Maximum PC Wireless-N RSS Feed

Netgear Launches Wireless-N Upgrade Kit

Paul Lilly — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:44:29 -0500

The net is no place for slowpokes and Netgear hopes to nudge home networks into 802.11n territory with its Wireless-N Upgrade Kit (WNEB3100). For MSRP $149 (cheaper online), the kit comes with Netgear's 5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point (WNHDE111) and the company's RangeMax DualBand Wireless-N Adapter (WNDA3100). When plugged into an existing router or gateway, the kit gives surfers an easy upgrade path to a speedy dual-band Wireless-N network which any Wi-Fi compliant computer or device can then tap into.

“The Wireless-N Upgrade kit enables customers with existing gateways and routers from their ISPs to easily add the performance benefits of 5GHz Wireless-N to their networks by simply connecting the kit to their existing wireless equipment, eliminating the need to re-wire, reconfigure or replace any existing equipment,” explained Som Pal Choudhury, Senior Product Line Manager for Advanced Wireless at Netgear.

The Access Point can also serve duty as a standalone bridge for connecting game consoles, media receivers, and other similar devices, and supports a wireless 'ad-hoc' mode for multicast point-to-multi-point high definition video streaming and wireless LAN peer-to-peer gaming. And because it comes equipped with automatic Quality of Service (QOS), Netgear claims gaming and movie watching will be lag- and jitter-free.

Anyone tempted?

Image Credit: Netgear

New D-Link DIR-628 Router Features Dual-Band 802.11n at Popular Prices

Mark Edward Soper — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:04:07 -0500

DIR-628: Two Modes in One Router...

The new D-Link RangeBooster N Dual Band Router, the DIR-628, joins a very short list of 802.11n-compliant routers that are compatible with both the 802.11n 2.4GHz mode (backwards-compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b) and the optional 5GHz mode (backwards-compatible with 802.11a):

Linksys WRT600N
D-Link's own Extreme N Duo Media Router DIR-855
Netgear's RangeMax WNDR3300

(Buffalo Tech's Wireless-N products are involved in ligitation and are currently not available in the US).

5GHz support enables 802.11n networks to escape the channel congestion inherent in 2.4GHz networks (where only three of the 11 channels theoretically available do not overlap) and achieve faster throughput through the use of double-width (40MHz) channels.

To find out how the DIR-628 implements the 2.4GHz and 5GHz modes, and to find out what level of wired Ethernet it supports, keep reading.

...But Not Two Routers in One

The DIR-628's dual-band rivals actually feature two routers in one: they have dual radios that can transmit on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at the same time, enabling you to have two separate wireless networks (one for data and one for streaming media).

By contrast, the DIR-628 uses a simpler (and less-costly) design: during setup, you select whether you want to use the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency. Thus, if you have dual-mode 802.11n and/or 802.11a wireless adapters (which run at 5GHz) on your network, you can run in 5GHz mode. If you have only 2.4GHz adapters (802.11n, 802.11g, or the pre-Cambrian 802.11b), choose the 2.4GHz mode.

This router gives you the ability to move from 2.4GHz to 5GHz without replacing the router, but there's no way to have a mixture of clients. If the DIR-628 is at the center of your wireless network, you must upgrade all of your clients from 2.4GHz or 5GHz at the same time. Ouch!

Fast Ethernet in a Gigabit Ethernet World

The other cost-cutting feature of the DIR-628 is its lack of Gigabit Ethernet support. Gigabit Ethernet is supported in other dual-band routers, enabling wired clients with Gigabit ports to run at top speed. And, some 2.4GHz-only 802.11n routers, such as the D-Link DIR-655 and the Linksys WRT310N include Gigabit support at only a slight price premium to the DIR-628.

Missed It by This Much!

In terms of features, the DIR-628 is a puzzling mixture of the interesting (switchable between 2.4 and 5GHz) and frustrating (runs only one band at a time; lacks Gigabit Ethernet ports). The DIR-628 is likely to be of the greatest interest to those who already have 5GHz-compliant 802.11n (or 802.11a) hardware and are looking for a low-cost way to move to 802.11n support. For the vast majority of users, however, who are running in the 2.4GHz band or have dual-band clients, there are better choices in the marketplace.

(image courtesy D-Link)

802.11n Gains Traction - Here's What You Need to Know

Mark Edward Soper — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:56:53 -0500

Introducing 802.11n

IEEE 802.11n is the most interesting wireless network standard since the original development of 802.11-based wireless networking several years ago. Here are a few reasons why:

The base 802.11n standard is backwards-compatible with the mainstream 802.11g 54Mbps wireless network, while offering the ability to run at much faster speeds. This is possible because both 802.11n and 802.11g use 11 channels in the 2.4GHz radio band.
An optional part of the 802.11n standard also supports 5GHz frequencies, enabling dual-band 802.11n hardware to also be backwards-compatible with 802.11a wireless networks.
Dual-band 802.11n routers, such as the Linksys WRT600n, enable a single router to support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks at the same time.
802.11n offers potential speeds of up to 300Mbps, and even though real-world speeds are much slower, 802.11n blows the doors off the established 802.11a and 802.11g standards (11Mbps 802.11b is long overdue for replacement due to slow speed and very weak security).
802.11n 5GHz offers many more channels (with no overlap) than 802.11g or 2.4GHz 802.11n, and also offers wide channels for better throughput.

