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Netgear unveils true dual-band range extender with support for Apple's AirPlay

You plug it into a wall socket within the range of an existing Wi-Fi network to help extend its range.

Dong Ngo SF Labs Manager, Editor / Reviews
CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
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Dong Ngo
Netgear's Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender being showed off at CES 2013.
Netgear's Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender being showed off at CES 2013. Dong Ngo/CNET

LAS VEGAS--Netgear announced at CES 2013 its first wall-plug dual-band Wi-Fi range extender, the Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender Wall-plug Edition (model WN3500RP).

You plug it into a wall socket within the range of an existing Wi-Fi network to help extend its range. It's also the first Wi-Fi range extender that can be directly connected to speakers for music streaming using AirPlay, via its standard 3.5mm audio jack, or the USB speakers via its USB port.

Netgear's new Wi-Fi range extender supports Apple's AirPlay (pictures)

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The new can simultaneously extend both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands, making it best suited for a dual-band home network. It works, however, with a Wi-Fi network that uses either of the two frequency bands.
The new extender can be plugged directly onto a wall socket or use with a separate power cable.
The new extender can be plugged directly onto a wall socket or use with a separate power cable. Dong Ngo/CNET

The WN3500RP comes in a relatively compact design: about the size of small laptop power adapter. Its can be mounted directly on a power socket or with a separate power cord in case you don't want it to crowd the power sockets. The device's USB port can also be used to host a printer and share it with the rest of the network.

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The new Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender, Wall-plug Edition (WN3500RP) is available now and costs $100.