D-Link has expanded its Amplifi family of high-performance home networking options. The company has added the dual band HD Media Router 2000 (DIR-827) that prioritizes traffic and simultaneously enables streaming HD videos and surfing the web. The PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit (DHP-541) delivers a higher than usual amount of bandwidth through existing home electricity.
The HD Media Router 2000 offers two 300Mbps Wi-Fi connections for viewing and browsing at the same time. Its HD Fuel app uses a Quality of Service (QoS) engine to automatically give a higher priority to activities that require additional bandwidth, such as video streaming, gaming and VoIP calling. The router also allows users to stream online media content to multiple devices anywhere on the home network. The router has a USB 3.0 port for sharing any USB 2- or 3-enabled device, such as a printer or storage device, across the home network. The DIR-827 builds in an SD card slot for sharing media files.
The PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit features D-Link’s PowerLine AV 500 four-port Gigabit Switch (DHP-540) and one PowerLine AV 500 Adapter (DHP-502AV). It’s intended to bring network connectivity to locations in a home where pulling Ethernet cable may be impractical or a wireless signal may be very weak, but where bandwidth is still important. It uses a home’s existing electrical wiring to carry network signals. With it, any conventional power outlet can act as an Ethernet port. The switch supports transfer rates of up to 500Mbps. As with the DIR-827 router, the AV 500 system integrates a QoS engine to prioritize traffic for better performance.
The HD Media Router 2000, priced at $150, will be available in late September. The PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit, which includes the switch and one adapter, will have a retail price of $160 and ship in October.
HD Media Router 2000
PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch
