Netgear used CeBit to add more products to its network hardware line-up.
First is an Ethernet to Wireless Adapter. Netgear pitches the WNCE2001 as the smallest wireless bridge of its kind and it can be powered entirely by a USB port if the attached device has one. It supports 802.11n and uses WPS for security. There is also a Push -˜N’ Connect function to secure a connection to the existing network at a push of a button.
It will ship in May for $79.
New HomePlug Products
Wire-only users in turn get two powerline networking options. Both the Powerline AV 500 and Powerline AV+ 500 are some of the fastest networking devices to use a power line for connection- transmitting up to 500Mbps. Most other power line adapters max-out at 200Mbps or less.
The adapters still support any non-Netgear adapters that support HomePlug and have LEDs that can indicate the quality of the signal before users commit to using a wall outlet for the network. The AV+ model separates itself from the regular version by including a filtered pass-through plug for other devices that might need power from the same outlet.
Neither powerline adapter ships until summer and pricing will be known closer to that point.