echo Connect device per home phone line.

UNBOXING AND SETUP
The Amazon Echo Connect arrives in a classic Amazon black box. The iconic Amazon smile logo is on the front and “Amazon” is emblazoned across the top of the box. Inside, you will find the Echo Connect device, which is a box about the size of an Apple TV, a quick setup guide, Micro USB cable and power outlet adapter, phone cable, and a phone line splitter. I like how simplified this device is. You simply plug it into your phone line and power and then the rest of the setup is done through the Alexa app on your smartphone.

If you have a standard phone line, then you simply plug the splitter into the wall outlet where the phone signal comes into the house. You would then plug the phone cable for the Connect into the device and the phone cable for the phone handset into the phone. For our house, we actually have a slightly different set of steps because we utilize Ooma, a VoIP system. Our Ooma device looks a little like an answering machine. It pulls in a phone signal from our internet service and gives us the ability to make a call from a traditional landline handset. This was a great option for our house because the monthly cost is very minimal and for my grandmother, she can still use a ‘phone’ like she is used to. Because we have the Ooma device integrated into our system, we have to plug the Connect into the back of it. Other users who have VoIP systems would probably have the same type of experience. Instead of plugging the splitter into the wall for a traditional landline, you just plug it into the output port of the VoIP device.

Once everything is connected, you turn to your smartphone to finish up the setup. You open the Alexa app and go to Settings > Set up a new device. Echo Connect will likely appear at the bottom of the list. Once you select that device, you will go through a series of screens that identify how you want to use the device (Alexa Calling or Echo Connect) and connect the device to your WiFi (Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks). After the Connect is pulling in a WiFi signal, you can close the app and just start using the system as it was intended.

USER EXPERIENCE
Like most smart home devices, I found the setup to be fairly typical and it took less than 10 minutes from start to finish. When I started testing the actual calling option through our Echo Dot, I thought that the connection time was a little slow. But when you think about what the Echo Dot has to do process-wise, it makes sense.

• You send out the command – Alexa, call mom.
• The Echo Dot then sends a signal to the Echo Connect.
• The Echo Connect, in turn, grabs a phone signal from your landline or VoIP system
• Once a signal is established, the Echo Connect then pushes that out to the Echo Dot so you can complete your call.

Despite the speed at which the call was placed, the signal was very clear and it was like talking on a standard speakerphone. It was easy and painless. I haven’t noticed any issues with the Echo Connect communicating with the Ooma. They seem to work together very well.

CONCLUSIONS
For many tech-savvy people, this might seem like a wasted device. I feel like most people who have a smartphone are familiar with using a digital assistant and therefore can call out to their phone and say, “Siri, call mom,” to be connected with loved ones quickly and easily. But what if you aren’t one of those Gen-Xers that grew up with phone-in-hand and email as a suitable form of communication? My grandmother thankfully does embrace technology even though she doesn’t always understand all of it. She has a Google Home in her room currently so that she can ask it questions about the weather and have it read the daily news stories to her. She loves it and because she loves using it, I felt fairly comfortable that adding the Connect to our house would be a great safety option for her. Now, she can wander through the house and if she falls or otherwise needs help, she can call out, “Alexa, call Nick,” and be instantly connected to me. This gives me a lot of faith that my grandmother will be safe even when we aren’t right by her side.
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For more information, visit Echo Connect.
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Earlier this year, we published a review here on MacSources about the Orbi Home WiFi System. Netgear redefined home WiFi networks with Orbi — the first tri-band home WiFi system. As a mesh system, it ensures that you have a strong signal no matter where you are in your home — even outdoors. In late August, Netgear launched the Orbi Pro, a brother system to the Orbi that is designed to work as a mesh network for small businesses.

At first glance, the systems look almost identical. The base Orbi Pro system is a 2-pack WiFi system that will cover up to 5,000 square feet with AC3000 WiFi. Netgear has also made available a 3-pack option that has the router and two satellites, which will cover up to 10,000 square feet and the management features make it easy to add additional satellites if needed. The main idea behind the Orbi Pro was to create a system for small businesses that would allow them to control, manage, and monitor internally without having to hire out network administration. I personally thought that taking the easy-to-use Orbi concept and transferring that to a business environment was brilliant. With the exception of our smart devices, I was able to have the Orbi up and running within about 5 minutes in our home. It’s been a very stable network for us and we have dozens of devices connected to it.

