ZyXEL's New Business Access Point Resembles Smoke Detector

On Wednesday, ZyXEL Communications introduced the NWA1121-N1, a 802.11 b/g/n access point that increases wireless coverage by up to 50-percent (compared to traditional devices in its class). Designed for small-to-mid size businesses (SMB) such as hotels, cafes, malls and educational institutions, it arrives in a smoke detector form factor, making it easy to install on ceilings and walls without looking too nerdy.

According to ZyXEL, the 802.11n access point uses enhancements like TX Beamforming, LDPC (Low-Density Parity-Check) and MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) to improve the performance, reliability, and stability of the device. It also offers eight different SSIDs (Server Set Identifiers) and Virtual LAN (Local Area Network) features so businesses can configure it for different usage classes, including employees and guests, to boost security.

"The NWA1121-N1, with its unique design and powerful features, is a crucial addition to our product line. The enhanced access point complements our existing product portfolio and provides our customers and channel partners with superior wireless coverage, enabling them to meet the demands of today's connected business," said Steven Joe, executive vice president of channel business for Americas at ZyXEL.

ZyXEL's access point is Plenum rated and made future-proof with dual-stack IPv6 support. Unfortunately, it's only single band compatible, offering the 2.4 GHz frequency – no 5 GHz support with this device. However, additional features include an Ethernet port, 2x2 multiple-input multiple-output, 20- and 40-MHz channels, packet aggregation, DHCP client support, and more.

"Popular trends like Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), as well as increased use of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices by business employees and customers, have heightened the need for high performance Wi-Fi networks at business establishments. As a leading provider of secure broadband networking, Internet access, connected home solutions, ZyXEL designed the NWA1121-N1 specifically to help SMBs respond to these demands with a high performance device that is economical, easy to deploy and visually unobtrusive," the company said.

The NWA1121-N1 is now available at leading online retailers and from ZyXEL authorized resellers. The MSRP for the product is set at $169.99.

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