Linksys announces WRT610N simultaneous dual-N band router

Linksys, er, sorry, that's Linksys by Cisco, is announcing the WRT610N this morning, a new simultaneous dual-N band router that enables it to use 802.11n WiFi on both 5 and 2.4GHz at the same time. This means, of course, that your higher throughput, shorter-distance devices can get the highest-speed 802.11n access at the same time as the rest of your devices can get the usual, more compatible 2.4GHz access they look for. It's on sale now for $200.

Linksys announces WRT610N simultaneous dual-N band router

[CapnBry Posted Jul 3rd 2008 12:22PM]

Actually the WNDR3300 can do 270Mbit signal rate / 40MHz channels on 2.4GHz too, just not at the same time as 5GHz. There is essentially one dual band "300Mbit" radio and one 2.4GHz g radio so you can have 300Mbit in only 1 band at a time but can have a legacy g connection going too.

Compare that to the D-Link DIR-628, which only has 1 dual band 300Mbit radio which you can only be in 1 band total.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2008 2:59PM]

I've been disappointed with the Netgear WNDR3300 for several months now. I'm looking for something that doesn't drop connections every 5-15 minutes when there are two PCs that are within five feet of each other. I was hoping they would be able to fix this with a firmware flash, but there hasn't been an update since May.

[CaptCaveman Posted Jul 3rd 2008 2:03AM]

Oh sweet! I've been waiting for this to come out. Now I can connect wireless with my um...
Oh yeah, my...

Wait a sec! I don't own anything that needs a 802.11n router?!

[ACER Posted Jul 3rd 2008 2:07AM]

Which chipsets are LinkCo using these days?

[russdogg Posted Jul 3rd 2008 3:21AM]

If I upgrade my airport extreme, I'm buying this.

[bobAcrossThePond Posted Jul 3rd 2008 4:52AM]

It looks like it may have some USB functionality too.

[Toink Posted Jul 3rd 2008 5:24AM]

It does.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1175245928479&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=2847933028B01

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 4:53AM]

At this price, this is going to be a D-Link's DIR-855 killer.

[jashsayani Posted Jul 3rd 2008 5:52AM]

I soo LOVE this router !!!
But just got a Belkin N1 vision from pricegrabber at $200

Which one is better, this one or Belkin N1 vision... ?

[Dummy00001 Posted Jul 3rd 2008 6:14AM]

Can't understand router which has its ports in the arse...

Why not to put the ports on front? where they should be? where you would not need kneel before the darn cheap plastic box to plug a cable?? or was it intentional?

[clarinetJWD Posted Jul 3rd 2008 11:25AM]

Because that's how nearly every router for the home market is designed? Or possibly because most people don't want to be staring at a mess of cables all the time? If you really want the ports on the other side, here are simple diy instructions on how to make it so:

1. Lift router
2. Rotate 180 degrees
3. Set down router.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 6:23AM]

You think is it possible to order it from Europe? I can not wait and pay the double price here...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 6:53AM]

Is this an ADSL(2+)/Cable router
It doesnt say what internet connection it supports...
Or is it a company router that connects to a Media converter???

I would love this router if it actually connects to the internet..

[majortom1981 Posted Jul 3rd 2008 7:41AM]

Why not work on fixing the problems on the wrt600n first? It does both simultaneously also and is $50 dollars or so cheaper.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 8:39AM]

The WRT310N already looks like this...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 8:48AM]

I would love to buy this, but the 200 dollar price tag is a wee bit much. 140 would be nice go, and its gold for me.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 9:15AM]

Or, save $140 and buy a cheap 54G, throw DD-WRT or Tomato on it, and have a much better signal, more control and more features. Have to have a N router? Grab the earlier 150N and still save $100.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 10:32AM]

Not to diminish the supply even further but:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124296

It's a bit more pricey but available immediately for those that can't wait.

[Gary J Posted Jul 3rd 2008 10:48AM]

My laptop has built in G, Could I configure it to use a wireless N card instead with this router?

[freeAgent Posted Jul 3rd 2008 10:58AM]

You could do that, but why would you want to? You'd have to put an ugly, bulky card in your laptop (or use USB). 54G is plenty fast. The only reason I can think of to do this is if you need more range and don't want to do WDS or if you need higher speed wireless over your LAN. I doubt your internet connection is fast enough to saturate an 802.11G connection on a regular basis.

[Gary J Posted Jul 3rd 2008 12:00PM]

My internet connection is 8Mbps. I have a Linksys WGA600N wireless bridge connected to a Popcorn Hour media player. The wireless bridge is G/N. I was thinking I could ftp files to it faster with this router from a laptop with a N card. No?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 11:35AM]

Nice...
does it mean when you use it, you have 2 wireless networks of 802.11n?

