D-Link DBT-120 Bluetooth USB Adapter, PC/Mac

D-Link, the industry pioneer in wireless networking, introduces another performance breakthrough in wireless connectivity - the D-Link PersonalAir series of Bluetooth enabled networking products capable of data transfer among devices such as PDAs, printers, cellular phones, computers, and other emerging electronic devices.

The D-Link PersonalAir DBT-120 USB Bluetooth Adapter is a very compact, low-profile solution based on the Bluetooth 1.1 specification, making it compatible with other Bluetooth enabled devices. The DBT-120 was designed and engineered from the ground up to be compact and portable, making it the perfect solution for notebook computers, but also just as easy to use with a desktop computer. The DBT-120 features standard 128-bit encryption that provides you with a higher level of security for your data and communication.

The D-Link PersonalAir DBT-120 includes Bluetooth management and connectivity software by WidComm, which enables you to configure and access Bluetooth enabled devices quickly and easily. The Bluetooth software enables your computer to discover and access available Bluetooth services ranging from Internet access to wireless synchronization with your PDA or cellular phone.

Compatible with USB 1.1, the DBT-120 supports Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98SE, and Macintosh OS X 10.2 and installs quickly and easily to a desktop or notebook computer with an available USB port. Read More..

Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX

Now you can enjoy wireless home-network access in those hard-to-reach rooms and--simultaneously--get faster networking and Internet performance, too. The WRT54GX Wireless-G broadband router from Linksys uses the company's advanced SRX (Speed and Range eXpansion) technology to enhance the speed and the reach of a Wireless-G (802.11g) network. The WRT54GX can provide faster wireless network throughput, reduce dead spots, and increase wireless range over standard Wireless-G networks.

The handy WRT54GX serves as an Internet-sharing router, a four-port 10/100 switch, and an SRX-enhanced Wireless-G access point all at once. Relative to standard 80 2.11g technology, a network using all SRX products can extend network reach up to three times as far and boost wireless network speed by up to eight times. (Actual throughput, speed, and range depend on a host of factors, from building materials to network traffic and distance from the router.)

The device is Wi-Fi-certified and backward compatible with 802.11b (Wireless-B), 802.11g (Wireless-G) and, of course, other Linksys SRX products. Mixed wireless environments such as networks containing SRX, Wireless-B, and Wireless-G products can operate each client at its own maximum data rate. SRX products maintain their higher speed and range, providing the throughput and quality of service to deliver applications such as VoIP (Internet telephony) and video streaming.

SRX is based on MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) technology, a key component in the upcoming Wireless-N (802.11n) standard. To improve range and speed, MIMO uses two radios and three antennas on a wireless router or client adapter.

To enhance data protection and privacy, the router can encode all wireless trans missions with WPA (Wireless Protection Access). Its powerful Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall enhances protection to all the wired and wireless PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks while also supporting VPN passthrough. Configuration is easy using a Web-browser-based configuration utility. Read More..

FCC Wireless Broadband Decision Re-opens Net Neutrality Debate

The day after the US Federal Communications Commission announced it would open an "inquiry" (as opposed to an "investigation") into concerns that certain major industry players may be able to attain preferential access to network bandwidth, it declared wireless broadband service an "information service."

On the surface, that may seem like a non-event; but as FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps warned in his concurrence with the decision last Thursday, declaring something an "information service" as opposed to a "telecommunications service" (like telephony) puts it in a very different regulatory bracket.

"In 2005, the Commission decided to reclassify broadband transmission facilities as Title I 'information services' rather than Title II 'telecommunications services,"' Copps wrote. "To the uninitiated this sounds like semantics. But it had real consequences. That's because the nondiscrimination obligations that attach to telecommunications traffic and which were vital to keeping the Internet open in the dial-up era no longer apply to broadband services."

Last Friday, the FCC ruled that wireless broadband falls under Title I as well. While a telecommunications service may be responsible for the delivery of wireless broadband (and in the US, there are few cases where that's false), the FCC decided that doesn't make wireless broadband into a telecommunications service as a whole.

The reason that's important is because of existing regulatory policy. Information services, by definition, have a minimum of government oversight. While supporters of both private enterprise and free enterprise have come out in favor of minimal oversight, net neutrality proponents are mindful of the fact that this gives smaller ISPs fewer options if they believe a larger competitor is being given preferential treatment by bigger telecom services that lease their bandwidth.

