New York - Buffalo Technology has started shipping its first two networking devices that utilize the new 802.11ac wireless specification.

The new standard has a data-transfer speed of 1.3GBps in the 5Ghz spectrum. The router is backward compatible with 802.11n products, said Brian Verenkoff, Buffalo's marketing and business development director.

The router carries a $179 suggested retail.

Verenkoff said applications like wireless video streaming over a home network to portable devices and TVs require the higher data-transfer speeds delivered by the WZR-D1800H.

The WLI-H4-D1300 AirStation media bridge, also $179, is designed to extend a home network. It has four Ethernet ports and can boost the performance of game consoles and media players to the AC standard of 1.3GBps.