Netgear 3DHD Wireless Home Theatre Networking Kit
by Cameron Butterfield on February 25, 2011 7:20 PM EST- Posted in
- Networking
- Home Theater
- NetGear
Conclusion:
Retail pricing on this product is geared at the $300 price point, but it can be found for around $220 online if you shop around. The NETGEAR 3DHD is truly a niche product, and lots of variables will come into play in order for this device to be a good fit for a purchasing consumer. As we see it, there are three major points you need to satisfy:
- The consumer has a location where they would like connectivity that is away from standard connectivity options.
- The consumer is unable / unwilling to run Ethernet cabling.
- The consumer desires to stream high definition video.
Given those three points, there are still many options that exist as solutions that will fill this need. In some cases, a simple wireless USB adapter or similar device will suffice. Here are some advantages that the NETGEAR 3DHD has over such solutions.
Distance: The 3DHD kit is capable of providing quality throughput even 50 feet apart on other sides and different floors of a house. It was capable of almost double the bandwidth as our other comparative testing devices and was operating within 10% of its highest speed.
Connectivity Options: The 3DHD kit has four networking ports providing additional connectivity to those who may have not only an HTPC, but also an Internet Ready TV, gaming system, etc. The fact that this device will connect your device over a standard cable (rather than USB) also means that you will be able to utilize WOL options. This could be an important feature for those who like to configure devices to shutdown or sleep while still being able to initialize them remotely over LAN.
Ease of Use: Out of the box, the 3DHD kit was entirely plug and play. All the ports are auto-sensing, so you really don't have to know much about networking in order to get this device going. Just plug one unit into your router and the other into the device(s) that need connectivity. No drivers or configuration needed.
Signal Stability: The 3DHD kit provides very consistent throughput numbers, since the two devices are specifically designed, configured, and tested to work with each other well. The stability of the connection in our testing proved very reliable and consistent. One look at the throughput graph shows very tight throughput groupings. In terms of general stability, the pair has now been running for two weeks without slowing down or requiring a reboot.
Along with the good aspects and advantages, there are reasons for not adopting the 3DHD. Price is a major one; $220 isn't a small amount of money to spend, especially when a $30 dollar device may get you the same results Here are some other scenarios where the 3DHD might not be for you:
If the distance you need to bridge is very short. As we have seen, the NETGEAR 3DHD provided good throughput at close ranges, but was soundly beaten by other options at close range. If you are looking for absolute performance, the NETGEAR seems to cap out at 64Mbps (in IxChariot testing), while other devices performed as high as 84Mbps.
You already have a capable 2.4 / 5GHz Router: You can most likely get away with purchasing a single unit bridging device that will perform adequately, though you may still desire the 3DHD kit for its connectivity options and signal stability.
NETGEAR offers a highly capable product here. If you need a superior network bridging device, you may not need to look much further than the 3DHD. While a premium product comes with a premium price, it may well be worth it for those looking for a bridging solution, especially those who need to cover a lot of distance from their source network to their remote location. For those people, if they want to view high definition streams, the 3DHD may be their only option.
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ChronoReverse - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
Why do the positions of the tested devices vary across each chart? It would be much better if the NETGEAR 3DHD was always the first one in each graph.JarredWalton - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
It's a glitch with the multibar charts in our engine. Sorry.Slash3 - Saturday, February 26, 2011 - link
30 seconds in MS Paint's cut/paste can reverse the positions. :)JarredWalton - Saturday, February 26, 2011 - link
30 seconds in the graphing engine. Then save that image from your browser onto your drive. Open that image up in Paint (or more likely, Photoshop). Then rearrange the bars so that they're in the positions you desire. Don't mess up the text or the spacing of the bars. When you're done, save the file, upload it back to the server, and then modify the HTML to reference the appropriate file. Yeehaw! I'd guess more like 5 minutes. Now do that for every graph you want to modify.I'll make a note to our engine guy that sorting of multi-series charts doesn't work. Then hopefully we can get that fixed for the future. Having done manual creation of charts in the past, though, I can tell you that it isn't even remotely fun. In fact, the old graphing engine was seriously one of my least liked parts of writing articles. The new engine is worlds better, but it isn't perfect.
LeftSide - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
Wow, I wireless device that is reliable, has consistent throughput, and is easy to set up. This is a first.danjw - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
You mention that for short range there were lower priced options that performed just as well for wireless HDMI, so which ones are those?nubie - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
I think he meant that the other devices it was compared to, not HDMI links.If you needed to go one room over, or through one wall or floor, the other devices reviewed were faster.
Kyser Soze - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
It's testament to the quality of anandtech's site that they check throughput on various levels of emotional content in films. No other tech sites offer this service. I for one am looking forward to finding out if some stuttering occurs during the Shawshank Redemption, but not, for instance, in Attack of the Clones.Can my old netgear handle romantic comedies?
queequeg99 - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
This is a pretty funny comment. Did the author intend to refer to a detailed scene with lots of movement?Exelius - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
If you're somewhat technical, just pick up a pair of compatible wireless devices and load them with DD-WRT, then set one of them up in bridge mode.I have a pair of 5 year old Linksys WRT54Gs that I have doing exactly this. Throughput isn't spectacular by ethernet standards (averages about 30 mbps) but it's more than enough to stream 720p Netflix to my PS3. The devices are about 50 feet apart and cost me about $300... 5 years ago. They can certainly be found for less now. Bonus with DD-WRT is that you can basically "overclock" the wireless radios and operate them with a higher signal strength (though be careful; heat quickly becomes an issue and the case on one of my devices is warped from high heat output in a poorly ventilated area.)
I'm sure this solution is easier to set up, but honestly, it's a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Any self-respecting tech nerd should be able to set this up in an hour or two and enjoy the fruits for years. That said, wireless links can be finicky and a pain in the ass to diagnose when things go wrong, so wired is always preferable even when speed isn't a factor (it doesn't get screwed up by using the microwave.)