"In making these determinations, we provide regulatory certainty regarding the classification of wireless broadband Internet access service," states Friday's FCC's ruling. "It establishes a minimal regulatory environment for wireless broadband Internet access service that promotes our goal of ubiquitous availability of broadband to all Americans [and] also furthers our efforts to establish a consistent regulatory framework across broadband platforms by regulating like services in similar manner."

But it may also mean that the inquiry launched on Thursday may have just had its teeth blunted, in a sense, in that it may no longer be in the FCC's purview to help companies seek solutions if they feel they're being marginalized by top-tier telecom players. Enabling them to be regulated as telecom companies up until the point where they provide ISP service, could arguably give major players such as Verizon and Comcast a free pass.

In announcing the opening of the inquiry last Thursday, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin stated, "We seek comment on how broadband providers are managing their Internet traffic, whether certain traffic is prioritized, and whether our policies should distinguish between content providers that charge end users for access to content and those that do not." In case the Commission spots a problem, Martin said, it stands ready to "step in if necessary."

Martin does not go on to say what "step in" means, which is among the factors that have prompted Democrats on the Commission to start asking skeptical questions.

"The goal of this Declaratory Ruling is ostensibly to promote wireless broadband deployment," Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein wrote on Friday. "It is hard to fathom how it is likely to make much difference in the near term considering that no party bothered to ask us to formally consider it. It is hard to see how clarifying the regulatory classification will promote deployment when nobody was saying it was ever an impediment."

Meanwhile, Martin's fellow Republicans are taking the opportunity - while Congressional legislation remains stalled - to reframe the entire debate, perhaps redefining "net neutrality" in the process to mean "deregulation." As Commissioner Deborah Tate wrote on Friday, declaring wireless broadband under Title I was accomplished, in her opinion, "in a technology-neutral manner that provides wireless broadband Internet access services a level playing field with other Internet access services."

With a federal auction of much of the existing VHF and UHF television bands to begin next month, major telecom services are considering their options with regard to how best to lay claim to some of the most prized frequencies.

As mere mobile telecom service providers, they may be limited in how much spectrum each can obtain through auction. But if even part of that spectrum is to be deployed for wireless broadband service, the rules could be dramatically different, with one or two key players hauling off the lion's share. The FCC may begin debating rules for this auction as soon as next month.
By Scott M. Fulton, III, BetaNews Read More..

Ten mistakes to avoid when buying Wi-Fi

Update Setting up a wireless home network is a new concept for most of us and it can be a daunting prospect for the tech-savvy, let alone novices.
Before you hand over your money on new gear, check out our list of tips that will help you avoid buyer's remorse.
1. Check out warranty and support options
All networking gear should come with comprehensive documentation, easy-to-follow setup instructions, at least one year of warranty coverage, and -- because networking can be complicated -- free phone support (extra points if it's available 24/7).
2. Don't mix and match wireless standards
Networking devices have to speak the same language and use a common physical medium to work best together. So if your gift recipient's network is 802.11g, stay away from buying 802.11a-only devices.
3. Avoid products with different security features
Most new wireless products will support both WEP and WPA encryption, which we strongly recommend. To talk to one another on a secure network, all devices must use the same encryption scheme, so double-check before you buy.
4. Don't let security ruin the fun
Ironclad security is great, but a firewall can also keep your friends from playing games or setting up servers. Make sure the router you buy includes a DMZ and a port-forwarding feature so that its users can make the most out of the Internet.
5. Don't mix and match gear from different vendors
You'll often find bells and whistles on networking products that increase throughput or give you access to special features. Such extras aren't typically standards-based and often work only if all of the devices carry the same brand name.
6. Leave some room to grow
Networks have a way of growing, so it's always good to have a variety of expansion options. Multiple Ethernet ports and WDS, or wireless distribution system, support will help you future-proof a network.
7. Steer clear of a network that gets in the way
Ethernet equipment is fast, but it also requires the recipient to run cables through the house. Wireless gear solves this problem, but it might interfere with other wireless devices in the home or the office. Make sure that the gear you buy is right for the space.
8. Don't be afraid to be sexy
Pick a router with a design and a colour scheme that will blend into your -- of your giftee's -- crib. If networking gear simply doesn't figure into the interior design scheme, choose a router with a built-in bracket that will make it easy to mount on a wall or hide behind a bookshelf or a sofa.
9. Don't blow your cover
Buy a router that lets you turn off its beacon. Beacons periodically advertise a router's presence so that client devices know that they're there. Get a router that lets you disable the beacon so that you can fly under the radar and go undetected by snoops.
10. Be a nice neighbour
Buy your broadband service from a provider that doesn't mind if you share your connection.
By Allen Fear, CNET.com Read More..

