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.

Gallery: Linksys announces WRT610N simultaneous dual-N band router

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[Darkest Daze @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:05AM]

It could use a longer name. "WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-N Band Router" just doesn't describe the product well enough.

[James Mack @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:09AM]

Well, this is going to be my new router.

[Ari @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:17AM]

already out of stock, too bad

[BluesK1d @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:41AM]

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.

[Dustin Hess @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:42AM]

It has been out of stock, it's a pre-order, mine is listed as expected to ship on the 14th.

[aus @ Jul 7th 2008 11:35PM]

I would check out the netgear version WNDR3300. Same specs but much cheaper

[Echo1 @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:16AM]

Doesn't 802.11n draft already make use of the 2.4 and 5ghz band?

[Fitz @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:46AM]

No, absolutely not. Read up folks and don't be fooled by imitations.

[atrain @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:52AM]

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.

[iofthestorm @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:55AM]

@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.

[Brandon @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:09AM]

My Airport Extreme (Gigabit) does offer me the option of either 2.4ghz or 5ghz, however, unlike this product, it cannot do both simultaneously.

[Carlton Bale @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:07AM]

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.)

[TheGasMan @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:35PM]

@Carlton Bale
Most informative comment of the year. My hat goes off to you!

[El Taco @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:18AM]

it's still pre-N (or draft-N, whatever) and I won't buyty a wireless-N router until 802.11N is finalized

[iofthestorm @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:56AM]

Most routers are going to be firmware upgradable to final N, so that's not much of an issue.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:09AM]

iofthestorm, I never thought I would see this, but I just saw a router Fanboy!

lol

[Ace b @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:09AM]

Wait,there's a final n?

Someone explain this to my uninformed mind

[slackercow @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:09AM]

um, no. he's actually giving out good, useful information.

[Gav @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:37AM]

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.

[Ace b @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:20AM]

@Gav

So when's the final spec's gonna be released?

[Tony2X @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:35PM]

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.

[DefPo3t @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:20AM]

Thebhead of the nameing department should be fired

[Ignatius @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:21AM]

Your spellchecker should be fired.

[iofthestorm @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:57AM]

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?

[DefPo3t @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:08AM]

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

[Ace b @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:08AM]

@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.

[MRCUR @ Jul 3rd 2008 8:04AM]

@ Ace b

It's "you're" not "your."

[Ace b @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:54AM]

I knew someone was gonna bring that up.Damn not being able to edit posted comments.

[TheGasMan @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:37PM]

Tee hee. He said firrfox.

[mattsaunders @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:36AM]

Didn't the WRT600N already do that? Isn't the 610 just the updated form factor?

[Joe Dombrowski @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:54AM]

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.

[sam arieta @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:40AM]

Prettiest router ever made???

[Ayman @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:56AM]

LOL

[John @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:16AM]

I was thinking to myself..."Damn, this thing would still be put in my basement where nobody could admire it!"

[Richard Lai @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:41AM]

@sam: second that. I was surprised it took a few comments until someone mentioned that.

[aidan @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:55AM]

I can see it now... "Pimp my Router" by MTV

[Scott @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:42AM]

DDWRT Yet?

[michas_pi @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:36AM]

Or delicious Tomato?

[ant @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:42AM]

Why do product designers still insist on making things looks like rejected props from b movies!!

[WilsonGoneWild @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:10AM]

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.

[WilsonGoneWild @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:13AM]

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.

[Dustin Hess @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:00AM]

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

[Ayman @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:58AM]

Or you can get 2 routers, since you planning on getting this one, you can make the gaming one unsecured

[marca @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:04PM]

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

[btaira @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:16AM]

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?

[Kevin @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:02AM]

on the inside... its like an inspiration taken right from Intel!!!

[Dustin Hess @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:31AM]

it actually has 8 antennas, compared to only 6 in the WRT600N

[nzo @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:23AM]

What are the dimensions on this thing? Looks like a piece of the CM Stacker 830

[Bigrick @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:53AM]

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...

[Dustin Hess @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:32AM]

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.