NETGEAR adds biz-class WLAN gear

NETGEAR today announced a number of new products focused at WLAN VARs.The ME103 ProSafe Wireless Access Point is a "business-class" 802.11b AP that features Wireless Distribution System (WDS) functions, Power Over Ethernet operation, and upgradable antennas.

WDS modes include infrastructure, repeater, point-to-point bridging, point-to-multipoint bridging, and client access point (simple bridge). The ME103 has a web-browser based interface, and also supports SNMP MIB I and MIB II management. Security features include 802.1x support with EAP MD5, TLS and TTLS authentication. Support for PEAP and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) will not be available when the product ships next month, but will have to wait for a "future firmware upgrade". Current street pricing ranges from $154 - $170 .

Also unveiled was the FWAG114 ProSafe Dual-Band Wireless VPN firewall , a dual-band tri-mode (a/b/g) wireless router, with built-in VPN endpoint for two WAN-based IPsec tunnels that also supports using digital certificates for Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) encryption key exchanges. The SPI-based firewall also supports email intrusion alerts, logging, URL content filtering, and IPSec, PPTP and LT2P VPN pass-through. The router features two Atheros-based radios for simultaneous support of both 2.4 and 5GHz clients. Availability is slated for June 2003 , at a suggested list of $459 .

NETGEAR also announced its SmartAntenna line, which includes the ANT24O5 5dBi Omni-Directional Antenna, directional ANT24D18 18dBi Patch Panel Antenna, ANT24BDC DC Power Injector , and ANT24B 500mW Booster .The antennas, which will be available in May at street prices below $50 and $300 respectively for the 5dBi and 18dBi models, come with RP-SMA connectors that mate with both NETGEAR's new ME103 and FWAG114, as well as its existing FM114P Cable/DSL ProSafe 802.11b Wireless and FVM318 Cable/DSL ProSafe Wireless VPN Security firewalls.

The ANT24B booster is aimed as a companion to the ME103 and allows users to locate high gain antennas away from the access point without experiencing signal degradation due to antenna cable signal loss. The ANT24B provides 10dB of receive and transmit amplification and receives its DC power via the ANT24BDC . Both products are available next month at street pricing of $198 - $215 (ANT24B) and $50 - $58 (ANT24BDC).