U.S. Robotics Releases SOHO Wireless Network Starter Kit

U.S. Robotics Wednesday announced the availability of its new Wireless Network Starter Kit for small businesses and consumers. The $99 kit includes an 802.11g 54 Mbps wireless router and an 802.11g 54 Mbps wireless USB adapter.

The manufacturer boasts of the ease with which its kit can be deployed. "Our starter kit's convenient, all-in-one product packaging provides small business owners and consumers with everything they need for an instant wireless network and installs in only three easy steps," Jim Thomsen, senior product manager of U.S. Robotics, said in a statement.

The USB adapter resembles a USB memory stick in look and feel. Users plug the device into any available USB (2.0 or 1.1) port of a desktop or notebook computer to make a wireless connection, eliminating the need to open the computer's case for installation. The device can also be carried to other locations to connect to different wireless networks.

Both devices are compatible with all Wi-Fi (54 Mbps 802.11g and 11 Mbps 802.11b) wireless devices.Other features include a built-in firewall to protect against hackers, support for Web site blocking, MAC Address Authentication, and 64/128-bit WEP encryption and WPA. The router has an integrated 4-port 10/100 Ethernet switch to support wired devices (a single Ethernet cable is included in the kit).