D-Link has announced the launch of its all-new Exo Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router series. This latest additions to D-Link’s portfolio of seamless connectivity solutions for the home comprises of the AC1900 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router (DIR-1960) and AC2600 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router (DIR-2660).

D-Link’s next-generation routers offer high-performance Wi-Fi connectivity combined with McAfee protection. So, as well as getting a faster home network, you also get a more secure one too. 

Protection

The routers all feature a five-year McAfee Secure Home Platform subscription. That protection goes for every device on a connected home network by blocking suspicious connections and access to malicious content. 

Thanks to comprehensive parental controls, you can prevent access to inappropriate content as well as setting up Wi-Fi schedules. 

Finally, the routers also come with a two-year subscription to McAfee LiveSafe, which allows antivirus software to be installed on an unlimited number of computers, tablets and smartphones.

Routers

The new routers feature best in class 802.11ac Wave 2 allowing for dual-band and tri-band combined wireless speeds of up to 1,900 Mbps, 2,533 Mbps and 3,000 Mbps. For even more extensive coverage, simply add compatible D-Link Wi-Fi Mesh extenders to create a seamless, self-optimising, mesh wireless network that allows you to move around without disconnection.

Additionally, you get voice control support with Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa enabled devices. Also, thanks to the potent 880 MHz dual-core processor, the routers can handle intensive network activity, giving you buffer-free video streaming, lag-free gaming and lightning-fast internet surfing.

Kevin Wen, President at D-Link Europe, told GadgetyNews:

People want internet access that is as safe and secure, as it is fast and reliable. With McAfee protection, our new Exo routers provide enhanced cybersecurity for the home network as well as on-the-go protection when users are away from home.

Price and availability

AC1900 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router (DIR-1960) –Available now for £99.95 on promo at Amazon

AC2600 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router (DIR-2660) – Available here now for £131.99 at Amazon

The post D-Link Exo Smart Mesh Routers Launched at IFA 2019 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

TP-Link has unveiled a full product line of WiFi routers that support the new 802.11ax wireless standard, also known as Wi-Fi 6. The new TP-Link line for Wi-Fi 6 features numerous products and pricing options from entry level to high end.

TP-Link Deco X10

Leading the lineup is TP-Link’ first AX Mesh WiFi product —the Deco X10 Whole Home Mesh WiFi System.

Featuring Mesh technology overlaid with AX speeds, the Deco X10 is designed to provide blistering AX2700 tri-band speeds to every corner of your home. Additionally, it does this with a stable and robust backhaul up to 1.95Gbps. The combination of AX and Mesh technology makes it the perfect choice for homes that require a network with corner to corner coverage and less interference for a high number of devices.

TP-Link AX11000

Next up is the Archer AX11000. Here is a next-gen tri-band gaming router that was named a CES 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree.

The AX11000 is TP-Link’s first AX Wi-Fi gaming router and is specially designed for users who insist on the highest performance and latest functionality.

This ultra-fast latency-ripper delivers sublime network performance for the ultimate gaming experience. The AX11000 transmits data at astonishing tri-band speeds up to 10756 Mbps in total, and its revolutionary OFDMA technology and Gaming Accelerator combine to demolish latency and interference. The upshot is that it is a networking hub for your high-bandwidth gaming needs.

TP-Link AX6000

Another star in the lineup is the Archer AX6000. This uber-powerful Wi-Fi 6 router provides 1148 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 4804 Mbps on the 5GHz band.

Furthermore, the router supports multiple high-demand applications such as ultra-HD 4K/8K video streaming and gaming at the same time. The Archer AX6000 is designed to speed up your connection and serve more devices simultaneously. So, the perfect router for the modern home or office. The AX6000 enables you to make full use of 1Gbps internet service with a 2.5Gbps WAN port that genuinely takes advantage of those blistering speeds. Additionally, the Archer AX6000 intelligently ignores signal interference from your neighbour’s wireless router to ensure the smoothest and most stable performance.

TP-Link AX1800 and AX1500

For price conscious consumers who still want a fantastic Wi-Fi 6 experience, check out the dual-band Archer AX1800 router. The budget-friendly AX1800 is ideal if you want the speed and performance of Wi-Fi 6 at an entry-level cost. For those who want to experience the newest AX technology at the best price, TP-Link also offers the Archer AX1500 WiFi router with slightly lower speeds.

