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Secure broadband networking, Internet access, connected home and routing products specialist Zyxel Communications introduced a host of 802.11ac routers and USB adapters to meet consumer demand for speeds required for video media streaming, online gaming, and telephony applications for PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
The three routers (NBG6503, X650 and NBG6716) offer data rates from 750 megabits per second (Mbps) to 1750 Mbps to and the two USB adapters (NWD6505 and AC240) deliver 433 Mbps and 867 Mbps speeds. The NBG6716 retails for $229.99, the X650 Router for $139.99 and the NBG6503 Router for $99.99. The AC240 adapter is listed at $69.99 and the NWD6505 at $59.99, according to a company release.
The X650 router provides AC 1200, with 867 Mbps speed for 11ac and 300 Mbps speeds for 11n, as well as Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, while the NBG6503 Router offers AC750 connectivity, with 433Mbps 11ac and 300Mbps 11n.
The AC240 is an AC1200, USB 3.0 adapter that operates on speeds of 867 Mbps over 11ac and 300 Mbps over 11n. The company said the use of USB 3.0 provides more bandwidth than USB 2.0, allowing for faster throughput when compared to USB 2.0 based AC1200 USB adapters.
The 802.11ac standard takes advantage of the minimal interference offered by the 5GHz band as compared to the more popular—and thus more congested–2.4GHz band. For backward compatibility, all Zyxel routers operate simultaneously on both 2.4Ghz (11n) and 5Ghz (11ac), allowing both types of devices to connect at the same time without interfering with performance. The USB adapters are compatible with both 5Ghz 11ac and 2.4Ghz 11n.
“Zyxel believes in offering our customers a complete range of reliable, quality products to choose from,” Steven Joe, executive vice president for channel business for Americas at Zyxel, said in a statement. “Unlike most wireless products, which are refreshed only after four or five years, Zyxel aims to provide our customers and solution provider partners with the most cutting-edge technology, and the launch of our 802.11ac routers is a great example of how we’re meeting that goal.”
In addition, the NBG6716 router, an AC1750 device, boasts a performance optimization technology to help ensure the device can identify different types of traffic and intelligently manage them as needed. The technology includes a cloud-based service that automatically pushes the latest app management profiles to the router, and adds the ability to automatically allocate bandwidth for different applications based on their bandwidth requirements.
Earlier this year the company introduced the ES1100-8HP-240W and GS1100-8HP-240W, a high-performing Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) switch and a Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switches. The two eight-port devices are high-speed and offer connectivity to WiFi Access Points (APs), security cameras, voice over IP (VoIP) phones and other devices that need flexible deployments with direct access to power sources in office environments. The price for the ES1100-8HP-240W is $309.99 and $319.99 for the GS1100-8HP-240W. Both models are covered by a two-year warranty.