Netgear: New WiFi 7 router and access points support mesh and multiple wireless networks for better security

Netgear is expanding its range of network devices with the new Orbi 370 series. It will be available in two- and three-pack SKUs, but individual satellites are available for purchase separately. The three-pack is priced at $350. The system supports WiFi 7, but does not provide the full bandwidth of this relatively new wireless networking standard. Only the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are supported, which means that the fast 6GHz band is missing. Therefore, this mesh system can hit up to 3,600 Mbps, which is considerably slower than some high-end but also higher priced alternatives in this segment.

Each router or satellite can cover an area of 1,300 square feet, although the actual coverage will depend on the layout of the building. Both the router and satellites each offer an Ethernet port with a bandwidth of 2.5 Gbps. Neatgear’s new WiFi 7 router also has a WAN port, which is used to connect to a modem. Each unit has a total of eight antennas, and the router is equipped with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor as well as 1GB RAM.

Netgear advertises numerous advanced features, including compatibility with VPN services as well as the ability to set up additional WiFi networks specifically for guests and IoT devices. For IoT systems, an isolated network can be practical, as these gadgets may not always receive the latest security patches and updates. Lastly, the new Netgear Orbi 370 mesh system can be comfortably set up via a smartphone app.