Released in 2004, the Belkin Wireless Pre-N was the first wireless router on the market to include Multiple In/Multiple Out (MIMO) technology, which supports multiple data streams through a single channel. MIMO was intended to increase the amount of data a router could handle, while enhancing its range. CNET, an electronics website, praised the Pre-N for its user-friendly setup, but criticized it for not including the MIMO adapter in its basic package.
Connectivity
Equipped with four data ports, the Belkin Wireless Pre-N is designed to handle wired or wireless network connections using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 b, g and n and Ethernet protocols. The Pre-N operates on the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) band and has a maximum data transfer rate of 108 megabits per second (Mbps). In 2004, the IEEE 802.11 n protocol wasn't available to the public and wasn't expected until 2006, hence the "Pre-N'' moniker. The Pre-N contained the draft version of this protocol, which was not guaranteed to be compatible with future technology.
Software and Networking
The Belkin Wireless Pre-N comes with all the utility and driver software needed for it to work properly. The router is compatible with the Windows 98SE, 2000, ME and XP operating systems, but not with Vista or Windows 7. Mac operating systems supported by the Pre-N include Mac OS 9 and OS X, but nothing newer. The Pre-N features three external antennas, 11 selectable channels and a light-emitting diode panel. The router connects to wireless networks using 4.0 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX RJ-45 interfacing and to wired local area networks using the 1.0 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX RJ-45 interface.
Protocols and Formats
A variety of network and transport protocols are used by the Belkin Wireless Pre-N, including Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) and Internet Protocol Security (IPSec). Encryption algorithms used by the Pre-N include Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), 64-bit and 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). Several digital data transport codes, or line coding formats, are used by the Pre-N, such as Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK).
Miscellaneous
In benchmark experiments conducted by CNET, the Belkin Wireless Pre-N was tested for long-range transmitting and maximum throughput. The device's long-range wireless data transmission rate for distances greater than 10 feet tested at 36.4 Mbps, while its 10-foot maximum throughput measured 45.7 Mbps. Using a mixture of the Pre-N's 802.11 b/g, draft N and MIMO clients, the unit's transfer rate measured 42.1 Mbps. Each of these test results measured well below the device's 108-Mbps maximum transfer rate. Internet provider protocols supported by the Pre-N include Network Address Translation (NAT) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Tags: Belkin Wireless, Belkin Wireless Pre-N, Wireless Pre-N, Pre-N include, transfer rate, 100Base-TX RJ-45, 10Base-T 100Base-TX