[AT] Netgear's new AX8 and AX12 802.11ax routers, and "Wifi subscription model"

[VirtualLarry]

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13325/netgear-announces-nighthawk-rax80-rax120

Some info on Netgear's new entries into the 802.11ax router market.

Also, at the end, a blurb about a "wifi as a (subscription) service" model. How that works, I don't know. But it sounds like, in addition to paying a monthly fee for (wired) internet access, you would be paying a monthly fee for your home router, to access wifi on it. Doesn't sound good to me.

Btw, the RAX120 (AX12) is supposedly Netgear's first WPA3-compliant router, with the AX8 to be supported soon in the future.

Might be worth getting that and trying it out, just for WPA3 support.

 

[Ranulf]

But it sounds like, in addition to paying a monthly fee for (wired) internet access, you would be paying a monthly fee for your home router, to access wifi on it. Doesn't sound good to me.

It looks like a try before you buy type program (with bestbuy geek squad), that if you keep it is rent to own the $400+ router/AP. Best bet is to wait a year or two for this to see if they finally put 10GB ports (aquantia probably) in their routers. That AX12 model comes with one 2.5G/5G port. At that point, if you care that much about wifi, why not get dedicated access points? More of a hassle but better upgrade/expansion options in the long run. The link aggregation for higher than 1Gbps modems is nice but there aren't many users or modems that offer that yet. Early adopter pricing for beta testing Netgear hardware that if anyone is really that needing or wanting to mess with new wifi stuff or 10G has spent the cash to go there already.