D-Link’s family of AC routers are equipped with Dual Band technology enabling users to perform simple networking activities on the 2.4GHz band, and offload more demanding activities to the cleaner, more robust 5GHZ band.
The routers are also backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n devices for enhanced connectivity.

Prices range from $80 to $170, depending on model.

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The mydlink Lite app for iOS and Android, as well as the QRS Mobile app for a simpler set-up of the router can be used to manage the network device remotely, as well as allowing for configuration through the mydlink web portal. The built-in USB 3.0 port can be used with the SharePort Mobile app to share photos, video, and other content through a connected external drive, while four Gigabit Ethernet ports provide wired connectivity options.

The Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Cloud Router is on sale for $130.

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Both Presto 10GbE network adapters are low-profile x8 PCIe adapter cards that can connect to a switch or other 10GbE interface by way of fiber-optic or copper cable. Sonnet offers either short-range communcations at distances up to 300 meters or long-range up to 10 kilometers SFP+ transceivers for the Presto 10GbE cards, as well as the ability to use direct-attach copper in lengths up to seven meters. Both cards are configurable using either the OS X Network control panel or the Windows Device Manager, and are optimized for use over Thunderbolt.

The Presto 10GbE one-port card is suited for most applications, providing greater speed than on-board Ethernet solutions. The Presto 10GbE Server two-port card is suited for use in servers and in applications where redundancy is critical, supporting transparent failover to keep the user’s computer connected in case a single cable is disconnected or one of the ports fails. The two-port card is capable of link aggregation when installed in a Mac Pro.

The Presto G10E-SFP-E 10GbE one-port card ($400) and Presto G10E-SFP-2X-E2 10GbE Server two-port cards ($800), and the short range G10E-SFP-SR 10GBase-SR SFP+ ($200) and long range G10E-SFP-LR 10Base-LR SFP+ ($550) transceivers are all available now.

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The WiGig dock operates in the 60Ghz spectrum, and is fast enough to run about 10 times as quickly as an 802.11n connection. The dock has the bandwidth to not just stream HD video but also to allow for previously-impossible features like fast wireless displays and syncing entirely over the wireless connection.

The Dell Wireless Dock is available now for $249.

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Previous AirPort firmware updates have sometimes broken tunneling, making it likely that Apple is already working on a new one to solve the problem. In the meantime, however, the only solution appears to involve downgrading. People can access the option through AirPort Utility; the process works differently in the Mac and Windows versions of the software.

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These solutions allow users maximum possible detail, color, and activity. The cameras boast night vision up to 115 feet and can be used indoors or outdoors. Electricity is provided using the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard, allowing the cameras to both draw power and transmit video using a single CAT5E network cable.

With a 2TB hard drive, users have the ability to record approximately 45 days of continuous surveillance or longer when using the motion detection settings. The free SwannView app offers convenient remote viewing functionality to the Platinum-HD kits allowing users to set up live remote viewing on mobile devices.

Swann’s Platinum-HD Full High Definition Security Systems are coming soon. The four-channel, four-camera model SWNVK-472004 has a retail price of $1,600, while the eight-channel, four-camera version model SWNVK-872004 sells for $1,700.

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A single tracker can be linked to multiple phones, or vice versa. The Trakdot Luggage is shipping in March at a base cost of $50. Users must also pay a $9 activation fee, though, and then another $13 per year in subscription costs.

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The N750 Dual-Band Gigabit Cloud Router 2500 is designed for high-bandwidth activities, and is claimed to deliver speeds of up to 750Mbps optimized for HD video streaming and online gaming. For basic Internet needs, the Cloud Router 1100 offers up to 300Mbps while web-browsing, email and online chatting. Both products feature a built-in, high-powered amplifier to extend Wi-Fi range and improve wireless speeds. For fast wired connections, the Cloud Router 2500 is equipped with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, while the Cloud Router 1100 has four 10/100 Ethernet ports. Both models also offer easy remote network management with the free My D-Link Lite app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Designed for frequent travelers, the SharePort Mobile Companion (DIR-505L) offers an all-in-one wireless networking solution. With multiple wireless modes — including router, Wi-Fi hotspot and access point/repeater modes — users can create a personal Wi-Fi hotspot or secured wireless network and extend an existing wireless network with the flip of a switch. The SharePort device iincludes a USB port that wirelessly enables instant mobile storage with a USB flash drive. Additionally, the USB port can be used to charge any smartphone or tablet device.

