Netgear ships first 802.11ac router, intros USB adapter
updated 05:40 pm EDT, Tue May 15, 2012
Netgear announces new router and Wi-Fi adatpter using new standards
Netgear has released its first 802.11ac router using the new Wi-Fi specification. The R6300 router, which is said to be capable of combined Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1750Mbps, ships at the same time as announcements for a more budget-conscious R6200 router and the A6200 Wi-Fi dongle, aiming to be the first 802.11ac dual-band USB adapter to market.
The R6300 packs four gigabit Ethernet ports, a pair of USB ports for network-attached storage and print server purposes, and the 802.11ac dual-band gigabit radio at its core. With 802.11ac it is claimed to transfer at 1300 Mbps, dropping down to 450Mbps for 802.11n and maintaining further compatibility for 802.11a, b, and g standards. The newly announced R6200 router boasts similar features, however the theoretical peak speeds drop to 900Mbps over 802.11ac or 300Mbps over 802.11n.
Both routers support remote control through Netgear Genie apps for the desktop, iOS or Android devices, along with MyMedia remote-media playback, AirPrint, parental controls, and a DNLA-ready media server.
The A6200 USB Wi-Fi adapter also uses 802.11ac with the same backwards-compatibility as the routers. With a claimed speed of up to 867Mbps, the dongle also comes with a desktop dock for those not wishing to use the swiveling antenna design on a notebook.
The R6200 and A6200 are expected out in the third quarter of this year for $180 and $80 respectively. The R6300 router is on sale for around $200.