Also making waves is the AX1800 WiFi Range Extender RE705X, TP-Link’s first AX WiFi range extender to the market. Featuring both 5GHz and 2.4Ghz bands, the AX1800 is a superior choice for families who want advanced Wi-Fi 6 features at an affordable price. The AX1800 eliminates dead zones while delivering incredibly fast and stable WiFi to desired areas.

Louis Liu, CEO at TP-Link USA, told us:

Our comprehensive line-up of Wi-Fi 6 systems represents our most advanced offerings to date. These next-generation, state-of-the-art routers offer the fastest and most powerful WiFi experience available today, making them the ideal choice for demanding customers that require the highest WiFi performance possible. With numerous products and pricing options, there is a TP-Link AX router for every taste and every budget.

TP-Link’s networking solutions will be on display during CES, January 8-11 at the Sands, Halls A-D – Booth 42756. You can also check out TP-Link at Pepcom on January 7 at the Mirage hotel.

Pricing and Availability

The Deco X10 is scheduled to launch in the Q3 2019 with an MSRP of $349.99 for 2-pack.

The Archer AX11000 will be available in January 2019 with an MSRP of $449.99.

The Archer AX6000 is currently available and carries an MSRP of $349.99.

The Archer AX1800 is scheduled to launch in Q3 2019 with an MSRP of $129.99.

The RE705X is scheduled to launch in Q3 2019 with an MSRP of $99.99.

The post TP Link 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) line-up at CES 2019 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Asus knows a thing or two about wireless connectivity and have just announced a new mesh WiFi system called Lyra Trio.

The white and blue Lyra Trio comes as a three-pack (duh!) with the individual routers working in concert to blanket a large area in lovely WiFi coverage.

Functionally, the Lyra Trio works the same as last year’s Lyra, the main difference is that this year’s model is cheaper.

Lyra Trio

The routers are set up and controlled through Asus’s Lyra app; the process doesn’t require a PC at any point. They all have the same bells and whistles as last year’s set so expect parental controls and Trend Micro security, and such.

To make that aforementioned cost saving the Trio lacks its predecessor’s dedicated wireless band for communication between each unit, which may lower its performance.

On the other hand, the Trio’s units can transmit data to each other via Ethernet cable (wired backhaul). This is useful if your home has been wired with Ethernet cables and LAN points.

The set takes some aesthetic cues from the original Lyra system, with a cool colour palette and none of the aggressive stealth fighter lines seen on some of Asus’s routers. It also matches their neat, but oddly designed, Blue Cave AC2600 router.

No doubt that the new look will garner ‘Marmite’ reviews. I don’t dislike the way it looks but I can’t help but think ‘steam iron’ when I look at them. The only practical consideration I can see is that the old disk shapes were easier to hide. On the flipside, the new pyramid shape may help with range.

Competition

With a friendly form factor and price point the obvious comparison will be Google Wifi. Google’s offering has a similarly approachable appearance and also launched at $299.99. Furthermore, you will be able to find it cheaper now. Asus’s offering purports to have better coverage, though: 5,400 square feet to Google’s 4,500.

Price and availability

Lyra Trio is available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is set to release on May 1st.

There is no word on UK pricing or availability just yet. However, in the UK the ASUS Lyra MAP-AC2200 retails for £399 so we have £/$ parity, so expect the new system to be £299.

More information can be had at https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking/Lyra-Trio/

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Getting your broadband to other rooms used to mean trailing cables. Then came powerline adapters. However, we have just taken delivery of Devolo’s Gigagate starter kit. Wireless networking of your wired tech? Yes please!

I live in a rented house. This means that I can’t start poking holes in stuff in order to run CAT5/6 cable upstairs.

Typically, the ADSL (yes, and I live in London!) point is downstairs with the modem and router. Our ‘office’ is a spare room upstairs. Thankfully, powerline adapters have improved and we’ve been using TP-Link and Devolo 1200mbps adapters.

Today, Devolo’s Gigagate landed on our desk. Is it any better than the powerline adapters? Let’s find out.

Devolo Gigagate design

The Devolo Gigagate is basically a high-speed ‘point-to-point’ connection between the base station and the room where the satellite is located.

