D-Link at CES 2013: Multiple 802.11ac Routers & IP Camera Solutions

D-Link has been pretty busy preparing products for CES launches, and their focus is very evident. A trio of 802.11ac routers have been introduced along with some surveillance solutions.  Without further digression,let us dive down to the products being introduced.

802.11ac Routers:

DGL-5500 Gaming Router (AC1300) : D-Link has been using Ubicom's solution for QoS on their routers. In March last year, Qualcomm acquired Ubicom. It is very likely that the StreamBoost technology is based on Ubicom's IP. D-Link's DGL-5500 boasts of StreamBoost technology for multi-player gaming, four GbE ports and 1300 Mbps throughput (867 Mbps with 802.11ac and 450 Mbps with 802.11n). At CES, we will confirm whether the radios are Broadcom's, or whether we finally have another vendor shipping 802.11ac radios to customers. [Update: Confirmed to be Qualcomm radios - QCA9882 2x2 solution]. Availability is scheduled for late-spring, and pricing will be announced at that time.

DIR-868L (AC1750) and DIR-860L (AC1200) Cloud Routers : The 868L is a dual-band solution delivering 1300 Mbps in 802.11ac and 450 Mbps in 802.11n, while the 860L is also dual-band delivering 867 Mbps in 802.11ac and 300 Mbps in 802.11n. Both routers are scheduled to ship in April for $150 and $170 respectively.

Wi-Fi / Media Sharing Cloud Router:

The DIR-508L is aimed at frequent travelers and provides Wi-Fi hotspot / repeater functions at 300 Mbps speeds along with USB charing ports and USB / SD card slots for storage in a pocket sized device. The USB port also supports 3G / 4G USB modems for creation of wireless hotspots. There is a 4000 mAh battery to keep the device up and running for 8 hours.

IP Cameras in the Cloud:

D-Link is introducing two consumer IP cameras recording SD video (640x480) in H.264 and streaming over a 802.11n connection. The Cloud Camera 1050 will ship next month for $80, while the 1150 (which adds infrared capabilities) will ship for $100. In the IP camera space, resolution is king, and it is disappointing to see only SD IP cameras from D-Link. That said, the pricing is pretty much on-par for the capabilities.

Stay tuned for our hands-on impressions and further information from our CES visit later this week.