Netgear (NASDAQ: NTGR) has announced the availability of its WAX202 and WAX206 desktop WiFi 6 access points. The new product additions expand the manufacturer's Business Essentials line of business networking products aimed at small businesses and work-from-home environments, earmarked for being easy-to-deploy and affordable.
The WAX202 and WAX206 leverage the latest WiFi 6 wireless standard to deliver more coverage than previous generations of WiFi technology. The company notes "this advancement reduces dead zones and makes for a more productive and less frustrating wireless experience. Problems such as spotty connectivity, congestion due to limited bandwidth, dropped connections, low speed, complex configuration, and lack of security are all solved thanks to the advanced technology built into the WAX202 and WAX206," adds a Netgear statement.
The WAX202 and WAX206 access points are designed to make set up and configuration processes easier than before. The units' intuitive web-based interface provides step-by-step instructions for system configuration and bring-up. The WiFi 6 standard is deployed on both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, thus ensuring future compatibility with all WiFi devices. Both WAX202 and WAX206 are backwards compatible with devices using WiFi 5.
Further, the company says the WAX202 and WAX206 support up to three separate wireless sub-networks each with dedicated names (SSIDs), thus maximizing performance and security of every connection and user-type. A small business owner or work-from-home professional can therefore separate their business/work network traffic from the network traffic associated with their children (who may be learning from home) and yet again from their traditional home network traffic -- all from a single WAX202 or WAX206.
Additionally, the new access points support WPA3 authentication and encryption for a superior level of WiFi connection security; the platform also supports DHCP NAT server capability for enhanced firewall security. Multiple 1Gb Ethernet ports enable faster, wired connection to PCs, printers, and other wired network devices while freeing up more wireless bandwidth for WiFi-only devices like laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.
As contended by a Netgear product announcement:
More and more devices require an internet connection these days. Surveillance cameras, smart lighting, TVs, audio/video equipment, digital signage, IoT appliances, and everyday appliances are competing with your computers, printers, and phones for access to the network. According to a 2020 survey by Statista, the average American had access to more than ten connected devices in their household. WiFi 6 delivers 40% more speed and supports four times more concurrent devices than a WiFi 5 device with the same radio configuration.
Netgear previously introduced its Business Essentials WiFi product lineup, comprising both WiFi 5 (WAC104 and WAC124), and WiFi 6 (WAX202, WAX204, WAX206, WAX214, and WAX218) APs to deliver high-performance and security with low-cost WiFi positioned for small, standalone, single-site locations. This line of wireless access points is geared for customers who do not require remote management, yet need an intuitive user interface to locally manage the WiFi AP.
The WAX202 and WAX206 complement the ceiling mount WAX 214 and WAX 218 APs.
The WAX202 Essentials WiFi 6 Access Point is available now in the US and Europe – WAX202-100NAS (US) – MSRP $99.99. The WAX202-100EUS (Europe and U.K.) is available in Europe for an MSRP €99.99, £84.99. The WAX206 Essentials WiFi 6 Access Point will be available in late August in the US and Europe - WAX206-100NAS (US) – MSRP $149. The WAX206-100EUS (Europe and U.K.) is available in Europe for an MSRP €149, £139.
Learn more at www.netgear.com/wax202 and www.netgear.com/wax206. For more information, also visit www.Netgear.com/business/wifi6.