Since there are two different "flavors" of 802.11n hardware on the market, how can you tell what the best choices are? Read on to find out more.

When a "Standard" Isn't Really a Standard

Although you can still find a lot of 802.11g (both standard and proprietary speed-improved versions) on the shelves of your local computer store, 802.11n hardware is rapidly taking shelf space away from its predecessor. And, with most of the latest laptops on the market, along with the forthcoming ASUS eee Box, offering 802.11n adapters in either their standard or custom configurations, you'll probably be using 802.11n wireless networking sooner rather than later.

This is ironic because, as we told you about last year, the 802.11n standard is still in its draft stage, with final certification expected in 2009. However, by certifying 802.11n hardware as being Draft 2.0 compliant, the Wi-Fi Alliance is telling users that it's safe to start using 802.11n now - and manufacturers and users alike are responding.

Start With the Router, then Build Up from There

If you're planning to upgrade to 802.11n, start by choosing a router that has 802.11n support. I chose the Linksys WRT600N router for a couple of reasons:

It supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies
It has an integrated Gigabit Ethernet switch

These features enable me to run two different wireless networks if I want, and support the integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports found in many recent computers at full speed. Even though my home wireless network is a mixture of 802.11n and 802.11g clients, I'm already seeing a big boost in network performance.

Getting the Best 802.11n Hardware for Your Money

One of the strengths of 802.11n is the ability to support both the crowded 2.4GHz radio band and the uncrowded 5GHz radio band. Unfortunately, many integrated and add-on 802.11n adapters and routers support only 2.4GHz frequencies.

Wi-Fi Draft 2.0-compliant 802.11n hardware that supports only 2.4GHz frequencies has the following certification mark:

While virtually any 802.11n hardware provides a great speed boost over 802.11g (and even improves performance on a mixed 802.11g and 802.11n network), you'll be better off in the long run to go with dual-band hardware. Look for the Wi-Fi Alliance ABG+Draft N certification mark if you want dual-band hardware:

Buyer Beware!

If you're shopping for a new notebook computer, keep in mind that most of the clearance-priced models being blown off store shelves this summer don't include 802.11n support. If you want maximum speed today and tomorrow, you'll want to pay a bit more for an 802.11n radio in your notebook (preferably dual-band). Similarly, be sure to use the custom-configuration tool when you order a notebook computer so you can choose an 802.11n radio in place of an 802.11g radio.

Finding the Mother Lode of 802.11n Draft 2.0-compliant Products

Over 300 products have been certified as meeting 802.11n Draft 2.0 standards. See the listing here.To learn more about Wi-Fi 802.11n Draft 2.0, see the Wi-Fi Alliance website.

It's TV! It's Internet! It Works!

Mark "Marcus Soperus" Soper — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:10:56 -0500

Windows Media Center's always been a convergence technology, erasing the once bright lines separating music, photography, video, and TV. With the launch of the Internet TV beta program for Vista's Windows Media Center, even the delivery mechanism's gone through a mashup: instead of using coaxial cable and a TV tuner, Internet TV uses your existing broadband connection and wired or wireless network to bring you TV.

Tuning In and Turning On

As soon as Windows Vista Media Center downloads the update, you will see Internet TV beta appear as one of the options in the TV + Movies menu (if you don't see it right away, go into the Tasks menu, select Settings, General, Automatic Download Options, and click Download).

So, What's On Internet TV?

As of the start date (9-28-07), you can choose from:

- Movie trailers, including current and forthcoming films in theaters and on DVD

- Music, including live in concert recordings, top videos (Bruce Springsteen does the initial honors), the MSN in concert series, and most popular genres from jazz to hip-hop

- Sports, from baseball and football to OJ and hockey

- News, bringing you current stories

- Entertainment, including MSN orginal live action and cartoon TV series, the cult classic Arrested Development (all three seasons), and about a dozen TV channels from HGTV and DIY to Biography and the History Channel, and your favorite shorts from JibJab, iFilm and others

- Top picks in various categories, including a rare Bill Gates/Steve Jobs joint appearance.

In sort, Internet TV beta brings you a well-rounded program collection designed to appeal to just about everyone. And now for the final question...how good is Internet TV?

TV via the Web - Surprisingly Good!

I gave the pilot episode of Arrested Development a viewing through a 54Mbps (more or less) 802.11g wireless connection to my cable modem:

Full motion - check.
Full screen display - check.
Audio/video synchronization - check.
Smooth playback (no dropped frames) - check.
Acceptable image quality - check (especially from across the room).

