11n

Study: Expect a billion 802.11ac Wi-Fi devices in 2015

People in the technology world just now adjusting to the arrival of 802.11n should begin bracing themselves for 802.11ac.

For those who can't keep up with the alphanumeric jumbles that are technology standards, 802.11n is at the moment the fastest version of Wi-Fi. The arrival of 802.11n was delayed by interminable standards wrangling--thus the profusion of "Draft N" wireless routers--and research firm In-Stat already predicts its faster successor, 802.11ac, soon will surge into the market.

From zero 802.11ac devices this year and the first ones next year--the standard isn't done yet… Read more

Get an SMC Wireless-N router for $19.99 shipped

Before I get to today's deal, two quick housekeeping items.

First, subscribers to the Cheapskate newsletter are often frustrated because the deals are sold out or expired by the time they receive the e-mail (which tends to go out several hours after I've posted). I apologize for the hassle, but it's just the nature of my particular beast. Your best bet is to visit the Cheapskate page directly between 10 a.m. and noon ET; that's usually when I post the daily deal.

Second, I get scads of e-mail from our friends to the north, who … Read more

Five-deal Friday: Save big on storage, games, Wi-Fi, and more

I really wasn't intending to write up five different deals today, but I just couldn't settle on one. Take a look:

1. Newegg has a Samsung 1-terabyte internal SATA hard drive for $41.99 (plus around $7 for shipping). That is just... just... words fail me. Granted, this is an open-box, bare-bones drive, meaning you don't get so much as a SATA cable along with it. But I've never seen a lower price on a terabyte. Wow.

2. Want to upgrade the Wi-Fi performance of an older laptop or desktop? Meritline has the Tenda W311U 802.11n USB adapter for $8.99 shipped.… Read more

Is your 802.11n Wi-Fi feeling sluggish? This simple solution could help

With many routers now transmitting Wi-Fi signals using the 802.11n standard (including all of Apple's current router offerings), some users may find that they are unable to take advantage of the increased speeds. This is most likely due to the password settings users have chosen for their network.… Read more

Get an 802.11n Wi-Fi router with print/FTP server for $21.99 shipped

Still haven't pulled the trigger on an 802.11n (aka Wireless N) router? You should. It'll provide faster throughput, better range, stronger security, and more features than your clunky old 802.11b or g router.

Normally, a replacement like that would run you upward of $60, but right now Buy.com has the Asus RT-N13U Wireless N Router for just $21.99 shipped. That's after a $20 mail-in rebate (PDF), however, which comes in the form of a prepaid Visa debit card.

Update: As of around noon, EDT, it appears the router is sold out. "Temporarily,&… Read more

Wi-Fi smartphones to dominate

LAS VEGAS - In the next few years it will be difficult to buy a new smartphone that does not have built-in Wi-Fi for speedy Net access, according to a report that ABI Research and the Wi-Fi Alliance published Tuesday.

Today, about half the smartphones sold have Wi-Fi. By 2014, the forecast goes, about 90 percent of smartphones will offer access to Wi-Fi.

The big driver for Wi-Fi is bandwidth-intensive multimedia applications, such as graphically intense games and streaming video. The Apple iPhone was among the first devices to show the true benefit of having Wi-Fi. AT&T, the … Read more

Get an 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter for $12.99

You may have noticed a minor change here at the ol' Cheapskate blog: I'm now posting later in the day.

Before now, I'd usually publish my daily deal at around 10 a.m. ET--only to routinely watch it sell out at around 10:43. That's pretty frustrating, especially for West Coast readers who aren't even awake yet.

Thus, I'm experimenting with a later post time, usually in the neighborhood of 12-2 p.m. ET. So far, this has resulted in fewer sold-out/expired deals. Let me know if you like, don't like, or don'… Read more

Your wireless Xbox connection just got faster

We had seen the wireless 802.11n Xbox 360 adapter pop up a few months ago and now Microsoft has officially released the $100 Wi-Fi accessory. In anticipation of the console's next firmware update--which will allow for 1080p video content off the Xbox Live Marketplace--the adapter promises a faster connection, better range, and improved security.

With the Wireless N Network Adapter now available, Microsoft has lowered the price on the existing a/b/g-compatible wireless adapter to as low as $70 online.

We'll have a full review of the new Xbox 360 wireless networking accessory in the coming … Read more

Atheros launches new energy-efficient WLAN chip for mobile devices

Your mobile devices' wireless LAN is about to get significantly better.

Atheros, a mobile Wireless LAN (WLAN) chip maker, announced Monday the lauch of its newest and possibly the industry's highest performance mobile WLAN chip, the the ROCm single-chip 11n AR6003 family.

According to Atheros, this tiny new chip, currently the smallest WLAN chip on the market, measuring just a 5mm by 5mm, combines both the energy efficiency of Atheros' ROCm technology and the faster 802.11n WLAN performance. As a result, it offers up to 85Mbps of actual throughput speed in the 5GHz band and 48Mbps in the … Read more