Gizmodo: Wireless-N

Official: Apple Updates $99 AirPort Express to Wireless N

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:33:22 EDT

We first caught wind of this baby on Saturday, an AirPort Express based on 802.11n. This makes Apple's whole networking family N-capable, though this upgrade doesn't entirely solve the fact that AirTunes is not the best way to stream music in the home. Jump for press release.

Apple Introduces New AirPort Express With 802.11n
All AirPort Base Stations Now Run Fastest Wireless Standard

CUPERTINO, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today updated its AirPort Express(R) mobile base station with 802.11n to deliver up to five times the performance and twice the range of the previous model*. Priced at just $99, AirPort Express is the world's smallest 802.11n-based mobile base station. It can be plugged directly into the wall for wireless Internet connectivity and USB printing at home or easily brought on the road for wireless freedom wherever there is an Internet connection. AirPort Express features AirTunes(TM), which works seamlessly with iTunes(R) to give users a simple and inexpensive way to wirelessly stream iTunes music from a PC or Mac(R) to any room in the house.

"Apple is leading the way with a broad range of innovative 802.11n base stations for almost any wireless networking need," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "From the small and portable AirPort Express, to AirPort Extreme for workgroups of up to 50 users and the new Time Capsule for automated backups, Apple customers now have more great ways to extend their wireless networks with 802.11n."

AirPort Express features a single-piece, compact design weighing just 6.7 ounces, providing maximum portability. AirPort Express offers both PC and Mac users the ability to share a single DSL or cable broadband connection with up to 10 simultaneous users. Users can also share a printer wirelessly that is connected to the USB port. Apple's AirPort Utility software provides easy step-by-step instructions for setting up and configuring AirPort Express; and with its advanced security features, AirPort Express safeguards data on networked computers with support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2),

128-bit WEP encryption and a built-in firewall. Apple now includes 802.11n as standard in its entire line of AirPort base stations and Mac notebooks as well as iMac(R), Apple TV(R) and Time Capsule(TM).

AirPort Express includes a built-in combination digital and analog audio connector allowing users to connect to a home stereo or powered speakers. iTunes automatically detects remote speakers and displays them in a simple pop-up list for the user to select. Once the remote speakers are selected, AirTunes wirelessly streams iTunes music from the computer to the AirPort Express base station. Multiple AirPort Express base stations can be set up around a home, each connected to a set of powered speakers for a whole-home music experience. AirPort Express can also extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme(R) wireless network.

Pricing & Availability

AirPort Express is available immediately through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $99 (US).

*AirPort Express is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Actual performance will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.

D-Link DIR-855 Router Blasts Wireless N Over Dual Channels

Sean Fallon — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:00:55 EST

If you are looking for a serious solution for your home media streaming needs, D-Link's new DIR-855 Wireless N Router is offering simultaneous full-on dual 802.11n transmissions over both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels. So, for those with heavy bandwith needs—this router will allow two people to go to town using their own independent high-speed channel.

The DIR-855 also features three dual external antennae, an OLED network activity display, Dual Active Firewall (SPI, NAT), Green Ethernet technology, backwards compatibility with 802.11a/g, and a 1 year warranty. Not to mention a hefty £169.99 ($340) price tag. No word on when we might see it in the states [D-Link and Trusted Reviews]

Time Capsule Initial Verdict: Smooth Sailing, No Surprises

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:18:48 EST

We've been fiddling with Time Capsule since it arrived this AM, and so far it works as billed, clean and easy. The star of the show is really the new AirPort Utility software, which now comes with some neat tricks for the network-phobic. Most of all, we're learning the ins and outs of adding external drives, using networked printers, and setting up that potentially nasty initial data dump.

We've actually set up the Time Capsule several different ways already, as the only router in the network, and as an Ethernet-linked node on an existing wireless network. The start-up wizard in AirPort Utility asks you plainly what you want to do, in increasing steps like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book. I know some of you don't need that kind of child's play, but this kind of thing will even help you when you tell your mom to get one of these and realize you won't have to do tech support too.
Once you've got it set up, either as your router or a node on your network, you can just pop into Time Machine and see it listed as a drive. If that's all you want, select the drive and you're as good as done. That first dump can be a real doozy though, so keep some things in mind:
• Set aside an entire night to get it done.
• Consider connecting via Ethernet, especially if you have an 802.11b/g Mac. (Time Capsule has Gigabit 10/100/1000Base-T wired connectivity.)
• Try not to interrupt the first dump, as the subsequent file-integrity check will take a long time too.

