SMC recently announced a dual-band 802.11a/802.11b wireless adapter for notebook computers. The EZ Connect 2.4GHz/5GHz Universal Wireless CardBus Adapter (SMC2235W) can connect to any wireless access point, whether it's 802.11a or 802.11b. SMC said the card will be available in October for a list price of $139.99.
The card uses the Atheros 802.11a/b combination chipset, SMS says. As an 802.11a-compliant adapter, SMC says it can operate at a range of up to 1,742 feet and support data rates of 54M bit/sec. (up to 108M bit/sec in its "turbo" mode). When used on an 802.11b network, the card can adapt automatically and connect at speeds up to 11M bit/sec at a distance up to 1,650 feet, the company says.
Other features include automatic data rate and channel selection for optimal performance, SMC says. The card includes 64, 128 and 152-bit WEP encryption in 802.11a mode and 64/128-bit WEP encryption in 802.11b. Support for the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is included in both modes. It also has plug and play support for Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. Go to SMC's Web site for more information.
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