14 DAY TRIAL // ASUS has formally launched a new dual-band Wi-Fi router, and while that's not really a surprise all on its own, what is surprising is that the router is bundled with a USB wireless receiver.
Specifically, the router is an AC750 dual-band model called RT-AC52U, and the adapter is a USB-AC50 stick.
Well, stick isn't exactly right, since its wider than it's long, but that's beside the point.
The newcomer can transmit data at 300 Mbps over the 2.4 GHz band and another 433 Mbps (AC450) over 5 GHz.
It's not even close to the colossal speeds of AC1900 routers, which manage to throw data around at a total 1900 Mbps, but it's not supposed to be.
After all, this is a product made for the common man, or at least those from the lower layer of the performance market.
Besides, if you need a USB receiver for the router to work, you must have a motherboard without integrated Wi-Fi and, thus, likely not a high-tier gaming system or workstation. But we digress.
The ASUS RT-AC52U with USB-AC50 features a specially designed antenna that extends the wireless signal range by up to 150% compared to other routers. That's what ASUS says in the press release at least.
What's more, the router has a USB port, allowing it to share a flash drive or portable/external HDD or SSD across the entire network.
The universal serial bus can even be used for a 3G/4G (HSPA+) data connection mobile server, or just to charge smartphones, tablets and other gadgets.
An easily configurable VPN server is included as well (configured via ASUSWRT dashboard), among other software products bundled in the same box (for advanced network options, like creating a print server).
Sales of the ASUS RT-AC52U with USB-AC50 will start in mid-February in the UK, at an unknown price.
