INTRODUCTION

   Much like everything around us wireless technology also keeps evolving every day and with it so do all related devices such as routers, modem/routers, repeaters, access points, Wi-Fi dongles and much more. Now i can't say that I’m much of a Wi-Fi person myself since i have and will probably always prefer wired connections over wireless ones for many reasons (mainly however because of increased safety and speeds) but i know that the same doesn't apply to most people. Recently we saw the introduction of the latest 802.11ac standard (backwards compatible with b/g/n devices) which promises much higher throughput and data rates compared to the previous standard (802.11n). The W1800R Wireless AC1750 Dual-Band Gigabit Router by Tenda is the 2nd router to make it on our test bench with support for the new standard and today we are taking it for a quick ride to see how it does.

   Founded in 1999, Tenda Technology is the recognized leading supplier of networking devices and equipment for consumer, SOHO and small business users. Tenda has committed to delivering easy-to-install and affordable networking solutions for its customers, offering innovative, award-winning products that enhance people's lives and productivity. Our product lines include WiFi devices, ADSL CPEs, Ethernet switches, mobile broadband(3/3.5/3.75G) devices and wired routers. Tenda strives to innovation by long term commitment to R&D investments. With our 250 engineering team that is recognized as high by the industry, this is allows Tenda to develop innovative products and adapt well to different market needs. Based in Shenzhen, China, the production hub of 3Cs, our ISO9001:2000 certified facilities, plus ten automated SMT lines and assembly lines, produce 80,000 units of CE- and FCC-marked items per day. Since 2007, Tenda has started launching its global branding efforts. Until now, through our worldwide distribution channels, Tenda distributes products to more than 100 countries around the world. In 2009, our total revenue was recorded at 151 Million USD. In which, revenue from overseas was 41 Million USD, accounting for 27%, up from 19 Million in 2007 and 28 Million in 2008.

   The previous 802.11n standard used both 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum to broadcast signal while the new 802.11ac only uses 5GHz something which should easily improve on both speed and range. To be a little more specific in regard to speed the latest 802.11ac standard has a theoretical maximum of 450Mbps while the new 802.11ac can go up to 1300Mbps (1.3Gbps). This is achievable by the number of Antennas each standard can make use of since the new 802.11ac standard has support for up to 8 Antennas (Up to 400Mbit each) while the previous 802.11n standard featured support for up to 4 Antennas (Up to 100Mbit each). Of course the AC1750 classification used by manufacturers is nothing more than the sum of both mention speeds (450Mbps+1300Mbps) theoretically achievable by both the 802.11n/ac standards so no it's not a "real" number (not one you can achieve). Regardless the latest standard offers much more than its predecessor in theory so let's see how good the W1800R does in the real world.