Pros: ?

Cons: Pricey
Unreliable

Other Thoughts: Been a Linksys user for many years. My intention is not to bash them, but to warn others that this router has issues. The first EA8500 purchased was DOA...powered up, but Ethernet ports didn't work. Returned for another. The second EA8500 took a few tries (and resets) to get it up and running. Once up, the router worked like a router should...so I thought. After a few days the router would disconnect, 2-3 times a day and the Linksys logo would just flash until I power cycled the router. After a day or two of this, nothing I did (power cycle, reset, leave unplugged for a few minutes) could get the router to connect. I finally gave up and reconnected my trusty EA6900 with no problem. FYI...the EA8500 was updated with current firmware and setup with basic settings.

Pros: Looks real hi tech- resembles a drone

Cons: works for a few minutes, then stops.........fancy auto loading software....only problem was that when i asked for a speed test, the screen stayed blank....I guess that means my speed is zero

Other Thoughts: nice paperweight

Pros: none

Cons: brand /reliable

Pros: Can handle high speeds and multiple users at once. Even at gigabit speeds.

Cons: No very reliable for gaming whats so ever. Drops WiFi often for a second or two. Right after setting the router the main 5 GHz WiFi disappears and no one can connect forcing you to use the lesser. I have had to Factory reset this multiple times because it kicks everyone off the WiFi and both the 2.5 and the 5 are not showing on any computers anymore. This is the second one i have gotten and the first was just as bad. Way to pricey to pay for the non consistency.

Other Thoughts: Would have given at least a 3 if it was cheaper.

Manufacturer Response:

Hi Devin,

Thank you for sharing your feedback on the Linksys EA8500. Is the router's wired connection stable? If you experience unstable connection on the wireless side only, it could be that there's an interfering wireless signal in the area that you need to avoid. We suggest that you adjust the router's wireless channels. Use channel 1, 6, or 11 for the 2.4 GHz. Adjust the 5 GHz band too. Tweak the channels and choose the one with the best result.

Let us know how this goes. Email us at LinksysCares@linksys.com should you need further assistance.


Regards,

Linksys Support
http://www.linksys.com

Pros: The device looks solid and feels solid; Sturdy construction, and decent design. You can turn the status lights off, if the constant LEDs are a problem. The Interface is simple to understand and easy to use. Setup Configuration is very easy. You can plainly see all connected devices using the Network Map. And, the USB 3 Network Attached Storage feature is great for movies and files you want to share on the network; Throughput is more than enough to stream any content. The range of this router is very good. I have mine near the back of a 2500 square foot brick house; Not only do I have near the same throughput *everywhere* in the house, but I get okay signal on the front sidewalk, and good signal in the garage, another 50 feet from the house.

Cons: I don't like the fact that, when setting up the router, the encryption type is not plainly stated, or selectable. Despite a "VLAN" option in Connectivity settings, no actual VLAN capabilities are present on the device. While I have a small network that doesn't require complex subnetting, this should be a standard feature on *all* routers. The built-in speed test is not programmed for anything but IE running with Flash, making it pretty useless. The mobile app was also a disappointment- A hassle to get working, for not much payoff in terms of features.

Other Thoughts: Overall, this is a well performing router, that I'm confident will work well into the future. However, the price is steep considering what you're getting for it. I recommend it for someone looking for sturdiness, and signal reliability over bells and whistles.

Pros: Absolutely none.

Cons: Routinely and regularly drops WiFi connected clients and has poor signal strength. Max connection rate is NOWHERE near the advertised rates. 400 mbps is max we are able to connect with Intel AC 7260 and/or 7265 WiFi card laptops. Same laptops get solid, stable 866 mbps at same location, same environmental factors but using Netgear R7000 WiFi router. Also the GUI is trying way to hard to be cool and is basically not intuitive to those who know what they are doing and remote management only available via manufactures Smart WiFi web based software which requires an account (basically its a backdoor into the router).

