牧师iew of the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 Cable Modem WiFi 6 Router Combo

With the increasing number of “smart” and wireless devices in our homes, connectivity is more important than ever. Just a few years ago, you only needed a small number of connections. If you could connect a PC, a couple of smartphones, and a game console, you were good to go. But now, just about every home device can connect to the internet. From smart refrigerators to internet-connected smoke detectors, smart devices are everywhere. The problem is that older routers aren’t always able to handle this load. Connecting too many devices can lead to bottlenecks, and your Netflix connection can drop to near zero.

Needless to say, this can get frustrating. But if you want a solid replacement, you don’t want to buy a fly-by-night router. You want one that’s secure, and powerful enough to last you for several years. One way to find a great modem is to choose a reliable manufacturer, and Netgear is one of the best. We’ve reviewed several of their routers in the past, including theR6330,RAX15, and theNighthawk XR450.

今天，我们将审查Netgear Nighthawk Cax80。该功能强大的调制解调器可以同时连接30个设备。不仅如此，它可以作为调制解调器加倍，从而简化了您的WiFi网络配置。但是值得您来之不易的钱吗？还是广告只是一堆营销炒作？我们将仔细研究Nighthawk Cax80，从物理结构到连接质量。之后，我们将总结我们学到的知识。让我们开始吧！

Overall Design

这Netgear Nighthawk Cax80比典型的无线路由器更大。高度为12.52英寸，深度为10.12英寸，宽度将近3英寸，相当强大。但是，请记住，这是一个二合一的单位。因此，我们希望它会很大。它也有点沉重，将秤的小费4.42磅。这意味着您需要找到适当的区域来定位它。再说一次，您不必担心调制解调器放置，因为所有内容都内置在设备中。结果，放置并不像最初脸红时可能出现的问题。

与Netgear的大多数产品一样，Nighthawk Cax80具有前瞻性，未来派的设计。它的形状像是一个离心的箭头，顶部的斜率更长，底部的斜率更短。该装置的大部分是由黑色ABS塑料制成的，具有缎面饰面。这种饰面很有吸引力，但仍然足够光滑，可以根据需要易于灰尘。向后，一组垂直通风孔提供了充足的气流，以保持设备凉爽。在正面附近，有一个白色的Nighthawk徽标，以防万一您忘记了它的来源。基地是银灰色，并延伸到两侧以提供大量的支撑。

On the front, there’s a dizzying array of indicator lights that provide both modem and router alerts. At the top, you’ll find your standard modem lights. These include a power indicator, upstream and downstream indicators, and a light that indicates an active internet connection. Beneath this, you’ll see your router indicator lights. You’ll see lights that indicate Ethernet connections 1 through 4, as well as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless bands. Beneath that, there are two buttons for WPS connections and security functions.

在Nighthawk Cax80的背面，您将在顶部看到更多控件。有一个简单的开/关开关，还有一个针孔重置按钮以进行紧急情况。在此下方，您有一个2.5 Gbps以太网端口，该端口仅允许用作路由器。对于更快的连接，请通过连接到底部的电缆塞来使用CAX80作为组合单元。在两者之间，有一排四个千兆以太网端口，可以连接到您的设备。还有一个USB 3.0端口，可提供其他功能。您可以连接拇指驱动器或USB硬盘驱动器，并将路由器用作家庭媒体服务器。最后，在底部，有一个用于连接AC/DC适配器的电源端口。

所有这些都受到Netgear 12个月制造商的保修的保护。这样可以确保您免受零件或做工的任何缺陷的保护。您还可以获得90天的免费技术支持。如果您在设置过程中遇到任何问题，NetGear可以帮助您完成整个过程。

速度和覆盖范围

As we already mentioned, the Nighthawk CAX80 is a dual-purpose unit. It functions as both a modem and a router, simplifying your home network’s setup. However, your exact performance is going to depend on how you configure it. If you’re using it as both a modem and a router, you can get up to 6Gbps of speed. This will only work if you connect your service provider’s coaxial cable directly to the plug on the bottom. If you’re using the CAX80 as a router only, you’ll have to connect to your modem via Ethernet. In this case, you’ll be limited to a maximum of 2Gbps. That sounds fast. But if you’re using a lot of smart devices, it can end up being a bottleneck. To get the best performance, you’ll want to take advantage of the CAX80’s modem function.

