Netgear has taken advantage of Airgo Networks latest pre-11n chipset to introduce a line of wireless products capable of streaming data at faster then Ethernet speeds.
The Rangemax 240 line includes routers, adapter cards and USB adapters. The router, now shipping, carries a $169 suggested retail price. The company did not release shipping and pricing information on the remaining products in the line.
The Airgo chipset gives the products a theoretical throughput rate of 240MBps; the actual data rate is in the 120MBps range. Standard 802.11g/a wireless networks stream at 54MBps.
Since an industry standard for the 802.11n specification has not been set, and is not expected to be ready before mid-2006, there is a possibility that the Airgo chipset being used might not be cross compatible with 802.11n products developed by competing companies when they become available.