Wi-fiRouter
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D-Link unveils Cloud Router 1200 and 2000, dishes out WiFi in tube form
We'll admit: one of the biggest appeals for us in D-Link's new Cloud Router 1200 and 2000 is that tube shape, which is a nice break from the amorphous blobs we're used to as our WiFi routers. Not to say that there aren't convincing technical reasons to like them. Both will let you remotely administrate the 802.11n router's devices from an Android or iOS app, and they both carry four gigabit Ethernet jacks as well as a USB port for some network media storage. The differences lay exclusively in the wireless support, where the single-band 1200 caters to the frugal set at 300Mbps and the simultaneous dual-band 2000 hums along at 600Mbps. Thankfully, the prices of the just-shipping access points are both about right for what you get: the Cloud Router 1200 is a cheap and cheerful $60, and the 2000 won't strain the wallet much more at $100. You can catch the full details of our new cylindrical overlords friends after the break.
Netgear melds 802.11ac WiFi with cable modem, gives us a cable gateway we'd actually like
If you're reading this, you're likely the sort who looks down on the hybrid cable modem and WiFi gateway your cable company foists upon you: it's like setting your wireless network in stone. Netgear is hoping to make that all-in-one experience a little more pleasurable by merging the best of two very fast worlds. It's planning to show a cable gateway (not pictured yet) that unites a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, no slouch in itself, with even speedier 802.11ac WiFi to share the connection in the home. The router side has all the familiar extras, such as DLNA media sharing, guest networks and shared USB storage, but it's clear the real perk is simply making sure the hundreds of megabits per second in bandwidth from that cable pipe carry through to your future laptops and tablets. Netgear hasn't said how close it might be to shipping the cable gateway, but it'll be showing the practical device at the ANGA Cable trade show this week -- along with a 1.2Gbps download, 320Mbps upload cable modem that could give even Google Fiber a run for its money.
Buffalo beats others to the 802.11ac WiFi punch, ships 1.3Gbps router and bridge
As intrigued as we were by the Netgear R6300's high-bandwidth chops, it won't be the one to claim the early 802.11ac WiFi crown with a shipping product. That distinction is instead going to a Buffalo AirStation router and a matching bridge, both of which should be on shelves now. Either can hit the eye-watering 1.3Gbps peak speed of the standard if you get cozy on the 5GHz band -- and if you have a computer or mobile device that recognizes the spec, for that matter. The duo still has a more leisurely paced 2.4GHz, 450Mbps WiFi option as well as a quartet of Ethernet jacks if you prefer your gigabit speeds the old-fashioned way. Both the router and the bridge will set you back $180 each, so there's not much of a penalty versus high-end alternatives to satisfy your need for network speed.
LCD-equipped Cisco REN301 Residential Gateway stops by FCC, reveals all its dirty secrets
Ah, the all too familiar WiFi troubleshooting dance: the network goes down, you dig through the closet for an Ethernet cable, saunter over to the router, jack yourself in, type in the IP address, and start poking around at your settings. Cisco's REN301 Residential Gateway (a fancy way of saying "router"), which just passed through the FCC, could make things at least a little bit easier thanks to its built-in LCD screen and capacitive touch controls. Wave your hand over the display to bring it to life and you can check the status of your connections, modify some basic settings, and peruse a log of calls that have come in over the SIP VoIP phone jacks. The REN301, which has a single band 802.11b/g/n radio, can also turn USB drives and SD cards into NAS storage -- the company even throws in a 32GB card to get you started. We don't have a price or release date, but since it's been splayed open for federal regulators we probably won't have to wait long. There's a couple of pics of the router's UI after the break.
