At the Computex show in Taipei, Taiwan Trendnet showed off its new 450Mbps dual-band wireless “N” media bridge, dubbed the TEW-680MB. The device features four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a one-button security configuration and connection setup to Trendnet routers, Quality of Service technology that prioritizes gaming, internet calls and video streams, and LEDs on the front to convey device status.
The dual-band nature of the TEW-680MB means that slower and older peripherals who need to connect to a 2.4GHz network can do so, leaving 5GHz devices free to connect to their own bandwidth. The company recommends using the 5GHz network for media center devices primarily, using the other network for peripherals and other devices that require it.
The bridge uses WPS security natively on the device, and can be configured to work with other routers. It’s intended to be used with networked storage drives, game consoles, televisions, computers and internet-ready DVRs at the fastest possible wireless speeds.
The TEW-680MB should reach U.S. shores in the fall, and will retail for $170. The device includes a three-year warranty.