[Hydra Posted Jul 3rd 2008 11:36AM]

DO NOT BUY THIS

I bought a linksys WRT310N the connection drops 4 or 5 times a day, the router over heats, and if you use bittorrent it really drops and over heats. It will almost burn you to the touch, if you seek the linksys forums, they will delete all posts about the problem do you know what solution they offer?? "powercycle the router" they expcet you to do this 5 times a day. If you feel you must purchase a linksys router check the forums first, linksys deletes posts , so check it each day for a few days before buying sometimes posts last a day about problems before they are removed

Solution, don't buy new linksys routers they are garbage, I picked up a buffalo wireless N , and it has by far been the best router i have ever owned.

[plexusXXX Posted Jul 3rd 2008 12:10PM]

I know these are dismal questions for most of you guys but please explain me a couple of things that I´m unsure about:
I'm perfectly happy with my little Linksys Wireless G -Speed Booster 2.4 GHz, 802.11g (whatever that means), but since I have a few desktops, laptops, nas, and media extenders around and I pay a fortune for the highest broadband speed my provider can ... provide, it follows that a good router for me is absolutely essential.

Now: would my wifi toys make use of the new N standard or would they just perferm as they always did in any case?

In what sense would this new router be an improvement since I can see from various broadband speed test that my pcs are already connected at 20 000 MB/s (which is what I pay for)?

Pity my ignorance if you like but please illuminate me.

[plexusXXX Posted Jul 3rd 2008 12:15PM]

My God Digitalysick
I've got a Linksys broadband Wireless G 2.4GHz (802.11g) and it has been working flawlessly for over a year non stop.
Is'nt it possible that you have just been sorta unlucky with your unit?

[clarinetJWD Posted Jul 3rd 2008 3:30PM]

I agree, as a wrt600n owner (I have a feeling the guts between that and this are more similar than 310 to this), I've had zero problems since setup, and only need to powercycle when the cable modem decides to take a break (Thank you Comcast!)

[capwkidd Posted Jul 3rd 2008 12:56PM]

Is this really the only RTR that can do both bands at the same time?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2008 6:03PM]

Another GREAT SPECS (rotten performance) product?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 4th 2008 7:07AM]

I just bought a D-link DIR-655 to replace my aging Linky BEFW11S4.

I was planning to use the N speed to move stream files between my media servers with my new and oh so sexy Acer Aspire 6920...

The acer has a Intel Pro wireless 4965AGN, and it just WILL NOT connect to the D-link at N (G is fine), I've about given up trying and think I'll take back the D-link and try this one.

Question: does anyone know if this router will do N with the Intel 4965AGN?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 1:50PM]

Actually the D-Link DIR-655 WILL connect to the Intel 4965AGN at N speeds. You must use either no encryption or AES encryption. This is part of the N spec. Most likely you are using WEP or TKIP, which are not supported by N.

Note that the DIR-655 will max out at 130Mbps, since it is single band.

This reply coming to you at N speeds over an Intel 4965AGN and D-Link DIR-655!

[oldmanhorton Posted Jul 4th 2008 7:52AM]

wow, not bad......
this actually looks as nice as those belkin routers
All of the old Linksys(by Cisco, of course) routers were boxy and looked ugly-this one looks good though
as for what it can do
If they but "dual band" in just to put the price higher, they are sick bastards
all N(im sorry, draft-N too) routers that can do 5GHz can aleady do 2.4GHz on ABG, weather it says dual band or not
you can get a N or draft-N router for a lot cheaper for the same ability, it just wont have as long a name

[Godfail Posted Jul 7th 2008 12:11AM]

@some kid: 802.11a doesn't run on the 2.4 GHz band, the spec was created to not run on the same band as everything else out there so that it could sustain streaming media files. Also, you're quite wrong about N routers than can do 2.4 GHz on 802.11b or g...and really, you've missed the point that this router can run N on both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz instead of one or the other like nearly every other dual band router out there.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 9th 2008 11:54PM]

Thanks for the reply bananaman,

Actually the first thing I tried was with no encryption and would never use WEP lol.

Right now I'm in G mode using WPA personal Mode=WPA2 only
With AES on the router side, and AES only on the 4965AGN.

I just got off the line with D-Link Tech support and after going through their moronic flowchart several times they came to the conclusion that I have a bad router and gave me a RMA

Even if the new 655 works with N, I still think I'm going to get the WRT610N though.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2008 12:55PM]

I just picked up one at Circuit City. Can't wait to test it out tonight.

[Gary J Posted Jul 17th 2008 2:13PM]

So what do you have to report?

[Gary J Posted Jul 17th 2008 2:13PM]

So what do you have to report?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2008 2:22PM]

I got the WRT610N and you CANNOT run both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz at the same time, you MUST disable one or the other... when both running, the wireless connections drops constantly. I spent 1 hour with Linksys support and it's NOT possible. FALE adverticing from Linksys! DON'T buy this product if you want to run 2.4Ghz BG 54Mbit/s and 5Ghz N 300Mbit/s simultaneously.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 31st 2008 10:59AM]

Don't know what your problem was. But simultaneous operation in both bands worked fine for me.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30530/96/1/4/

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 11th 2008 3:52PM]

I got my linksys router at www.consumerdepot.com