But say you buy the 500GB Time Capsule, and want to use an external 1TB drive to do all your serious backing up. When you connect it via USB, it is automatically visible in both the AirPort Utility and the Time Machine on your Mac. What you can't do is merge the two to make one massive 1.5TB volume, though. You have to choose one or the other.In some cases, you may want to connect the USB drive you already use for Time Machine to the Time Capsule, to simply make the process wireless. Bear in mind that if you do that, you still have to make the massive initial dump: Time Capsule won't recognize that drive as your previous Time Machine drive, but just as new storage that you can use.

The internal drive and any external drives can be seen as standard network drives, too, across both Mac and PC platforms—checking the guest friendly option in AirPort Utility's disk settings is helpful there. Speaking of PC compatibility, Apple appears to be promoting Time Capsule, at least by word of mouth and in all the support literature, as a dual-platform product, even though its core Time Machine software is not available to Windows users. You can use third-party backup software and select Time Capsule as the target drive, though there are certainly many competing products that will let you do this for cheaper.

The only significant problem I've run into is the networked printer. I connected a printer to Time Capsule that I had set up for local use on my Mac. Time Capsule recognized it immediately, and the printer selection on the Mac itself showed it just fine, but when I went to actually send over a print job, I got an error that the printer was offline. (Eddie Izzard fans would've appreciated the ensuing angry outburst: "Not offline! No. Online. Control-P Print!!") I don't blame Time Capsule yet. I'm going to try it with some other printers soon, and will get to the root of it.

We will continue to test this and alert you to any issues, but in the meantime it's safe to say that this is a worthwhile product for people who have the money and want the convenience. How often do you refuse to connect the USB to your backup drive because it would hamper your style? How often are you afraid, after a long period of not backing up, of the time it may take you to perform a backup. Those issues go away with Time Capsule.

But there's a cost, particularly at the 1TB model, which is $200 more than the $300 500GB model. When we ask about this, all we get back is that these are "server grade" drives. Great, thanks, but we're gonna recommend the 500GB version. If you have 300GB of backup or less you're covered, and if you have 1TB of backup or more, you're better off scoring some massive drive or drive array at discount, and plugging it in via USB. Now go back the #&#;$% up!!! [Time Capsule on Giz]

Nokia's N800 Tablet Confirmed as First Sprint WiMAX Device

Brian Lam — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:28:42 EDT

Nokia will support Sprint's WiMAX network with an N800 tablet. The information comes from head of Open Source Ops Dr. Ari Jaaksi. On top of WiMAX, it'll retain Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This is the device, BTW, that has been hacked to get Apple-like scrolling UIs and virtual keyboards. Pretty cool, but by the time the Sprint Network goes national, the N800 is going to be long in the tooth. [Linux Devices]

Belkin N1 Vision Router Makes 802.11n Sexier Than Ever With Built-In Screen

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:38:53 EDT

Belkin's latest N1 series router, the N1 Vision, isn't just hands-down the smokiest 802.11n draft 2.0 router we've seen—it tries to one-up everyone else with a built-in LCD screen that displays info ranging from a bandwidth speedometer to the number of neighbors leeching your internet. At $200, the sexiness doesn't come cheap, but it can be yours later this month. More details after the jump.

•Interactive network display •Plug-and-Play "CD-less" setup •Operating Range: Up to 1,600 ft.** •Link Rate: Up to 300Mbps in 20/40MHz channel mode •Compatible with IEEE 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11n draft 2.0*, 802.3ab •Ports: WAN - 1 Gigabit port; LAN - 4 Gigabit ports •Security: Wi-Fi Protected Setup™; WPA™, WPA2™; 64-/128-bit WEP encryption; multiple SSID •VPN Support: PPTP; IPSec pass-through

Belkin N1 Vision

Wi-Fi Alliance Will Start Certifying Draft N 2.0 Products in June; Worrywarts Rejoice

