D-Link today announced a free firmware upgrade for the AC1900 Wi-Fi Router (DIR-880L) that brings Smart Connect Technology to the award-winning dual band router. Previously only available on D-Link’s AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router (DIR-890L), Smart Connect technology automatically connects each device on a home network to the clearest band available to deliver the best connection every time. This upgrade, paired with the router’s extremely fast 11AC Wi-Fi speeds and advanced QoS engine, makes the AC1900 Wi-Fi Router an even better solution for a high-performance network able to handle bandwidth-intensive activities like HD streaming and online gaming.

Standard dual band routers display two different SSIDS, or public network names, that users can connect clients to: one for the 2.4GHz wireless band and another for the 5GHz band. When adding devices to the network, the user must determine the best band to connect to and manually select that band. Smart Connect Technology provides a simplified approach instead by using one SSID for both wireless bands and intelligently assigning devices to the best, clearest band available.

“Smart Connect Technology takes the guess work out of getting the best possible connected experience from a router,” said Ken Loyd, director, consumer product marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc. “Automating the process of connecting clients to a network not only ensures that each device is connected to the appropriate band, but that the wireless bands are continually balanced as more devices are added over time.”

More about the AC1900 Wi-Fi Router (DIR-880L):

• 11AC Wi-Fi Dual Band Connectivity – Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1300 Mbps¹ on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band for maximum throughput with less Wi-Fi interference
• Smart Connect Technology – Automatically assigns clients to the wireless band providing the best bandwidth
• DD-WRT Compatible – Open source firmware will let you make your home network more controllable and versatile – visit dlink.com/dir-880L for more details
• Gigabit Ethernet Ports – Four 10/100/1000Gbps Ethernet ports provide high-speed wired connectivity
• USB 3.0 Port – Provides speeds up to 10x faster than USB 2.0
• New GUI – New intuitive user interface for simple management of a wireless network
• Traffic Prioritization – Advanced QoS engine distributes traffic optimally across both wireless bands to guarantee the best performance
• Wi-Fi Protected Setup – Push button for easy connection to a wireless network
• Backward Compatible – Works with existing Wi-Fi devices (802.11n/g/b)
• Wireless Encryption – Uses WPA™ or WPA2™

Availability and Pricing

The D-Link AC1900 Wi-Fi Router (DIR-880L) with Smart Connect is now available for $179.99 at dlinkshop.com and throughout D-Link’s vast network of retail and e-tail outlets. Detailed specifications are available online at us.dlink.com/dir-880L. Users wishing to upgrade their existing AC1900 Wi-Fi Routers with Smart Connect Technology can visit the DIR-880L Support Page on dlink.com and download the free Firmware (version 1.05.B02).