Belkin N900 DB Dual-Band Router Has True 450Mbps Speeds
Belkin N750 Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router (Latest Generation)
Belkin has finally stepped up to the challenge thrown at it by rivals Netgear and Cisco and released a true 450Mbps Wireless-N dual-band router. It is called the N900 DB Dual-Band N+ Router (model number F9K1104) and it is currently the top of the line router from the company — the absolute best that you can buy for this purpose. This finally brings Belkin’s offers up to the same level as Linksys E4200 v2 by Cisco and the WNDR4500 from Netgear. It seems to be a follow up from the Belkin N750 DB Dual-Band Router.
The new N900 DB has the capability of providing full 450Mbps data rate throughput on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands (hence dual-band). Belkin has also highlighted the fact that it utilizes a better wireless broadcasting technology called MultiBeam technology. This apparently creates a stronger, more consistent signal has makes for better network speed throughout the covered area and creates less WiFi dead spots. This is done through as many as six embedded MultiBeam antennas inside the router, which create this stronger wireless effect over a longer range without a drop in the connection quality.
The router also has advantages like two high-speed USB 2.0 ports for attaching printers and storage; a 600MHz processor for powering media intensive multitasking (like printer and Network Attached Storage (NAS) working together); multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports; Intellistream QoS feature for prioritized gaming and video streams.
Design wise the router is almost the exact copy of the Belkin N750 DB Dual-Band Router and some of the other models as well. The entire unit stands up vertically on a provided stand. Since it has multi-array antennas to create the MultiBeam effect, this design helps it expose those antennas to proper transmission positions that lying flat on a surface would not have done. This can be verified by the fact that the N900 has no visible antennas like its competitors. It can easily be passed off as an external storage unit till someone checks the back. The back has an array of 4 Ethernet ports (all of them gigabit presumably), 1 extra Ethernet port for a non-LAN function, 2 USB (2.0) ports and the usual power socket.
Belkin N900 DB
It has a smooth and shiny black finish, which will be a fingerprint magnet if you are in the habit of moving your router around a lot. Otherwise it will just continue to look good with its curvy design that bulges at the sides a bit.
The only problem here is that even though the announcement has happened, interested Gearheads and Networking gurus will have to wait till April of this year to get their hands on one of these. Till then, they will just have to do with Belkin’s previous models which also provide dual-band operation and very high speeds with Wireless-N support. The predecessor model to the N900, the Belkin N750 DB Dual-Band Router, is a good example of this.
Overall, this makes the market for modern high-speed routers much broader and gives the customer more choice — which is always a good thing.
Date: January 9, 2012
