Netgear Router Plex Server

Netgear leaked the router with Plex Server built in. What does everyone think? Can I get to the plugin section, and what is that processor?
netgear.com/landings/ad7200/

Yes…and it only costs $500. Personally, I think you’d be better off getting a Nvidia Shield to use as your PMS and get a different “high” end router. You’ll probably spend less and not be completely reliant on one device.

Also, similar to the Nvidia Shield shortcomings…where does all the Plex metadata end up existing? How much control would you have for plugins, etc…

Neat device, but I’m not a huge fan of these “be all, end all” solutions. It just puts you in a corner when trying to expand in the future…

I agree. I want more control before I switch of my iMac who getting long in the tooth. Probably will go with a shield once acouple of issues are resolved. Interesting idea though.

@johnny15 said:

Neat device, but I’m not a huge fan of these “be all, end all” solutions. It just puts you in a corner when trying to expand in the future…

Personally I’m just the opposite - I don’t want a ton of extra blinky boxes hanging around creating noise/heat/using electricity that I am responsible for maintaining. I love the idea of combining things to reduce clutter and complexity. I’m super interested in this depending on how it performs.

@zorn_ said:
Personally I’m just the opposite - I don’t want a ton of extra blinky boxes hanging around creating noise/heat/using electricity that I am responsible for maintaining. I love the idea of combining things to reduce clutter and complexity. I’m super interested in this depending on how it performs.

I completely understand. That’s the beauty of choice we have as consumers. That is why I mention running the Shield as your PMS because the electricity costs of that compared to a full blown PC running as a PMS will be significantly different.

Here’s a link for the Shield’s power consumption:
anandtech.com/show/9289/the-nvidia-shield-android-tv-review/9

If you’re not transcoding during playback of a video with a Shield as your PMS, I would expect the power consumption to be similar to that of the Kodi playback power consumption. Still fairly minimal in the whole scheme of things.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

@johnny15 said:

@zorn_ said:
Personally I’m just the opposite - I don’t want a ton of extra blinky boxes hanging around creating noise/heat/using electricity that I am responsible for maintaining. I love the idea of combining things to reduce clutter and complexity. I’m super interested in this depending on how it performs.

I completely understand. That’s the beauty of choice we have as consumers. That is why I mention running the Shield as your PMS because the electricity costs of that compared to a full blown PC running as a PMS will be significantly different.

Here’s a link for the Shield’s power consumption:
anandtech.com/show/9289/the-nvidia-shield-android-tv-review/9

If you’re not transcoding during playback of a video with a Shield as your PMS, I would expect the power consumption to be similar to that of the Kodi playback power consumption. Still fairly minimal in the whole scheme of things.

The shield was what I was leaning toward. I just wish you could upgrade the storage, 500GB isn’t enough and I hate the idea of a sloppy USB external drive just hanging off the back, although that would still be required with the router as well.

All I need to know is: does this support NAS? Can I point it to my current NAS and index?

Because if so, I’m sold.

@trilidar said:
All I need to know is: does this support NAS? Can I point it to my current NAS and index?

Because if so, I’m sold.

I have read what I could find and only mentions USB3 connected Hard drives
I am with you - if it connects to my NAS and I can get to the plugins folder I will consider it !

I just wonder if its powerful enough to handle transcoding.

And where is the Plex library metadata stored.

Need to be confident on transcoding claims … will be waiting for reviews

I’ll be interested in the nighthawk x10 transcoding performance and will it allow PMS DVR capabilities?

It has a 10g SFP+ port which menas i can use 10GbE direct attach cable to my NAS. Which is great. but thw power of this is to low to handle HEVC / 4k or even 4k HEVC

@Night said:
It has a 10g SFP+ port which menas i can use 10GbE direct attach cable to my NAS. Which is great. but thw power of this is to low to handle HEVC / 4k or even 4k HEVC

It will connect to your NAS but I have not seen anywhere how it talks to the NAS?
In the specs/promo splash it only talks USB!

Lets hope it doesn’t go down the Shield path, i.e. no path !!

@spikemixture said:

@Night said:
It has a 10g SFP+ port which menas i can use 10GbE direct attach cable to my NAS. Which is great. but thw power of this is to low to handle HEVC / 4k or even 4k HEVC

It will connect to your NAS but I have not seen anywhere how it talks to the NAS?
In the specs/promo splash it only talks USB!

Lets hope it doesn’t go down the Shield path, i.e. no path !!

As it looks like a pure SFP+ port it is normal TCP/IP, so should be fine.

@ussalaskamain said:
Netgear leaked the router with Plex Server built in. What does everyone think? Can I get to the plugin section, and what is that processor?
netgear.com/landings/ad7200/

Does it fry eggs nearby?

@claudio_roma said:

@ussalaskamain said:
Netgear leaked the router with Plex Server built in. What does everyone think? Can I get to the plugin section, and what is that processor?
netgear.com/landings/ad7200/

Does it fry eggs nearby?

I’m sure that can be arranged, I’ve cooked eggs and bacon on CPUs before, cooking with wifi microwaves should be fun

@Quasar said:
I just wonder if its powerful enough to handle transcoding.

I’m going to guess “no”

A router with Plex built in could be a little short sighted.

one reason is that every router I have ever used only supplied about 2 USB ports that DO NOT allow the use of USB hubs. This will limit you to only the number of drives that the router has USB ports. As your library grows… you will be in a pickle…

Also, will Plex Pass be available? How will updates be performed?

@jjrjr1 said:
A router with Plex built in could be a little short sighted.

one reason is that every router I have ever used only supplied about 2 USB ports that DO NOT allow the use of USB hubs. This will limit you to only the number of drives that the router has USB ports. As your library grows… you will be in a pickle…

Also, will Plex Pass be available? How will updates be performed?

Based on how we update our WD Passport Wireless Pros, I would guess only GRs and it is handled within the device itself, not through the web app or manually.