Cisco Unveils a Linksys 802.11n Wi-Fi Router For Every Budget

Cisco nowadays expands its popular E-Serial publication line of 802.11n Wi-Fi routers to 5 products covering the gamut of headstone features including exclusive vs. dual-band support, amoun of transmit/receive antennas, and 10/100 vs gigabit Ethernet.

Depending on the configuration, the products home in price from $60 for a bare-bones 2.4GHz simulate with a 2 x 2 feeler regalia (the minimum required for WI-Fi Alliance 802.11n enfranchisement) and 4 10/100 ethernet ports, to $180 for the model with simultaneous dual-dance orchestra support, 2×3 antennas for 2.4GHz operations and 3×3 antennas for 5GHz, and 4 gigabit Ethernet ports.

The more than antennas, the faster the potential speed of the network: Cisco pegs the speed potential for the 2×2 router at up to 300 megabits per secondly, compared to 450 mbps for the 5GHz network on the high-end E4200, which has a 3 x 3 antenna regalia.

Double-band routers basically let you at the same time consumption deuce Wi-Fi networks, from each one ane in operation along distinct areas of the wireless spectrum. A 2.4GHz network (the only set on the less expensive models) volition support legacy 802.11b and 802.11g devices, while the 5GHz band supports 802.11a gear mechanism–and also has a larger number of non-overlapping channels, which makes it less subject to interference and therefore a better fit for streaming media, Beaver State whatever high-bandwidth trading operations in an area where lots of 2.4GHz networks are present (cities, for example)

The routers with gigabit Ethernet support are a better fit for higher-bandwidth wired meshwork tasks-for example, network backups in a small lin.

What each router offers (Click for full chart)

Other differentiators in the products admit amplifiers for the radio receiver signals: As with graphics, vendors can either pull through money and space past integrating them on the Wi-Fi chip, or offload them to their own ironware, which should make for a stronger indicate and less stress on the Wi-Fi chip itself. The graduate-finish products as wel let in USB ports for media servers and memory (although Cisco's announcement says you Crataegus oxycantha birth to hold for a firmware upgrade, collectible this summer, to enable this functionality).

To the right is a chart (click it for the full view) showing the Leontyne Price and key fruit features of the refreshed card. The E4200 is already available (it's unchanged from the current lineup); the residue of the units are slated to keep sale nowadays except for the E3200, which Cisco says will ship next week.