Linksys Announces New Line of Mimo-Based Wireless-G Products

Linksys Announces New Line of Mimo-Based Wireless-G Products

New Wireless-G Products With SRX Technology Provide Up to 3 Times More Wireless Range and Up to 8 Times More Throughput Than Standard Wireless-G Products

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Linksys(R), a division of Cisco Systems, Inc., and the leading global manufacturer of broadband, wireless, and networking hardware for home and Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) environments, today announced a new line of next generation Wireless-G (802.11g) products that enhance the speed and range of a Wireless-G network. The new Wireless-G Router with SRX (WRT54GX) and Wireless-G PC Card with SRX (WPC54GX) (SRX stands for Speed and Range eXpansion) can provide faster wireless network throughput, reduced dead spots, and increased wireless range over standard Wireless-G networks.

SRX is based on MIMO (Multiple In, Multiple Out) technology, a key component in the upcoming Wireless-N (802.11n) standard. MIMO uses multiple radios (2) and antennas (3) on a wireless router or client adapter for improved performance in range and speed. The Linksys Wireless-G Router with SRX and Wireless-G PC Card with SRX use this smart radio and antenna technology along with standards-based Wireless-G (802.11g) networking to provide users with faster networking throughput and a further reach of their wireless networking signal.

Users will benefit from the following features in the Linksys SRX Products:

* Wireless network range can reach up to 3 times* farther and wireless
network performance can be enhanced by up to 8 times* compared to the
throughput of standard 802.11g technology when using all SRX products
* Designed for interoperability and enhanced performance with all
standards-compliant 802.11g and 802.11b products
* All in one device: Internet sharing router, 4-port 10/100 switch, and
an SRX-enhanced Wireless-G access point
* Includes WPA, SPI firewall and 802.1x authentication and authorization

SRX -- Speed and Range eXpansion


Users can experience up to a 3 time* improvement in their wireless network range when using only Linksys SRX routers and client adapters compared to when using standard Wireless-G devices. With the range and coverage improvements, SRX devices also help to eliminate "dead spots," enabling users to receive the wireless signal in more places around the house or office. Multiple antennas transmit and receive multiple data streams using the same frequency at the same time, increasing the range and coverage. SRX users could also witness up to an 8 time* improvement in the throughput of their wireless network when compared to using standard Wireless-G products.

"A common complaint about wireless networking in the home is that customers can't get the wireless signal to reach certain rooms or areas around their home," said Tim Thornton, Linksys director of product marketing. "Our SRX products help extend the range of a wireless network so customers can access their network as well as the Internet from more areas in their home. The enhanced speed can also provide customers with a faster network providing a better networking experience."

Complete Interoperability with all Standard-Compliant 802.11b/g Products

The Linksys SRX devices are Wi-Fi(R) certified and backward compatible with 802.11b (Wireless-B), 802.11g (Wireless-G) and other Linksys SRX products. Mixed wireless environments such as networks containing SRX, Wireless-B and Wireless-G products can operate each client at its own maximum data rate. SRX products maintain their higher speed and range providing the throughput and quality of service to deliver applications such as VoIP and video streaming.

Security

To enhance both data protection and privacy, the SRX Router can encode all wireless transmissions with WPA (Wireless Protection Access). It has a powerful Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall to enhance protection to all the wired and wireless PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks while also supporting VPN pass through. Configuration can be done simply with the use of the web browser-based configuration utility.

Pricing and Availability

The SRX line is immediately available at major retail, online resellers, distribution, direct mail resellers, and VARs.

Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX (WRT54GX) $199 ESP
Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SRX (WPC54GX) $129 ESP

About Linksys


Founded in 1988, Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems Inc., (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the global leader in Wireless and Ethernet networking for both consumer and SOHO users. Linksys is dedicated to making networking easy and affordable for its customers, offering innovative, award-winning products that seamlessly integrate with a variety of devices and applications. Linksys provides award-winning product support to its customers. For more information, visit www.linksys.com.

* Actual real-world throughput, speed and range will depend upon a number
of factors, including, distance from the access point, volume of network
traffic, building materials and construction, operating system used,
whether a mixed network configuration is used, interference, and other
adverse conditions.



Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Other brands and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright (C) 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.


Source: Linksys

CONTACT: media, Karen Sohl, +1-949-823-1578, Ksohl@cisco.com, or Jenice
Sakai, +1-949-823-3192, Jsakai@cisco.com, both of Linksys; or investor
relations, Blair Christie of Cisco, +1-408-525-4856, Blchrist@cisco.com

Web site: http://www.linksys.com/


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