The launch of the Wireless-N Upgrade Kit (WNEB3100), a Plug-and-Play solution that makes it fast and easy for users to add 5GHz Wireless-N access to any existing network and upgrade a computer to dual-band Wireless-N to deliver the faster speeds and more reliable connections enabled by 5GHz 802.11n technology.

The Wireless-N Upgrade Kit, which includes the Netgear 5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point (WNHDE111) and RangeMaxTM Dual-Band Wireless-N Adapter (WNDA3100), enables users to quickly and easily add 5GHz 802.11n to their existing wired or wireless networks.

By simply plugging the WNHDE111 into an existing router or gateway (router with integrated modem), users can immediately take advantage of the enhanced performance delivered by 5GHz Wireless-N technology, using the less-congested 5GHz band to provide more channels to deliver faster speeds and more reliable wireless connections. Adding the Wireless-N Upgrade Kit to an existing 802.11b/g network will create a dual-band network capable of supporting any Wi-Fi-compliant computer or device. While laptops with embedded Wireless-N will natively connect at the highest possible Wireless-N speeds, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter provides a boost in wireless performance to desktops and older laptop computers.

Equipped with industry-standard Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) and pre-configured security, the Wireless-N Upgrade Kit utilizes Netgears WPS Push  Connector function which eliminates the need to enter pass codes or long encryption keys and makes it quick and simple to establish secure, reliable communications with any WPS-enabled device. The Wireless-N Upgrade Kit supports automatic Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure superior performance for voice, video and gaming applications.

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, as explained Som Pal Choudhury, Senior Product Line Manager for Advanced Wireless at Netgear. The bandwidth limitations of the 802.11g standard, combined with the ever-increasing level of RF interference generated in the home and small business environments by wireless networks, devices and appliances operating in the 2.4GHz frequency band, are creating significant performance challenges for bandwidth-intensive applications operating across 802.11g wireless networks. The Wireless-N Upgrade kit delivers a high-performance wireless network that offers more channels in a less-congested frequency band to deliver the faster speeds and more reliable connections required for applications such as Internet telephony, high-definition video streaming and online gaming. In addition, the kit upgrades a computer to dual-band Wireless-N so consumers can get the maximum benefit of 5 GHz Wireless-N technology, as well as continue to support existing legacy products.

5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point/Bridge (WNHDE111)

The Netgear 5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point/Bridge (WNHDE111) can be used as a standalone bridge or can function as a 5GHz Wireless-N access point when connected to an existing router or gateway. When wired to any existing 802.11b/g wireless router, the WNHDE111 adds high-performance 5GHz Wireless-N access-point capability to establish a dual-band network that supports new dual-band Wireless-N clients as well as legacy 802.11b/g clients, enabling users to add to any existing network the performance necessary to enable HD video streaming or lag-free gaming over the Wi-Fi compliant 5GHz 802.11n draft 2.0. The WNHDE111 can also act as a bridge to connect game consoles or media receivers such as the Netgear Digital Entertainer HD to a dual-band Wireless-N router like the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (WNDR3300).

The WNHDE111 uses the 5GHz Wireless-N band enabling it to avoid interference and deliver more reliable, faster connections, while an internal array of six Smart Antennas maximizes performance and range of the access point. Automatic Quality of Service (QoS) ensures lag-free gaming, jitter-free streaming of high-definition video content, and crystal clear Internet telephony calls. The WNHDE111 supports a wireless ad-hoc mode for wireless LAN peer-to-peer gaming, and multicast point-to-multi-point high-definition video streaming.

RangeMax Wireless-N Dual Band USB Adapter (WNDA3100)

The RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter (WNDA3100) enables users to upgrade their notebook or desktop PCs to dual-band Wireless-N delivering more wireless channels, less interference and better connections. The adapter is backward compatible with older 802.11g equipment and provides enough bandwidth to support music downloads, file sharing, and high-definition multimedia applications.

