Wireless Sharing-Machine Enables 200 PCs to Use Internet Simultaneously

As demands for wireless Local Area Network (LAN) are growing, new wireless sharing-machines of high-speed Internet are pouring into the market.

High-speed Internet wireless sharing-machines enable several PCs to use Internet services like Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) at the same time. Wireless LAN repeater and the hub-function are included in the main body, and it allows maximum 200 laptops or desktop PCs to connect to one high-speed Internet connection within the range of 50 – 200 meters.

Data transfer speed is 11/. Laptops and desktops need separate wireless LAN cards for connection to the wireless sharing-machine.

Price of a wireless LAN sharing-machine exceeded 1 million won last year, but it has now dropped to 280,000 – 500,000 won. LAN cards that can be used for high-speed wireless LAN services of KT and Hanaro Telecom cost around 150,000 won.

Internet sharing-machine specialty-enterprise Unicorn (02-420-2713)’s `Win400` is the product that supports both wired and wireless connections. Maximum of 253 individuals may share one high-speed Internet connection. Package product that contains a wireless sharing-machine and a LAN card is sold under the price tag of 490,000 won.

Digital Link Korea (02-825-3400) introduced the Buffalo Air Station series of Japan’s Melco Inc. in the domestic market. The product supports the function that can use fixed Internet Protocol (IP) address and the firewall function. The sharing-machine’s price is at 282,000 won.

Also, Korea 3Com (02-3455-6345) and US-Robostics (02-515-4363) produce wireless sharing-machines that cost around 400,000 won. Domestic producers like Samsung Electro-mechanics and Acrowave also have jumped into the market with new wireless sharing-machine products. Accton Technology (02-553-0860) recently introduced new products of 54Mbps-class wireless sharing-machine and LAN card, which are different from the previous wireless LAN.

Experts advised, ¡°Among the wireless sharing-machines, there are some products that only support wireless LAN repeater function without the sharing function for high-speed Internet. So consumers should be careful before they buy the products.¡°

Tae-Han Kim freewill@donga.com