The first products in Linksys’ new Wireless-N range based on the 802.11n draft specification are now available. Linksys claims the new products deliver a wireless network with the capacity for simultaneous wireless voice, Internet, video and music.
According to Linksys, the new products, which include Wireless-N broadband router (WRT300N), notebook adapter (WPC300N) and PCI adapter (WMP300N), deliver up to four times the range and up to 12 times the bandwidth of Wireless-G products. This allows users to surf the Web, enjoy multiple streams of high definition video, listen to music and make Internet phone calls at the same time.
“The emergence of high-definition video, along with the growing use of Voice over IP, online gaming, and other applications by consumers requires network bandwidth that greatly exceeds what is available from 802.11g. With these products based on the IEEE 802.11n draft specification, Linksys is enabling users to transform their home networks into media distribution platforms and access premium content around the home over a wireless network,” said ABI Research Analyst, Mike Wolf.
“A substantial number of products for both homes and businesses will soon depend on compatibility with Wireless-N to reach their full potential. Because of the importance of the technology, we have taken the unique step of conducting extensive testing with multiple vendors to ensure that the greatest possible number of them will perform at peak levels when interacting with our 802.11n products,” said Linksys’ Graeme Reardon.
All products conform to the draft 802.11n specification, requiring enhanced speed and range, mixed mode operation and backward compatibility with 802.11g and 802.11b.
Linksys’ new products rely on MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) technology, using multiple radios to simultaneously transmit two streams of data over multiple pathways. This enables each 20 MHz channel to carry much more data than 802.11g. The 802.11n spec allows the Wireless-N products to transmit over two available channels at the same time, effectively creating a 40MHz channel that doubles the capacity for applications such as high definition video, audio streaming, online gaming and Voice over IP.
Security features can be enabled using the Linksys Web browser-based configuration utility. The WRT300N router can encode wireless transmissions with Wi-Fi Protected Access encryption to help protect data and privacy. It can also serve as a network DHCP server, support VPN pass-through, and has a Stateful Packet Inspection firewall to protect against intruders and Internet attacks.
Linksys will be releasing additional home networking and SMB products from its Wireless-N in the second half of 2006.
RRP:
Wireless-N Broadband Router (WRT300N) $279.95
Wireless-N Notebook Adapter (WPC300N) $219.95
Wireless-N PCI Adapter (WMP300N) $219.95
See: www.linksys.com.au
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| Broadband Router |
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| PCI Adapter |
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| Notebook Adapter |
