Some reviews say the Nighthawk was one of the best router you can buy for money - I say: That's right! Best part

Video at Amazon.com See I've gained an Apple Air Port Time Capsule me some time ago. Primarily because my old router had problems with my new MacBook and I found the backup solution very appealing. As usual, Apple was also a very straightforward matter. All Insert, enter data, run. As you are used to it, the motto of Apple could also be Apple - it just works. Although the unit had some drawbacks, for example, no WPS button, little configuration options and it was not possible via wireless access to the connected external hard drive. For all of my devices were running in a network environment and my data was automatically backed up to a 2TB hard drive.

Then I was asked by the company Netgear, me their latest top class router Nighthawk R700 to see once and for me was actually immediately realized that I would try the device and then pass on to a friend, I would probably give as Apple users hardly my AirPort again ,
Forget it! Currently I have only one small problem with the router, this is probably due more to me than the router, and then my AirPort is history. What are the most amazing features of this device, I will describe below once and then run in conclusion, why I'll keep the Nighthawk instead of the airport.
As usual, I have again created a video. In the video I show the router, I show the configuration menus via a browser, I show the app and I will show at the end of this short as my router has helped to realize my little personal ideals of my fully networked home entertainment system. Due to the ten-minute time limit falls throughout the course rather somewhat superficial, but nevertheless should hopefully give a good impression

*** Processing: ***
The Nighthawk is reminiscent of its design her very much of a stealth bomber. A relatively large housing (especially in comparison to the airport), hang on the three futuristic antennas that you can do relatively freely. These three antennas should probably be having a major reason for the strong transmission power of the device. One can the router if you want to easily be mounted on two bolts on the wall. At the front are many status LEDs. Something that is quite informative and yes, me personally but a little disturbing. The Airport has since just a small operation lamp, what if the router is not in the hall, is much more pleasant. Would be great if you could be in future releases these luminaires Stealth Moderately somehow disappear. The two right LEDs are the same buttons. With the one to disable to disable the wireless function of the router, with the other one activates the WPS function (more on that).
At the bottom of the front panel is a USB 3.0 connection to find. On the back is a USB 2.0 port, an on / off button, and the four LAN outputs.
All in all, sees the already very high, noble and futuristic made, only the antennas need to properly tighten otherwise fold to the easy.

*** Facilities: ***
The physical placement of the router is expected to be easy. Connect power supply, connect the router to the modem, turn, ready. It takes less than two minutes.
Then the address [...] still needs the router to the PC, the browser type, enter the credentials of the manual and have the router automatically connects to the Internet. Any IP conflicts are thereby equal out of the way. Overall, it took about four minutes until the router was online.

*** Operation / configuration options ***
There are several ways to use the router: either classically via browser, via software or via App. On the latter I go again later a special. I want anyone here with the setting annoy the router, there are just so many incomprehensible. If you really want to know whether the router something special for him important can look either in the video where I at least see all menus shortly once, or simply watch the Internet, the very good manual on. So far I can not find it, although only in English on the net, but who can configure a router itself, which should have no problem.
It is great that there is a hinged help with almost every menu item, which explains all menu items shortly. This helps not quite as experienced users find what they are looking for.
One can choose in the settings between Easy and Expert. Under single one has all Basic Settings in expert you can really configure anything. Everything is arranged beautifully clear and understandable and you could always find what you're looking for.

*** Signal quality: ***
Actually, almost one of the most important features in a router. The Nighthawk dominated Beamforming +. This technology detects where devices on the network are and increases the transmission power specifically for these devices. This is especially noticeable when multiple devices in the WLAN, but also walls are less of a problem. And it works really well. I have room in my apartment where even my otherwise blessed with good reception iPad mini has problems. The Nighthawk is the story.

