SMB and consumer networking solutions vendor TRENDnet has launched its first wireless controller kit, the AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Controller Kit, model TEW-821DAP2KAC, designed as a simple roaming solution for home or office.
The wireless controller kit features TRENDnet’s new wireless hardware controller. In addition to simplified management and setup processes, the controller introduces next-generation technology to deliver seamless roaming capabilities for users moving from access point to access point on the same network.
“Wireless mobility is crucial for busy network environments with bandwidth intensive applications such as video conferencing and VoIP,” says Evan Davis, senior manager of solutions engineering at TRENDnet. “With that in mind, TRENDnet’s wireless controller and wireless controller kits were created to take the guesswork out of providing uninterrupted mobile WiFi connectivity.”
The hardware controller utilizes radio resource management (802.11k), offering a more efficient WiFi roaming environment by intelligently managing neighboring APs and passing mobile clients to the next best AP. For a faster transition, fast BSS transition, or fast roaming (802.11r), an Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC) pre-authenticates WiFi clients with neighboring APs.
“With fast roaming technology, there are some user restrictions because the mobile client must also support the technology for it to work,” adds Davis. “OKC is the preferred method since it doesn’t rely on client support to take advantage of the seamless roaming functionality.” †
The company also announced that its wireless controller will later feature Airtime Fairness, which automatically determines which clients have priority over others. This smart WiFi feature frees up your WiFi resources by identifying clients that are faster and closer to an AP and then assigning them the highest priority, while clients that are slower and further away have a lower priority. Airtime Fairness will become available through a firmware update later this year.
In addition to the TEW-821DAP2KAC kit, TRENDnet will also offer the N300 Wireless Controller Kit, model TEW-755AP2KAC; the Wireless LAN Controller, model TEW-WLC100, will also be available separately. Later this year, TRENDnet plans to introduce an AC1750 indoor access point also compatible with the new controller.
Each controller kit includes the Wireless LAN Controller and two indoor access points with PoE injectors. TRENDnet’s AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Controller Kit, the N300 Wireless Controller Kit, and the Wireless LAN Controller are all available now.