So, just like a powerline adapter, you had the base where the modem is and then sit the the satellite in a bedroom, office, or wherever you need your extra internets.

In the box of the starter kit you get a base station and one satellite device.  Each device measures 150 x 140 x 30mm – so, quite compact. They look almost identical. However, the satellite has a lot more going on to look at.

The sides are very shiny, smooth black plastic. Whereas the body section that holds the ports and indicator LEDs is more of a matte finish.

Near the rear of both devices are neat extendable feet. Something I didn’t notice until later. As they can be slided in or out, this gives you the option to stand them up or have them laid down on a surface.

The base station has one Gigabit Ethernet port which is used to connect it to your existing broadband router. From here it uses 4×4 MIMO technology to create a high-speed Wi-Fi link to the satellite, using 802.11ac Wi-Fi on the 5GHz frequency band.

That 5GHz connection is reserved for the base station and satellite, so no other devices can slow down the Gigagate system down by grabbing any of that bandwidth. So, no. You can’t hook up your phone or tablet to its 5GHz band.

Finally, the Gigagate’s satellite station is primarily designed for wired connections, and includes one Gigabit Ethernet and four 10/100 Ethernet ports for those connections. This is definitely a strong point in favour of the Gigagate.

Devolo Gigagate performance

Devolo has provided you with everything that you’ll need. As well as the base and satillete devices, you get a pair of plugs for power, as well as a pair of Ethernet cables. That is literally all you need to get these set up.

As it uses the 5GHz band, my main concern was penetration, so to speak. 2.4GHz might not be as speedy, but it has little issue with punching through walls and floors. It’s time to test.

Set up

Firstly, I would like to say that, unlike the powerline adapters I have had, the base station and satellite pair together automagically. I really had to double check that I was connected. I simply plugged the base in to my router downstairs and powered it on. Then I went upstairs and powered the satellite on. Thinking that there’d be another stage I plugged my desktop PC’s cable in to the satellite so I could see it registered if/when I had a connection. And there it was already.

I was all good to go in less than 5 minutes!

The only time I had to do anything else was when I cloned the Wi-Fi credentials. All that entailed was pushing the WPS button on the Netgear X8 D8500 and then the satellite copied what it needed to.

The Wi-Fi it does dish out is 802.11n on the 2.4GHz band. However, the speed on offer should still be enough for web browsing and streaming HD video and music from Spotify to tablets and phones.

Wired for web

The Gigagate is all about the wired connections though. Also, this is what I need it for. The previous powerline adapters have offered two or three Ethernet ports. However, the Gigagate offers 5. This makes it perfect for my shared office. Furthermore, it would no doubt bring a cheer in a den, teenager’s bedroom or even home cinema room, should you have that luxury.

The emphasis on wired connections means that the set-up process is simple enough even for networking novices. You just plug in an Ethernet cable at each end, and you’re ready to go.

Granted, I didn’t really see an increase in speed at my PC (powerline top and Gigagate below), but I can live with that.

I am also happy to report that I have not had any penetration issues regarding 5GHz getting through the floor and walls. Phwew!

Software

You can, of course, get more involved in the settings through Devolo’s Cockpit app. This provides more detailed configuration options and is available for Windows, Macs and Ubuntu.

It came as no surprise that the 2Gb/s emblazoned upon the packaging is the theoretical maximum. Moreover, in practice, the 5GHz connection between the base station and satellite will be closer to 1Gb/s

So, I didn’t feel overly cheated when the dashboard showed 975Mb/s. This is still decent and will cope with streaming 4K video, online gaming and all that kind of carry on.

Expand

Should you have a large home and need more connectivity, then you can just add another satillite when needed. This means you can kit out the upstairs office, as well as the basement home cinema room, and the gaming suite in the loft.

Devolo Gigagate review conclusion

The Devolo Gigagate is a great device if you need to get the internet to Ethernet wired tech. Having a total of 5 Ethernet ports is a definite boon for me.

As it uses the 5GHz Wi-Fi band to communicate between base and satillite, it does mean that you only get 2.4GHz from the satillite. Now, I don’t see this as a huge deal breaker, but you might.

Also, the cost of the unit is quite an investment when compared to powerline adapters. However, the Gigagate offers a reliable and stable connection, no matter the state of your home’s internal wiring.