The Differences
Naturally, the first thought that came into my mind was, “What are the differences between the two systems?” The first thing that will catch your eye is the price tag. The 2-pack system for the Home Orbi runs around $399, while the Orbi Pro system is $499. Second, you will notice that the Orbi Home edition has a USB 2.0 port on the backside of the router and the satellite and the Orbi Pro does not. To be honest, I’ve haven’t really found a use for the USB port on the Orbi Home so it doesn’t really bother me that it’s gone with the Pro version. Orbi Pro also comes with optional wall mounts whereas the Orbi does not.

The real differences between the two systems lie within the software. You will use the same Orbi app on your smartphone and orbilogin.com to access the management on both systems, but with the Orbi Pro, you have some additional options available. You can actually set up three separate WiFi networks within the Orbi Pro system — Admin, Employee, and Guest.

Admin & Employee Networks: Orbi Pro can handle the set-up of two distinct networks. The Admin set-up is designed to provide access to critical infrastructures such as private servers, VoIP systems, or computers that contain sensitive data like patient files, Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, printers, etc. It enables access to the Gigabit Ethernet ports on Orbi for connecting wired devices. While the Employee option is structured for employees who need access but do not need access to the systems on the Admin Network or the Gigabit Ethernet Ports. It has a SSID that is different than the admin network, and its password can be easily changed as employees leave. The management of these networks can be handled within the Orbi App.

Guest Access Network: Completely isolated from the other two networks, it is designed to be used by customers, patients, clients and other visitors. Their devices get access to the internet through a captive portal for only a limited amount of time as easily set by the network administrator.

The Guest Access Network is actually the feature that most appealed to us. With Orbi, you have the option for a Guest Network, but it’s not using a captive portal. A captive portal is what you see when you login into public WiFi hotspots and you have to agree to specified terms of service before being allowed to use it. This can come in handy in case someone using your guest network does something illegal or damaging to anyone while connected to it. You also have enough control to be able to direct users to a pre-determined website when they log in. This can be useful for personal uses as well as business ones, but most homes don’t need access like this.

USER EXPERIENCE
Much like the Orbi, the Orbi Pro system came packaged with one router, one satellite, power adapters for both units, and an Ethernet cable (for connection to your modem). There was also a quick start guide, manual, and a few other papers included. Setup is simple. You unplug your modem (to reset it) and plug the Ethernet cable into the modem and the router (the yellow port). Then you plug the modem and router into power. The Orbi Pro will take a few minutes to start all the way up. The ring on top of the unit will pulse white until its setup and configuration are complete. When it’s fully operational, it will be completely off. The router and satellite will also use other colors for status. Click here for a full list of colors and their meanings. To get your satellite setup, you select your location for it and plug it into power. It will pull connection information directly from the router.

After the router is completely powered up, you will visit orbilogin.com to access the backend management of the Orbi system. Netgear does a wonderful thing here and it’s the same process you go through whether you are setting up the Orbi or the Orbi Pro. After you have logged into the management system and set up your account, the remainder of the configurations are done in the background. You have the ability to set up various options within the network from this interface or you can do it from the Orbi app on your smartphone.

Since the Guest WiFi was the most intriguing feature of the Orbi Pro to me, I want to specifically outline what it takes to set it up. First, click on Guest Portal in the sidebar menu. This will pull up the configuration details for the guest network. You will see a screen similar to what is shown below. To engage the Guest Network with the captive portal, you check the “Enable Guest Portal Network” and select your authentication option. For a guest network, I would recommend making it password protected. At this point, you can choose how long you would like the password to be available. For example, let’s say you have a group of people into your office and want to grant them access, but only for the time, they are there. You can make the password expire in 2 hours so that if they want to log in again, they will have to request access again.

The next step in this process is to customize your portal. You can input terms of service (text only) by uploading a document under “Terms and Conditions” and you can even upload a logo. Beneath that, you will see a place for “Redirected URL”. This is where you would put the website address for the place you want to take your guests when they log in. Most places will make it their company website. Once you have all the information inputted, you can preview the page and when you click apply, the Orbi Pro will reconfigure the network quietly in the background (your WiFi will shut down for a few minutes) and when it restarts, you will have an active Guest Network with a captive portal.

