The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 has a unique yet somewhat subtle design that allows it to stand out from other wireless routers on the market. As a part of its design, it features three external antennas that allow you some control over the direction of the wireless signal.
On the front of the device is a single USB 3.0 port for connecting shared printers or external hard drives. Netgear placed the port there, in the front of the device to avoid interference with your wireless signal. The back of the device is home to a USB 2.0 port, but for the fastest file transfers, it’s best to make use of the faster 3.0 port.
Like the best wireless routers, the Nighthawk AC1900 features four gigabit LAN ports. These ports are perfect for connecting gaming consoles and HD video-streaming devices for the fastest and most stable internet connection.
By using the latest in Wi-Fi technologies, the Nighthawk AC1900 also provides outstanding wireless internet connections. It is a dual-band router, meaning it broadcasts two simultaneous networks, one on the 2.4GHz band and one on the 5GHz band. While the 2.4GHz band provides compatibility for your older devices, the 5GHz band provides the benefits of faster speeds and stronger connections.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 provides all of the security features that should be expected of a top wireless router. A Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall examines all incoming packets and helps to ensure that your network isn’t maliciously infiltrated, while a NAT firewall hides all of your devices with a single IP address.
Accessing the parental controls for this device is a little more complicated than with other brands. Rather than making them easily available from a browser-based configuration page, NETGEAR requires that you first download a configuration application and create an account.
Once you’ve finished this one-time set up, however, you’ll have access to some of the best parental controls we’ve seen in a router. You can choose from different levels of premade filters that range from minimum to high, or create your own custom filter based on content that you deem inappropriate for your network. Using the scheduler, you can also control the amount of time that specific network devices are allowed to spend on the internet.
NETGEAR offers an industry-standard, one-year warranty with this device as well as a host of support options on the company’s website. You can get many of your questions answered via the FAQs, manuals and troubleshooting panels. For questions that are more complicated, you can contact a NETGEAR representative by phone, email or live chat.
A premium wireless router should offer a combination of industry-leading speeds, outstanding security as well as an easy to use interface. Although the Nighthawk AC1900 requires a bit more effort when accessing and adjusting parental controls, the depth of control it offers, coupled with impressive speed and security make it an excellent selection for any home.