Once your network is set up, you can get up to 2,500 square feet of wireless coverage. This is a broad rating, and it depends on your home’s configuration. For instance, you’ll get more coverage in a 2-story home than you will in a ranch. Regardless, you’re looking at some of the best coverage available. If you need more than 2,500 square feet, you should consider a wireless range extender. The CAX80 supports WiFi 6, the latest version of the WiFi protocol. As a matter of fact, it’s so new that smart home devices are only beginning to support it. That said, the CAX80 still supports older WiFi protocols, so older devices are still supported. Essentially, you’re looking at a future-proof router that will also support legacy devices.

In total, you can connect 32 wireless devices, as well as 4 wired devices. This allows you to connect just about any smart home device you like. Hook up your TV, your refrigerator, your security cameras, and you’ll still have bandwidth for your PC and smartphone. This is an impressive amount of capacity for a home network.

In addition, the CAX80 supports the DOCSIS 3.1 protocol. This is the latest and greatest connection protocol for cable internet. In total, it supports download speeds of up to 10Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1Gbps. This is even faster than the router itself is capable of, so blazing-fast connections are a given. No matter what you’re trying to do, you’re going to have enough bandwidth to get the job done.

安全和额外功能

Setting up the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 is easy, at least in theory. If it’s just a router, no complex setup is required. However, if you’re connecting it as a modem/router unit, your performance will depend on your service provider. In theory, the CAX80 is certified by all major service providers, including Comcast, Xfinity, Spectrum, and Cox. It should be plug and play. However, with some service providers, such as Spectrum, you’ll still need to call in to get the modem activated. This should only take a few minutes on the phone with customer service. They’ll as you for the MAC address and some other information, and you’ll be ready to go.

这CAX80 supports both WEP and WPA/WPA2 wireless security protocols. Needless to say, you’ll want to secure your network as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’re leaving a back door open for hackers or opportunistic neighbors. Configuration simply requires you to create a password, so it takes just a minute. You also get parental controls. You can block specific websites or classes of websites across the board, or on a per-user basis. You can also set a “bedtime” for individual devices, so your kids can’t stay up all night on their phones.

To get even more out of your CAX80 router, you can install the Netgear Nighthawk app. This app works with Netgear’s entire Nighthawk like of routers, and allows for easy setup. Not only does it make the installation process quick and painless, it also allows for easy configuration. Instead of using the complex browser-based configurator, you can simply use the app. This means you can easily adjust parental controls and other features. You can also run internet speed tests and take advantage of other useful functions.

Final Verdict

As you can see, theNetgear Nighthawk Cax80是一个非常强大的单位。更不用说，它实际上可以节省您的钱。许多服务提供商收取每月费用以租用调制解调器。如果您在当前的账单上收取费用，CAX80实际上可以在几年内支付。

To begin with, let’s look at the obvious benefit: you’re getting a router and a modem in one. This is much easier than buying two standalone units. On the other hand, you can’t upgrade your modem or your router separately. This means that when it’s time to upgrade, you need to replace the entire unit. But given how future-proof the CAX80 is, this shouldn’t be a concern for several years.

物理设计光滑且吸引人，并提供您需要的一切。就速度而言，您不应该有任何问题。您最多可以获得6 Gbps的带宽，足以容纳4K流，并提供大量带宽。您也可以连接多达32个设备。如果您是聪明的家庭爱好者，那么这是一个很好的功能。不仅如此，您还可以获得很多安全选择。除了标准加密外，您还可以访问功能全面的父母控制。最后，您可以使用Netgear的Nighthawk应用程序。如果您想直接从智能手机控制网络，那么您就可以了。