CONCLUSIONS
Because I’ve enjoyed the extreme ease-of-use with the Orbi, I didn’t hesitate to test out the newer sibling to the home WiFi system. Orbi Pro provides a stable, flexible network that can handle a lot of devices. Its signal has remained clear throughout our home and even into our yard. With its five-minute set-up and customizable network options, Orbi Pro is really a great option for small businesses who don’t want to hire someone to maintain their network. I’ve not had any issues with the Orbi Pro and believe that it will handle any number of users thrown at it.
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If you took a poll 20 years ago about the internet, I do not think people would have imagined the current size/reach of the internet.  Additionally, you probably would not have thought that pay phones would be dead, Cable TV service would be limping along or that very few people seem to have a home phone anymore.  I still have cable service, mostly for the package with broadband internet.  I have had Comcast Xfinity service for 2 years and have had very few complaints. Many Internet Service Providers (ISP) will allow you to rent a cable modem.  I personally prefer to have my own modem, which may save $10-$20 per month and thus hundreds per year.  If you are interested in surfing the web, watching multiple HD videos simultaneously, linking up to two USB 3.0 external storage devices for quick streaming of your own media or quick HD gaming, or you just want to fully utilize the Xfinity Comcast highest speeds, the Nighthawk X4S is the device for you.  I have been using the Motorola Surfboard SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable modem, for the past few years, and had a Netgear N600 router.  Using the above combination, I was able to enjoy 90 Mbps download speeds and 10-12 Mbps upload speeds (http://speedof.me HTML5 Speed test).  However, with the setup of my home, I have had some rather annoying dead spaces.  I recently wanted to upgrade my home’s internet modem/router system and thought that a combination device may work well for me.

Packaging/Unboxing:
The Nighthawk X4S AC3200 WiFi Cable Modem Router ships in a very tech-tastic box.  Along the left of the cover, you will see an image of the futuristic Netgear device.  Along the margins of the cover, you will see silver reflective wording, which definitely provides a prominent eye catching appeal.  Along the cover and sides, the device promises a built in DOCSIS 3.1 Cable modem, ultra-fast internet speeds up to 6Gbps, provides 2 USB 3.0 ports, and four 10/100/1000Mbps LAN Gigabit ethernet ports.  The device promises plenty of security features: customize free URL to set up personal FTP server (File transfer protocols), secure and separate guest network, double firewall protection, SPI (Stateful packet inspection/dynamic filtering, basically stops packets that do not already have a connection) and NAT (Network access translation, stops unsolicited attempts at accessing your network).  The router also has Denial of Service (DOS) attack prevention, remote login/management, and Netgear Genie app support.  Flipping the package over to the back, you can continue to see the quality of Netgear advertising. If you are uncertain why you would want a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, you can directly see a graph detailing the 10x faster speed above a DOCSIS 3.0.  There are numerous bullet points detailing information about the Modem Router, Streaming and Gaming and mobile connection.

Within the outer shell, you will find a white box containing the product.  Lift up the flap and notice the instruction manual and the 12 inch wide by 9 inches wide, 3-pound beast.  The device is exceptionally large and the pictures do not do it justice.  The back of the device has four large antennae, each covered by a plastic sheath.  Setting the product aside, you will find the extremely large AC adaptor and the 60″ yellow ethernet cable. The main body of the AC adaptor is 2 11/16 inches wide by 3 1/4 inches tall and 1 1/8 inches thick.  The type A prong is aligned in parallel to the length of the plug.  This works well for wall outlets, as the bulk of the AC adaptor sticks out to the side.  Unfortunately, it did not work as well in my surge protector.  The yellow ethernet cable is a reasonable length and should reach from the ground to a desk or possibly to a chest high shelf.  As stated above, the device is rather large and will leave a large footprint on your desk. Arrange the antenna to your given need and then follow the instruction manual.  It is important to note that there is no coaxial cable included with this device.  You will need to provide your own cable.

I was excited to see that the device had a total of four yellow colored LAN connection points across the back. These are located between the center two antennae.  To the right is the circular AC adaptor port and to the left is the coaxial cable port.  Along the right side of the device is a black plastic flap, that controls access to the two USB 3.0 connection points. I really like the flap and the placement of the ports/LAN points.  Along the front right of the device, you will find an LED button, a WPS button, and a WiFi button.  Some people may find it odd that this device still has a WPS feature.  Within the app, you have the ability to turn off this feature or to choose button or PIN.  If there is anyone who has a Pin based WPS feature, please get a new modem.  The WPS Pin feature should be universally turned off, as this may be one of the largest security threats to your system.  The 8 pin device code is broken into two sets of four codes.  Unfortunately, there are only 11,000 combinations for 4 digit codes, which proves easy to crack with brute force tactics.  According to howtogeek.com, this can be done in about a day.   The WPS button only opens the connection for 2 minutes and would require someone to have direct access to your router to make use of this connection.  To summarize, please turn off Pin based WPS.