The D-Link Cloud Router 2500 (DIR-836L) is available for a price of $100, the D-Link Cloud Router 1100 (DIR-626L) runs $40 and the D-Link SharePort Mobile Companion (DIR-505L) can be purchased for $60.

D-Link Cloud Router 2500 (DIR-836L)

SharePort Mobile Companion (DIR-505L)

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The Kanex 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub easily extends an existing USB 3.0-equipped machine’s connectivity to include four additional SuperSpeed USB 3 ports. With SuperSpeed transfer rates up to 5 Gbps, users can connect USB 3.0 external hard drives, digital cameras, MP3 players and more while getting up to 10 times faster transfer speeds than USB 2. For fast charging, the USB hub includes a 2.1-amps power port so users can charge devices such as the iPad, smart phones, cameras and other mobile devices when the host computer is off.

The Kanex USB 3.0 Gigabit Adapter adds a Gigabit Ethernet port to your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with Retina Display or any other USB 3.0 enabled computer. The small adapter connects to a USB 3.0 port on a computer and provides a standard RJ-45 port for connection to the Internet or local area network for sharing and accessing files at data transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps. The USB 3.0 Gigabit adapter is also backwards compatible with USB 2 and USB 1.1 (with an associated reduction in network transfer speeds) and supports Wake-on-LAN functionality.

The 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub and the USB 3.0 Gigabit Adapter are available for $59 and $49 MSRP respectively, through online retailers and the Kanex website.

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Capable of using both WPA and WPA2, the adapter has a button for Wi-Fi Protected Setup for quick configuration to existing wireless networks. Weighing in at 0.05 pounds, the AC1200 is also packaged with a USB extension cradle, allowing it to be placed further away from connected devices.

The Wireless AC1200 Dual Band USB Adapter is on sale online for $70, and via retailers from late November.

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The new Chromebook leaves the the x86 world to sport a dual-core A15-based Samsung Exynos Dual Soc ARM CPU.  Other tech specs include; 2GB RAM, 16GB of built-in flash storage, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth. Its matte display outputs at 1366×768. It’s less than 0.8 inches thick and weighs less than 2.5 pounds. It has HDMI, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0 ports, an SD card slot and a SIM slot.

The new Chromebook will be packaged along with 100GB of free space on Google Drive. Google believes that its battery will get the average user through an average day, but has topped out the expected life at about 6.5 hours on a single charge.

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The router has a switch to quickly turn off Wi-Fi streaming, and there is one USB port for connecting and sharing peripherals such as external hard drives and printers.

The router, model number TL-WDR3500, has 802.11a/b/g/n support and a four-port, 10/100Mbps switch along with dual antennas. There is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button for quickly setting up secure connections. There is a built-in media server for accessing multimedia from game consoles and Windows Media Player.

Those with older computers can connect to the router’s 5GHz band thanks to TP-LINK’s TL-WDN3200 adapter. It is priced at $30 while the router itself costs $47.

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Setting it up is also ultra-simple, with browser-based software rather than a CD. Supported security standards include WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, mixed mode, and WEP and many gateway and router manufacturers.

Unfortunately, how far the booster is able to extend the signal isn’t known, though a flashing LED does give users some idea of the current signal strength.

The booster will be coming to stores later this summer, though prices haven’t yet been revealed.

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Content from a connected USB port can be quickly shared to mobile devices as well thanks to another D-Link mobile app, SharePort. Four 10/100/1,000 Ethernet ports allow adding a wired connection to devices.

At the heart of the router is Broadcom’s 5G Wi-Fi (802.11ac) chip, which is said to offer transfer speeds up to three times faster that the best Wireless N tech. It also uses a 5GHz band for less interference and is backwards-compatible as well as future-proof thanks to supporting the IPv6 standard. Security is ensured thanks to an SPI firewall and WPA/WPA2 security.

The router is now shipping at online retailers, priced at $190.

