Wednesday, March 17, 2010

NETGEAR Intros Two New Next-Generation HomePlug AV-Certified Powerline Kits


NETGEAR, a provider of technologically innovative, branded networking solutions, has announced the addition of two next-generation HomePlug AV-certified powerline kits to its powerline networking solutions.

These two powerline kits are the compact Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5001) and the Powerline AV+ 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5501) with a filtered “pass-through” power socket.

Company officials said that these latest offerings come with speeds of up to 500 Mbps, and whole-home coverage and “groundbreaking” throughput.

The adapters incorporate are designed to be compatible with the draft international IEEE 1901 powerline standard, providing “greater speeds for bandwidth-hungry applications” such as lag-free Internet gaming, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), large file transfers to networked devices, and even simultaneous 1080p HD video streaming to multiple TVs throughout the home.

“With the dramatic increase in Internet-connected devices across the industry, such as TVs, Blu-ray players, DVRs, gaming consoles and set-top boxes, consumers now require networking solutions that enable multiple devices to be running simultaneously,” said Chris Geiser, product line manager for in-home distribution consumer products at NETGEAR.

Until now, consumers haven't been able to seamlessly stream multiple Blu-ray quality HD videos to different TVs in their homes, Geiser said, adding that the company is offering new technology that will provide “uncompromising performance, higher speeds and the greatest throughput for these applications.”

The NETGEAR Powerline XAVB5001comes in compact size, smaller than a deck of cards and up to 50 percent smaller than competing products. Company officials said that it is thus an excellent choice for consumers who are concerned that a powerline device might block an open power outlet.

The HomePlug-certified NETGEAR Powerline XAVB5501 features an integrated filtered power socket for “pass-through” capability. Company officials said that this ensures that customers do not cannibalize an existing wall power socket with the adapter.

Both new NETGEAR kits offer backwards compatibility with other HomePlug AV products from NETGEAR, and installed HomePlug AV-certified products from other vendor. These kits are designed for compatibility with the draft IEEE P1901 global standard for high-speed powerline communications.

Both the newest launched powerline kits are expected to be available in Q3 of 2010 via retailers, direct marketers, e-commerce sites and value-added resellers.

No comments: