On Wednesday Western Digital revealed new additions to its My Net family of HD dual-band routers, the My Net AC1300 HD Dual-Band Router and the My Net AC Bridge. These new entries pair next-gen 802.11ac wireless technology with WD's own FasTrack tech for managing and prioritizing network traffic, creating a wireless pathway to the internet in a home or office.
"The My Net AC1300 router is faster than leading competitive products averaged across ranges of 30 to 75 feet, demonstrating the strongest performance in providing stable wireless speeds over long distances, and cutting out buffering and lag times to provide a smooth HD entertainment streaming experience throughout the home," the company said, pointing to this report by The Tolly Group.
The My Net AC1300 router includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired devices, and two USB 2.0 ports for adding network-based storage solutions like WD's My Book, My Passport, or other external USB-based drives and sticks. It's Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) certified for easy detection and connection of Wi-Fi devices, and it's even Windows 8 certified for seamless support of Microsoft's blocky new Modern UI-themed OS.
According to WD, 802.11n technology is used on the 2.4 GHz band and 802.11ac technology is used on the 5 GHz band. Both are combined to offer up to 450 Mbps + 1300 Mbps wireless connectivity, but consumers will need a compatible 802.11ac device to enjoy the faster bandwidth. The My Net AC1300 achieves its "blazing throughput and exceptional signal quality" via a unique horizontal 3x3 antenna array design, the company said.
As for the My Net AC Bridge, this gadget allows users to connect four Gigabit Ethernet-based gadgets like Smart TVs, game consoles, Blu-ray players and more (those without built-in Wi-Fi access) to the network, eliminating the need to string Ethernet cables along the base of your walls to the home or office router. Setup is a breeze, requiring users to simply push the WPS button on the bridge and the router.
"The recent introduction of our My Net family of routers brought several new breakthroughs to the market, including our acclaimed FasTrack prioritization technology, amazingly simple setup and the My Net N900 Central router with storage," said Scott Vouri, general manager for WD's connected life solutions group. "The My Net AC1300 and My Net AC WiFi Bridge build on those breakthroughs, setting a new standard for wireless speeds and delivering maximum HD streaming performance for our customers, while driving multiple devices on the home network at the same time."
My Net AC1300 Router ($189.99 USD) and My Net AC Bridge ($149.99 USD) are available now at select U.S. retailers and online at wdstore.com.