D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router

D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router
Not too long ago, wireless routers for the home were little more than unattractive plastic black boxes with flashing green lights in front and protruding antenna out the back. Nowadays, though, home networking manufacturers are putting a little more effort into their designs. The AU$399 DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit router sports a white facade contrasted with a band of black rubber across its LED strip. White it may be, but it lacks the iPod inspired minimalism of the Netgear WNR834B. Still the D-Link's not a bad looker ... for a router

Based on the draft 802.11n wireless standard -- commonly referred to as Draft-N -- the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit router promises a lot, like sustained wireless transfer rates of around 200Mbps (twenty times that of 802.11g) and a range of 50 metres. Testing for wireless claims are carried out by manufacturers in controlled environments that are free of the radio interference, walls and sundry solid objects which pepper the world in which we live.

To test the D-Link's bold claims, we used D-Link's DWA-645 RangeBooster N 650 PCMCIA network card attached to our laptop. Even with the laptop in the same room as the router, we were unable to attain the claimed 200Mbps. Despite a claimed signal strength of 300Mbps, we reached an average of just 28Mbps during a 4GB file transfer. In other rooms and at a distance of roughly 15-30 metres, reported signal strength dropped to 250Mbps with our file transfer averaging out at 20Mbps. At the edge of the router's claimed range, 50 metres, web surfing brought back memories of the days of dial-up internet, while our file transfer speed dropped to 260Kbps. Read More..

FAQ: Wi-Fi alphabet soup

Fast-paced innovation can be exhilarating, but it can also be a recipe for confusion. Wireless networking has become common in the latest computers and gadgets, with the tech that drives it morphing faster than you can say "router". Our answers to these frequently asked questions will help you become fluent in Wi-Fi speak so you can pick the gear that's right for you.

The term Wi-Fi specifically refers to a handful of standards approved by industry groups that has made wireless networking inexpensive and nearly unbiquitous in the latest gadgets and computers. The Wi-Fi standards use unlicensed radio spectrum to transfer data between devices, such as a laptop and a wireless-networking router.
802.11b was the first of the Wi-Fi standards to become popular about five years ago. Two other standards, 802.11a and 802.11g, have joined it as Wi-Fi standards, and still another, 802.11n, is on the way, although still a way off. Some of these work together, but some don't. Each offers slightly different advantages and disadvantages. All are available in commercial products you can buy now.
Sorting out the alphabet soup can be as frustrating as untangling the ball of wires behind your PC that the standards are supposed to help replace. For example, 802.11n is still in development but manufacturers are trying to get a jump on the demand for it by developing products using a technology that 802.11n will be based on. Called MIMO, it's getting lots of buzz as some wireless-router makers tout it as the most powerful flavour of Wi-Fi to date.
Here are the basics to begin cutting through the knot.

What are the different flavours of Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi standards are set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE, and the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry group responsible for interoperability testing. So far they have finalised and approved three standards: 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.
802.11n is a proposed specification that will become a Wi-Fi standard once it's finalised by the IEEE and the Wi-Fi Alliance completes its interoperability testing. Groups have submitted various 802.11n proposals to the IEEE, but are still debating what to include in the standard. It isn't expected to be completed until late 2006, with products based on the standard coming out in early 2007.
Some companies are also touting a wireless-networking technology known as MIMO. This is not technically a variety of Wi-Fi, or even an industry standard. Rather, it is the technology that's expected to form the basis of 802.11n.

What is MIMO and what does it do?
MIMO (pronounced my-mo) stands for multiple input, multiple output and refers to the use of more than one antenna to send and receive two or more unique data streams over the same channel simultaneously in wireless devices, resulting in networks with long ranges and high throughputs. It is currently the primary basis for the proposed 802.11n standard.
In addition to multiple antennas, MIMO products use specialised software, allowing data sent from access points in multiple streams to be received and deciphered by clients. In combination, the multiple antennas and software allow data to be reliably sent and received in environments with considerable interference over relatively long distances.
MIMO products create wireless networks that can reach significantly farther than current Wi-Fi networks and still provide high data throughputs. In some cases, wireless networks using MIMO technology can reach over 90 metres and still send and receive data at 30mbps.
However, Pre-N products offer higher throughputs at the outer edges of its range, according to reviewers.

