Amped Wireless has introduced the REC15A High Power Compact 802.11ac Wi-Fi Range Extender. As the name implies, this device will grab the wireless signal of a home or office router and re-transmit that signal to places where the router just can't reach.
Standard Wi-Fi devices have an output power of a mere 50 milliwatts (mW). However, the REC15A provides up to 500 milliwatts (mW) of Wi-Fi output power while keeping its slim 3 x 5 inch form factor figure. The device also packs four amplifiers (one 2.4 GHz, one 5.0 GHz, two low noise) and a high gain, dual band antenna, which help provide up to 5,000 square feet of extended coverage.
This little extender plugs directly into any electrical outlet and provides an Ethernet port for connecting wired devices to the local network including PCs, TVs, Blu-ray players, game consoles and other devices. However, for the initial setup, users can connect with a wireless device like a smartphone or tablet; a wired connection is not necessary.
The specs show that the REC15A will provide up to 150 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 433 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The extender also provides parental controls such as restricting access to specific users and time of day schedules for limiting access. Users can even "reel in" the signal strength just in case the network is invading the neighbor's space.
"As more devices like tablets, smartphones, laptops and routers supporting the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard become available the need for faster, longer range Wi-Fi continues to grow," stated Jason Owen, CEO of Amped Wireless. "With the introduction of the REC15A, Amped remains at the forefront of Wi-Fi extending solutions by offering another high performance more affordable option for extending AC Wi-Fi coverage."
The new REC15A is available now through Amped Wireless for $99.99, and will be made available at major brick and mortar retailers any day now.