Other Thoughts: Completely overpriced junk....Do not waste your time. Even latest firmware 1.1.4.167984 (as of 28 July 2015) is not stable.

Manufacturer Response:

Hi Christian,

We are sorry to hear about your experience with the Linksys EA8500. Adjusting the router's wireless channel could help improve the overall wireless signal. Try using fixed channels, instead of Auto, for both 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless bands. Relocate the router too. Place it at a central location and minimize physical obstruction.

You can email us at LinksysCares@linksys.com if you need further assistance. Our Support team would be glad to lend you a hand.


Regards,

Linksys Support
www.linksys.com

Pros: - Great signal, especially in 5 GHz with 11ac. I'm able to maintain max 11ac rates much further away than I could with the BUFFALO unit. For example, my HTC One M8 (1x1) has a 433 Mbps connection much more often including one room away, my Macbook Pro (2x2)has an 866 Mbps connection, etc.
- The UI is nice and thoughtful, and I particularly like the Network Map and its vast customization. The BUFFALO has a similar feature, but was much less sorted out than the Linksys one. I particularly like that the custom names and icons are saved through reboots and backed up via the config backup option.
- The port forwarding tables are easy and fast. I like that I can input many different rules one after another before applying. The BUFFALO unit required me to submit after each entry which then caused a 10-20 second waiting period. The EA8500 was very fast in setting up my port foward rules. That said, I hit the maximum amount of port forward rules allowed, so I have to juggle different rules depending on what I need to accomplish with work, etc.
- I like that it supports No-IP.com for Dynamic DNS.
- Support for VLAN tagging is not something I expect to see in consumer routers. I don't need it in my environment, but I was surprised to see it.

Cons: - The unit seems to be less reliable than the BUFFALO unit which never failed once on me. Within 2 days of owning the EA8500, I lost all wireless connectivity on both bands and had to reboot the router. I believe this may be related to overheating, as I put my router in a wiring closet with some other PCs and AV equipment. The BUFFALO unit had no problem with this at all, but the Linksys seemed to get very hot. I've now moved it to on top of the wiring cabinet which is not as aesthetically desirable for me, but I'm hopeful better ventilation will cure the problem. This overheating may be related to the form factor being horizontal compared to BUFFALO's vertical orientation.
- The unit doesn't particularly feel high quality. It is far from cheap, but compared to the WXR-1900DHP which is a Japanese work of art, it just feels average which is a bit disappointing given the price. Fortunately, you don't really handle routers so not a big deal, just an observation. However, due to the overheating, I now have this Darth Vader router in plain site. The slimmer and more aesthetically pleasing BUFFALO unit would've looked better.
- This router is really lacking features for a flagship model. Other than the VLAN tagging feature, this router has several feature shortcomings which I'll document on the following lines.
- No VPN Server - PPTP, OpenVPN, you name it, none of them exist. I had to resort to using a Windows Server I have and RAS to get my VPN connectivity back. There is no excuse for this feature to be missing on any router over $79. This is probably my singlets largest gripe and honestly, if just this feature were fixed, I'd bump it up to 4-stars. It is laughable to not have this feature. It would be similar to buying a brand new Mercedes Benz and not getting powered windows.
- No ability to customize DNS servers issued by DHCP. There is a setting for them, but Linksys apparently still masks these requests behind the router's IP, so no matter what you do, your clients will receive the Router IP as their DNS server, this simply cannot be changed. However, it does appear to forward to DNS requests to your DNS servers which in my case is critical since I run my own internal DNS server for a work laboratory. Linksys claims this is to make their Cloud stuff work, but technically speaking, that makes no sense.
- Lack of advanced wireless settings. You cannot set 11n+11ac only for example, you're stuck supporting legacy 11a/b connections. There are very few settings to adjust.
- Lack of good diagnostic features. I would like to see the clients connected and some stats on them including SNR, rateset, etc., but there is no such visibility.
- Only supports 20 Port Forwarding rules. I know this seems like a lot, but I need closer to 25-30 due to many remotely accessible servers, Wi-Fi cameras, etc.
- You cannot access the UI from your smartphone's browser unless you put the browser into Desktop mode. Instead, Linksys makes you download their app unnec

Other Thoughts: All in all, it is a fast router with good range, but considering its price point and the competition from Asus and Netgear, I just do not think the feature set is compelling enough to justify the price. I received it as a gift, and I'll stick with it and hope Linksys adds more features that advanced users and networking professionals would enjoy.