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Another app called SharePort Mobile allows iOS and Android handsets to stream files from a storage device connected to the router’s USB port. The routers each include four Gigabit Ethernet ports to go alongside single-band 802.11 g/n Wi-Fi up to 300Mbps (in the 1200) or the dual-band a/g/n 2000 model, which offers up to 600Mbps speeds. Both routers also feature a built-in dual-active firewall via SPI and NAT, WPA/WPA2 encryption, one-touch connection through Wi-Fi Protected Setup, and a claimed intelligent Quality of Service engine.

The D-Link Cloud Router models are now available for $90 for the 1200 and $130 for the 2000.

Cloud Router 1200 (DIR-636L)

Cloud Router 2000 (DIR-826L)

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A 10/100 Ethernet port on the base connects the router to a wired network, which it can then share through 802.11g/n Wi-Fi with one-touch access point configuration. Plugging storage into the accompanying USB port turns the router into network attached storage, which can be accessed over Wi-Fi as a shared drive or through associated iOS and Android apps. Protection is offered by dual SPI and NAT active firewalls, while the USB could also be used for powered charging of a device without invoking a network connection.

The D-Link SharePort All-in-One travel router is currently on sale for around $70.

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The N900 Central router doubles as network-attached storage thanks to a built-in hard drive. It supports Wi-Fi speeds up to 900Mbps using 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously, and includes four LAN ports plus one WLAN Gigabit Ethernet connectionN900 equals the N900 Central in terms of wireless capability, but replaces storage with an extra USB port and three more Ethernet ports.

Both the N750 and N600 routers offer 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, but with some slight differences. The N750 can reach a combined data rate of 750Mbps and has two USB ports, while the N600 has a maximum 600Mbps threshold and one USB port. The My Net Switch doesn’t have any Wi-Fi or router capabilities, but does supply 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports.

The My Net Switch costs $70, while the N600, N750 and N900 routers are going for $80, $120 and $180, respectively. The N900 Central with 1TB of storage retails for about $300; the 2TB version is $350.

Western Digital My Net Switch

Western Digital My Net N600

Western Digital My Net N750

Western Digital My Net N900 Central

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The two-bay storage case runs the Lacie NAS OS 2 operating system on an ARM 2GHz processor. The NAS OS 2 provides backup services, email notification of failures, and a print server.

If used for media storage and playback, the 2big NAS can act as an home iTunes server, and is uPnP AV media player compatible. Photo browsing and audio streaming are available through a web interface.

Each drive bay in the 2big NAS accepts a full-size 3.5-inch hard drive, up to 3TB in size for a maximum storage capacity of 6TB. If desired, the drives can be formatted for RAID 1 mirroring. Each drive installed is hot-swappable, so a failed disk can be replaced with no service interruption.

Network connection is provided by a single gigabit Ethernet port. Two expansion ports to increase the capacity of the 2big NAS are available- one eSATA, and one USB2 port.

The cross-platform storage device is available at retail and online now. A driveless enclosure costs $299 and the 6TB model populated with two 3TB drives can be purchased for $649.

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The R6300 packs four gigabit Ethernet ports, a pair of USB ports for network-attached storage and print server purposes, and the 802.11ac dual-band gigabit radio at its core. With 802.11ac it is claimed to transfer at 1300 Mbps, dropping down to 450Mbps for 802.11n and maintaining further compatibility for 802.11a, b, and g standards. The newly announced R6200 router boasts similar features, however the theoretical peak speeds drop to 900Mbps over 802.11ac or 300Mbps over 802.11n.

Both routers support remote control through Netgear Genie apps for the desktop, iOS or Android devices, along with MyMedia remote-media playback, AirPrint, parental controls, and a DNLA-ready media server.

The A6200 USB Wi-Fi adapter also uses 802.11ac with the same backwards-compatibility as the routers. With a claimed speed of up to 867Mbps, the dongle also comes with a desktop dock for those not wishing to use the swiveling antenna design on a notebook.

The R6200 and A6200 are expected out in the third quarter of this year for $180 and $80 respectively. The R6300 router is on sale for around $200.

Netgear R6300 Router

Netgear R6200 Router

Netgear A6200 Wi-Fi Adapter

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With a 10,000 square foot coverage area, the R20000G features two 2.4GHz 600mW amplifiers, two 5GHz amplifiers, and two low-noise amplifiers, as well as two high-gain 5dBi detachable dual band antennas. The router also comes with a 620MHz internal processor, and is capable of simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual band 802.11n wireless transmission.

The R200000G also features five gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB2 port for local file sharing. The unit sells for $180 on Amped Wireless’ site.

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The WLI-H4-D1300 wireless media bridge is a necessary part of the equation allowing up to 4 Ethernet-capable devices connect wireless to the AirStation WZR-D1800H router. It will currently only achieve these transfer speeds in this configuration, or using a similar 802.11ac-capable media bridge as there are currently few if any shipping wireless devices with the new Wi-Fi spec built-in. On the 5GHz band it will achieve speeds up to 1300Mbps and will support speeds up to 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.

In addition to remaining backwards compatible with older Wi-Fi specifications, both the router and the media bridge also support Gigabit Ethernet and include 4 Gigabit LAN ports. The router offers an additional 1 Gigabit WAN port.

The new Buffalo 802.11ac AirStation router and media bridge are retailing for $180 each. Although they are not yet available through Buffalo’s own webstore, they should be hitting shops any day.

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The new AV200 adapter kit is HomePlug AV standard-compliant, features a new ultra-compact design, plug-and-play with existing ethernet network topography, supports IGMP managed IP transmission optimizing IPTV streaming, and has a power-saving mode automatically reducing power consumption by up to 35 percent.

The new AV200 Powerline network adapter kit is available now for a MSRP of $55 at Fry’s Electroics, MicroCenter, Newegg, Amazon, Tiger Direct, and Walmart.

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The R6300 carries four gigabit Ethernet ports for wired clients and has a pair of USB ports that let it both serve as network-attached storage and as a printer sharing source, including AirPrint for iOS devices. It can provide DLNA media sharing and has support for the extras like guest networks as well as remote administration either through the web or through the Genie app on desktops, Android, and iOS.

The router will carry a premium, costing $200, but should ship in May. Getting the full 1.3Gbps speed will need not just an 802.11ac device but one that uses a full multi-antenna array.

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How It Works

Through the use of advanced high gain directional antennas, high power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers and the latest Wi-Fi technology, these two new products provide Mac and PC, laptop or desktop users with highspeed Wi-Fi access and superior range. These new platforms allow devices to connect to 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi networks from up to three times greater distance than standard wireless adapters.

The UA1000 – High Power Wireless-N 500mW Directional USB Adapter

The versatile UA1000 High Power Wireless-N 500mW Directional USB Adapter is the ideal solution to provide reliable, long distance connection. The new product delivers ten times the wireless output of standard wireless adapters. The UA1000 features:

• UA1000 High Power Technology
• Two high power 500mW amplifiers to increase transmit range
• Two low noise amplifiers to increase receiving capabilities
• High gain 5dBi dual polarity, directional antenna that concentrates Wi-Fi signals in a single direction for maximum range.
• N300 Wi-Fi technology and WPS one-touch setup

High power amplifiers and high gain, dual polarity, direction antennas allow PCs and Macs to easily connect to 2.4GHz 802.11n networks at great distances for high speed internet browsing, downloading and streaming HD content.

The UA2000 – High Power Wireless-N Directional Dual Band USB Adapter

The UA2000 High Power Wireless-N Directional Dual Band USB Adapter delivers six times the wireless output power of standard wireless adapters for maximum range. The product operates in 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz modes. In addition, the UA2000 features:

• UA2000 High Power Technology
• Two high power 2.4 GHz 500mW amplifiers to increase transmit range
• Two high power 5.0 GHz amplifiers to increase transmit range
• Two low noise amplifiers in increase receiving capabilities
• High gain 5dBi dual polarity, dual band directional antenna concentrates Wi-Fi signals in a single direction for maximum range.
• N600 dual band Wi-Fi technology and WPS one-touch setup

Dual band technology avoids interference, ensuring top speeds at the greatest range, which allow PCs and Macs to connect to 2.4GHz or 5.0GHz Wireless-N networks for demanding applications, such as streaming HD video and multiplayer gaming.

Both High Power USB Adapters feature an optional mounting clip for mounting the High Power USB Adapters onto the monitors of Mac or PC laptops for added mobility. All Amped Wireless products include industry leading, US based, in-house Elite Support, provided by Amped Concierges and the Wi-Fi Analytics Android App to assist users in optimizing Wi-Fi networks. In addition, the High Power Wi-Fi USB Adapters are eligible for Amped Wireless’ Range Increase Guarantee Program.

 Pricing and Availability

The UA1000 High Power Wireless-N 500mW Directional USB Adapter is available for $79.99 (USD) and the UA2000 High Power Wireless-N Directional Dual band USB Adapter for $99.99 (USD). Both products are available for pre-order immediately from the Amped Wireless online store at http://shop.ampedwireless.com

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Motorola has designed the system to support multiple home wireless communication standards and protocols, making it widely compatible with a vast range of wireless and connected home third-party solutions. The 4Home Connected Gateway will also tap into a homeowner’s energy management system, program devices, diagnose and fix issues when and if they arise. Users can even use the system to let service providers remotely diagnose and fix issues with set-boxes or modems and routers, for example.

At its heart lies a 1.2GHz processor, highlighting the computational power needed to manage and process multiple incoming and outgoing signals. Motorola has yet to price the box, but its appearance at the FCC suggests that a general release is looming. As can be seen in the photo, the device is carrying Verizon branding, indicative of its release as part of Verizon’s Z-wave based Home Monitoring and Control system

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Now that more users have more wireless devices in the typical networked home, Wi-Fi “dead zones” and other lapses in coverage become more inconvenient. The WN2500RP acts as a bridge device, extending the existing network while maintaining the ability of dual-band routers to separate “n” and “b/g” signals so that each type of device gets the highest speed possible. The unit was first unveiled at this year’s CES show in Las Vegas.

The range extender includes FastLane technology that allows users to prioritize available bandwidth for certain operations such as online gaming or HD video streaming, particularly useful when users want to continue using Wi-Fi services even as other members of the household are watching streaming video from Netflix or a similar service.

The unit’s LED lights can not only inform the user about connection status but can also help find the best location for placing the extender. The WN2500RP comes without an installation or setup CD and does not require an ethernet cable, meaning it can be set up entirely wirelessly using push-button connection on the back of the device. The extender also features four wired Ethernet connections, adding extra wired capability for devices that require it, such as network printers, NAS units and streaming players.

The WN2500RP is now available directly from Netgear or through major retailers in the US, and sells for $80.

The post Netgear Ships Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Power consumption should go down as well by having to drive fewer chips.

For existing technology, it supports both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands at up to more than 100Mbps through a two-by-two antenna layout. Appropriately, it can support Wi-Fi Direct and various forms of wireless display. The GNSS roots let it work with GPS or Russia’s GLONASS, while NXP’s involvement in the NFC chip should help compatibility with earlier approaches to the short-range technology.

Production samples of the WiLink 8.0 are going to “top-tier” mobile companies today, although TI declined to name partners. Finished products shipping with the new hardware should be ready by the second half of the year.

The addition could mark a significant expansion of NFC. Currently, just a handful of devices such as the Galaxy Nexus, BlackBerry Bold 9900, and AT&T’s version of the Galaxy S II support NFC at all, often as the cost and size of the NFC chip can discourage some. TI may help the next wave of smartphones and tablets turn short-range payments, tags, and device-to-device sharing into relatively common features.

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Differences focus directly on connections. The PLEK400 has one Ethernet port on both ends and is intended for giving Internet access to that one device out of reach of Ethernet-only or Wi-Fi. A PLSK400 has four ports on one end and is meant for home theaters or other areas where a whole nest of devices need to get online. The Wireless Extender creates an 802.11n Wi-Fi hotspot from an existing HomePlug powerline network to run wireless into an area where it would be blocked otherwise, such as a basement.

The two completely wired kits are already shipping and cost the same $100, making it unclear why the one-port kit exists. The PLW400 wireless extender will cost $120 when it ships in March.

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The network firm also claims Bonjour auto-discovery support, although the assertion is a misnomer since it doesn’t need any special recognition to work.

Regardless of the Mac-specific claims, the Wireless Extreme is still relatively upscale for routers. It runs dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi along with four gigabit Ethernet ports. It carries DLNA media sharing for USB drives, a built-in broadband meter to check collective usage, and device-independent parental controls. Netgear has taken a minor but important step of shipping the router already set up with a password-locked wireless network.

The hardware should be shipping now for $130.

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