Luxul announces the availability of the Epic 5-- a high-performance gigabit router aimed at custom installers, with superior WAN-to-LAN performance and advanced capabilities beyond the traditional router.

Epic routers come in two basic configurations, the Epic 4 series and the Epic 5 series. While Epic 4 routers offer 600+ Mbps WAN to LAN performance, the Epic 5 supports gigabit WAN to LAN (900+ Mbps) speeds, making them ideal for customers with access to gigabit service or future-proofing for when local ISPs start offering gigabit service.

In addition, the Epic 5 features dual-WAN capability with load-balancing and failover control, advanced security and remote access features, and a console port for local configuration. Also included is a platform optimising the user experience in smart homes, workplaces, retail establishments and more, as delivered through Luxul and 3rd party applications running on the Epic platform.

Blackfire Research announces Blackfire RED-- a real-time distribution framework described by the company as the only wireless framework built to overcome the limitations of wifi when used in media applications.

According to the company, wifi is not enough when it comes to connectivity between consumer products. Instead, entertainment content exchange requires a common framework able to work reliably over wifi while adding a "rich set of features for a broad spectrum of entertainment content."

The technology promises to allow users to enjoy all digital content wirelessly, synchronously and seamlessly throughout the home, including 5.1-channel audio and 4K video on multiple devices, all over standard wifi. The RED framework consists of a software engine (a piece of embedded software), a communications protocol (allows Red-enabled products to talk to each other over standard network stack) and a programming interface (allows easy real-time distribution and handling of entertainment content to and from products).

The Zigbee Alliance announces Zigbee PRO 2017-- the first mesh network capable of operating on two ISM frequency bands simultaneously, sub-GHz 800-900MHz for regional requirements and 2.4GHz for global acceptance.

Zigbee PRO is the underlying network technology with support for full-stack interoperable devices certified under Zigbee 3.0. Designed to connect smart devices, Zigbee PRO 2017 promises flexibility and design choice for manufacturers, consumers and municipalities wanting to connect products across homes, buildings and cities.

“PRO 2017 is the ideal wireless solution to cast large IoT networks across buildings, business parks, large facilities, cities and venues challenged by connectivity issues such as reinforced concrete and steel studs,” the alliance says. “The deployment potential is tremendous for smart homes, smart buildings and smart cities.”

Gefen announces a pair of new 4K Ultra HD Extenders-- the GTB-UHD600-HBT and GTB-UHD600-HBTL, able to extend the full bandwidth of HDMI 2.0 over UTP/STP cabling.

According to the company, combined with HDBaseT technology the extenders have compression technology to extend an HDMI 2.0 signal in resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 at 60Hz and 4:4:4 chroma subsampling. Other HDMI 2.0 features, such as HDR, are also carried along the signel cable linking the sender and receiver units.

Metra Home Theatre announces a means to maintain high quality audio/video output despite issues occurring along the signal path connecting HDMI devices-- the Junior+ (HDM-JRPLUS) EDID problem solver.

The easy to install solution promises to minimise system failures and increase compatibility between devices with different data tolerances, as well as devices with multiple brands of HDMI-enabled electronics.

The Junior+ reduces the effective capacitive loading "Rise Time" issues commonly found on the DDC channel (EDID) of the HDMI interface. This can be caused by cables, printed circuit boards and environmental conditions. The Junior+ reduces the cables' capacitive issues loading by 50%, a correction solving issues such as audio dropouts, HDCP not supported, mode not supported, mode out of range, long sync times and the "black screen."

The Eero mesh-based wifi system enters its second generation, with an updated router claiming to be twice as fast and twice as powerful as its predecessor even as it maintains the same form factor.

Like the first Eero router, the new version remains a router, wireless access point and range extender inside a small, white box. The update adds tri-band technology, allowing it to broadcast on 3 wireless bands simultaneously. The Eero can use any of the 3 bands to send data to device or communication between nodes, as per network demands.

Another addition is support for Thread, the smart home communications protocol developed by the Google-owned Nest. Thread is reportedly easier to deploy than ZigBee and Z-Wave but so far no device on the market supports it, making the Eero update something of a future-proof home automation device should Thread grow into a viable smart home networking protocol.