Linksys announces WRT610N simultaneous dual-N band router
By Ryan Block 
posted July 3rd 2008 12:01AM
posted July 3rd 2008 12:01AM
posted July 3rd 2008 12:01AM
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It could use a longer name. "WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-N Band Router" just doesn't describe the product well enough.
Well, this is going to be my new router.
already out of stock, too bad
Are you sure? I'd let 50 people on Newegg take the hit and review it first to see if it's similar to all the recent buggy, nearly impossible to setup Linksys siblings.
It has been out of stock, it's a pre-order, mine is listed as expected to ship on the 14th.
I would check out the netgear version WNDR3300. Same specs but much cheaper
Doesn't 802.11n draft already make use of the 2.4 and 5ghz band?
No, absolutely not. Read up folks and don't be fooled by imitations.
What N? The only routers on the market are draft-N. Since their not following specifications, they can do whatever they like.
I believe that both 2.4 and 5Ghz are available to use under N, but I'm not sure if it requires both. Few routers offer 5Ghz atm. Though, this should easily have reverse compatibility with wireless a.
@atrain: Are you joking? Of course they're following specifications, it's just a draft of a specification, and most routers will be firmware upgradable to the final draft n once it's done.
My Airport Extreme (Gigabit) does offer me the option of either 2.4ghz or 5ghz, however, unlike this product, it cannot do both simultaneously.
Yes, 802.11n already supports simultaneous 2.4 and 5 GHz, but most router hardware doesn't. Most routers contain only a 2.4 GHz radio.
The Linksys WRT600N has been out for several months now and has support for using both frequencies simultaneously. It also support 40 MHz wide channels (as opposed to the standard 20 MHz), which produces another speed increase. The WRT600N has 3 external antennas, so it doesn't look as nice as the WRT610N, but my guess is that the 600N has slightly better coverage.
These routers use Broadcom chipsets. DD-WRT will run on the WRT600N (and probably the WRT610N as well), but it is currently lacking a couple of features (such as 40 MHz wide channel support.)
@Carlton Bale
Most informative comment of the year. My hat goes off to you!
it's still pre-N (or draft-N, whatever) and I won't buyty a wireless-N router until 802.11N is finalized
Most routers are going to be firmware upgradable to final N, so that's not much of an issue.
iofthestorm, I never thought I would see this, but I just saw a router Fanboy!
lol
Wait,there's a final n?
Someone explain this to my uninformed mind
um, no. he's actually giving out good, useful information.
Ace b, the current 802.11n products are based on the 'Draft' of the final speicifcation. Once the final specification is released, it'll probably gradually replace 802.11g as the standard, and will be far more compatible.
@Gav
So when's the final spec's gonna be released?
Any router that is compliant with 802.11n Draft 2.0 will be firmware upgradeable to the final version. Anything that is Draft 1.0 *may* not be.
Thebhead of the nameing department should be fired
Your spellchecker should be fired.
Why? Says a lot more than most product names.
W-Wireless
RT-router
610-well, the dual band routers have 600Mbps bandwidth, I suppose this is just to distinguish it from the WRT600N
N-802.11n
Is that really so hard to understand?
I'd admit I can't spell worth a darnbut dont blame my spell cheker mobilesafari and firrfox have good ones I'm just really bad at spelling
@DefPo3t
I've found that if you have to explain the backstory of your previous comment,your gonna get low ranked.
And basically,"low rank" is the kind way of people saying STFU.
Just sayin.
@ Ace b
It's "you're" not "your."
I knew someone was gonna bring that up.Damn not being able to edit posted comments.
Tee hee. He said firrfox.
Didn't the WRT600N already do that? Isn't the 610 just the updated form factor?
That's what I'm wondering, from the description, it sounds like the exact same thing, but with internal antennas (shorter range?)
I have the 600, so if there's a real difference, I wouldn't mind hearing about it.
Prettiest router ever made???
LOL
I was thinking to myself..."Damn, this thing would still be put in my basement where nobody could admire it!"
@sam: second that. I was surprised it took a few comments until someone mentioned that.
I can see it now... "Pimp my Router" by MTV
DDWRT Yet?
Or delicious Tomato?
Why do product designers still insist on making things looks like rejected props from b movies!!
I found this on Amazon before Engadget posted it. $149 for pre-order. I think I'm going to get it; I currently have the Dlink 4500 gaming router but I could really use the 5Ghz frequency for my Dlink DAP-1555 bridge that connects my HD Tivos, 360, PS3, and slingbox.
Question I've always wanted to ask with Dualband:
Can I have one band secured and another open (unsecured) for guests, etc? I know I CAN, but what I mean is can I do it without the person having the ability to get into my network files/folders/computers, etc. I just want them to have net access, and possibly even allocated a restricted amount of bandwidth to use.
Very few routers support this type of thing. One that I know that does is the Belkin N Vision 1. It lets you create a guest wifi, that is secured, but it displays the password on the screen so that your guests can use it. It grants them internet, but not local network access. You cannot limit the bandwidth that they use however, even though that would be wonderful. You could always just use the QOS settings and put your devices/lan ports at high, so any other devices that connect get last shot at bandwidth.
THAT BEING SAID
The Belkin N Vision 1 has horrible throughput, and no N only mode. Not to mention being limited to the 2.4 ghz spectrum. So basically, it's just a really pretty gigabit G router with the G crossed out, and an N in it's place.
I bought my wrt610n the moment that they let me at amazon. I can't wait
Or you can get 2 routers, since you planning on getting this one, you can make the gaming one unsecured
Hey, the D-Link DIR-855 has this functions "Guest zone" on either the 2,4 or 5 GHz band with a secured connection (or not) so they cant access your network
/m
It doesn't quite have the lust factor of an iPhone, but this is the first router that actually made me say...that's looks pretty nice. Where are the antennas?
on the inside... its like an inspiration taken right from Intel!!!
it actually has 8 antennas, compared to only 6 in the WRT600N
What are the dimensions on this thing? Looks like a piece of the CM Stacker 830
Netgear have this already for a while; they call theirs WNDR3300.
I also has WPS for easy security with a button. I played with it.
I think it is better than this one because more antenna's.
May I say that Linksys By Cisco is more like Linksys Designed By Netgear? The black look with the blue lights is popular...
This has the same number of antennas as the Netgear. However, the Netgear is limited to only g speeds on the 2.4 ghz side, while this one will do 300 mb on both the 2.4ghz and 5ghz at the same time.