Speed has always been the name of the game when it comes to Internet access, more so now as households continue to embrace and add to the multi-device lifestyle. It’s common to share Wi-Fi across different devices, from laptops and smartphones to tablets and TVs, but that means increased demand for bandwidth and in turn, more throttling.
And while the Wi-Fi 6 band can more than get the job done, the latest Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Standard takes things up several notches, easily hitting over twice the speed of the previous standard, and with full backward compatibility to boot. Two key things to note when considering Wi-Fi 7 is the increased maximum speeds, of potentially over 30Gbps over the 9.6Gbps of Wi-Fi 6, and the expanded channel width that allows for more devices to be connected at any one time.
Ushering in this blistering performance is the Netgear Orbi 970 series, which seeks to deliver best-in-class connectivity for entertainment, hybrid work, and smart home convenience.
It all starts from Orbi’s own flair to an already strong infrastructure that offers 2.4 times faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6, topping out at an impressive 27Gbps. The company’s proprietary Quad-Band and Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul technologies work together to blitz through all connected devices, with the latter allowing multi-link operation for simultaneous connection between a dedicated 5GHz band and a 6GHz band. The result is a 10-gigabit wireless backhaul for reduced latency – perfect for bandwidth-hungry activities like online multiplayer games, and to ensure that all the phones, tablets and other Internet-hungry devices in a home stay connected without throttling speeds.
Wireless backhaul, in this context, refers to the process of communicating data between a primary Wi-Fi router unit and its satellite mesh units. The 10-gigabit internet port on the Orbi 970 facilitates this transmission, while wired connection via a 10-gigabit and four 2.5-gigabit Ethernet ports promises blazing speeds on both multi-gig cable and fibre broadband.
Dead zones won’t be a concern, either. The router is decked out in high-performance antennas for 360-degree coverage up to 6,600 square feet, with support for over 200 concurrent devices. More notably, preamble puncturing – first introduced in Wi-Fi 6 as an optional feature – has now evolved into a mandatory requirement, offering more efficient and stronger connectivity by blocking interference. Be it 4K/8K streaming, online gaming, or video conferencing, Netgear’s latest is certain to keep tasks running smoothly, all at the same time.
There’s also the option for additional satellite nodes for extended coverage. At S$1,499 each, the add-on increases the coverage of an existing Orbi 970 system by up to 3,300 square feet, courtesy of one 10-gigabit and two 2.5-gigabit Ethernet ports. If bumped to a three-pack mesh system (one primary and two satellites), the connectivity reach can go up to 10,000 square feet – 10 per cent more than its predecessor.
Tying everything together is the Orbi app, which makes it a breeze to set up and manage the Wi-Fi system. Serving as a unified hub for all settings and tools, it includes an Internet speed test and a one-year subscription of the Netgear Armor security solution. Running on a 10Gbps Starhub line, the former recorded an upload and download speed of 8,064 Mbps and 8,068 Mbps respectively.
Unlike traditional endpoint antivirus products, Armor is built into the router, protecting computers, security cameras, and other registered devices on the network from external threats and potential malware. There’s no need to be constant standby as well, as all of these network management tools can be accessed anywhere, anytime.
In this digital era of hyper-connected homes, the Netgear Orbi 970 series pairs the future-proof guarantee with the high-performing mix of Wi-Fi 7 speeds, super-wide coverage, and strong multi-device support. The two-pack model (RBE972S), comprising one router and one satellite, retails for S$2,799, while the three-pack mesh system (RBE973S), featuring one router and two satellites, is priced at S$3,799. The router will be available in Classic White, with the Black Edition exclusive to the Netgear Store.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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