This is where you have to decide whether or not you’re prepared to pay the premium for a compact solution that offers you 5 ports.

Price and availability

You can buy the Devolo Gigagate Starter kit right now. It has an RRP of £219.99 on the Devolo UK site. However, it is currently available from Amazon for £205.99.

The post Devolo Gigagate review – powerline adapter alternative appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Wi-Fi routers are generally not the prettiest of things. However, Asus has just made their new Blue Cave router available. No ungainly aerials on display but it is packing top security tech.

The Asus Blue Cave AC2600 router launched this week and is now available to purchase priced at around $180.

I must admit, it does look more décor-friendly than most of the routers I’ve had sat in my living room. However, the pain that the engineers and designers went through seems to have been more than that hole is worth.

Asus Blue Cave AC2600 router

The 160 x 160 x 80mm (WxDxH), 800g Blue Cave router boasts commercial grade security thanks to inclusion of Asus’s AiProtection technology.

Furthermore, it features Internet of Things integration right out of the box. You get support for Amazon Alexa as well as the extremely flexible IFTTT service.

So, you can just tell Alexa to suspend wireless connectivity. Why not set up IFTTT to notify you when family members arrive home and log on? There is obviously much more you could do too.

Additionally, Asus explained that the new router is capable of delivering “ultrafast AC2600-class concurrent” dual-band wireless speeds. Moreover, the Blue Cave can stream smooth 4K Ultra HD video whilst packing enough capacity to satisfy a whole family of gamers.

Tech

Internally, the Blue Cave is equipped with four antennas. These have been specially positioned relative to each other to achieve the best possible signal in all directions. This should reduce dead wireless spots around your home.

This, as well as the hole, seeems to have been the trickiest part for Asus.

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Alsa Lo, networking product manager at Asus, described the various hurdles engineers had to overcome just to put a purely aesthetic hole this router:

Most high-performance routers use external antennas to get the best Wi-Fi performance. To achieve Blue Cave’s unique shape we needed to use internal antennas, but the challenge was to do this without affecting the performance. Internal antennas can make the router more bulky and prevent users from changing the antenna orientation. But if we try to make the router smaller, the Wi-Fi performance can suffer due to interference between the circuit boards and the antennas.

So, there’s no real reason for that vortex styling, other than aesthetics. I was really hoping that the portal would amplify signals or summink. Ah well.

As well as the four aerials pushing out 2.4 GHz and 5GHz frequencies at the same time, you get four Gigabit LAN ports and an Intel Dual Core CPU. Asus also states that you get 28% faster 5G downlink throughput. It also has a USB 3.0 port.

Words

Tenlong Deng, General Manager, ASUS Networking and Wireless Devices Business Unit explains a little more about what you can expect from the new ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Router :

Combining years of ASUS experience in wireless innovation and Intel’s connected home technology, Blue Cave delivers ultrafast WiFi speeds throughout your home. Not only is it powerful with easy to use control features, its eye-catching design without external antennas blends perfectly with any décor”.

Price and availability

There does not appear to be any UK pricing as yet. You can buy over in the USA for $180, though.

For more information and full specifications head on over to the Asus website.

The post Asus Blue Cave AC2600 router – a hole lot of work appeared first on GadgetyNews.

D-Link has announced the launch of two new routers, designed specifically to meet the demands of the modern home. The DIR-878 EXO AC1900 and DIR-882 EXO AC2600 offer the fastest wireless speeds and most extensive coverage currently available on the market.

The newly launched Gigabit Wi-Fi Routers meet the needs of the modern home, supporting web surfing, high-definition streaming, online gaming, video calls, and smart home devices.

D-Link DIR-878 and DIR-882

Both the DIR-878 EXO AC1900 and DIR-882 EXO AC2600 Wi-Fi Gigabit Routers come with Multiple-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) with Advanced AC SmartBeam.

MU-MIMO technology allows the routers to send and receive large amounts of data to and from devices simultaneously. This equates to increased throughput and application responsiveness.

Additionally, Advanced AC SmartBeam steers the wireless signal to where it is needed to significantly improve wireless range.

Furthermore, thanks to innovative 802.11ac Wave 2 technology, both routers also offer combined wireless speeds of up to 1.9 Gbps and 2.533 Gbps respectively.