Manufacturer Response:

Hi Brian,

Thank you for sharing a detailed feedback on this product. We've also replied to your post on Amazon website and rest assured this will be shared to the development team.

How's the router doing right now? Is it still overheating? If you are still having intermittent connection wirelessly, try to change the wireless channel of the router. We'd appreciate if you'll update us via email at LinksysCares@linksys.com and in the message, indicate your full name, phone number, location, and the link to this post.

It'd be our pleasure to help you.


Sincerely,

Linksys Support
http://www.linksys.com

Pros: My oh my, you can really tell where they spent the money in this access point -- it's alllllll in the radio! Four beefy antennas and a great radio chipset finally lets 5.8GHz get the range that I've long enjoyed with 2.4GHz.

Whenever I get a new access point, I test in three spots... right next to it, out on the street in front of my house, and in my garage. My garage is a ways away, and it's just too far (I have a separate AP out there normally). The EA8500 was no miracle worker there, neither 2.4GHz nor 5.8GHz could reliably connect. It'd be seen, but be weak in the -80 to -90dB range; far too weak to be useable.

But everywhere else WOW!! I have my own speed test server on my local LAN, and compared to my old 802.11n router (linksys e3000) it completely blew it away on both 2.4 and 5.8GHz. Funny thing is that the speed difference got larger as the distance from the access points increased! (I kept them both up on different frequencies and flip-flopped between the two during testing.) Right next to the APs, for 2.4GHz the ea8500 easily bested the e3000; 115Mbps upload average for 1GB of data, 98Mbps down average. At 5.8GHz the ea8500 walked away with it; 145Mbps up and 100Mbps down (vs 115Mbps up and 98Mbps down for the e3k).

[All numbers are of observed throughput through the network.]

Out on the patio and in the car are where the ea8500 really shined. On the patio at 2.4GHz, e8500 clocked in 62Mbit down 40Mbit up vs 30Mbit down 7Mbit up for the e3k. In 5.8GHz was even better -- ea8500 was at 93Mbit down 39Mbit up vs e3k at 59Mbit down and 36Mbit up.

Finally out on the street in front of my house, neither AP could reliably complete and speed tests at 2.4GHz. (darn neighbors.) But at 5.8GHz I was able to pull 140Mbit down and 96Mbit up, vs. the e3k's 20Mbit down and 12.6Mbit up.

Phenomenal performance across the board! Finally an AP where 5.8GHz is not only just as good as 2.4GHz as far as range, but is flat out better than 2.4GHz!

Cons: The ea8500 is one of those home routers that has a lot of checkboxes for features, but the devil is really in the details. In short, if you're a power user that's used to full software then this isn't going to be appealing to you.

For example, let's take VLANing. VLANing is functionally broken in this device. Normally you turn on VLAning to split your network into multiple virtual networks. That's not how VLANing works on the ea8500. In short, if you turn on VLANing it takes one or two *physical* ports, adds VLAN tags, then shoots those ports' data out the internet port. It's solely intended if you have a specific ISP in singapore that gives you a physical VOIP box to attach to your home router. Any other use is not supported and is not going to work.

The documentation for the EA8500 blows, and blows HARD. They include a printed leaflet quick start guide that's one page. On the CD is an electronic copy of what most people would consider the real quick start guide -- it's ten pages and written to the level of a third grader.

