Netgear Incorporates AutoCell Into ProSafe WG302 and WAG511 Wi-Fi WLAN Products



Netgear ProSafe? 802.11g Wireless Access Point WG302 and ProSafe 802.11a/b/g Dual-Band PC Card WAG511 First to Incorporate Powerful Distributed RF Management Features from Propagate Networks Including Dynamic Transmit Power Control, Automatic Channel Selection and Load Balancing



SANTA CLARA, Calif. -/27 September, 2004 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- NETGEAR, Inc., (Nasdaq: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, today announced the incorporation of Propagate Networks? AutoCell? RF management technology into its growing line of wireless networking products targeted at the small- and medium-sized business segment.

Immediately available on the NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point WG302 and ProSafe 802.11a/b/g Dual Band PC Card WAG511 via a free firmware upgrade from the NETGEAR website, AutoCell technology optimizes wireless LAN performance, reduces total cost of ownership and offers a complementary security measure with Enhanced Privacy Mode. For solution providers this technology simplifies and speeds wireless network installation through automatic RF power management and channel selection, minimizing the time consuming task of configuring individual access points.

To optimize WLAN performance, the NETGEAR WG302 with AutoCell technology employs automatic channel selection, dynamic transmit power control and load balancing across access points while the WAG511 employs a Rapid Roaming feature. WG302 AutoCell-enabled access points monitor RF patterns and dynamically tune access point signal strength and channel selection to avoid interference and ensure total coverage. In addition, RF privacy is enhanced by automatically reducing beacon and data transmit power to a level that reaches only AutoCell-enabled WAG511 clients. This is yet another optional security method that makes the network less visible to intruders. With Rapid Roaming, the WAG511 quickly detects client motion and monitors the WLAN environment and automatically seeks and jumps to the access point with the highest data rate to ensure peak performance and session persistence.

Deployment of the NETGEAR WG302 with AutoCell Technology also reduces total cost of ownership through a distributed technology that has no single point of failure. Thus there is no need to purchase additional hardware such as WLAN gateways, switches or software. By simplifying the network setup, the WG302 eliminates the need for costly, time-intensive site surveys or channel maps. Simply power up the AutoCell-enabled WG302s and a self-organizing WLAN is immediately established. With AutoCell View, a separate monitoring software utility sold separately by Propagate Networks, users can scan in a floor plan to view, in real time, the locations of deployed WG302s and the WAG511s they are associated with, allowing users to see how AutoCell-enabled WG302s are automatically tuning power levels and channels to eliminate RF interference and deliver peak performance across the WLAN. An evaluation copy of AutoCell View will be available October 1, 2004, via the WG302 product page on the NETGEAR website.

?The demand to leverage the performance and productivity-enhancing benefits of wireless networking has resulted in the rapid adoption and deployment of wireless LANs in the business sector. The deployment of legacy access points and clients in the corporate setting has created an IT nightmare as each additional access point typically results in network performance reductions and security concerns,? stated Patrick Lo, NETGEAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ?The incorporation of the robust AutoCell technology to our popular WG302 and WAG511 wireless products enables organizations to easily and cost-effectively deploy or expand a WLAN with the peace-of-mind that our complete, distributed RF management solution provides.?

?We are excited that NETGEAR has selected our AutoCell technology for integration into their popular line of enterprise-class wireless networking products,? explained Gary Vacon, Chief Executive Officer at Propagate. ?The combination of our intelligent RF management technology with NETGEAR?s feature-rich wireless access points provides enterprise and SMB organizations with a wireless networking solution that is easy to deploy and manage, while providing a powerful feature set that optimizes the wireless LAN environment to ensure session persistence, enhance security and reduce the overall cost of deployment and operation.? AutoCell technology is available now via a free firmware upgrade for any WG302 and WAG511 products purchased after December 2003. The firmware download is available on the NETGEAR Website at: http://www.netgear.com/go/euwg302

ProSafe? 802.11g Wireless Access Point WG302
Fully compatible with IEEE 802.11g, the Wi-Fi certified WG302 supports IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE), enabling the access point to be powered by a 10/100 Mbps switch port that supports 802.3af, thus eliminating the need for the access point to be deployed near a power outlet and creating the opportunity for it to be placed for maximum coverage in the space above suspended ceilings. To further maximize network coverage in difficult areas, the WG302 is equipped with two powerful 5 dBi detachable antennas and is compatible with NETGEAR?s line of directional and omni-directional antennas and accessories.

The versatile, high-performance ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point WG302 boasts an impressive set of enterprise-class features. Enabled with Wireless Distribution System (WDS), the WG302 supports WPA and is 802.11.i-ready, and supports wireless point-to-point bridging, point-to-multipoint bridging and repeater functionality for deployment over large areas. In addition, the plenum-rated WG302 has the ability to operate simultaneously as an access point and bridge. Advanced management features include remote configuration and management of individual or multiple WG302 access points through a Web browser, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) or Telnet with command line interface (CLI).

AutoCell technology will begin shipping in the WG302 and WAG511 by the end of September, 2004. The WG302 and WAG511 are backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, and are available now via leading retailers, direct marketers, e-commerce sites, and value-added resellers at list prices of $350 and $121 respectively.

About Propagate Networks
Propagate Networks, Inc. (http://www.propagatenet.com) headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts, was founded in October 2002 to automate and increase the performance of 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) equipment. Based on patent-pending technology, Propagate's technology will significantly boost the throughput and decrease the cost of 802.11 solutions by creating a distributed, self-organizing network. Propagate Networks is led by a team of seasoned network professionals and entrepreneurs and is funded by a group of private investors. All copyrights are trademarks of their respective owners.

About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR (Nasdaq: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking products that address the specific needs of small and medium business and home users. The Company's suite of over 100 products enables users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.netgear.com or call (408) 907-8000.