So what?

This may all be very interesting, or not, but why should you care? Well, the increasing number of connected devices within a modern home, combined with the increasing prevalence of 4K streamed media, means that it is essential that a home’s network speed and bandwidth is able to meet these requirements.

The routers’ innovative technology therefore enables consumers to stream video in 4K, enjoy seamless online gaming, transfer large files and browse the internet with a greater number of devices simultaneously and seamlessly.

D-Link DIR-878 and DIR-882 round up

Better Wi-Fi for more devices

802.11ac technology on the 5 GHz band means higher quality connections for a greater number of devices, providing greater throughput for each of a consumers’ wireless devices.

Quality of Service

Built-in QoS engine allows prioritisation of traffic, to ensure the most important applications receive optimal bandwidth.

Increased performance and reliability

Dual-band technology with SmartConnect distributes traffic over two dedicated Wi-Fi radios, optimising network performance and reliability.

Dependable wired performance

Gigabit Ethernet ports for Network Attached Storage (NAS) and gaming consoles.

Easy to secure

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) establishes encrypted wireless connections to new devices without the need to enter settings or create passwords. The built-in firewall provides access controls and protects against malicious attacks.

Instant file sharing

Super Speed USB 3.0 port and USB 2.0 port on the DIR-882 facilitates easy sharing of documents, movies, pictures and music across your entire home network

More info

For more information, please visit: http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/home-solutions

The post D-Link DIR-878 and DIR-882 Gigabit routers launched appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Ubiquiti Labs, the consumer technology arm of wireless networking company Ubiquiti Networks, has announced its AmpliFi HD Mesh Wi-Fi products in the UK.

AmpliFi HD is designed to solve many of the widely-recognised challenges of the connected home. You know the kind of thing – dead zones, slow connections, and difficulties in setting up and configuring a router.

The AmpliFi HD Wi-Fi kit looks pretty neat too.

AmpliFi HD Wi-Fi

AmpliFi is designed to be a showcase piece for the modern home. The central routing device camouflages an advanced antenna design as a stunning desktop piece. You get a glowing base LED and a smart LCD display. Basically, it still looks like tech, but not part of your network.

The router connects to adjustable MeshPoints that distribute Wi-Fi throughout the home.

Also, in order to reduce clutter, the MeshPoints can seamlessly be installed into any open electrical socket without any cables.

Connectivity

AmpliFi HD offers plug-and-play setup through an app. This hooks up AmpliFi devices to a smartphone via Bluetooth LE.

With a simple, intuitive setup, you can manage your new network. This includes monitoring ISP speeds, inviting guests, creating family profiles, oversee network security, and much more.

Firstly, the system utilises 802.11AC Wi-Fi technology. Secondly, you can achieve up to 5.45 Gbps of aggregate wireless throughput. That’s not to mention breakthrough coverage performance through 3×3 antennas.

Furthermore, you get unlimited scalability and it’s fully customisable. You can, for example, buy the standalone router first and add the MeshPoints later for increased coverage.

The MeshPoints are also the first of its kind that work with any third-party Wi-Fi router to create a mesh Wi-Fi system.

Words

Ben Moore, Vice President of Business Development at Ubiquiti Networks commented:

AmpliFi HD Mesh Wi-Fi solutions quickly gained popularity in the United States due to their sleek industrial design, plug-and-play installation, and superior performance. We are excited to now make them available to customers in the United Kingdom.

As our homes get smarter, there’s an increasing need for reliable and fast Wi-Fi in every corner. AmpliFi HD leverages Ubiquiti’s advanced and proven technology that powers over 38 million Wi-Fi radios for enterprise and service provider networks around the globe. The system provides unmatched performance and coverage, delivering fast internet bandwidth throughout the entire home and supports a large number of Wi-Fi devices at the same time.”

Pricing and Availability

• AmpliFi HD Mesh System – £359.99
• Standalone AmpliFi HD Router – £149.99
• Standalone AmpliFi HD MeshPoint – £132.49

AmpliFi HD products are available now in the United Kingdom from Scan Computers on http://scan.co.uk and on Amazon.co.uk. However, expect additional retailers to follow in the coming months.

Visit www.amplifi.com for more information.