The WNDA3100 utilizes patented metamaterial micro-antennas to provide better speed and range than other 802.11n adapters to provide reliable connectivity to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wireless-N channels.
Retail price in the U.S. of $149.00.

Features

·         Easy plug-and-play upgrade to Wireless-N for your existing broadband network

·         Included USB adapter boosts wireless performance to a desktop or laptop PC

·         Notebooks with embedded Wireless-N connect at highest possible Wireless-N speeds

·         Automatic Quality of Service (QoS) ensures superior voice, video and gaming applications

·         More wireless channels, less interference and better connections using 5 GHz Wireless-N band

·         Push N Connect using WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) with no passwords to remember

 

 

5 GHz band avoids interference from other devices

 

Connect any 5 GHz Wireless-N devices to your existing home network

 

Perfect for connecting game consoles, digital video recorders (DVR), digital media adapters (DMA), networked storage, notebooks with dual-band Wireless-N adapters, and Wireless-N notebooks.

Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this products compatibility with any future standards.

 

Access Point/Bridge

Physical Specifications

·         Dimensions: 225.5 x 172 x 39 mm (8.9 x 6.8 x 1.5 in)

·         Weight: 0.56 kg (1.2 lb)

Ease of Use

·         Auto configures in AP or bridge mode based on type of Ethernet-enabled device it connects to

·         Easy secured setup with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) push-button

·         Smart Wizard simplifies setup and Push N Connect makes connecting to your secure network simple and fast

Security

·         Wi-Fi Protected Access, Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK)

·         Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 64-bit, 128-bit encryption

USB Adapter

Physical Specifications

·         Dimensions (l x w x h): 94.5 x 30.2 x 15.2 mm (3.72 x 1.19 x .6 in)

·         Weight: 21.5 g (0.76 oz)

Wireless Speeds

·         802.11b/g, 802.11a, 802.11n draft (2.4 GHz/5 GHz)

Standards

·         IEEE 802.11n draft specification, IEEE 802.11b, IEE 802.11g, 2.4 GHz

Security

·         Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK)

·         Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 64-bit, 128-bit encryption for IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g

 

REVIEW BY CNET.COM

In our tests with using one unit as an access point, we were happy to see a big jump in speed compared with that of 2.4GHz wireless routers. Note that other than the devices connected to the bridge unit of the kit, your existing wireless clients must support the 5GHz band to benefit from the newly added 5GHz signal.

In testing the Wireless-N Networking Kit as a bridge, we were again impressed with how convenient such a setup can be especially if you're a fan of HD video streaming. For example, we used our WD TV Live and compared the streaming quality with a standard 2.4GHz Wireless-N connection from our source computer with that of the quality when using the Wireless-N bridge. The difference in picture quality was immediately noticeable. Not only did our streaming begin quicker, but also the feed was much more reliable than with our standard 2.4GHz Wireless-N connection. We should note that all of this was accomplished with a wireless bridge that covered two floors in an apartment complex. When we pushed the device to three floors, there was a significant loss in quality.

It was more of the same when we attached our network storage drive to the wireless bridge--our WD TV Live accessed files quicker and streamed our HD content very well. When we switched over to wireless online gaming (through one floor), we could not detect a difference between our Xbox 360 experience with the bridge and if it was hardwired via Ethernet to a router.

Generally, it's recommended that you keep the bridge within 70 feet from the access point to get the best results.

Overall, we're happy with the performance of the Wireless-N networking devices, though we wish we could have more than just two Ethernet ports in back (you can add a hub if you want more ports). As we mentioned, the kit is not for everyone, but those who'd probably take advantage of such hardware would most likely need the additional ports.

 

One or two more Ethernet ports here would have really sealed the deal.

If you want to bring a fast wireless signal to your HD media streamer or game consoles, you'll like the Netgear Wireless-N Kit. We enjoyed the performance we got without having to run Ethernet cables to gain it

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/wireless-access-points/netgear-wnhdeb111-hd-gaming/4505-3265_7-32817706-2.html#ixzz1debuZyr2