D-Link Announces Seamless Hand-Off System for Wi-Fi Devices

D-Link has announced a system that automatically switches Wi-Fi devices to the most suitable access point and frequency band. The company also showed new network equipment and IP cameras.

D-Link calls the new system Covr. The company has announced a router, extender and powerline kit to work with the system. The router, which bears the type name DIR-883, has four antennas and supports mu-mimo and the 5GHz frequency band. Like the router, the DHP-W730AV powerline kit features 5GHz WiFi with mu-mimo, but only has two antennas. Furthermore, the company has announced the DAP-1655 extender, but provides no further information about it.

The three devices must be able to work together seamlessly. When a user moves to a different location where another access point has better coverage, it automatically switches to that location. It also automatically switches from 5GHz to 2.4GHz if the 5GHz network has too weak a signal and no other access point is available. All devices in the house use the same SSID.

In addition to the DIR-883, the company has announced which models it will be producing in 2017. Except for the new DIR-883, these are all existing models, namely the DIR-885L/R, DIR-890L/R, DIR-895L/R, DIR-842, DIR-859, DIR-879 and DIR-880L.

The company also announced two new security cameras. The DCS-8100LH has a wide-angle lens that can observe an angle of view of 180 degrees. The cheaper DCS-8000LH can record an angle of view of 120 degrees. Both cameras have a resolution of 720p and are equipped with a night vision function that reaches up to five meters. The cameras can be controlled with a new smartphone app. It is not known for which platforms the app will be available. D-Link shows images of an iPhone with the app, making availability on iOS very likely.

The new devices and the app will be launched in the second quarter of 2017. D-Link has not yet announced suggested retail prices.