Earlier this summer, D-Link introduced us to the Amplifi family. This group of networking products is designed to boost connectivity around the home. Now, the Amplifi family is growing.

Today, the company announced the HD Media Router 2000 (DIR-827) and the PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit (DHP-541).

Promising data transfer rates of up to 600Mbps and HD Fuel, the HD Media Router 2000 (pictured right) offers simultaneous N600 Dual Band (300Mbps + 300Mbps), which means you can stream HD video and surf the web at the same time. It can also stream that content to multiple devices in the home, such as an HDTV, Blu-ray player, set-top, or other device.

That HD Fuel feeds the built-in Quality of Service (QoS) engine, which can then prioritize high-bandwidth activities for uninterrupted HD video streaming, gaming and VoIP calling.

Other features include USB SharePort Plus with a USB 3.0 port, as well as an SD card slot. D-Link says that the HD Media Router 2000 will be available later this month, with an MSRP of $149.99.

The following month, they will release the PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit (pictured below). This combines the PowerLine AV 500 four-port Gigabit Switch (DHP-540) and one PowerLine AV 500 Adapter (DHP-502AV) into one package. It also boasts a 500Mbps transfer rate for hard-to-reach places, such as the basement or attic, using your home’s existing electrical wiring. This one can accommodate multiple streams of HD content and has the same built-in QoS engine mentioned above. 

Expect the PowerLine AV 500 Gigabit Switch Kit to start selling in October for $159.99.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.