What are the pros and cons of various Wi-Fi standards?
802.11b is the oldest and currently the most widely used Wi-Fi standard. Consumers have considerable choice in gear, which is often cheaper than products supporting newer standards such as 802.11a and 802.11g. 802.11b has lower bandwidth and shorter range compared with other types of Wi-Fi.
802.11a has higher throughput than 802.11b, but is not compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g. It has been the least popular flavour of Wi-Fi, although manufacturers are beginning to include it in products alongside 802.11b and 802.11g.
802.11g is faster than 802.11b and is compatible with it. But, like 802.11b, it is more susceptible than 802.11a to interference from common household appliances, such as cordless phones and microwave ovens, that operate in the 2.4GHz radio band.
MIMO transmits data at the highest rates, but it is not an industry standard. In addition, products based on MIMO generally cost more than devices based on 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.

Can I combine products based on different Wi-Fi standards?
The 802.11g and 802.11b standards are compatible. That means if you have an 802.11b client, such as a notebook, it can connect to an 802.11g access point.
The 802.11n is also expected to be compatible with its Wi-Fi predecessors. MIMO products are already on the market and manufacturers have made it a point to make them compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g-based products.
Products based on 802.11a are not compatible with products based on other Wi-Fi standards.
Compatibility is becoming less of a problem, however, as manufacturers increasingly support all three Wi-Fi standards in their devices.

How do various Wi-Fi standards compare on speed?
The 802.11b standard offers a top data transfer speed of 11mbps under optimal conditions, but it typically achieves about half that rate in the real world.
The 802.11g and 802.11a standards top out at data transfer speeds of 54mbps under optimal conditions. Like 802.11b, they generally perform at half their top speed in real-world installations.
Manufacturers of MIMO products say throughput can reach more than 108mbps. Ultimately, the IEEE is aiming for speeds from 100mbps and higher for the 802.11n standard.

What manufacturers currently sell MIMO gear?
A number of wireless networking chipmakers, such as Airgo and Atheros, are manufacturing their own versions of MIMO parts and several gear companies have been shipping products using those chips. Belkin and Linksys use Airgo's MIMO chips in their MIMO products. Belkin calls it MIMO Pre-N, while Linksys refers to it as SRX Speed and Range eXpansion. Netgear uses two types of MIMO technologies, one from Airgo, which it calls Pre-N, and another from Atheros and Video54, which it calls RangeMax.

Early reviews of these products indicate that the less-expensive RangeMax gear is more complicated to use and can potentially interrupt other, nearby Wi-Fi networks. Pre-N products offer higher throughputs at the outer edges of their range, but they cost more.

Do consumers really need dramatic increases in throughput over wireless networks?
Sharing broadband Internet access represents the top application for Wi-Fi networks in the consumer market. Since broadband connections typically perform well below 802.11b data transfer speeds, increased speeds offered by newer specifications such as 802.11g and MIMO do not yet mean much for consumers.
The question is most relevant for MIMO, which offers substantially higher speeds than any approved Wi-Fi standard. Manufacturers initially played up MIMO's role for multimedia applications, saying consumers would want to watch videos or play music streamed from a central home device. So far, those devices have failed to take off. More recently, device makers have touted MIMO-based products for their increased range.

What is WiMax? Will it replace Wi-Fi?
WiMax, similar to Wi-Fi, is a logo marking interoperability between products using a standard approved by the IEEE -- 802.16-2004. However, unlike Wi-Fi, WiMax makes wireless broadband Internet access directly available and is viewed as an alternative to high-speed cable and digital-subscriber lines. Wi-Fi products create wireless networks allowing those who can connect to the networks to share resources, such as an Internet connection or a printer.
WiMax is essentially radio technology that promises to deliver two-way Internet access at speeds of up to 75mbps at long range. Its backers claim that WiMax can transmit data up to 30 miles between broadcast towers and can blanket areas more than a mile in radius. Read More..

Wi-Fi standards face patent threat

Companies working with popular standards for wireless technology may have a patent infringement problem.

A federal judge in Tyler, Texas, ruled last week that an Australian government agency holds the rights to patents on the underlying technology used in two Wi-Fi standards and a third proposed standard. The decision -- if it survives what many assume will be a lengthy appeals process -- could have a wide-ranging impact on wireless equipment makers and consumer electronics manufacturers.