*** Key Features: ***
In addition, for me important features are:
- Excellent integration of external hard drives. It can take up to two external hard drives via USB plug (1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0). On the router a DLNA server is installed TiVo. Thanks to this, you can access other devices on the hard drive and play content.
For example, my Denon receiver to access the music from your hard drive and play them: This is done quickly, without time delay and large buffers. My Phillips TV can also access the network to the hard drive and play movies directly via WLAN from the hard disk. Where there is always the problem that the player can play the file format needs. With MKV files most devices have problems.
Therefore, I can give me for Christmas a Apple TV and brought me the App Beamer. I was used to always annoyed that I had to connect cables to the TV to my laptop via HDMI and the external hard drive to the computer must have if I want to watch movies in bed at night lying on the HDD without having to copy it always complicated back and forth. Now I have the hard drive to the router can access my PC Wireless fact send the movie via projector on Apple TV and then watch it on your TV with DTS sound and besides still working on a laptop.
This may sound very complicated for outsiders, for me it's the perfect solution for which I have been looking for. With the AirPort that was not possible.

- Time Machine: Time Machine is a feature of Apple, with which you once make a backup of his entire hard drive to an external hard drive via WLAN and then the Mac every Sunde just backs up any changes. So not much space is consumed while you can then restore using Time Machine to state any day at any hour - data loss Goodbye! If the disk sometime full the oldest backups will be deleted, so you still of every day, of every week of every month has a backup.
Here is the Nighthawk, if everything works well again a big advantage, because you can connect an external hard drive of any size. If you buy today, for example, the Nighthawk + 3TB HDD as you have saved more than 100, and you can just easily connect later more boards, but should keep as 3TB Time Machine backup for many years. For Windows PCs there seems to be a similar solution to which I can say nothing.
Good is also that there are two USB ports, so you can permanently use a Time Machine for the plate and the other similar to other disks with movies, music It took me at first tasted this function to set up some trouble, but it was then still folded. Whoever has problems found on the homepage of Netgear very good documentation. Although for a different router, but also works at Nighthawk.

- Possibility my USB printer to wireless router remodel

-QoS: You can set the example of the downstream should be prioritized, which is handy if you want to stream movies, which avoids or reduces stuttering because of other traffic is subordinate to the network. Especially when more than one user can use the same WLAN be very useful. Upstream prioritization helps to keep a good Ping eg gambling always

- Guest network: You can create a GästeWLAN. Thus, for example, visitors have access to the Internet, but not on its own network and can not, for example, access to your own computer or other devices on the WLAN. Very practical and used by me gladly and often. So I can keep my top-secret wireless password for me.

-Access From the outside: In times of NSA data scandal certainly a feature worthy of discussion, but I guess the NSA can always chop most routers. You can on the one hand access via VPN to the home network. In addition, you can practice one of his wounded disks as FTP server and can can be a relatively easy-to-remember Netgear address the more of the road to be able to access its data.

- WPS: This is now truly no unique selling point of this router, but I have never before used on my Alice router and the WPS button AirPort does not. I've gotten a lot of WiFi enabled devices. TV, music systems, etc. Usually you have as more cumbersome in the configuration menu, to scan for wireless LANs, select the right and then enter safe and very complicated password awkward about any remote control and thereby hope that you have not made a typing error. Thanks to WPS is something history. Also dominates the other device WPS simply press the WPS button on both devices and it takes a maximum of one minute to the new device in the WLAN is. One can even make the browser by Nighthawk and then does not have to run every time the device cumbersome.

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*** Conclusion: ***
That was a lot now. And I could write more, or go into more detail in some features. What remains as a conclusion for me was short and sweet: The Nighthawk has many, many features that all work. Simplify your life and there are not pure advertising copy. Basically, I do not know what a router would have more or better. Some reviews say that the Nighthawk currently VLT. best router is the one money can buy. I can agree with almost unlimited. Considering but the overall package must rout full five stars in terms of price / performance get.
The router is Time Machine compatible, can Beamforming + and can set up guest wireless networks. This may be the AirPort Apple also. But the Nighthawk has also integrate very powerful features to USB hard drives into network (DLNA functions zehrgute !!!!), it can make my printer wireless capable, he has QoS, you can access their home network from anywhere via VPN or his retrieve data via FTP, also on the road and also it can WPS. This ensures all in all for my AirPort the Nighthawk also has to give way permanently. All in all great, recommendable router!