New dual-N band Linksys router geared for multimedia home networking

By Jim Duffy on Thu, 07/03/08 - 12:36pm.

Cisco subsidiary Linksys introduced a new wireless router today, tailored to the needs of home digital media content especially high-def video. What's cool about the new WRT610N is that it is a simultaneous dual-N band wireless router that operates in both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz spectrums. Users can connect entertainment-oriented devices, such as a media center extenders, audio players or personal video recorders via the wider 5GHz band.. The 5GHz spectrum is recommended for such high-def content because it provides more than seven times the number of non-overlapping wireless channels, which means clearer transmissions for big media files piped across the wireless network. At the same time users can connect data-oriented devices, like like PCs, print servers or network attached storage, to the 2.4GHz band. The 2.4GHz spectrum is particularly important for older network devices. Lots of wireless routers can connect devices to both bands, but Linksys says that this device can handle all of it -- at full wireless-n network speeds -- on both bands simultaneously.

On another note, Linksys deserves kudos for changing its packaging of this product to be more environmentally friendly. The company says that it has not only reduced the amount of packaging, but that the packaging it does use is more biodegradable. The unit ships in a one-piece sleeve created using recycled and biodegradable materials that also uses ink made from soy and vegetables. The router is available now with a MSRP of $199.99.

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