Judge Leonard Davis ruled that a patent granted in 1996 to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency, is valid. The patent describes the implementation of several aspects of the 802.11a and 802.11g wireless standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The court also ruled that Buffalo Technology, a small maker of Wi-Fi routing gear, had violated this patent.

The judge in the case issued a summary judgment, which indicates the court is wholly convinced by the evidence, to the point where there are no questions of fact. In general, a summary judgment is rare in patent disputes.

The ruling is certainly a blow for Austin, Texas-based Buffalo Technology, which -- unless it wins an appeal -- could be forced to pay between US$1.5 million and US$2 million in damages to CSIRO. But the decision, which essentially upholds the notion that CSIRO owns the rights to widely used standards-based technology, could have a huge impact on the entire Wi-Fi industry, particularly as companies start embedding Wi-Fi chipsets into consumer electronics devices like music players and mobile handsets.

"One reason that Wi-Fi has proliferated as it has is because it's reached a point where it's incredibly cheap, so it's easy to just stick a Wi-Fi chip in a consumer electronics device," said Stan Schatt, a vice president at ABI Research. "But if the cost of the technology goes up to pay for the license, even a little bit, it could throw off the economics."

More than 100 companies could end up paying royalties to CSIRO for use of the technology, claimed Daniel J. Furniss, a partner at Townsend and Townsend and Crew, the law firm representing CSIRO. Furniss said that CSIRO sued Buffalo first because the company wouldn't meet with them to discuss their claims. He also wouldn't specify how much money his client could expect to generate from any future license agreements. A Buffalo Technology representative could not be reached for comment.

In 2005, an estimated 140 million to 155 million Wi-Fi-enabled devices shipped, according to ABI Research and InStat, market research firms. That number in 2009 is expected to balloon to 450 million devices shipped. At the end of the day, patent licenses for all these products could generate a significant amount of money.

Indeed, Wi-Fi products generate billions of dollars in revenue for equipment makers. Just the access points that provide the actual Wi-Fi signals in local area networks are expected to generate US$1.9 billion in 2006, according to ABI Research. That figure is expected to jump to US$3.7 billion in 2010.

Because Wi-Fi chips cost only a couple of dollars, the technology is popping up in all kinds of new devices. It is also one of the reasons that many consumer electronics device makers are embedding Wi-Fi into devices instead of technology like Bluetooth.

For example, Microsoft's new Zune music player uses Wi-Fi to allow people to share music. And many mobile handset makers are starting to introduce phones that can switch between Wi-Fi and cellular technology. Most of these products comply with the 802.11a and 802.11g IEEE standard, which CSIRO claims is included in its patent.

CSIRO claims that its patent covers a core method for transmitting wireless signals that use orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation, which breaks signals into different parts to transmit data simultaneously over different frequencies to maximise performance. IEEE standards including 802.11a, 802.11g and the proposed standard called 802.11n -- which is expected to be ratified in 2007 -- all use OFDM to transmit data wirelessly.

Buffalo Technology is not the only company fighting CSIRO's patent claims. In 2005, Dell, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Netgear sued CSIRO in federal court in San Francisco to invalidate the patent. The case is currently on hold because CSIRO requested that it be transferred to Texas, where Judge Davis has already done extensive research on the case.

A judge in San Francisco is expected to rule either this week or next on whether to move the case to Texas, said Furniss. The companies involved in suing CSIRO in San Francisco declined to comment for this story.

While CSIRO has won a significant battle in Texas, analysts say it still has a long road ahead before it will be able to get any of the equipment makers to pay a dime. Buffalo can appeal the court's decision, and the cases in which CSIRO is being sued in San Francisco to invalidate the patents must also decided.

"It takes a very long time to go through the legal process," said Craig Mathias, an analyst with Farpoint Group. "I don't see any immediate impact on the wireless industry as a result of this case. And to be honest, it's not even definitive that other judges or courts will uphold this patent and also find it valid."

CSIRO filed for its patent in 1992. The patent, No. 5,487,069, was granted by the U.S. Patent Office in 1996. Furniss said CSIRO disclosed the patent to the IEEE in 1997 when the standards body was developing a faster Wi-Fi standard, which in 1997 became known as 802.11a. The IEEE extended the technology again and, in 2003, ratified the 802.11g standard, which was based on the same fundamental principals as the 802.11a standard.

