Wireless

CES 2008: Netgear to Migrate Wireless Traffic to the 5 GHz Spectrum

The move aims at eliminating the interferences between the crowded 2.4 GHz channels

By Bogdan Botezatu, Hardware Editor

7th of January 2008, 15:19 GMT

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Netgear's Rangemax Dual Band Wireless-N router

This year's Consumer Electronics Show is dedicated to the wireless technologies, as the new specifications tend to take over the pile of cables roaming along our living-rooms. Wireless solutions

provider Netgear has come up with a whole new lot of wireless 802.11n networking devices that focus on moving the network traffic in the 5GHz spectrum. Additionally, each Netgear device comes with new "metamaterial" antennae that allows using up to eight aerial radiators for each device.

The 2.4 GHz spectrum offers a wider signal range which results in better transfer rates. The 2.4GHz frequency, however, is not so generous with the non-overlapping channels, and only provides three of them to take care of the network traffic. This leads to severe interference from other WLANs or wireless devices.

The 5GHz radio provides 20 non-overlapping channels, so there is plenty of room for all the networks one may have. The interference-free spectrum comes at a cost, as the 5GHz band is limited in signal range. Netgear, however, claims that its new Wi-Fi devices use metamaterial antennae to compensate, and even eliminate this major handicap in range.

Netgear today launched a raft of 802.11n Wi-Fi networking devices that take the technology into the uncrowded 5GHz band. The new kit also incorporates clever new "metamaterial" antennae to cram up to eight aerials inside each box. The Rangemax Wireless-N Dual Band router is equipped with eight such metamaterial antennae for best range and throughput on the 5 GHz spectrum.

The wireless gear provider has also presented an USB dongle for laptops without a 5GHz 802.11n radio. Should the old laptop lack compatibility with the 5GHz 802.11n radio, the USB dongle acts like an external USB wireless network card.

The Netgear wireless devices will be available until the end of the month, but the manufacturer did not mention any pricing.

TAGS:

Netgear | 802.11n | wireless devices | router | 5GHz

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