14 DAY TRIAL // Wireless data transmission technologies come in several forms these days, but Wi-Fi is undeniably the most widespread and popular among PC owners, which is why companies like Netgear feel so comfortable releasing more than one router at a time.
It doesn't hurt that there is a broad performance and price range to cover, with both single-band and dual-band designs possible.
Normally, Wi-Fi communicates over the 2.4 GHz band, but there are some routers and modems that tap into the 5 GHz band also.
The Netgear N600 Dual-Band WiFi Cable Modem Router (C3700) is one such modem, being capable of communicating at 300 Mbps over 2.4 GHz and an extra 300 Mbps over 5 GHz.
That's not its primary role though, since it's actually meant to behave as a cable modem instead, most of the time. In that mode, it can move data at up to 340 Mbps.
The N600 Dual-Band WiFi Cable Modem Router (C3700) has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and a price of $129.99 / €94.50.
For those confused about what this all means, the device is a two-in-one item. It allows web access at 340 Mbps, but the 600 Mbps Wi-Fi speed is a separate resource, which, like the web speed itself, can be divided among more than one connected laptop/phone/tablet.
There was a second cable modem unveiled by Netgear, called N450 WiFi Cable Modem Router (N450) and featuring four Gigabit Ethernet ports instead of two.
Like the other one, it provides cable modem speeds up to 340 Mbps. Unlike the other, though, it has only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, hence the smaller price of $119.99 / €87.24. But the transfer speed is of 450 Mbps, not 300 Mbps, so there's that.
A third modem came out as well, N300 WiFi Cable Modem Router (C3000), with two Gigabit ports and 300 Mbps Wi-Fi. Its price is $99.99 / €72.70.
Finally, the CMD31T DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem has no Wi-Fi and enables 150 Mbps Internet, all for $69.99 / €50.88.