Setup:
Once you have laid out all the pieces, you can evaluate the quick start manual for the AC3200 WiFi device.  Start by turning off previous modem/router combinations and then attach the coaxial (CABLE) cable to the back left of the device.  The coaxial input port is capped by a gray rubberized protector, which will need to be removed.  Next, connect the large power adapter to the modem and then into a wall outlet or surge protector.  You will notice the Power icon illuminate and you will see a blue LED along the top of each of the antennae.  I was not expecting to have the accent colors and was impressed.  It took about 5 minutes for the world icon to stop blinking and to be solid white.  The manual stated that this could take up to 10 minutes, but it was much quicker than reported.  Once the Nighthawk device is ready, connect your computer directly to the router or use a mobile device (WiFi network name and password can be found on the label on the modem).

You can log into the listed web browser, within the manual, or you can add the http://192.XXX.X.X address.  Log into the device and enjoy the Netgear Genie.  Along the left, you can access Home, Cable Connection, Wireless, Attached Devices, Parental Controls, ReadyShare (direct connection information between devices) and Guest Network.  Each of these will allow you to update and improve upon your experience.  Conveniently, the main screen has a visual representation of each of the above-listed headings.  Under advanced settings, you can access the WPS wizard, Setup, ReadySHARE, Security (access control, block sites, block services, schedule, Email), Administration and Advanced Setup.  Using my PC and a direct wired connection, I did not have to do anything with my ISP.  However, when I tried to add my iPhone 7 Plus, I had I was taken to the Xfinity self-activation page.  I had to add my account number and phone number and had to wait about a minute and a half (instruction manual states up to 15 minutes).  To join with your smart device, navigate to Settings, Wifi and look for Netgear39 or Netgear39-5G.  Within the application, you can change the network login Key, which is highly recommended.  Starting out, the app will give you the passphrases.

To utilize this system, your computer must have any version of Windows XP or later, Mac OS, Unix, or Linux and utilize IE 5.0, FF 2.0, Safari 1.4 or Google Chrome 11.0 or higher.  The router utilized IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHZ + 124 QAM support and IEEE 802.11 a/n/ac 5.0GHZ bands.   The Nighthawk router uses the Multiple User-Multiple input (MU-MIMO) feature.  This will allow the router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, better than previous systems.  HIstorically data packets were only able to be shared one way.  Basically, data is sent to one device at a time, but in small packets, and then rapidly switched between devices attached to your network. So instead of a speed dating approach, modern routers have the capability of having multiple conversations simultaneously.  With more and more devices connected, you need to be able to extend the range of your internet and the speed/reliability by which it reaches your devices.  When you combine the maximum Xfinity Cable speed of 150Mbps with the Nighthawk device, you can expect great connection for around 10 devices.

I would rate myself as a slightly above average tech user.  My wife is a novice tech user and had no issues understanding the manual.  In fact, I had her set-up this system.  She was actually surprised with how incredibly easy this kit was to setup and use.  Simply reading the quick start guide, you should be able to have this up and running within about 10-15 minutes.  The more advanced tech skills may come in handy when navigating the features/options within the Netgear Genie.  The included cables are perfect lengths, the step by step setup is very straightforward and the product actually wowed my wife.

Usage:
The device is really visually appealing and fits wonderfully into my man cave.  As a parent of three children under the age of 8 (8/5 boys and 2 yr old girl), I am interested in parental controls.  I like the option to be able to block sites/services and I like the ability to log into the Netgear Genie App remotely.  Under the schedule tab, you can add days to block, times of days to block and you can specify sites/services. The ability to police the internet is really important.  I typically use the guest network for my smart home devices, which typically have fewer security features.  This way, I have a separate network for my computers/iPads/iPhones.  The Netgear Genie app was more than my wife wanted to deal with.  Once she noticed that there were headings, drop downs, multiple options and “techie” words, she handed off the setup to me.  You do not really need to access many of these extra features, if uninterested. Whether you use the computer program or the IOS app, enjoy a customizable, future-proof system. To log into parental controls from the IOS app, you will need to create an OpenDNS account.   Once parent controls are enabled, you can set filter levels and see the network map.  Choose between no blocking, minimal (only against phishing attack), low (porn and phishing), moderate (all adult sites, illegal activity, and phishing), high (all adult-related sites, illegal activity, social networking sites, video sharing, phishing attacks and time waters), custom.  There are additional advanced controls, which can be reviewed at your convenience.