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:45:09 EDT

The Wi-Fi Alliance is going to start certifying 802.11 Draft N 2.0 products late next month. While the final standard won't be set in stone until 2008, certified Draft N 2.0 products will have guaranteed interoperability with future N versions so you can get your N on without worry and will sport the fancy sticker on the right. CNET estimates that badge-bearing equipment will hit stores in July, so if promises and rainbow stickers are your thing, you've got about six weeks to go. – Matt Buchanan

Wi-Fi Alliance to begin certifying 802.11n gear [CNET]
Wi-Fi Alliance® Reveals New Logo and Announces First Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ 802.11n Draft 2.0 Products and Test Suite [Wi-Fi Alliance]

NYT Pulp Bite: Pogue on 802.11n-ightmare Routers

Brian Lam — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:55:42 EDT

Not an easy two weeks for the Poguester. First, he pulls an all-nighter putting together last week's video. And this week, he spends four days trying to get the N routers from Belkin, Linksys and Netgear running at the claimed speeds. That 300Mbps rating? It must have been measured on the moon, he quips.

He reinstalls his OS, tries different laptops, works through easter, and even takes the gear to the middle of a state park to see if interference is the culprit. No dice. Most routers didn't pass the 50Mbps speed. Except Apple's which he gives top marks to. He speculates that the Apple Airport Extreme's N implementation in the 5GHz band (vs the 2.4GHz that the other routers use) gives it its advantage.

So, basically, these dedicated networking companies just had their asses handed to them by Apple's Airport Extreme router. (He also notice the same lack of gigabit ethernet that we did, but fails to mention the incompatibility with XBox 360s's Live network.) Useful info if you're going to buy an N setup anytime soon.

Interestingly, the Belkin got a recommendation, despite the failure to pass the 50Mbps mark. Maybe he's afraid of being called an Apple fanboy and wants to provide an alternative? I wouldn't have.

The video, as always, is worth watching. This week's is done like a bedtime story.

–Brian Lam

A Faster Wi-Fi World Is Coming [NYTimes]

802.11n Draft 2.0 Approved, Will Be Fully Compliant With Final Draft

Jason Chen — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:00:12 EDT

Good news for wireless fans, as the 802.11 Working Group has just approved Draft 2.0 of the 802.11n spec. What's left before you can hop down to the store and get your own certified gear? Just Draft 3.0 and the final spec.

However, as a stopgap measure between now until then, the Wi-Fi Alliance can now certify gear as Draft 2.0 compliant. This is important, since any gear certified as such will be guaranteed compliant with the final draft, and get the full 200 or so Mbps that the spec promises.

And for those of you keeping track, Draft 3.0 should be released in late '07 for an early '08 approval, and the final draft somewhere around April of '09. – Jason Chen

Draft 2 Passes 75% [Matthewgast via Ars Technica]

Apple AirPort Utility Guided Tour

Jason Chen — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:20:05 EST

Unlike regular routers, Apple requires you to use its own AirPort Utility in order to manage and change settings on the AirPort Extreme. If you're still curious as to what features Apple's newest router does and doesn't have, take a look at our illustrated walkthrough of just about the entire AirPort Utility.

This is the last thing we'll post about the AirPort today, we promise. – Jason Chen

The Things Other Apple Airport Extreme Reviews Don't Tell You

Jason Chen — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 16:30:58 EST

You're all familiar with the specs of the Extreme, so let's just skip to how it performed—later moving on to the problems we had.

On the performance side, 802.11n really does work a lot faster than our old 802.11g D-Link DGL-4300 Gaming Router. When transferring a 700MB Batman Begins file over 802.11n, 5GHz, WPA2 encryption, we got sustained speeds of 7.3 MB/s to a 100Mbps ethernet-connected machine and 6.0 MB/s to another MacBook connected on N. As a benchmark, we got 9.3 MB/s when we ran it ethernet to ethernet (both 100Mbps).

Compared to our 802.11g router, which got 2.77 MB/s from to an ethernet-connected machine and 1.34 MB/s going g to g (on the same MacBook), it's quite an improvement. So yes, our speed gains aren't quite as much as the 5x Apple's touting (we got between 2.6x and 4.4x), but it's well within the margin of error, also accounting for file transfer overhead.

And we got reception in our office whereas our old G signal died somewhere on the road to the bathroom, about 20 feet away, through two walls. (I am writing this review from the toilet.) Each apartment is different, but my 1000-square foot, 2-bedroom abode was easily blanketed, despite 10 other APs in the area causing interference. YMMV, but the Airport's range lives up to the hype. Through outer walls, pacing out onto my lawn, I hit 100 feet of range, but others have reported 350 feet, line of sight.

Then the issues.

Our old Lexmark printer didn't work with the AirPort Extreme because the USB drivers for it didn't work over the network, and we couldn't find any network-capable drivers for it. This is something you should research in advance if you're looking forward to networking your printer through this thing. Lots of people online had no problems with their printers, presumably ones that they didn't buy for $10. It's Lexmark's fault for not having the drivers, and our fault for having a lousy $10 printer.

And there's no Gigabit Ethernet, which we found a little disappointing since even the Macbook Pros and Mac Pro towers have 1000 base T connections. We talked to one of Apple's engineers on the project as well, and he explained to us the lack of Gigabit Ethernet was because most home users aren't going to be using more than 90Mbps on their N connections to reach the net, and that was good enough for surfing. True, but we're not concerned with surfing limitations as much as we are with files transfers between various machines on our home network. So we don't see ourselves giving up our current Gigabit Ethernet setup any time soon. You may be in this camp as well.

Performance degradation from using G and N machines simultaneously were negligible when just browsing the internet, and our Apple guy said it only affects N machines only for the duration that the G machines are sending data. Not a huge deal unless you're using both to stream files simultaneously, in which case we'd recommend you plug in to Ethernet anyway.

Another possible problem with the AE was the inability to change its MAC address, which means people with ISPs that lock on to a particular MAC address will have to call up their provider. But if they already have a wireless router, AirPort Extreme has the ability to be set on "bridge" mode by just clicking a dropdown, and it totally just got out of the way of all DHCP, DNS, and routing. Everything was passed up to the D-Link. Usually doing this on other manufacturer's routers takes tens of minutes of configuration and rebooting, something we're glad to have skipped this time.

Although seemingly pricey at first glance, the AirPort Extreme 802.11n base station falls within the range of similar draft-N routers on the market now. Routers from D-Link, Linksys and Netgear all fall within the $100 to $200 range, and with the exception of Netgear's offerings—which are actually quite stylish—all look like equipment Drew Barrymore's childhood buddy uses to phone home. Not a huge deal since routers are meant to be admired once, placed in a corner, and forgotten about like your college diploma or your surround sound system, but going the extra mile for design like Apple and Netgear counts for something.

So would we recommend this as an N-router? Yes, but with caveats. Its N performance was great—but the lack of Gigabit Ethernet, Xbox 360/VPN issues, and inability to change the MAC address of their router to get online rules this out for certain people. Yet another caveat when buying any draft-N networking equipment, not just Apple's Airport Extreme: When we asked whether this draft-N firmware was going to be upgradeable to the final N spec, Apple said they tried to make it as upgradeable as possible but it was impossible to say until the final draft is released.

Should you buy it? Look at our lousy Venn Diagram below (fixed to make it more clear). If you fall in the middle, then you should be satisfied with Apple's latest release. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Apple]

Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11n Gallery: It's Like You Bought It

Jason Chen — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:00:06 EST

Want to see what the Apple AirPort Extreme looks like? UP CLOSE? Check out the gallery and you'll feel like you spent $200 and purchased one yourself. Only now you have $200 you can spend on ~~booze~~ a late V-Day present consisting of flowers and ~~booze~~ ~~booze~~ ok booze.

– Jason Chen

Airport Extreme [Gizmodo]

Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n Has VPN Issues

Jason Chen — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:15:07 EST

For those of you who regularly VPN into work and are planning on purchasing an Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11n, check this out. According to the Apple Support forms, VPN users have been having trouble with VPN pass through because there aren't any options to configure the pass through.

There is a workaround, however, to use in the meantime while Apple releases a patch. The workaround has you setting the default host and pointing that to your machine you need to VPN from, but it's less than idea if you need to get more than one computer to VPN. Take a look at the support forums for more info. – Jason Chen

VPN and Airport Extreme [Apple via Slashdot]

Microsoft's Xbox 360 Incompatible with Apple's Airport Extreme 802.11n

Jason Chen — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:54:36 EST

Two can play the incompatibility game. It looks like Microsoft's getting back at Apple's "don't get Vista if you want to use iTunes" by telling Xbox 360 users not to get the new Airport Extreme because it's incompatible with their game console.

Apparently the 360's having trouble either with WPA/WPA2 security or routers with N-support, as a few Linksys and D-Link users are also reporting compatibility problems. Microsoft says they may update this in the Spring Dashboard update, but that won't be out for a couple months. For now either stay away from Apple's Extreme if you've got an Xbox 360 or hook it up via Ethernet. – Jason Chen

Apple Support [Apple via TUAW]

Etri Wi-Fi Router Has Half-Mile Range, Beaucoups Bandwidth

Charlie White — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:15:00 EST

We're looking at our Linksys Wi-Fi router with disdain now that we've discovered how weak it is compared to this Etri Wi-Fi mofo. Besides the Etri router's awesome 240Mbps speed, it has a range far beyond ordinary Wi-Fi, cranking out signals at a claimed range of 100m to 1km. Sheesh. Our Linksys can barely get from one side of the house to the other.

Etri hops up that speed by using a combination of the 802.11n (so far, that's draft-N), and the MIMO spec that uses multiple signals to increase bandwidth. Plus, its security protocols have been beefed up to keep those curb-dwelling bandwidth suckers off your ass. It's only been demonstrated in Korea so far, but this monster will give you a preview of the Wi-Fi tech that will be commonplace in a year or two. – Charlie White

Long range WiFi router [ubergizmo]

Apple Airport Extreme Shipping Today: Free 802.11n Updater, More Details

Brian Lam — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:43:07 EST

In case you didn't notice, there's a little $2 bonus included with the new, non-conehead, draft 802.11n, 5x faster, 2x ranged, Airport Extreme. The highly controversial update that cost 499 pennies at first, then 199 pennies, then falsely zero pennies, then back to 199 pennies, is free if you buy the whole Setup. That's a little bit of trivia for you following the somehow thrilling story.

Beyond that, there's actually a bit more going on with the Airport Extreme that I just learned today in terms of its USB drive capabilities.

It'll have that USB port for turning storage into networked drive, but did you know that drive can be set to automount upon connection to the network? It can also be locked down with specific user accounts. These features are part of the brave new world of Mac gadgets. One that supports PCs as well as Macs. Does this mean this works with Vista? The USB ports also work with Printers.

The rest of the Airport Extreme's features, like encryption, and security, are standard fare.

The Airport Extreme's unlocking software will work on Mac Pros from august 06. Here's the total list of machines that already have the DNA for going Extreme.

MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo
MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo
Mac Pro with Intel Xeon and AirPort Extreme
iMac with Intel Core 2 Duo (except iMac 17-inch, 1.83GHz)

One wish: Since my cable modem is near my livingroom setup, wouldn't it be nice if there was a super AppleTV box that had both Airport Extreme and AppleTV in one? And if it came in the same colors as the Shuffle? No? Never mind.–Brian Lam

[Gizmodo]

Apple's 802.11n Enabler Officially Up for Grabs

Louis Ramirez — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:39:01 EST

Apple's new Shuffles may have taken the limelight this morning, but in addition to the bite-sized players Apple officially released its 802.11n Enabler. The $1.99 software download unleashes your Mac's hidden talents, letting your Core 2 Duo-based machine access 802.11n networks. You can also get the update by purchasing the new AirPort Extreme. Whatever route you take, just make sure you obviously have an 802.11n network to take advantage of the speeds and range. – Louis Ramirez

Product Page [Apple]

802.11n Finished 1/08, Rubber Stamp Coming 10/08

Matt Buchanan — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:32:19 EST

IEEE's 802.11n working group has given Draft 2.0 of the spec a thumbs up, sending it off to members for approval by the end of this month. The upshot is that once it's okayed by all members, work on Draft 3.0 starts in earnest, to be sent out for voting by June. As long as everything goes off without a hitch over the next year, Draft 3.0—which will be the foundation for the final spec—should be approved in January 2008. This means that everything made after next January will be the real deal, just without the official label on it until October. – Matt Buchanan

802.11n in all but name: draft hardware in the clear [Ars Technica]

Intel Centrino Finally Juiced Up to 802.11n Spec

Matt Buchanan — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:35:56 EST

Starting later this month with Vista-loaded laptops from Acer, Asus, Gateway and Toshiba, Centrino Duo systems will come with Intel's new rhythmically named "Next-Gen Wireless-N" network setup, bringing them into line with the wave of other wireless-N products now hitting the market. It's obviously based on the draft 802.11n standard, but with approval coming ever closer , and Intel's new "Connect with Centrino" initiative—which specifically aims to ensure compatibility of its wireless-N setup with access points from Asus, Belkin, Buffalo, D-Link and Netgear, among others—conflicts with future N products seem unlikely. Of course, both Next-Gen Wireless-N and "Connect with Centrino" products will come with their own fancy "blah blah Intel" sticker, so be sure to scope it out before you take your new toys home if you're looking for some blistering 802.11n action. – Matt Buchanan

New Intel Wireless Product for Laptops Extends Networking Speed and Range [eHomeUpgrade]

Accountants Say Apple's $1.99 802.11n Tax is Bogus

Jason Chen — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:15:39 EST

Remember Apple's $1.99 charge to update current laptops to 802.11n? Well, according to Lynn Turner, former chief accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission, "[generally accepted accounting principles] doesn't require you to charge squat."

She adds, "You charge whatever you want. GAAP doesn't even remotely address whether or not you charge for a significant functionality change. GAAP establishes what the proper accounting is, based on what you did or didn't charge for it."

Despite this, Apple still maintains that if they gave away the 802.11n patch for free, their auditors would have required a revenue restatement, which may in turn cause...*yawn* sorry, we just fell asleep writing this sentence. Suffice it to say, Apple still thinks charging you two bones to activate 802.11n is a good idea, even if top tier accountants say they're not obligated to. – Jason Chen

Apple Gets a Bruise by Blaming A $1.99 Fee on Accounting Rules [WSJ - Thanks Kelly]

Anal Old Men Make One Small Step Toward 802.11n

Jason Chen — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:30:54 EST

Good news for 802.11n fans. The IEEE committee has just finished resolving the 12,000 comments—a.k.a. things companies didn't like—about the 802.11n protocol. Draft 2.0 has been advanced with a 100-0 vote with 5 abstentions (you can probably guess how those 5 were going to vote), which means it's now going out for a letter ballot.

If those nerdy, stodgy dudes decide they don't have a problem with the draft, draft 802.11n should become final 802.11n within a few months. Yippee? – Jason Chen

802.11 Task Group N goes back to letter ballot [MatthewGast via WifiNetNews via DSLReports]

Four Laptop Add-Ons That'll Keep Your System Humming

Louis Ramirez — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 12:45:32 EST

We've seen some really cool notebooks here at CES, but if you don't have the cash to spend on a new system, one of these accessories should keep your system running with the big dogs.

APC Universal Laptop Battery
This slick, thin laptop battery not only doubles as a stand for your notebook, but can also juice it up for up to 8 hours. And it keeps track of the amount of time/power you have left via a tiny built-in LCD.

Kensington Wireless Keypad/Mouse Combo
Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest impact. Plug in this USB receiver and you'll suddenly have a wireless mouse and numberpad.

Belkin N1 Wireless ExpressCard
Show your ExpressCard slot some love and upgrade to 802.11n at the same time.

Asus XG Station
Think of the XG Station as roids for your notebook's video card. Plug it in and watch as those framerates jump through the roof. Future models will let you install/upgrade the video card inside the XG Station. – Louis Ramirez

APC Laptop Battery
Kensington Wireless Keypad/Mouse Combo
Belkin Wireless N1 ExpressCard
Asus XG Station

Buffalo WZR-AG300NH AirStation Wireless-N Infinity Dual Band Router

Charlie White — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:15:00 EST

Now this is where wireless routers are going. Besides its speedy wireless -N connectivity, Buffalo says this AirStation Wireless-N Infinity Dual Band Router is the first to receive the stamp of approval for Windows Vista. You can tell by those serious- looking antennas that this baby is a juggler, handling four wireless standards (802.11b/g/a/n) all at the same time, and even going dual-band for quicker throughput. That veritable alphabet soup (especially that letter "n") lets you grab your data at speeds of 300Mbps, and hey, that's fast enough for some serious HDTV throughput.

If you don't like using this WZR-AG300NH as a router, switch it over to bridge mode and then you can use it as an access point. In addition to its wireless feats of strength, it also has a quartet of gigabit Ethernet ports. Buffalo didn't announce pricing, but said the product is designed for the consumer market "and small to medium businesses." – Charlie White

Linksys Gaming Router Scares Your Opponents: Tattooed, QoS, A/B/G/N

Louis Ramirez — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 23:02:59 EST

Call us wimps, but we'd hate to run into this router in a dark alley. This tattooed Wireless-N Router (WRT330N) is the first router designed especially for gamers. It has four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and one Gigabit WAN port. It uses a Network Optimizer to automatically prioritize latency-sensitive data—in other words, it'll analyze your network traffic and give gaming packets VIP status. Will it make you a better gamer? Hell no. Will it give you better network performance? That's what they're claiming. The router is rolling out today for $199. – Louis Ramirez

CES 2007 [Gizmodo]

Inside Linksys' CES Vault

Louis Ramirez — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 23:00:23 EST

We got a first hand look at Linksys' army of gadgets at CES. From a Wireless-N gaming router to an entry-level NAS drive—these guys have everything covered. Here's a look at what you can expect from them later this year. Updates on individual products to come. – Louis Ramirez

D-Link Brings 802.11n Speeds to Your ExpressCard Slot

Louis Ramirez — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:15:26 EST

Here's one more device you can slide inside your notebook's ExpressCard slot. D-Link's DWL-643 Xtreme N adapter supercharges your throughput by hitting speeds that max out at 300Mbps when connected to an Xtreme N router. The card was designed to automatically detect and connect to any of D-Link's wireless products and is also backwards compatible with 802.11b/g networks. Just remember that you'll need an Xtreme N router to take advantage of the speeds, otherwise save your cash and stick with your notebook's built-in wireless support. – Louis Ramirez

D-Link DWA-643 Xtreme N Notebook ExpressCard USA Bound [Mobile Whack]

Buffalo Delivers Wireless N Over USB 2.0

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:30:33 EST

It may look like some sort of three-pronged torture device, but the WLI-U2-G144N is actually Buffalo's USB 2.0-based wireless N adaptor. It lets your desktop hook up to your Wireless N router via USB 2.0 instead of having to crack open your PC and install a PCI-based card. Wireless N adaptors for desktops aren't that common, so it's nice to see Buffalo is spreading the love. Pricing and availability isn't set, so if you simply can't wait you may wanna run out and get Linksys' Wireless N USB adaptor, which goes for about $100. – Louis Ramirez

Wi-Fi USB2 Lan Adaptor [via Akihabara News]

802.11 pre-N Routers Running Into Issues

Jason Chen — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 14:05:37 EDT

Not only are most of the the pre-N and draft-N routers on the shelves today going to be incompatible with the final spec, they're incompatible with 802.11b/g products (and with each other). Three chipsets are on the market today that are being used in these N routers: Airgo, Broadcom and Marvell. In tests, Airgo received the highest speeds, but completely obliterated any 802.11b/g router in the vicinity. Broadcom and Marvell wasn't as bad, but they still interfered with legacy gear.

What this means is if you're using both 802.11n and 802.11b/g in your home, all your b/g gear will have loads of problems when your newer wireless is in use. And just forget about using this in an apartment complex, where many wireless routers are close together—your neighbors will be pissed. The problem could be solved if you were to use a high gain antenna with your N gear, but nobody really uses it until they need range, but if you need range that means nobody is close enough to you anyway.

So once again, here's another compelling reason to wait until N is done before upgrading your wireless networking. But, if none of these problems affect you—live close to others, buying N gear from different vendors, need to use both N and B/G simultaneously—then pre-N could be alright. – Jason Chen

How to jam your neighbor's Wi-Fi legally [ZDNet]

Netgear DG834N 802.11n ADSL2+ Modem Router

Jason Chen — Mon, 22 May 2006 19:30:36 EDT

We have to hand it to Netgear. When they say they're going to support something, say the 802.11n draft, they really support it. Never mind the ~~bollocks~~ difficulties, they're releasing the first draft 802.11n-compliant ADSL2+ Modem Router whether people ratify the standard or not.