Which is such a shame, because this router has a great feature, wireless bridging, that's mentioned NOWHERE in the manual. So since linksys hasn't bothered to document it *at all*, here I will:

Let's say you want to steal your neighbor's or hotel's wireless signal, but you have regular PCs without wireless cards. You can take one of the EA8500's radios (2.4G or 5.8G) and connect it to your neighbor's wireless radio and use it as its internet uplink. Then the other radio you're free to use as normal, and all your wired devices will also have their data sent out over the wireless uplink. Slick and elegant! WHY IS THERE NO DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS FEATURE? Lots of features are similarly non-documented (*cough*VLAN*cough*).

To change from local configuration to cloud configuration you have to reset the entire router. You can't simply just re-run the wizard.

If you don't have the internet connection plugged in (if you're just using it as an access point), the linksys logo flashes CONTINUOUSLY, even if you have turned off the access lights! Electrical tape time!

No QoS. Well, it has "media prioritization" that's trying to masquerade as QoS, but it's so ham fisted and non-granular it might as well not exist. Here's what you do: COMPUTER A GO FAST! Seriously, that's the only option you have. Drag a computer into the "go fast" pile. Or drag a protocol into the GO FAST pile. You can't prioritize which protocols or computers get to go fast. Worse, you can't de-prioritize things. Everything is either GO FAST or GO NORMAL. You can't even tell the router how fast your upstream connection is! So yeah, it's pretty much a lazy and useless half hearted implementation of QoS.

Content blocking is ONLY available via an app for IOS. WHAT!?? SERIOUSLY??? You can do site blocking via DNS, but that's really ineffective. No openDNS content blocking either, no idea where they're getting their content

Other Thoughts: Speed test requires *internet explorer* and flash 8. No, seriously, that's what it says. Doesn't work at all in firefox 39, just complains about not seeing internet explorer. I feel so 2004 writing that, but it really does that. (Even though I have a fully up to date flash install!)

No ability to set/verify wireless encryption type. It's WPA or WPA2, but is it TKIP, AES CCMP, or TKIP+AES? Some of us aren't stupid and would like to know. (It's CCMP according to my wireless inspector, which is great!)

No mention that it's an EA8500 on the web page. Really? Makes it tough to find updated firmware if you don't remind me what device it is!

-----

But all of that gets trumped by the great radio. I'm not going to use this as my home firewall, but just as one mother of a central access point. And in that role, it's superlative. If you just need bare bones basic features then you could make it your primary house router, but it really needs a lot more features to be competitive at this price point.

Manufacturer Response:

Hi Vincent,


Thank you for sharing the details about your experience and your thoughts with regard to the Linksys EA8500 router. We took note of it. We always aim for the product improvement based on our customer's feedback. Allow us to assist you with the internet speed test and with the other points you've seen on the router as well. You may send us an email at LinksysCares@linksys.com with your contact details and the link to this review.

Regards,

Linksys Support
www.linksys.com/us/support

Pros: • Efficient packaging (for those that care about that sort of thing)
• Beefy blade antennas
• No BLING lighting (for those that have their network gear in commonly used areas of the home
• Sturdy build
• Very quick setup right out of the box
• Solid documentation for those that like to set things up buy the book
• Smart Wi-Fi web app is easy to navigate with useful features for the average user
• Wall mountable (but doesn’t include the hardware to do so)
• MU-MIMO technology for a little future-proofing (if there is such a thing)
• Dual-band with support for the latest Wi-Fi connections (G,N, AC)
• Runs cool for a higher powered network device

Cons: • Expensive – you are paying a lot for technology that isn’t mainstream yet
• Large – huge desk footprint
• No mounting hardware ($280 should include some screws/mollies)

My notes will start here:

Finally a router to defeat my current champion (the Asus RT-N65U) and crack the code of non-buffering wireless streaming to our downstairs TV. This is the third Linksys router that I’ve reviewed in the past year, and while the previous two editions were barely worth my time – the EA8500 is excellent in nearly every aspect.

