Asus releases new Wireless router

by Nigel Yap

Asus has introduced the WL-500gP V2 multi-functional wireless router. This router is Vista ready, and includes innovative features like AiDisk for easy file sharing, EZQos bandwidth management, and UPnP media streaming. The WL-500gP V2 has passed the “Works with Vista” certificate, and ensures fast and reliable wireless connectivity suitable for the demands of high-quality VoIP, video and online gaming functions.

The WL-500gP V2 supports the UPnP protocol and automatically searches and recognizes all digital media players in the network. This makes it easy to share music and video files stored through the WL-500gP V2 to any WiFi device via smooth streaming from the external hard drive to the digital media players.

The most unique function for WL-500gP V2 is AiDisk. AiDisk combines simple FTP settings with the ASUS DDNS service to share files with friends easily no matter when and where the user is. By simply utilizing the WL-500gP V2 with a USB hard disk, users will be able to create a mini FTP server at home and only requires them to setup an account and password and select the file they want to share.

Stay tuned for local availability and pricing. Read on for more.

The AiDisk has various functions that can help users save time and effort. Firstly, they can use the WL-500gP V2 as a way to transfer files stored on the external HDD to their notebooks / PCs. With this feature, users can be at a cafe, in a hotel or any other hotspot, and still access files stored at home. By utilizing AiDisk, they can download files to their notebooks by typing in their FTP address and access their files stored in that FTP. They can even log into AiDisk via PDA or smart phones when connecting to Internet.

Conversely, backing up important files to the home disk can be done instantly. Simply use AiDisk, and data like photos and music files can be easily backed up from the notebook, mobile phone, or another desktop to the WL-500gP V2 HDD.

Last but not least, with AiDisk, sharing files with friends can be done at home with very low power consumption, a small infrastructure cost, and persistently run 24/7. Friends and family members can download and upload files from the user’s home disk no matter where or when the are at.

The WL-500gP V2 is also able to prioritize your needs for Internet bandwidth. With Bandwidth-on-Demand, users can easily allocate bandwidth according to their individual needs by simply clicking on the buttons, such as voice or gaming, and assign more or less bandwidth to streamline streamlines multiple network activities (FTP, Games, P2P) to work smoothly at the same time.

Specifications

Hardware
Network standards	IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, IEEE802.11d, IEEE802.3, 802.3u, 802.1X (security authentication), 802.11i – Ready (security WPA2), 802.11e – Ready (wireless QoS), IPv4, IPv6 – Ready
Operating Frequency	2.4 - 2.5 GHz
Data Rate	802.11g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54Mbps 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps
Range	Indoor 130 ft (40 m), outdoor (LOS, Light-Of-Sight) 2000 ft (600 m) at 11Mbps* Indoor 80 ft (25 m), outdoor (LOS, Light-Of-Sight) 500 ft (150 m) at 54Mbps* *The range may vary by different environment
Output Power	802.11g: 15~19 dBm* 802.11b: 17~21 dBm* *At normal temp range
Sensitivity	-72~-74dBm @54Mbps* -85~-87dBm @11Mbps* -94~-96dBm @ 1Mbps* *At normal temp range
USB port	2 x USB 2.0
EZSetup button	Push for 5 seconds to setup SSID and WEP or WPA configuration with WSC compliant automatically
Reset button	Push for above 5 seconds to restore factory settings
DC Power Adapter	AC Input: 100V~240V(50~60HZ); DC Output: +5V with max. 2.5A current
Certification	CE / FCC / Telec / SRRC / DGT / MIC / C-tick / IDA / SIRIM / IC
Software
Wireless	802.11g / 802.11b Compliant
	Wi-Fi Security: Open System, Shared Key, 64/128-bit WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, WPA-Auto-Personal, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise, Radius with 802.1x
	Wireless Bridge Mode: AP Only WDS Hybrid
	MAC Access Control: Control the access by the MAC address
	RADIUS Setting: Required in Radius with 802.1x, WPA, WPA2 mode
	Afterburner: With “Afterburner” technology, the WL-500gP V2 boosts wireless transfer speeds by 35% compared with those of standard device of 802.11g 54Mbps speed over the 2.4 GHz frequency band
	SSID Isolation: Support SSID hiding
	WMM: WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) support
	Wireless Separation: Prevent wireless clients from communicating with each other
	BroadRange: WL-500gP V2 adopts BroadRange technology to broaden coverage to 300% of 11g. The Extend Range WL-500gP V2 can connect to any wireless LAN cards with longer distance
USB Application	USB port support: USB storage FTP Server / Samba Server / DMS USB printer. LPRng
Bandwidth Management	Allow multiple network activities (FTP, Game, P2P…) to work smoothly at the same time
Network Management	Internet connection type: Automatic IP, Static IP, PPPoE (MPPE supported), PPTP, Bigpond Service
	Support UPnP IGD
	DHCP Server: Supports up to 253 IP addresses Changeable DHCP lease time, IP pool, domain name
	Support DNS Proxy
	Support NTP Client
	Support DDNS
	Smart Wizard browser-based administration: Managed from LAN and Internet Password Setting
	System Event Log
	Upgrade via Web Interface
	Save/Restore Configuration File