February 8th, 2008
An easy (and cheap) way to upgrade your 802.11g router to Draft N
Looking for an inexpensive and easy way to move up to 802.11n Wi-Fi throughput? Trendnet has just launched a product that transforms your 802.11g router into the higher-speed Draft N device. The $63.99 300Mbps Wireless Easy-N-Upgrader (TEW-637AP) also works with 802.11b wireless and wired routers.
To install Easy-N-Upgrader, all you need is a free LAN port on the back of your router. Trendnet says it designed the add-on device to be plug-and-play simple. Just connect it to an RJ-45 port on your router and it will auto detect network settings and handle the wireless network traffic. But if you want to use the advanced security options—another great reason to upgrade –you’ll need to install Trendnet’s software. The Easy-N-Upgrader gives you a range of security options that includes the new Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) as well as the WEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption protocols.
Trendnet claims the Easy-N-Upgrader will pump out almost 10x the speed and 4x the range of 802.11g devices. It employs MIMO antenna technology to boost range. As for throughput, Trendnet says the device will provide an actual throughput of approximately 80Mbps to 90Mbps, compared with the 10Mbps to 20Mbps throughput of 802.11g routers. And that beats competitive two-antenna Draft N products, which max out at 75Mbps, according to a Trendnet representative.
The Easy-N-Upgrader is available now from the company’s Web site and should hit retail stores in a few days. If you don’t want to fork over $130 for a new Draft N router, this could be a great solution.
For the past 15 years, Rik Fairlie has covered technology and the business of technology for numerous publications and Web sites. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
