Netgear has launched a new wireless router designed to share files over a network easily and prevent drop-outs over Wi-Fi.
Netgear's N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router – Premium Edition has taken some of the useful features from business-grade modems and adapted them for a more affordable home device.
The first addition is a Clear Channel Selector, which automatically checks when a Wi-Fi channel has become overcrowded and switches to a less crowded channel.
According to Netgear, Wi-Fi overcrowding is a growing problem as more devices use the technology and this can lead to drop-outs or a sudden loss of speed.
With the modem keeping overcrowding to a minimum, demanding applications such as HD video streaming, multi-player gaming and video chats become less likely to suffer from sudden disconnects and slowdowns.
The other new feature on the modem is Netgear's ReadySHARE Cloud service. Users who want to share files or folders over their home network or the internet can plug a USB hard drive or flash drive into the modem and share files across their system.
Som Pal Choudhury, Netgear director of product marketing, said: "The unprecedented feature set of this advanced router makes wireless connections more reliable, breaks down the barriers to file-sharing in the cloud and much more – yet it’s easy to set up and manage. This is the future of home networking, and it’s here today."
Netgear has apps for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices for easy access to the shared files. This feature allows easy, private sharing of files without having to sign up to a third-party organisation.
Other features on the modem include parental controls, wireless printing capabilities and a guest network password, allowing visitors to go online without having to be given the home network password.
Similar modems with extra features available in Australia include the FRITZ!Box from PCRange and Internode, and the BoB range of modems developed by iiNet.
Prices start from $279, and the modem is expected to be available in Australia on September 25.
