Event Coverage

PC Show 2013 - Notebooks/Systems, Networking, PC Accessories/Software & Gaming Gear Buying Guide

By Team HardwareZone - 7 Jun 2013

Networking

Networking Deals at the Show

Here are some highlighted networking deals at the PC Show this year.

ASUS RT-AC66U

If you're looking for a speedy AC router to complement your high-speed fiber connection, the ASUS RT-AC66U is the router for you, with connection speeds of up to 1.75Gbps, making it ideal for HD movie streaming.

PC Show 2013 Offer

  • PC Show Price: $299 (Usual Price: $339)
  • PC Show Promotion: Trend Micro Security Suite, Altec Lansing headphones
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 6, Booth 6005 & 6012

Aztech HL125G

With a powerline speed of 500Mbps, the Aztech HL125G grants you high-speed connectivity for up to four devices, thanks to its four Gigabit ports, enabling you to access, surf, chat, and connect to anyone and any media across the Internet and between your devices.

PC Show 2013 Offer

  • PC Show Price: $79 (Usual Price: $89)
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 5, Booth 5041

 

D-Link DWR-730 Portable HSPA+ 21 Mbps Router

D-Link's Portable HSPA+ 21 Mbps Router allows you to connect your notebook to your mobile broadband service wherever you are in the world, and share your 3G Internet connection with other users via Wi-Fi. This battery-powered router works with data SIM cards from any operator, making it ideal for people that need a portable solution.

PC Show 2013 Offer

  • PC Show Price: $118 (Usual Price: $189)
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 5, Booth 5040

 Prolink PRT7001H Mobile Wireless Hotspot

Prolink's PRT7001H provides fast and easy mobile connectivity with transfer speeds of up to 21.6Mbps. An easy to read on-board LCD display shows connection type, battery life, and number of connected users. 3 years warranty and compatible with all telcos.

PC Show 2013 Offer

  • PC Show Price: $139 (Usual Price: $179)
  • PC Show Promotion: Free 1,500mAh battery worth $25
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 6, Booth 6044

Netgear R6300 WiFi Router

Netgear's R6300 WiFi Router offers one of the fastest connection speeds around, thanks to its 802.11ac next generation Wi-Fi 450+1300 Mbps speeds. This router also has a handy Guest Network Access feature.  

PC Show 2013 Offer

  • PC Show Price: $299 (Usual Price: $299)
  • PC Show Promotion: Free Netgear A6200 Wi-Fi USB adapter, Targus bag (worth $150), and $10 voucher (while stocks last) with purchase of Netgear R6300
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 5, Booth 5026

TP-Link TL-MR3040

TP-Link’s TL-MR3040 is a mobile router designed to be paired with any smartphone or tablet 3G/LTE modem to broadcast a wireless signal at up to 150Mbps, creating a mobile office or entertainment network for up to five devices to access the Internet simultaneously.

PC Show 2013 Offer

  • PC Show Price: $65 (Usual Price: $79)
  • Brochure

Location

Hall 5, Booth 5085

 

PC Show 2013 Networking Portal

 

Networking Buying Guide

The way we connect to the world wide web has evolved tremendously over the decades. Remember the days of ploddingly slow 14.4kbps modems? Well, those dinosaurs are now a thing of the past. Instead of depending on phone lines as the main networking medium, we now have cable and fiber optics broadband capable of 200Mbps speeds to serve our Internet needs. Here, we let you in on some pointers on how to pick the right router and also show you some of the best router buys from the show.

NETWORKING TODAY

Routers have advanced greatly in terms of both functionality and design. Today, they are not just devices you use to connect to the Internet. Some routers come with built-in hard disks that allows you to quickly share data or even lets you backup your systems wirelessly. Additionally, they are no longer clunky looking boxes, as manufacturers are paying more attention to design and aesthetics.

 

 

Today's routers are no longer dull-looking boxes, some actually look quite stylish and futuristic. Features-wise, some even include integrated storage for easy file sharing and wireless backups.

 

What To Look For

NGNBN-certification: If you’ve upgraded to a high-speed fiber plan recently, be sure to get a high-speed router that’s preferably NGNBN-certified (Next-Generation Nationwide Broadband Network) to match your network. This will ensure your router is up to the task for maximizing your fast fiber connection.

802.11ac: Although the 802.11ac standard has yet to be officially ratified, manufacturers have already been offering 802.11ac routers for quite some time already. Compared to N routers, AC routers have a thereotical top data speed of 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band, making them sought after by users who want to stream HD content wirelessly over their network.

File and Printer Sharing: If the router has USB ports, look to see if they support File Sharing, which allows you to attach an external hard drive to the router to quickly share files or even allow wireless backups. Printer Sharing allows clients connected to the network to send print jobs to a shared printer.

Check out the latest networking products at our HardwareZone Networking Product Guide.

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