Netgear 3DHD Wireless Home Theatre Networking Kit

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:

1. The consumer has a location where they would like connectivity that is away from standard connectivity options.
2. The consumer is unable / unwilling to run Ethernet cabling.
3. 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.