Belkin repackages old wireless routers for its new N-series lineup (updated)

This wouldn't be the first time a company repackages old routers for the new year, but to be fair, there haven't been many technological advances recently for them to do much else. Belkin happens to be one such company, which has just announced five N-series 802.11n WiFi routers ranging from $39.99 (N150 at up to 150Mbps) all the way up to $129.99 (N750 at up to 450Mbps with dual band and USB). Frankly, a quick glance at the specifications doesn't show much of an improvement from last year's models, and that "exclusive" MultiBeam range-extending technology seems to be just a fancy name for MIMO. Still, you gotta give it to Belkin's designers for the new chassis design -- we much prefer this rounded look to the previous boxes. You can now grab an N150, N300, or N600 DB in the shops, whereas the N450 and flagship N750 DB will be showing up in mid-May. See press release after the break for the full details.

Update: Belkin got in touch to finally shed some light on MultiBeam. Essentially, this is a new antenna technology that beefs up the routers' MIMO signal with a 6db gain, as opposed to just 1.5db on traditional onboard "trace" antennas. Another feature delivered by MultiBeam is an improved, apple-shaped coverage pattern, which apparently bests the standard donut-shaped version. The high end N450 and N750 also come with "implicit beam forming" that focuses the radio signal beam onto client devices for more reliable connection. Let's see if the guinea pigs can prove these claims.

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Expand the Possibilities: Connect More Devices in More Locations with Belkin's New Line of High-Performance Routers

Exclusive Technology Delivers Faster Speeds and Fuller Coverage for PCs, Tablets, Smartphones, TVs, and Gaming Consoles

(Playa Vista, CA) - April 26, 2011 - Do more, with more devices, in more locations with Belkin's new line of wireless routers. Engineered with MultiBeam technology for maximum speed and coverage, the new routers showcase Belkin's dedication to high-performance networking solutions that support the proliferation of wireless devices, from smartphones and tablets to Internet TVs and gaming consoles, throughout the home.

"As people add more connected devices to their home network and the demand for streaming high-definition movies, downloading music, playing games, and sending emails continues to increase, a router that can manage these connections is essential to unlock the true potential of your electronic family," stated Mike Chen, Belkin's General Manager for Networking. "Belkin's newest routers are designed to give you the strongest Internet signal at the farthest distance in your home so your devices work where you live, not where your router lives."

All of Belkin's new routers feature MultiBeam, an exclusive technology that provides greater throughput at greater distances. That translates to higher data rates, faster speeds, and stronger wireless signals throughout the home to minimize dead spots and enable you to connect multiple devices in more places. The Belkin N600 DB and N750 DB routers also feature dual-band channels to eliminate interference and optimize performance for bandwidth-intensive applications such as high-definition video streaming.

Each router also features Belkin's Easy Setup, a simple process for getting the router out of the box and online in three easy steps, and pre-configured encryption settings for built-in wireless security.

AVAILABILITY

The Belkin N150, N300, and N600 DB routers are available now in the United States at major retailers and on Belkin.com. The Belkin N450 and N750 DB routers will be available mid-May at major retailers and on Belkin.com.

Belkin N150 Wireless Router (F9K1001 ) - $39.99

Wireless speeds of up to 150 Mbps
Wireless coverage at twice the speed of G technology
Easy Setup and preset security

Belkin N300 Wireless N Router (F9K1002 ) - $49.99

Wireless speeds of up to 300 Mbps
Easy Setup and preset security
Self-Healing App to detect network problems

Belkin N450 Wireless N+ Router (F9K1003) - $69.99

Wireless speeds of up to 450 Mbps
Gigabit for ultra-fast file sharing
Self-Healing App to detect network problems
Easy Setup and preset security

Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual Band N+ Router (F9K1102 ) - $79.99

Wireless speeds of up to 300Mbps (2.4 Ghz) + 300Mbps (5Ghz)
Simultaneous dual-band operating on 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz bands
One USB port for wireless printing or storage
Self-Healing App to automatically resolve potential network problems
Video Mover App for wireless streaming of video content throughout the house
Print Zone App allows you to print from anywhere in the home
Memory Safe App automatically backs up files to your external hard drive
Easy Setup and preset security

Belkin N750 DB Wireless Dual Band N+ Router (F9K1103) - $129.99

Wireless speeds of up to 300Mbps (2.4 Ghz) + 450Mbps (5 Ghz)
Simultaneous dual-band operating on 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz bands
Two USB ports for more media sharing or wireless printing
Self-Healing App automatically resolves potential network problems
Video mover App for wireless streaming of video content throughout the house
Print Zone App allows you to print from anywhere in the home
Memory Safe App automatically backs up files to your external hard drive
Easy Setup and preset security