Linksys has used CES 2017 to unveil a modular router setup designed to take the hassle out of covering larger homes with a Wi-Fi signal, a task usually achieved by using one or more range extenders.
Called Velop, the system uses identical vase-shaped ‘nodes’ that can be placed around the house in any order. Each one uses a Tri-Band 802.11ac radio, which dedicates two bands to computers, phones, tablets and other devices around the house that can connect on the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequencies.
The remaining band operates on the 5GHz frequency and is used as the backhaul for communications between nodes. According to its maker, this is the Velop’s real party trick, as it prevents bandwidth being cut in half each time a new node is added – a common drawback of using a traditional router/range extender combination.
However many nodes are in use (Velop comes in one, two and three-pack options), they all show up under a single SSID, which is designed to eliminate confusion around deciding to connect to 2.4GHz or 5GHz networks.
http://www.techradar.com/news/linksys-velop-will-make-you-want-to-bin-your-router-and-range-extenders