We live in a 2400 S/F home, with all network gear upstairs, and the main living area downstairs. There is a half-wall that runs along the staircase – and that wall has proven to be the nemesis of every router that we have used in our two years living here. We have a 105MB Xfinity Blast package that is of no use for downstairs Netflix streaming, as we are always caught in a sea of spinning red circles. Connections were always maintained, but no good for any real streaming use. The EA8500 has changed that, giving us a consistently strong signal that hasn’t had so much as a hiccup through three separate installations, over the span of the past three weeks.

Let me get this out of the way early -- we don’t own any MU-MIMO enabled devices, and they are not readily available in the consumer market. This makes the EA8500 pretty expensive for what it is today – a powerful router, with room to grow for the future.

Other Thoughts: Setup went off without a hitch over three separate installations. Speed tests were conducted with a simple Ookla for Android app on my LG G2. Wireless speeds were comparable to every quality router that we’ve used, ranging in the 20/5MB range in the outskirts of our home, and 30/10MB within a sight-line. Where the EA8500 showed its strength was with the door closed to the upstairs room housing our network gear, and me running the tests downstairs. Numbers stayed in the 25/8MB range, and that’s with two phones, two laptops, and two tablets, all connected to the internet, and with our smart TV streaming Total Recall over Netflix. Never a hiccup, and not a single buffer circle over the span of two hours of constant use/connectivity.

The Smart Wi-Fi app has a very user friendly interface, and provides useful information/setup for common home networking needs. The EA8500 broadcasts a single SSID to all three networks (2.4, 5.0, and Guest) by default. All of this is easily configurable with the Smart Wi-Fi app. Some network purists will complain that the feature set is pretty basic here, but I think it covers everything that your average home user would be looking for – especially for those that want a quick setup, easy security, and then just want to forget about it, and go about their busy Wi-Fi lives.

The EA 8500 also includes a USB 3.0 port located on the device rear. The performance of these ports over the network is sometimes pretty lacking – but not this one. Network file access/transfer rates were rock solid with a 128GB USB 3.0 thumb drive, and were great with multiple people accessing the drive’s contents at once.

I haven’t had a decent Linksys router experience since the days of the WTR54G – sad but true. The EA8500 squashes those bad memories, and has made for an excellent centerpiece within our home network. Is it worth $280? That depends on what you’re looking for, and the complexity of your network situation. It’s worth its weight in gold for our household, as we are now able to use our strong connection to its fullest, while having at least eight wireless devices connected at all times, in a larger home with a tough network placement setup. You always pay a technology premium as an early adopter, but even without being able to fully utilize the current MU-MIMO technology, the EA8500 is still an exceptional device.

I will report back in six months to see if this great experience is long lasting.

Pros: : Good packaging item was in perfect condition and was not smashed up. Very premium looking device and has a wall mounting option which is a must have I think, also keeps it off the floor and will allow for a better signal, improved airflow and less dust bunnies. NO super annoying lights all over the place. (although this might be a con for some) This thing has one light in the front that will stay lit when everything is happy, I like that. You can also turn off the lights if this device will be in an environment where some might find it a bother, like a bedroom. This device has VERY EASY setup, I mean, this thing is a total “hand holder” very easy to get it going. Almost too easy really… The graphical user interface (GUI) is VERY slick looking and is easy on the eyes and also VERY easy to navigate. Anyone will be able to use the GUI and not have any issues with moving from place to place or changing “basic” options. Like most wireless routers, this one also comes with a CD to get things moving along should this be your first router experience, but honestly, the quick start guide will have you rolling quickly. I did not use the CD. On the back of this router everything is easy to see and well laid out. There are also actual switches for turning things on and off, which is another nice feature in my opinion. Given with the price, the dual band worked well for me. AC was VERY FAST! I have many mixed devices on my network and none had connectivity issues. The NAS functionality worked VERY well. I had a spare external hard drive (USB 2.0, I did not try the external SATA, but I am sure that it would work just as well) formatted it, plugged it in and then “ticked” a box to get it working. I was able to see the shares right from my Windows 7 PC in seconds. Transfer rates (in general) were also very respectable. From my client (wired) connection to my NAS (Server 2008, also wired CAT5e) I was seeing great speed, 80-119MB a second. So, you get what you pay for. This router has great switching speeds and even with other devices (mainly my kids tearing up YouTube or Netflix) pulling off it I did not see any bottle necks. So, having said that, Linksys spent the time and tossed a good set of hardware in this thing. Penetration from the MIMO wireless is good, most MIMO devices have decent range and can overcome things, and this was all true. It covered my home well and I did not notice a speed or signal performance issue when the router was in my basement or on the main level. It worked well, even all the way upstairs (few less bars), I was able to get a respectable signal and browse the internet without issue. My home is modest in size, maybe 1200 square feet? Some of the other features that are nice are the parental controls, where you can turn off internet access during certain times, I liked that feature, and it is also found on many other routers not just this one. It was also fun to see a built in speed test, nice, but not really necessary.