With an ADSL 2+ mode, a router, a four-port 10/100 switch, a firewall and of course, draft 802.11n support, this device eliminates the need to have both a modem and a router to connect to your DSL service.

Press Release [Netgear]

802.11n Delayed Even Further

Jason Chen — Mon, 22 May 2006 16:44:37 EDT

Wi-Fi Networking News got tipped off by an anonymous IEEE member (it wasn't us, we only joined for the magazines) that the 802.11n draft is going to be very delayed.

Instead of receiving the standard 2,000 comments on the draft, the committee received 12,000. Thus, the vote is again going to be nowhere near the 75% required to ratify the draft.

Their guess, November '06 or January '07 for a draft. That means higher speeds will have to wait. But if you want broader coverage, current generation MIMO gear can provide it with their Multiple-In-Multiple-Out antennas. But those Draft-N device look like an even worse idea now if you want compatibility with future N gear.

802.11n Slides Further into the Future [Wi-Fi Net News]

802.11n Draft Fails Vote

Jason Chen — Thu, 04 May 2006 09:06:28 EDT

Remember what we said about 802.11N? Well, Draft 1.0 of the wireless standard was voted on, and it failed to get the 75% necessary to move onto the next stage. This could spell bad news for the companies that just released Draft-N devices, and even worse news for the people who bought them.

Not getting approval for the draft means the working group will need to revise it and change features and specifications. How much they change will impact whether these current Draft-N can be upgraded to the final version of the spec.

Like we said before, you're probably better off waiting until the standard is finalized before upgrading your equipment. And it may take a while, since 802.11N doesn't have Matthew McConaughey's rugged good looks.

New Wi-Fi standard hits another bump in the road [CNET]

Wireless 802.11N Questions: Is It Time To Upgrade?

Jason Chen — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 23:23:42 EDT

With the arrival of the first 802.11n routers from Buffalo Technology, Belkin, D-Link and Netgear, early adopters are wondering whether it's time for them to upgrade their home networks. With speeds hovering around 12x and range around 4x compared to 802.11g, there seems to be a significant improvement over current technology. But is it time to switch yet?

The short answer is, no. Read on to find out why.

Glenn over at Wi-Fi Net News says it's better to wait. The 802.11n standard hasn't been ratified by the IEEE (it's still in draft form) so there's a significant risk that the equipment bought now won't be upgradable to the final version of N. He continues:

With no hardware replacement guarantee from a manufacturer, why buy today? If manufacturers are willing to step forward and provide explicit offers with their products that they will have the same compliance with the gear they shift today as with the gear they ship in six months, up to and including replacing the hardware you purchase today, then that argument goes away.

On the other hand, Apple, who was first to market with 802.11b routers, is quiet on the whole situation. Andrew at eHomeUpgrade agrees with Glenn and explains why:

The lack of a defined standard certainly has to impact Apple's plans to release an upgraded Airport router. It is most likely stifling product innovations that would require the higher bandwidth throughput capabilities of the 802.11n standard.

It's not that Apple doesn't want to upgrade, they're just waiting for 802.11n to become official in order to save headaches for their customers (and support calls for themselves).

What's our take on it? Well, if you have a situation where it's a necessity to have high speed wireless networking, then by all means get the new equipment. But be aware that there's a risk that any equipment you buy after 802.11n has been finalized may be incompatible with what you buy now. If you take the plunge, let us know how fast your new routers are!

Netgear Gets Speedy with 802.11n

Travis Hudson — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:49:30 EDT

Netgear has announced the availability of its latest Wi-Fi products. The RangeMax NEXT series of product that operates at 802.11n speeds. Being fast can be pretty damn expensive, The RangeMax NEXT Wireless Networking Kit Gigabit Edition—that includes a Wireless router and wireless notebook adapter—has a blistering $349 price tag. At least it is still backwards compatible with 802.11b/g.

With speeds of up to 600 Mbps, the emerging 802.11n standard is the next generation of wireless networking, delivering the speed, range, and reliability to support the most bandwidth intensive applications. 802.11n incorporates multiple technologies including Spatial Multiplexing MIMO (Multi-In, Multi-Out), 20 and 40 MHz channels, and dual bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) to generate the high speeds

Product Page [Netgear]