The post AmpliFi HD home Mesh Wi-Fi system – looks as good as its specs appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Last month I was invited to visit Helsinki, Finland, to learn about F-Secure’s new home security device. This is the first hardware product from the company best known for anti-virus software, and it’s called Sense.

The trip wasn’t only enjoyable, but I also felt that I learned quite a bit. Mostly, how unsecure most of our Internet of Things (IoT) are.

F-Secure’s Chief Research Officer, Mikko Hypponen, explained that a firewall is the only way to protect the connected home.

You know the kind of things; smart devices such as alarms, cameras, switches, washing machines or pretty much anything that connects to the internet.

In fact, Mikko believes that every appliance we buy will be online in a few years time.

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Not only because we’ll expect everything to have an app, but because vendors will be able to use or sell the analytics.

F-Secure Sense design

The anti-virus Fins obviously were looking for an original design for Sense.

Below are some prototypes starting with a cylindrical form factor with a wooden base to the more rhomboid design they went with.

I really like the clear version. Apparently many do, and F-Secure might even put it in to production.

The white, typically Scandinavian, clean design will fit in with most homes.

The front panel even hides a neat display. This usually shows the time but will also indicate other things too.

Simple and effective.

Around the rear are 4 ethernet ports (3xLAN, 1xWAN) and a USB 3 port. There is also a little blue button that comes in to its own during set-up.

The WiFi specification is good but not neccessarily class leading with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz, 5GHz, AC 1750.

It’s a well made, good looking wireless router.

Sense set-up

You set Sense up via an iOS or Android device.

Simply install the Sense app and then follow several easy steps to create the Sense network.

Once you have downloaded the app you need to press the blue button on the router.

Sense will then display a four-digit code. Just input that code into your phone.

You can rename the Sense WiFi network name and change the password. It will be of no surprise that the suggested password is real secure – but hardly memorable.

The device you use to setup Sense becomes the sole admin device. It’s good to keep that in mind.

Once I was up and running, I started connecting devices to the Sense network. Each device you connect shows up as a protected device in the Sense app.

When you click on the device you can see what threats have been blocked on that device as well as any tracking that has been blocked.

It shows you the basic device details including IP etc, and you can block the internet from each device individually.

There are very limited settings available through the app. Unlike other routers, you can’t get to further features via a web browser version. The app is it. I guess it’s more secure that way.

You can, however, set a few network things: IP address, DHCP range. There is the option to configure port forwarding.

You can also set the brightness of the display, which normally just shows the time of day.

The app is really easy to navigate and setting Sense up shouldn’t really take more than 10 minutes-or-so.

Sense performance

Sense creates a secure WiFi network within your home network.

You get the usual 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency options which is cool. I am using the Sense router purely for my networked cameras, Echo Dot and anything else in a Smart Home stylee.

During use the Sense performs just as you would expect any other router would.

Wireless range is better than I was expecting for something with internal aerials, to be honest.

Testing its ability to detect and block malware, however, is tricky. The main reason being that I am a tad gun shy at exposing myself to malware, funnily enough.

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Thankfully, F-Secure has two test domains unsafe.fstestdomain.com and gambling.fstestdomain.info.

Their URLs are self-explanatory: The gambling one allows a page to load fine, because Sense doesn’t block gambling. However, with the unsafe URL, the Sense router blocks the URL on all my devices.

Unfortunately, from what I can tell from the app, there’s no way to whitelist a blocked URL.

You can see all the details in the app but it won’t let you whitelist it. This probably won’t actually be an issue for most, but I think having this as an option under an ‘Advanced’ tab would be a nice touch.

Missing links

While the Sense stands as the most advanced consumer security router you can buy now, there are still bits missing. Things that we come to expect on our standard routers.

For a start, just 3 LAN ports is a bit stingy.

Granted, some of these features will have been dropped as security risks. Although, some appear to have been left out in order to get the product to market to beat competitors. For instance, I know BullGuard’s Dojo isn’t the same, but it still is there to protect your IoT.

As you can imagine, while we were at F-Secure HQ, a number of these were brought up during the Q&A. The general response was that it was coming soon, but without a specific time-frame.