Cons: Expensive. The GUI might be a little too simple for some power users. I like to have more options and be able to drive down into more settings. It would have been nice if this router gave the option for basic and then advanced views. I had some random issues with weird DHCP scopes when plugged into my WAN. I had to do one full reset and then it seemed to fix things. I was getting a 10.X.X.X scope when I would have thought that it would have been 192.X.X.X right from the box. Ultimately the system reset fixed things. I just want to point this out if others have an issue right off that bat with their DHCP scope. I do not remember if others have mentioned this before or not, but I noticed that the antennas would get lose if I moved them around. So it is best to just install this device in a location and not mess with it. I want to add that I was moving it from different locations, just to test how range was affected. With a router of this caliber and price, I did not see any “good” VPN options (just pass-through). That would have been a nice edition. No option to just use this thing as an access point. I understand that it would be a pricy AP, but down the road if this device were to get replaced, it would have been nice to see that addition. Maybe they will add that with a later firmware.

Other Thoughts: Reliable device. Almost one month of constant hard usage and not one single whimper, this thing is a beast. There is nothing worse than having to reboot a router when it gets flakey. The speed performance gain I saw over some other routers that I have tested in the past was pretty huge. There is a VLAN section on this device that will allow for segmenting traffic. This is a VERY nice option and is a must if you have security cameras or other devices that are always pounding on the LAN. You can keep them away from the "just plain internet" user traffic which may or may not be a priority. This thing is fast and being able to provide media prioritization is another thumb up in my book. If you have a home that will see a LOT of internet usage, this is the router for you. Give little Timmy extra bandwidth for a lower ping and better response so that his Call of Duty rank doesn’t suffer and then dish out who else might need what… On the wall, it looks a little wild, my daughter called it “spider back” but this thing is all business when it comes to serving up lots of web! I would say that this router will be an excellent choice for any home or even small business. It is lacking in some spots, but more than makes up for it in others. I’m sure that you could find a router that could do all this and maybe more, even for a better price, but is it worth taking a gamble? This device is a solid performer! And remember, moreover, we are seeing LOTS of wireless devices these days. Do not take a chance on a device that will not be able to support them adequately! You want all devices to have a good experience and that is going to require spending a little bit more cash. Trust me; you will be happy that you did. Even with me being a EggExpert reviewer, I want people to know what is going to work, how intuitive a product is and that it is a value, because at the end of the day that is all one can ask for!

Manufacturer Response:

Hi Max,

Thank you for providing us a detailed product review. It is good to know that the unit is working properly. If you want to setup the router as an AP only, you may change the 'Internet Connection Type' to 'Bride Mode' (the DHCP server on the device will be disabled). To enhance the wireless range of the device, you may set the router's frequency to a permanent channel. For the 2.4 GHz network, test channels 1, 3, 6, and 11. For the 5 GHz network, test channels 157 and 161. Should you need assistance with any Linksys device, you may email us anytime at LinksysCares@linksys.com so our team may provide solutions.

Regards,

Linksys Support
http://support.linksys.com