Skip to main content

Netgear’s new Nighthawk X10 router is crazy fast thanks to Wireless AD tech

Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart Wireless Router Sizzle Video | NETGEAR
Netgear is claiming the “world’s fastest” title with the introduction of its new router, the Nighthawk X10. That is because it is based on Wireless AD technology, which is seemingly only supported by a handful of devices at this time. Heck, we are still getting caught up with Wireless AC connectivity, so do not expect a truckload of devices supporting the Wireless AD aspect of this router anytime soon. Still, it is worth a look for current devices and setting up the home or office for the next generation of wireless connectivity.

The Nighthawk X10 is an AD7200 class router, meaning its combined speeds total up to 7,200 megabits per second (Mbps). To break that down, it supports speeds up to 4,600Mbps on the new 60GHz band, up to 1,733Mbps on the 5GHz band, and up to 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. These latter two numbers are made possible because the router broadcasts four streams each.

Recommended Videos

As an example, the 5GHz band is broken down into four streams zipping along at 433Mbps each. The 2.4GHz band consists of four streams at 200Mbps each while the 60GHz band appears to provide one large stream at 4,600Mbps. That said, the whole combined maximum speed advertised by any router, such as the 7.2Gbps with this model, is somewhat misleading given that you will never have a device using all of those connections at once.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

On a more technical level, the router is powered by a quad-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz that can support more than 20 simultaneous devices. The router adds a 160MHz channel to the 20MHz and 40MHz lineup for a larger transmission pipeline. In other words, the higher the number, the more data the router can cram in its connection to a device. Right now there is no indication that Netgear has simply crammed together two 80MHz channels.

The router also includes a 10-gigabit port that supports a fiber connection and two USB 3.0 ports for adding external-storage devices or a network-capable printer. There are also six-gigabit Ethernet ports as well, two of which support line aggregation mode that essentially combine to make one super-fast 2Gbps wired connection. The transmissions are delivered through four patent-pending external active antennas that amplify the Wi-Fi signal.

With all the technical stuff aside, the new Nighthawk X10 includes a built-in Plex Media Server. If you are not familiar with this, it is a popular solution for serving up stored media to the free Plex apps found on the gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets, Apple TV, and so on. The server portion scans for local media, throws it all in a library, and then provides access to the content through the Plex app from anywhere. These libraries can be shared with friends who also use the Plex app.

With that in mind, users could essentially store all the media they want to view wherever they go on a dedicated external storage device connected directly to the router. That way, there is no dependent PC or network-attached storage device involved. The drawback to using Plex is that customers will need to pay a subscription for premium features like Plex DVR, offline viewing, parental controls, and more. The router comes with a free three-month Plex Pass to check out the full service.

The Nighthawk X10 is not the only Wireless AD router in town. Customers can also purchase the TP-LINK Talon AD7200 ($350) and the Acelink BR-6774AD (price unknown). The market is not exactly crowded right now, but get ready for more Wireless AD units throughout 2017. Netgear’s Wireless AD solution is available for a meaty price of $500 at local retail and online shops nationwide.

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
Save space with this 27-inch Dell all-in-one PC — on sale at $300 off
The Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One desktop computer.

If you've got limited space for a computer on your desk but you want a screen that's bigger than a laptop's, the Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One could be the solution that you're looking for -- especially now that it's on sale from Dell with a $300 discount. From its original price of $1,300, you'll only have to pay $1,000 for this all-in-one PC, but since we're not sure how much time is remaining before this offer expires, we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible so that you'll be able to pocket the savings.

Why you should buy the Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One PC
We've got a comprehensive guide on how to build a PC from scratch, but if you'd rather buy a pre-built desktop computer, check out the Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One. The best part about this machine is that it combines the CPU and monitor in one package, with a 27-inch touchscreen that offers Full HD resolution. This makes the all-in-one computer perfect for areas with limited spaces such as a home office or a dorm room, and it even ships with the Dell Pro Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo, so the only wire that you'll have to deal with is its power cable.

Read more
Hackers opted for ransomware in 2024 for faster and more advanced attacks
a faceless hacker in a black hoodie in front of a computer screen with lines of code on it.

A new research report suggests that ransomware attacks are not only becoming more frequent, but hackers are also striking faster than ever before. Researchers indicate that bad actors are rolling out attacks as quickly as security professionals can resolve them.

Ransomware-as-a-service offerings are a common attack method used by cybercriminals, in which they offer various malicious tools and services to buyers as a subscription. According to the latest in-depth analysis by the Barracuda Managed XDR team, there were four times as many Ransomware attacks in 2024 as in the year prior.

Read more
This 14-inch Dell 2-in-1 laptop is on sale with a $250 discount
Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (7445) front view showing display.

Are you having trouble deciding between laptop deals and tablet deals for your next device? You don't have to choose between them if you go for the Dell Inspiron 14 7440 2-in-1 laptop, which you can get with a $250 discount from Dell right now. From its original price of $750, it's on sale for a more affordable $500, but we're not sure for how much longer. You're going to have to be quick with your purchase if you want to pocket the savings -- we recommend buying the 2-in-1 laptop immediately just to be sure.

Why you should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 7440 2-in-1 laptop
The Dell Inspiron 14 7440 is almost the same as the Dell Inspiron 14 7445, save for the components that power it. Instead of an AMD chip, the Dell Inspiron 14 7440 runs on the Intel Core 5 120U processor, alongside Intel Graphics and 8GB of RAM. These specifications will be more than enough for daily tasks such as browsing social media, watching streaming shows, and working on spreadsheets and documents. The device also comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed in a 512GB SSD for ample storage space for your apps and files, and it has a dedicated key to launch Microsoft's Copilot if you need any help from the AI assistant.

Read more