The ones that stuck out for me were:

• The device has a USB port but at the moment no USB host facility like NAS etc.
• Lacks port aggregation for compatible NAS (a shame as they showed how easy it was to hack a QNAP NAS like mine!)
• No quality of service (QoS) settings
• Missing a guest WiFi option
• No WPS – to be fair, this is most likely a deliberate move as WPS is a major security risk

F-Secure Sense review conclusion

I will admit right now, I am no cyber security expert. I am, however, aware of the risks our love of connected devices poses to the average household.

At the heart of most new tech, is that it’s designed to work with little or no technical expertise. Unfortunately, our trust in gadge could leave us open to having these gaps exploited.

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This is where the Sense router comes in. Again, with little or no firewall knowledge, homes can secure themselves against nefarious techies.

Let’s face it, with the recent news that many Virgin, BT, Sky and TalkTalk routers have a serious security issue, it is obvious that we can’t simply put our trust in our service providers.

We also have practically daily news of cyber security issues – the likes of WannaCry and Petya, for example. It certainly seems like we need something like the F-Secure Sense fighting our corner right now.

It might be lacking some things you’d expect from a top router, but then it packs peace of mind.

F-Secure Sense price and availability

You can buy the F-Secure Sense right now direct from F-Secure for £169.

That price includes a 1 year subscription (value £102) to all security features at home and on the go.

The post F-Secure Sense router review – security for your IoT appeared first on GadgetyNews.

TP-Link today announced the availability of Deco M5 Whole-Home Wi-Fi System with baked-in security features.

The TP-Link Deco M5 is a mesh networking solution. It promises to provide seamless wireless internet coverage and comprehensive digital security via TP-Link HomeCare.

The Deco M5 comes with built-in anti-virus and malware protection powered by Trend Micro.

Powered by a quad-core processor, Deco M5 Whole-Home Wi-Fi System deploys the latest mesh technology to paint your home in Wi-Fi.

The dual-band AC1300 system is capable of throughput speeds up to 400Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 867Mbps on the 5GHz band. You also get MU-MIMO support for smoother data streaming to multiple devices at the same time.

Deco M5 is a system of three units that are positioned to fill your home with Wi-Fi, up to 4,500 square feet.

With additional units available, this system can easily scale up to accommodate even larger spaces. In fact, up to ten units can be added to a single network at any given time for seamless Wi-Fi coverage across incredibly large spaces.

Security

TP-Link HomeCare and Deco M5 offers comprehensive built-in security features.

TP-Link HomeCare provides exploit and malware protection, plus SPI firewall and device access control.

It also safeguards every device in your home from malware and hackers by blocking malicious sites, preventing intruders and quarantining infected devices, providing peace of mind that your family is always protected from the latest threats.

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Robust parental controls can be managed in real time via the TP-Link Deco app. This allows you to manage and monitor who accesses your network, regardless of applications or URLs.

The Deco app even enables you to allocate a maximum amount of culmulative “screen time” per day to individual devices, even when you’re not home.

You also get monthly usage reports sent automatically to your phone so you know whats happening on your network and when.

Deco M5 performance

Adaptive Routing Technology (ART) ensures your network is always operating at its maximum speed. This quickly identifies and selects the fastest path for your devices to connect to the network.

This intelligent selection removes the guesswork from reliable connectivity.

Deco M5 also optimises connections between devices to deliver the very best in coverage and ensure you receive the strongest performance throughout your entire home at all times.

Furthermore, you can control how bandwidth is used which makes it easy to prioritise services and devices. Handy for heavy-bandwidth tasks such as HD video streaming, online gaming or video chats.

Additionally, thanks to its flexible configuration and intuitive set-up process, creating a mesh network at home is simple.

The free app gives step-by-step instructions and visuals, guiding you through the entire setup process.

Price and availability

The TP-Link Deco M5 Whole Home Wi-Fi System is now available at Dixons, Huges, Maplins, Office Outlet, Very.co.uk, and other leading retailers.

For the three-pack starter kit, it has an SRP of £229.99.

