[The NETGEAR Wireless-N Upgrade Kit is a Plug-and-Play solution that upgrades a computer to 5GHz 802.11n technology. ]

San Jose, CA -- NETGEAR, Inc., a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking solutions, today announced the launch of the Wireless-N Upgrade Kit (WNEB3100), a Plug-and-Play solution that makes it fast and easy for users to add 5GHz Wireless-N access to any existing network and upgrade a computer to dual-band Wireless-N to deliver the faster speeds and more reliable connections enabled by 5GHz 802.11n technology.

The Wireless-N Upgrade Kit, which includes the NETGEAR 5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point (WNHDE111) and RangeMax(TM) Dual-Band Wireless-N Adapter (WNDA3100), enables users to quickly and easily add 5GHz 802.11n to their existing wired or wireless networks. By simply plugging the WNHDE111 into an existing router or gateway (router with integrated modem), users can immediately take advantage of the enhanced performance delivered by 5GHz Wireless-N technology, using the less-congested 5GHz band to provide more channels to deliver faster speeds and more reliable wireless connections. Adding the Wireless-N Upgrade Kit to an existing 802.11b/g network will create a dual-band network capable of supporting any Wi-Fi-compliant computer or device. While laptops with embedded Wireless-N will natively connect at the highest possible Wireless-N speeds, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter provides a boost in wireless performance to desktops and older laptop computers.

Equipped with industry-standard Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) and pre-configured security, the Wireless-N Upgrade Kit utilizes NETGEAR's "Push 'N' Connect" function which eliminates the need to enter pass codes or long encryption keys and makes it quick and simple to establish secure, reliable communications with any WPS-enabled device. The Wireless-N Upgrade Kit supports automatic Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure superior performance for voice, video and gaming applications.

"The Wireless-N Upgrade kit enables customers with existing gateways and routers from their ISPs to easily add the performance benefits of 5GHz Wireless-N to their networks by simply connecting the kit to their existing wireless equipment, eliminating the need to re-wire, reconfigure or replace any existing equipment," explained Som Pal Choudhury, Senior Product Line Manager for Advanced Wireless at NETGEAR. "The bandwidth limitations of the 802.11g standard, combined with the ever-increasing level of RF interference generated in the home and small business environments by wireless networks, devices and appliances operating in the 2.4GHz frequency band, are creating significant performance challenges for bandwidth-intensive applications operating across 802.11g wireless networks. The Wireless-N Upgrade kit delivers a high-performance wireless network that offers more channels in a less-congested frequency band to deliver the faster speeds and more reliable connections required for applications such as Internet telephony, high- definition video streaming and online gaming. In addition, the kit upgrades a computer to dual-band Wireless-N so consumers can get the maximum benefit of 5 GHz Wireless-N technology, as well as continue to support existing legacy products."

5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point/Bridge (WNHDE111)

The NETGEAR 5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point/Bridge (WNHDE111) can be used as a standalone bridge or can function as a 5GHz Wireless-N access point when connected to an existing router or gateway. When wired to any existing 802.11b/g wireless router, the WNHDE111 adds high-performance 5GHz Wireless-N access-point capability to establish a dual-band network that supports new dual-band Wireless-N clients as well as legacy 802.11b/g clients, enabling users to add to any existing network the performance necessary to enable HD video streaming or lag-free gaming over the Wi-Fi compliant 5GHz 802.11n draft 2.0. The WNHDE111 can also act as a bridge to connect game consoles or media receivers such as the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer HD to a dual-band Wireless-N router like the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (WNDR3300).

The WNHDE111 uses the 5GHz Wireless-N band enabling it to avoid interference and deliver more reliable, faster connections, while an internal array of six Smart Antennas maximizes performance and range of the access point. Automatic Quality of Service (QoS) ensures lag-free gaming, jitter-free streaming of high-definition video content, and crystal clear Internet telephony calls. The WNHDE111 supports a wireless "ad-hoc" mode for wireless LAN peer-to-peer gaming, and multicast point-to-multi-point high-definition video streaming.

RangeMax Wireless-N Dual Band USB Adapter (WNDA3100)

The RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter (WNDA3100) enables users to upgrade their notebook or desktop PCs to dual-band Wireless-N delivering more wireless channels, less interference and better connections. The adapter is backward compatible with older 802.11g equipment and provides enough bandwidth to support music downloads, file sharing, and high-definition multimedia applications.

The WNDA3100 utilizes patented metamaterial micro-antennas to provide better speed and range than other 802.11n adapters to provide reliable connectivity to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wireless-N channels.

The NETGEAR Wireless-N Upgrade Kit (WNEB3100) is backed by a one-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, and is available worldwide via select retailers, direct marketers, e-commerce sites, and value-added resellers at a retail price in the U.S. of $149.

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