Does it rival a DVD? Not really - it's a bit softer (more like broadcast quality), but it's more than good enough for sampling of unfamiliar series, keeping an eye on the news, and so forth.

Your Money's No Good Here

The price? Free! Advertising pays for it, so put your wallet away. Unfortunately, the fact it's ad-supported means it's only for US residents right now.

Adding Internet TV to Vista Media Center brings it even closer to being a truly all-encompassing home entertainment vehicle. And, the ride's free.

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Discover how Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Windows Movie Maker and Windows Photo Gallery work together to make Windows Vista the most compelling multimedia platform for Windows yet. Get Mark's new book Maximum PC Microsoft Windows Vista Exposed: an Insider's Guide to Supercharging Windows Vista. It's available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, BooksaMillion, and other fine bookstores.

Microsofty Multimedia Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 27

Mark Soper — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:50:45 -0500

Media Extenders

On the Windows Vista front, Microsoft announced Wednesday a new generation of media extenders from Linksys, D-Link, and Niveus Media. The new Extenders for Windows Media Center connect TVs and home theater systems to systems running Windows Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate editions. The idea isn't exactly new: Linksys and D-Link have made various media extenders for Windows XP, but the new generation will include support for the latest technologies, including Wireless N high-speed wireless networking, support for HDTV, and support for Windows Media Video HD, DivX and Xvid video formats. The new extenders are also designed to support streaming of protected HD cable content to multiple extenders.

You can see pictures of the Niveus Media Extender from the CEDIA Expo last week at the Endgaget.com website.

Internet TV

How about watching TV with your PC without using a TV tuner? It's coming to Windows Vista Media Center. Microsoft's preparing to roll out advertiser-supported TV via the Internet for Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions. Endgadget.com has photos from the demonstration at the CEDIA Expo, and it looks as if MS will be offering TV sports, news, entertainment and movie trailers via WMC's TV & Movies menu.

Not Long Until the Waiting's Over...

The wait for more details will end on September 27, when Microsoft brings more details to light at New York's DigitalLife event.

Think Gig! Time to Shop for Gigabit Ethernet Hardware

By Mark Soper — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:37:21 -0500

Although Wireless Ethernet adapters and routers are the SKU kings of your computer store's network hardware department, only the emerging 802.11n standard even gets close to matching the performance of Fast Ethernet (100Mbps). Meanwhile, led by NVIDIA and Intel chipsets, many motherboards and systems have now ramped up their onboard wired Ethernet support to Gigabit Ethernet, offering ten times the bandwidth at 1000Mbps and backwards compatibility with 10/100 Ethernet. If you're wanting to move video or other data really, really, fast, Gigabit Ethernet's the way to go.

Why Move to Gigabit? It's All About the Devices

Although Gigabit Ethernet is becoming standard on the desktop, Fast Ethernet, running at 1/10 the speed, is still the overwhelming choice for wireless routers' integrated Ethernet switches. And, as long as all you're doing is running a network to connect your PCs to the Internet, 100Mbps is fast enough. However, what if you could connect Gigabit Ethernet storage devices to your network? With fast access to storage from any PC, it's a powerful reason to make the move. And, now you have plenty of choices.

Gigabit Ethernet for Faster Network Storage

High-capacity network attached storage with features such as a USB print server, support for network discovery (Universal Plug and Play) for easy media sharing, bundled backup software, RAID support, and support for remote access via the Internet is a really good reason to look at making the move to end-to-end Gigabit Ethernet support.

Some of the network storage devices that include Gigabit Ethernet connections include:

- Western Digital's My Book World Edition (500 and 750GB) and World Edition II (1, 1.5 and 2TB) can be accessed remotely or locally without a PC host, and offer bundled EMC Retrospect Express backup software.

- LaCie Ethernet Big Disk provides capacity up to 2TB, while Ethernet Disk mini provides storage from 320-500GB with USB expansion options.

- Iomega StorCenter Wireless Network Storage combines 1TB storage with a USB print server, 802.11g wireless access, and EMC Retrospect Express backup; Iomega also offers a 500MB StorCenter Network Hard Disk without wireless support.

- Maxtor Solutions' Shared Storage II Dual puts 1TB of storage with RAID 1 mirroring and USB storage expansion on your network. Fusion offers a 500GB capacity, and Shared Storage II offers 320 or 500GB storage.

Have Your N and Gigabits Too

So, if you're ready to make the jump to Gigabit Ethernet, what routers can you choose from?

Some IEEE 802.11n routers, including some that have received Wi-Fi Certification, include Gigabit Ethernet support. Buffalo Wireless-N Nfiniti Dual Band Gigabit router, Linksys WRT330N, WRT350N and WRVS4400N, D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router, and Netgear RangeMax NEXT WNR854T are some of the first of a growing wave of Gigabit routers.Choose one of these, and you can boost the speed of your wired network immediately, keep using existing 802.11g clients, and be ready to add 802.11n wireless clients in the future.

Thumbnail image of Western Digital My Book World Edition II courtesy of Western Digital.