Key features at a glance

• Seamless wireless connectivity throughout every room in the home

• Comprehensive security features and robust parental controls via TP-Link HomeCare

• Anti-virus and malware protection powered by Trend Micro

• Simple installation with guided visuals via the TP-Link Deco mobile app (iOS and Android)

• Adaptive Routing Technology (ART) selects the best path for device connections and keeps the network running as fast as possible

• QoS prioritises your home’s Wi-Fi experience by optimizing bandwidth to devices as needed

• Remote management and control of the network from anywhere

• 2-year limited warranty and 24/7 unlimited technical support by phone or email

The post TP-Link Deco M5 whole home secure Wi-Fi system launched appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Netgear has been in touch to let us know that it is releasing a new, advanced edition of its highly-rated and award-winning Nighthawk X6. The new Nighthawk X6S AC4000 WiFi Router (R8000P) boasts faster WiFi, a more powerful processor, and multi-user MIMO technology. 

The Nighthawk X6 is a great router. We’ve had many devices from the Nighthawk range for review and they’ve all performed excellently. You do know that it’s not only routers, don’t you?

The X6S has all the tech for improved performance and blazing-fast speeds when simultaneously streaming to multiple devices. It even supports voice commands through the Amazon Alexa.

Nighthawk X6S

This new router is packing tri-band WiFi and MU-MIMO. It has been designed with gaming, streaming, and mobile devices in mind. This makes it ideal for simultaneous streaming too multiple devices.

You can expect combined WiFi speed up to 4Gbps.

Under the hood is a next-generation 64-bit 1.8GHz dual-core processor with three offload processors.

The X6S is built to support gigabit WAN-to-LAN speeds for you to enjoy speedy wired and WiFi connections. This means less lag and less buffering as you game, stream and surf.

Furthermore, you will, of course, enjoy the usual Nighthawk router features. These include NETGEAR genie remote access, ReadyCLOUD and OpenVPN, you can access and control the X6S from anywhere.

Finally, you can also easily manage it through spoken commands if you have Alexa. To access this you’ll need a device such as Amazon Echo, Dot, or Fire TV voice remote.

Sandeep Harpalani, senior director of product marketing for NETGEAR Connected Home said:

The new Nighthawk X6S not only supports the features of its award-winning predecessor, but has new capabilities already standard in several other routers from the industry-leading Nighthawk family, such as MU-MIMO, port aggregation, and ReadyCLOUD® USB access. Of note, tri-band WiFi technology was first introduced with the original Nighthawk X6 in 2015 and NETGEAR was the first to utilise a Tri-Band WiFi System with Orbi providing a dedicated wireless back haul. To date, NETGEAR currently holds six patents on the use of tri-band in WiFi Routers and systems.”

Nighthawk X6S new and updated technical features

• Tri-Band WiFi to deliver the fastest performance to new WiFi devices, uncompromised by older, slower WiFi technologies in the connected devices
• AC4000 WiFi for up to 4Gbps (750+1625+1625 Mbps) of 802.11ac WiFi speed
• Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) for simultaneous streaming to multiple devices
• Powerful, 64-bit 1.8GHz Dual Core Processor plus 3 offload processors for data-intensive applications, better video streaming, lag-free gaming, surfing, and more
• Smart Connect for intelligently selecting the fastest WiFi band for every device all under one SSID
• Amazon Echo/Alexa compatibility for voice control of your home network through the NETGEAR skill for Alexa
• 5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports (1 WAN and 4 LAN) Port aggregation on two Gigabit LAN ports for fast wired connections for devices such as NETGEAR ReadyNAS Network Attached Storage
• The Nighthawk X6S will also continue to include the following specifications which have become a mainstay of the Nighthawk family of performance routers.
• 6 High-Performance Antennas for better WiFi coverage and faster speeds
• 2 USB Ports including one SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port for faster streaming, backup and easy access to your stored media
• NETGEAR genie app with remote access for easy installation, monitoring, control and repair of your network whether you’re at home or away
• NETGEAR ReadyCLOUD for personal, secure cloud access to USB storage anytime, anywhere
• Beamforming+ for improving range and performance for both 2.4 and 5GHz devices
• Top security features include Parental Controls by family member and device, separate Guest Network, and VPN Support for remote access to your home network and Internet using any of your devices

Price and availability

The new Nighthawk X6S AC4000 Tri-Band Gigabit WiFi Router with MU-MIMO (R8000P) will be available this month from major retailers in the UK at a MSRP of £239.99.

The post Netgear Nighthawk X6S advanced tri-band router UK price appeared first on GadgetyNews.