Belkin Pre-N Wireless Gear Quadruples 802.11g Devices

Belkin has announced that they plan to release the new Wireless Pre-N Router and PCMCIA card based on the Airgo MIMO technology for longer-range wireless networking. The multiple in, multiple out system (MIMO) gives users higher bandwith and increased performance for such applications as audio and video streaming.

The MIMO line of devices ships October 15th 2004 in North America, the router will sell for $180 and the Notebook PC Card for $130. The Pre-N technology is 4x faster than standard 802.11g and with 4x greater coverage.

See press release below.

Belkin Revolutionizes Networking Industry with First Wireless Pre-N Products

Consumer demands for complete wireless coverage are now fulfilled with the announcement today of Belkin's new Wireless Pre-N Router and Notebook Network Card. Powered by Airgo Network's True MIMO(TM) technology, Belkin Pre-N products improve wireless reliability and performance, and enable users to work with high-bandwidth applications, such as audio and video streaming. This line will begin shipping on October 15, 2004, in North America.

What makes Belkin's Pre-N revolutionary?

1) 4x greater coverage than standard 802.11g

2) 4x greater speed than standard 802.11g

3) Improved resistance to interference from neighboring Wi-Fi(R) systems and other 2.4GHz devices

4) Improved performance with 802.11b and 802.11g devices whether employed at the client, AP, or both.

5) Does not drop to the lowest common networking speed in mixed-mode environments

6) Seamless compatibility with 802.11b and 802.11g

"Our research shows that, with current wireless technology, people are experiencing poor coverage and performance at farther distances in their homes due to interference from other wireless networks, cordless phones, and other appliances," explains Eric Tong, VP Marketing and Product Development. "Our Pre-N products with True MIMO will empower users by providing a wireless network that makes poor coverage issues a thing of the past."

Belkin utilizes True MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) from Airgo Networks in its Pre-N products. True MIMO is the first technology to address the issues of coverage, speed, and interference in larger homes and offices.

True MIMO is a smart-antenna technique that uses multiple antennas to transmit and receive wireless signals. It reaches a step further than other smart-antenna technologies by transmitting multiple signals on each antenna. As a result, Belkin's Pre-N products with True MIMO technology create a robust wireless connection while providing a larger coverage area with the bandwidth and quality of service needed to run advanced applications, such as streaming video or Voice over IP (VoIP).

True MIMO is one of the underlying technologies being considered for 802.11n, a standard in the works for the next generation of Wi-Fi technology.

"True MIMO is a breakthrough technology that fundamentally changes the way radio waves are sent and received. More importantly, True MIMO changes the way consumers are able to use wireless products," says Greg Raleigh, Chief Executive and President of Airgo Networks. "The immediate performance benefits realized with True MIMO, especially over expanded coverage areas, are why this technology has been chosen to power the upcoming 802.11n high-performance wireless standard. Reliability rivaling that of wired connections and effortless connectivity at real-world distances is why Belkin's True MIMO products have ushered in a new era in wireless."

The Belkin Pre-N wireless line includes:

-- Router (F5D8230-4; MSRP $179.99)
-- Notebook Network Card (F5D8010; MSRP $129.99)

Via