Planex Wi-Fi router first in wall power socket

Interesting this one, Japanese Planex Communications might not be the most well-known maker of Wi-Fi routers, but the company has managed to come up with an interesting solution for those that want to save space, a Wi-Fi router that goes inside the whole in the wall where a power socket would normally be fitted. This means that the router doesn't take up any space, but it does also limit its functionality a bit.

The MZK-KR150N as the router is called needs to be wired directly to the mains wires inside the socket and as such a qualified electrician needs to do the installation according to the company. The WAN connector is also located here, so in other words, if you can't easily get an Ethernet cable into the power socket, this product isn't for you.

On the upside, you end up with only a Wi-Fi antenna sticking out of the wall socket and that's as much space as the router will take up. As you might've guessed by the model name, the MZK-KR150N only offers speeds of up to 150Mbps over 802.11n Wi-Fi, although the router also has a single 10/100Mbit Ethernet port.

The router has a power and WPS button on its "facia" and there's also a small switch that allows you to set it to router or access point mode. It's actually a really clever solution for extending Wi-Fi coverage in larger homes or offices where a single router won't be enough, at least as long as you can get an Ethernet cable from the router to a suitable wall socket easily enough. What we'd really like to have seen integrated into the MZK-KR150N is support for power line networking, as this would've eliminated the need for an Ethernet cable to be used for the network connection.

The MZK-KR150N should launch early next month in Japan with a retail price of about US$119 (S$150) which is a tad on the expensive side considering the basic spec of the product.