Strong router specifically for streaming

Nighthawk calls his new Netgear router, and not only the name is reminiscent of the Stealth Fighter F-117 from Lockheed, also the black, wedge-shaped appearance with 3 antennas strikingly reminiscent of the famous stealth fighter. Cool look, he does so before, so I was curious to see what the router could afford to, after the manufacturer gave me a tester available.

1. Preliminary remarks
A word to the classification: I am neither the network nor IT expert but interested layman. I appreciate the usefulness of such components, but I am happy when things are going reasonably satisfactory, and then spend no more my time trying to improve the performance of 85% to 99%.

So far I have a Fritzbox 7390 as a router, supported by diverse Devolo dLAN components because the router on the top floor of a new building is with concrete ceilings. By 2 ceilings remained of the wireless signal so far nothing left, so I have TV and Sonos system to Devolo dLAN adapters as well as a wireless producer.

2. Connections, first impression
Striking the Nighthawk is also its size, which is namely about twice as large as that of the Fritz box, which is almost as large as A4. The device has back 4 LAN and one USB port and front USB 3.0 port. Use of the ports and the connection to the Internet and Wi-Fi are indicated by white LEDs on the front of the router. Shutdown can be the LEDs not (at least I have not found this item), but very few will make the device into the bedroom too, and if you have to put a halt black tape over it.

3. Commissioning
The commissioning of the Nighthawk is pleasing fast and simple. After the 3 antennas are mounted, the router only needs to be connected to electricity and Web. Since the Nighthawk has no built-in modem, and I use a modem I have a LAN port of the Fritz box used as access.

Although the configuration menu of the router is not the same when you open the browser, but routerlogin.net when entering the address. Prima: There is a simple mode (for people like me) and an expert mode. The menu and its submenus are very tidy and well structured. So you can change the network name and password in the wireless sub example easily. The timeout for the WLAN one finds but unfortunately only in the expert menu, although that is certainly interesting for beginners.

4. WLAN
A strong Wi-Fi is personally an important product feature for me. Since Displaying 1 to 3 bars in the iPad are of course very meaningful, I have downloaded for research on the web free software inSSIDer to measure the strength of the wireless Nighthawk, also and especially in comparison to the Fritz box.
I have 2 screenshots with measurement results uploaded close to the router and 2 floors below here. The Nighthawk has always stronger by 25-40% signal in the Fritz box.
However, the Nighthawk physical limits is subject to 2 Fat concrete slabs are then but too much to deliver more stable wireless signal. For me personally, the pity, because I thus my DLAN Wireless producers can not make unnecessary, and continue with 2 different WLANs must live in the house, but that may be very different in another development situation of course.

5. Streaming
The streaming is mE a great strength of the Nighthawks. I've tested both electroless 25 inch hard drives, and large 35-inch drives with power-saving mode to the two USB ports. There was fortunately no problems. The small plates were given enough power and was easily recognized that large monitored easily on from the power-saving mode.

On the iPad I tested the streaming video on the app VLC. This worked reasonably well. Although the app crashes sometimes when reading from the same, but she has also done previously, I do not think that is on the router. When offering the directories and subdirectories patient is initially but hip, especially if they are many takes reading a few minutes, and initially only one folder is displayed.
But then the movies works really fast, and you get a ruckellosen movie enjoyment. Just as the streaming worked with the Philips TV.

6. Conclusion:
Who can do without an integrated telephone system and an integrated modem, receives here a very powerful router that is also for non-technical easy to install and operate.