Finally, a chunky news nugget not related to CES 2010: the release of TRENDnet's TEW-673GRU Wireless-N router. For $149.99, consumers receive generous wireless speeds of up to 300 Mbps, and Gigabit Ethernet ports for blazing fast wired network connections. The drawback is that the router will be available online only, and won't hit e-tailers until sometime next month.
In addition to the speed, TRENDnet's Wireless-N router uses Concurrent Dual Band Technology, transmitting two distinct wireless networks simultaneously using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio frequencies. This means that the user can place "clients" on either network, ideally throwing low-bandwidth clients onto the 2.4 GHz frequency (which also hosts microwaves, Bluetooth, cellular phones, etc) and the high-bandwidth data hogs downloading HD media onto the less congested 5 GHz frequency.
TRENTnet said that the Wireless-N router also utilizes a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna technology that supposedly reduces those annoying wireless "dead spots" that plagues many routers. There's also the WMM Quality of Service (QoS) technology that can prioritize gaming, Internet calls, and video streams... a handy feature for those who need every inch of the bandwidth pipeline.
Additionally, the TEW-673GRU provides two local USB 2.0 ports, allowing users to connect flash drives, printers, and external HDDs directly to the router for network sharing. The router's embedded power saving GREENnet technology also reduces port-based power consumption by up to 70-percent.