Furniss said that once the 802.11a and 802.11g standards were ratified, the IEEE sent a letter to CSIRO acknowledging that part of the technology used in the new standards was covered under CSIRO's patents. The IEEE asked CSIRO, as it does all companies that hold patents on technology used in a standard, if it wanted to license the technology to the industry for free or if it wanted to charge a reasonable fee for the license. Furniss said CSIRO indicated it wanted to charge a fee for the use of its technology.

"The original proposal was spearheaded by Lucent Technologies, and not anyone from CSIRO," he said. "There were choices of technologies to be used, and the IEEE adopted the use of this technology with knowledge of the patents. It's clearly a very valuable technology to the industry. And it took CSIRO seven to eight years to develop. But it's also clear the industry doesn't want to pay anything for using it."

He said that CSIRO has spent several years trying to get companies to license the technology, but so far it hasn't been successful. Cisco Systems pays a license fee for the use of the technology, but only for technology that it bought through the acquisition of a high-speed wireless chipmaker called Radiata in 2000. Cisco's popular Linksys wireless routers, which use 802.11a and 802.11g technology, do not currently pay royalties to CSIRO, according to Furniss.

Furniss said he doesn't expect CSIRO to sue everyone using the 802.11a, 802.11g and eventually the 802.11n technology. In fact, CSIRO is focusing only on obtaining licensing fees from equipment makers, such as Netgear and Microsoft, and not chipmakers, such as Broadcom, Intel or Atheros. He claims the chips themselves don't infringe on the patents; it's only when the technology is used in a specific device. Read More..

Buffalo unveils dual-band Draft N router

Buffalo Technology announced a Draft N dual-band wireless router, the AirStation Wireless-N Nfiniti Dual Band Router & AP (WZR-AG300NH), which supports all current Wi-Fi standards (802.11a/b/g) as well as the Draft N spec. Buffalo deviated from its vertical design with a flat-sitting base unit and a separate (cable-attached) three-antenna unit. The three antennae are arranged in a circle, and the unit resembles a small toy helicopter.

The benefit of including 802.11a support is stability when streaming voice packets or high-def video, because 802.11a operates in the 5GHz band. Common household devices such as cordless phones and baby monitors often cause interference in 802.11b/g networks, because both operate in the 2.4GHz band.

The router sports four Gigabit Ethernet ports and a switch that allows you to flip between router and access-point modes. Security features include WPA-PSK with AES support, 128/64-bit WEP, dynamic packet filtering, NAT and SPI firewalls, and an intrusion detector.

Also part of the announcement is the companion Wireless Nfiniti Dual Band Wireless Notebook Adapter (WLI-CB-AG300N). Both will be released in the US in early February for US$300 for the router and US$130 for the adapter. Read More..

Netgear RangeMax Next Wireless Router WNR834B

The WNR834B is based on the Draft N specification of the 802.11n standard, with a claimed top throughput of 270Mbps when using compatible cards. Unlike the slew of pre-N equipment that manufacturers were selling twelve months ago, Draft N cards and equipment should, in theory, be cross-compatible and essentially give the same performance -- more on that later.

It's also backwards-compatible with 802.11b/g network equipment, although there is a slight catch here. The security setup for the WNR834B is fairly standard, with support offered for WEP, WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK, but if you're using a network with older 802.11b/g equipment that doesn't support WPA -- such as the Nintendo DS -- you'll have to throttle the WNR834B back from its 270Mbps top speed; WEP is only supported in 802.11b/g mixed mode. Read More..

Intel speeds up delivery of faster Wi-Fi

Intel has confirmed plans to ship its next-generation wireless chips ahead of its previous schedule for bringing 802.11n wireless to its Centrino program.

The Next-Gen Wireless-N product will appear in notebooks from companies such as Acer, Gateway and Toshiba by the end of this month, Dave Hofer, director of wireless marketing for the company, said on Tuesday.

The new Wi-Fi chip is based on the draft 802.11n wireless standard, which is on track to be finalised later this year. It will become the newest piece of Intel's Centrino package of chips, which includes the Core 2 Duo processor, a mobile chipset and a wireless chip.

Notebooks with 802.11n chips will be able to connect to wireless networks at faster speeds and with greater range than notebooks with older wireless chips, Hofer said.

Intel also says its 802.11n chips will provide up to an extra hour of battery life, compared with other Wi-Fi chips based on the draft 802.11n standard. Companies have been shipping 802.11n chips based on the draft standard since last year.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) held a key vote on the draft standard this week, moving it a step closer to completion. In the past, Intel has waited until a final specification was complete to release wireless chips, but the company is moving forward now because of the high degree of confidence among many in the industry that the final standard will be extremely close to the draft standard, Hofer said. The Wi-Fi Alliance plans to start certifying products based on the draft standard during the second quarter, he said.

Intel also announced an extension of its Connect with Centrino program, in which it tests and verifies that its wireless chips will work with wireless chips from other vendors such as Atheros Communications or Broadcom. Interoperability problems can be a headache for users, especially in cities where multiple wireless signals are present, Hofer said.
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7

Intel has signed up several major access point vendors for the program, such as D-Link and Netgear, but it has yet to finalise the participation of market leader Cisco Systems' Linksys division. Cisco is evaluating the program, and Intel expects to see additional announcements, Hofer said.

Likewise, PC market leaders Hewlett-Packard and Dell are not onboard with the first generation of Intel's 802.11n chips, but will have products to talk about over the next few months, Hofer said. In the second quarter, Intel says it will overhaul its notebook products with Santa Rosa, a new platform that will feature 802.11n and mobile wide-area networking. Last year, PC industry sources expected Santa Rosa by March. More of Intel's customers will be onboard with 802.11n at that point, he said. Read More..

XIMETA 160GB HDD ETHERNET

The NetDisk Wireless is the first wireless high performance network hard drive. It has a 160 GB capacity. Share internet and media content throughout your home without wires! NetDisk Wireless provides centralized network storage for digital media and audio players. Combining the functions of wireless access and network storage, NetDisk Wireless includes everything you need to set up a wireless home network and share files from room to room.
Applications
* Add secure storage to your home network, small office, or company workgroup, while simultaneously routing your entire network (LAN)
* One stop multimedia storage center for the modern office environment
* Save entire MP3 or CD collections on your NetDisk
* Store digital photos, home videos, and more!
* Compatible with DSL, cable, and wireless access modems/routers
Wireless-G Router with 3-Port Switch
* Full duplex, dedicated bandwidth for each port
* Each port automatically detects and negotiates between 10Mbps& 100Mbps speeds Read More..

ASUS WL-330g Pocket Wireless Access Point

The compact WL-330g is not only a wireless access point (AP) but also a wireless Ethernet adapter, providing superior flexibility when building a wireless environment. Do you want to set up a wireless network in the meeting room or in your hotel room? Do you want to share Internet access with friends? Do you want to unwire your Network printer, desktop, notebook? The WL-330g is the ideal product to meet all you need. Read More..

Asus Spacelink WL-300G Access Point

ASUS WL-300g is the most powerful wireless LAN Access point. It is not only the bridge between the Ethernet and wireless networks, but also could provide Router function to support IP share and DHCP function. As the perfect solution for the SOHO sector, the WL-300g supports WDS (wireless distribution system), meaning it could connect other IEEE802.11b/g access points that support WDS function also. This is very useful for SOHO to set up WLAN environment. With the power over LAN (IEEE802.3af) feature, the WL-300G can be powered through the Ethernet line, meaning there is no need for additional power lines to tangle up the networking cabling.For superior signal reception, the WL-300g incorporated an ultra-sensitive antenna system that comes equipped with two internal dipole antennas. The WL-300g delivers smooth wireless networking whether it's indoor or outdoor. It also includes a RF connector for optional external antennas. Read More..

Belkin Wireless G Router DSL/ Cable gateway

The Belkin Wireless G Router lets users share files and a broadband Internet connection among their computers-without using networking cables. It features 802.11g technology that makes accessing files and networked peripherals-such as hard drives, printers, CD-ROMs, and DVDs-easier than ever. 802.11g technology provides you with networking speeds nearly five times faster than the current Wi-Fi (802.11b) standard. An integrated, 4-port 10/100Base-T Ethernet switch also allows you to connect wired computers to the network. 802.11g technology is the easiest wireless network to implement. The Router uses the wireless 802.11g 2.4GHz standard to offer you 400 feet of wireless coverage. 802.11g technology is backward compatible with the 802.11b Wi-Fi networking standard, so it allows you to implement faster wireless technologies in combination with existing 802.11b Wi-Fi networks. Read More..