Meet Google’s new OnHub WiFi Router: Here’s all you need to know

| Updated: Saturday, October 24, 2015, 19:08 [IST]

Google has been venturing into numerous hardware projects for the past few years and this all new WiFi Router with a twist is a result of one of those. The company's first WiFi router dubbed the OnHub is built in partnership with Chinese networking specialist TP-Link. On first glance, one can easily think of these two small towers as a Bluetooth Boombox - the design language is so similar.

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Meet Google’s new OnHub WiFi Router: Here’s all you need to know

Under the Hood:

The OnHub in one word is a power packed AC1900 router, boasting a total of 13 built-in antennas. This included 6 each for 2.4GHz and 5 GHz and another one used for continuously monitoring the environment for wireless congestions - smart indeed! Whenever the standalone antenna determines a Wireless congestion, the software automatically switches wireless channels.

Besides the 802.11ac support, the router comes with the traditional a/b/g/n too. Additionally the OnHub router also packs a Bluetooth (with Bluetooth Smart Ready) with support for Weave and 802.15.4 - Google has indeed made it futureproof! The hardware aspect of the not so traditional WiFi router is handled by a Qualcomm / Atheros chip which comes with an IPQ8064 1.4 GHz dual-core processor alongwith 1GB of RAM and 8MB of NOR flash. It further packs a 4GB of eMMC flash storage and a QCA8337 Gigabit Ethernet switch.

Adds up as a Bluetooth Speaker too?

Unlike popular WiFi routers with appox 4 ports, the OnHub comes with a single Ethernet port. Nevertheless the OnHub has a USB 3.0 port with an ambient light sensor - presumably for dimming the four color indicator light ring on the top of the device. Much like its Bluetooth speaker like external inheritance, Google has included a 3W integrated speaker.

Meet the Google On App:

One needs to install the Google On app for setting up this router though. In fact all the basic management of the Google's amibitous router is done via this new app. It allows easy testing of one's network connection speed. The app may also be used for checking each of connected devices to the WiFi router and which of them is using the most bandwidth. One can even prioritize the traffic from certain devices via this app. Google is promising numerous firmware update for the router and the best part is that they will all install automatically.