D-Link DIR-825 Dual-Band N Router Gets USB over Wi-Fi (and So Can ...

Tag : USB

D-Link announced a new router yesterday which sounds a lot likeother flagship home routers that have already hit market: The $200DIR-825 is dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz N plus Gigabit ethernet. Theseare all great features, but the surprising one is that the USB portin the back uses a new protocol that lets networked PCs treat it asa local USB port, even if they're all the way across the house. Thegood news for your broke ass is, if you have one of several D-Linkrouters listed below, you can inject your router's USB port withthe same virtual connectivity... for free.
This isn't a print server situation, or a network-attached storagething either, from what we can tell. Technically, D-Link didn't saya whole lot, except:
SharePort turns the local USB port located on the back of the802.11n family of Wi-Fi routers into a fast and responsive virtualport so users can access a range of USB devices, by utilizing a newtechnology of USB over TCP/IP.
Models that can be upgraded include D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit RoutersDIR-655, DIR-825, DIR-855 and DGL-4500 Gaming Router, plus theRangeBooster N DIR-628. We'll try to run a test of this soon, butif you beat us to it, tell us about your experience.
Press Release for DIR-825 Router
D-LINK NOW SHIPPING COST-EFFECTIVE DUAL BAND 802.11n Wi-Fi ROUTERWITH SharePort(tm) TECHNOLOGY
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 1, 2008 - D-Link, the end-to-endprovider of network solutions for consumers and business, todaybegan shipping an Xtreme N(tm) Dual Band Gigabit Router for thehome or small office, featuring dual band access thatsimultaneously creates two networks to provide superior clarity,faster Wi-Fi and wired gigabit speeds and HD Fuel(tm) enhancedQuality of Service (QoS).
The D-Link(r) DIR-825 also features SharePort(tm) technology thatallows users to share USB devices such as printers, multi-functionprinters (MFP) and storage drives with other computers on thenetwork — in either a wired or wireless environment.
SharePort turns the local USB port located on the back of theDIR-825 router into a fast and responsive virtual network port sousers can access a range of USB devices regardless of theirlocation in the home or office. With the power of 802.11n Wi-Fitechnology, D-Link's latest addition to its Xtreme N wirelessfamily allows the user to check email and browse the Internet onthe 2.4GHz band while simultaneously streaming high-definition (HD)movies and other media on the 5GHz band, making it ideal for onlinegaming applications on the PC and gaming consoles such as PS3(r),Xbox 360(r) and the Nintendo Wii(r).
The latest offering in the D-Link Green(tm) family of routers, theDIR-825 integrates D-Link Green Ethernet(tm) technology that usesan innovative, energy-saving feature that automatically detectslink status and network cable length, then adjusts poweraccordingly. D-Link routers also feature Wi-Fi scheduling thatallows customers to easily program when the Wi-Fi radio signals areturned on and off to further save energy consumption.
With the router's powerful new HD Fuel technology users can enjoythe clarity of the 5GHz wireless band while benefiting fromintelligent quality of service ideally suited for streaming HDmedia and for other bandwidth-intensive applications such as onlinegaming applications.
HD Fuel takes wired and wireless data traffic, categorizes andseparates it into multiple data streams and assigns priorities -Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video streaming and onlinegaming are given priority over Web browsing, for instance. The dualband capability helps to enhance speed even more by using the2.4GHz band for regular computer applications and the 5GHz band forlarger, more intense data transfer.
"By expanding our Xtreme N wireless router product line, we arefurther meeting the consumer's need for full Wi-Fi networkfunctionality and reliability for powering their digital home atprices they can afford," according to Steven Joe, president andCEO, D-Link Systems, Inc. in Fountain Valley, Calif.
Key Features and Benefits
? Xtreme N technology for farther home or office coverage
? Support for advanced WPA and WPA2 encryption, advanced firewalland
parental controls for maximum security
? D-Link's Quick Router Setup Wizard for easy installation andonline access
? Good Neighbor Policy support to prevent interference with otherwireless
networks
? Backward compatibility with 802.11g, 11b and 11a devices,including game
consoles and digital media players.
? Compliance with D-Link's ongoing Green initiatives to promoteenergy
conservation and environmental protection
? 24/7 basic installation support
? One year limited warranty
Price and Availability
The DIR-825 will be widely available Oct. 1, 2008 through D-Link'snetwork of retail, etail and solution providers, and online atwww.dlinkshop.com for the manufacturer's suggested retail price(MSRP) of $199.99. SharePort also will be available in D-Link'sfamily of high-end 802.11n routers, including the DIR-628, DIR-655,DIR-855 and DGL-4500**. Current owners of those routers will beable to upgrade to SharePort technology by downloading the firmwareand client utility from the D-Link website, www.dlink.com.