CES: Netgear extends Wi-Fi

Netgear has announced two new Wi-Fi range extenders that are geared to the demands of new mobile devices throughout the home.

At the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, Netgear announced two new Wi-Fi range extenders that combine enhanced performance with backward compatibility.

The AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender and AC1200 High Power Wi-Fi Range Extender are geared to the demands made by new mobile devices throughout the home. Both extenders support older a/b/g/n Wi-Fi devices while providing additional performance to the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi devices.

Both devices have been recognised by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) for outstanding design and exceptional engineering in the home networking category. Both are being highlighted in the Innovations Showcase of the 2014 International CES event in Las Vegas this week.

The AC750 is an industry-first extender, providing up to 750 Mbps 802.11ac Wi-Fi performance in a convenient wall-plug form factor. The AC1200 is designed with performance in mind, supporting latest generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with up to 1200 Mbps speed, 700mW high power amplifiers, high gain 5dBi external antennas, and a dual core processor (CPU) to enable range extension at high speeds.

Both extenders are ideal for improving the range of a home network and eliminating frustrating Wi-Fi dead zones while enabling lag-free gaming and uninterrupted video streaming.

Like other dual-band Netgear Wi-Fi range extenders, both support FastLane technology that uses both Wi-Fi bands simultaneously to establish one fast wireless connection. This makes it ideal for HD video streaming and gaming. Additionally, consumers can use the free Netgear Wi-Fi Analytics app for Android tablets and smartphones to optimise their home networks with information about their network status, signal strength, and channel interference.

The compact AC750 is the first wall-plug extender delivering dual-band 802.11ac performance to maximize network speed for older a/b/g/n Wi-Fi devices, while providing up to 750 Mbps to the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi devices. It is outfitted with dual external antennas, boosting range and improving Wi-Fi speeds. Its stylish, compact wall-plug design means it is effortless to install, and it can be discreetly plugged into any electrical outlet. Smart LED indicator lights on the front of the extender guide users to an optimal location for best Wi-Fi coverage.

In addition to extending a home network, users can also use the extender as an access point by creating a new Wi-Fi hotspot when they plug in a wired Internet connection. The available Gigabit port on the AC750 can be used as a Wi-Fi bridge, ideal for connecting a device like a Blu-ray player, game console, or smart TV to the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, at a fraction of the cost of proprietary Wi-Fi adapters.

The AC1200 is the first Wi-Fi range extender to use a dual core processor that’s up to twice as fast as other processors, to improve efficiency and maximize 802.11ac Gigabit Wi-Fi performance. It is equipped with dual high gain 5dBi external antennas and 10 amplifiers that boost output power to a high 700mW.

This combination provides ultimate wireless whole-home coverage, increasing Wi-Fi range and easily penetrating walls to eliminate Wi-Fi dead spots throughout large homes and even back yards. It also offers Beamforming+ for more reliable connections.

The NAC1200 offers five Gigabit ports that act as a Wi-Fi bridge, ideal for connecting up to five devices like gaming consoles, smart TVs and streaming players to the Wi-Fi network, eliminating the need to buy proprietary Wi-Fi adapters.

Pricing and Availability

Netgear AC750 and AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extenders are available worldwide from major retailers in stores and online. The AC750 is available at a recommended price of $90 in the USA, while the AC1200 is expected to sell at $130.

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