You can access the WiFI, see the password, see the security options (WPA2-PSK, or WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK).  You can see the Guest Wifi and then turn on/off guest access to the 2.4 or 5 GHz network.The Network Map provides you with a visual representation of your network.  In my case, you can see the internet, the modem/router, the connected Linksys network and my iPhone connected wirelessly to the C7800 router.  The app allows you to turn on and off the traffic meter, to see how much data (in Mbytes is transferred).  This may be an important feature if you have data limits. The router has a feature that seems very similar to airdrop called Turbo Transfer.  I have not yet had the opportunity to test the feature, but it seems very convenient.  This will allow you the option to choose which devices you want to transfer files to.

In regards to performance, I was able to have the internet throughout my entire home, even in the places that my Netgear Router N600 did not access.  I have used wireless repeaters, I have used mesh WiFi systems and I have tried to move the modem/router.  With my multi-level home, the four antennae found on the AC3200 device seemed to provide a good ~2500-3000 square foot coverage.  The Linksys Velop mesh provided nearly 6000 square feet of coverage and did provide better coverage across my home.  Using speakeasy.net on my computer and using html5 speed testing on my MacBook Pro, iPhone 7 Plus and iPad Air 2, I was able to show 90-95 Mbps download and 10-18 Mbps upload.  I was able to play on my Xbox One, while each of my children were watching youtube videos on their iPad Minis and my daughter was watching Puppy Dog Pals on an iPhone 7.  My wife and I have talked about increasing our internet to the 150Mbps level. As stated on the packaging, this device is designed to support this blazing speed.  When it comes to product cost, you cannot expect to find a cheaper option for a router and a modem.  If you consider the savings from not renting a router, the device is about $100-150 dollars.  Price for value, I do not think you will find a more powerful modem/router combo.

My wife and I were both pleased with the quality of packaging, the look, and feel of the device (even though it is large), the ease of setup and the quality of features.  We would rate this device at 5/5 stars and would highly encourage this device for anyone who would utilize cable internet services.
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Ally Plus Amped Wireless Home Smart Wi-Fi Router and Extender REVIEW If you have a large home then the Ally Plus Wireless Home Smart Wi-Fi router and extended set may be just what you are looking for. For me this wifi router and extender duo are more than I needed for my townhouse and my internet service is sometimes an issue. That being said I’ve tested this out in another home (my mother’s) and it proves to be a good router with a fair amount of range. With an easy setup and an easy to use app, anyone could benefit from having one. Unless of course, you’re me who really needs to switch providers.

Features: The box set includes a the Ally router and extender. If you have a large home and backyard the extender reaching up to 15,000 sq. feet may have you covered. For me, the one thing that stood out with this set up is the parental control features in the application. You can limit internet usage to your child’s device also while monitoring what sites they are visiting. Even though there are plenty of apps and internal software for monitoring devices, my 9-year-old son likes to point out the ways to get around blocks I have put up. There are security features included and one that stands out is the fact you will receive notifications to your phone about devices trying to connect to your wifi. Every device I hooked up I could see what device is was and would have been able to disconnect any devices that I did not recognize.

Setting it up: The Ally Plus is able to be set up through the web or through a mobile app. It is currently both available on iOS and Android. The set up was fairly quick for setting up the system and the devices. I had no issues connecting any of the five devices including my MacBook Pro and my iPhone 7 Plus. They now currently have 8 devices connected and even my mother was able to set them up herself. My mother is someone who would call me in the middle of the night to reconnect things and did not need me this time. So luckily, the application makes it to where anyone who knows the very basics of connecting a device to wifi able to use this. I did notice when we were connected I have been back and fourth to her house and the range is great but I honestly don’t think it’s an entire 15,000 sq. feet. Her house isn’t large and I lost connection walking across the street. The speed seemed to be about what she had before so I didn’t see a huge boost in internet speed. That was kind of disappointing because she had an older setup and I was hoping that this would make a significant difference.

Overall: I have a NETGEAR Nighthawk and I don’t know a for sure reason that it works well for my home but this one didn’t. I will blame it on my internet provider for the sheer fact I purchased the Nighthawk because I was having so many issues with my other router and modem. However, this actually was a great gift to give my mother because when my son goes to visit grandma I can keep tabs on his internet usage there. I’m able to make sure that certain things can be restricted and that he’s not being like I was when I was younger and pulling all nighters at my grandmother’s house.
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