NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100-100APS Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router – Black

The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router engineered for homes and small offices who want the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, multi-gig internet capability, and reliable 3.6 Gbps wireless performance in a compact, sleek Nighthawk chassis — without the complexity or price of tri-band flagship routers. With a 2.5 Gbps WAN port for multi-gig internet plans, four Gigabit LAN ports, quad-core 2.0 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, WPA3 security, VPN support, and up to 2,000 sq. ft. of 360° coverage for 50 simultaneous devices — the RS100 is NETGEAR's entry to Wi-Fi 7.

WI-FI 7 (802.11BE) — THE FASTEST WI-FI STANDARD

The RS100 operates on 802.11be — the IEEE standard for Wi-Fi 7 (BE). Wi-Fi 7 delivers:

- 1.2× faster maximum theoretical speeds than Wi-Fi 6 at equivalent antenna configuration

- Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Wi-Fi 7's signature capability — devices can communicate across multiple bands simultaneously, reducing latency and improving throughput stability

- 4K QAM: Wi-Fi 7 encodes more data per transmission cycle than Wi-Fi 6 (1024 QAM) — higher spectral efficiency

- Lower latency: Wi-Fi 7's architectural improvements reduce transmission overhead compared to Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E

- Backward compatible: Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 4, and all 802.11 b/g/n devices connect seamlessly

The RS100 is Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 — Intel's independent Wi-Fi certification confirming compliance with the 802.11be specification.

BE3600 DUAL-BAND — UP TO 3.6 GBPS COMBINED

The RS100's BE3600 classification reflects its combined dual-band theoretical maximum:

- 2.4 GHz (2×2): up to 688 Mbps — wider range, better wall penetration, for IoT, smart home devices, and distant rooms

- 5 GHz (2×2): up to 2,882 Mbps at 160MHz with DFS channels — maximum speed for nearby devices including laptops, gaming consoles, and streaming devices

The 5 GHz band's 2,882 Mbps theoretical ceiling significantly exceeds what standard home broadband plans currently deliver — ensuring the RS100 does not become a wireless bottleneck as internet service speeds increase.

2.5 GBPS WAN PORT — MULTI-GIG INTERNET READY

The RS100's single WAN port operates at 2.5 Gbps — enabling full utilisation of multi-gig internet service plans (1 Gbps, 1.5 Gbps, 2 Gbps) from compatible cable or fibre providers. Connect your cable modem, ONT, or gateway to the 2.5 Gbps WAN port and the RS100 routes the full incoming bandwidth to connected Wi-Fi 7 and wired devices simultaneously. Standard routers with only 1 Gbps WAN ports cap wired+wireless throughput at 1 Gbps regardless of the internet plan speed.

4× GIGABIT ETHERNET LAN PORTS — FAST WIRED CONNECTIONS

Four 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports provide 1 Gbps wired connections for desktops, NAS drives, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and network switches:

- Gaming console: wired Ethernet eliminates wireless latency variability for online gaming

- NAS or file server: 1 Gbps wired throughput for fast local file access

- Smart TV: 4K streaming without Wi-Fi bandwidth competition

- Network switch: expand to more wired devices by connecting a switch to any LAN port

UP TO 2,000 SQ. FT. / 185 M² — 360° WIFI COVERAGE

Two high-performance internal antennas with high-power amplifiers deliver 360° Wi-Fi 7 signal coverage across open-plan home layouts up to 2,000 sq. ft. (~185 m²) — covering standard apartments, townhouses, and single-floor homes without signal drop-off in far rooms. Walls, floors, and interference reduce coverage range in multi-story and heavily partitioned homes; NETGEAR Orbi mesh Wi-Fi systems are recommended for larger properties.

50 SIMULTANEOUS DEVICES — HIGH-DENSITY HOME NETWORKING

Smart TVs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, smart speakers, security cameras, smart doorbells, thermostats, and IoT devices all connect simultaneously without performance degradation. Wi-Fi 7's OFDMA and MU-MIMO enhancements efficiently manage traffic from multiple device streams simultaneously — maintaining responsive network performance even as the number of connected devices grows.

QUAD-CORE 2.0 GHz PROCESSOR + 1 GB RAM

The RS100's quad-core 2.0 GHz processor handles simultaneous Wi-Fi 7 signal processing, network address translation (NAT), firewall rules, VPN encryption, and Quality of Service (QoS) traffic management without bottlenecking under high device load. 1 GB of RAM provides generous packet buffering — more than double the 512 MB RAM of many competing entry-level routers — maintaining stable performance during heavy simultaneous use.

WPA3 SECURITY + GUEST WIFI + VPN

- WPA3: the latest Wi-Fi security protocol — stronger encryption and protection against brute-force password attacks compared to WPA2

- Guest WiFi: create separate, isolated guest network for visitors and IoT devices — keeping trusted devices on the primary network without sharing the main password

- VPN (OpenVPN): built-in VPN server and client support — secure remote access to the home network from any location

NIGHTHAWK APP — EASY SETUP AND REMOTE MANAGEMENT

The Nighthawk app (iOS and Android) guides through initial router setup, manages connected devices, pauses internet access per device, runs speed tests, monitors data usage, and configures guest networks — all from a smartphone from anywhere with internet access.

SLEEK COMPACT DESIGN — 184 × 66 × 122mm, 380g

The RS100's compact vertical form factor fits neatly on a desk, shelf, or entertainment unit without dominating the space. At 380g, it's lightweight enough to reposition easily and small enough for a discreet deployment behind a TV, in a hallway, or on a bookshelf.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

- Model: NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100-100APS

- WiFi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) — Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7

- WiFi Classification: BE3600 Dual-Band

- Total Speed: Up to 3.6 Gbps

- 2.4 GHz (2×2): Up to 688 Mbps

- 5 GHz (2×2): Up to 2,882 Mbps (160MHz, DFS)

- Coverage: Up to 2,000 sq. ft. (~185 m²)

- Devices: Up to 50 simultaneous

- WAN Port: 1× 2.5 Gbps (Multi-Gig internet)

- LAN Ports: 4× 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet

- USB Port: None

- Antennas: 2× internal high-performance + high-power amplifiers

- Processor: Quad-core 2.0 GHz

- Memory: 512 MB NAND flash + 1 GB RAM

- Security: WPA3, WPA2, Guest Wi-Fi, OpenVPN, firewall

- App: Nighthawk app (iOS + Android)

- Power: 12V/1.5A

- Dimensions: 184 × 66 × 122mm (H×W×D)

- Weight: 380g

- Colour: Black

- Protocols: IPv4, IPv6

- Backward Compatible: Wi-Fi 6/6E/5/4, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be

- Warranty: 1-Year NETGEAR Limited Warranty

- In the Box: RS100 router, 2m Ethernet cable, 12V/1.5A power adapter, quick start guide