Linksys EA8500 Max-stream AC2600 Mu-Mimo Smart Wi-fi Router

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.

Overall Review: 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: -Easy to setup for a novice, you can skip the Linksys Smart WiFi setup which is nice (I don’t believe in having routers externally configurable). -MU-MIMO is great if you have a network with large amount of wireless devices, it allows for simultaneous transfer of multiple wireless streams instead of the older approach of only one stream at a time. This this is blazingly fast on the 5Ghz frequency band using 802.11AC, solid performance against an EnGenius Wireless Access point I have, but much easier to configure. -I configured mine to be a wired bridge, and assigned it a static IP, as I already have another router that serves as the gateway. If you set the device in bridge mode you are notified that Linksys Smart WiFi may not work along with some other app’s, so if you may need to configure it via the web interface instead of the app. -Range is very impressive keep in mind that depending on what your walls are made out of the range maybe lower than expected, this is not unique to this router but all routers in general. -Has a USB2.0/eSATA port and a USB 3.0 port for attaching printers, or hard drive, making it easily accessible to multiple devices at once. -If you have this device say in your bedroom there is an option to have the network activity lights turned off so only the dim white Linksys logo displays, which is much better than the bright blue lights on some devices. The Linksys logo also doubles as a method of notifying you if something is wrong, different levels of blinking if the device is booting up or if there are problems with your internet connection.

Cons: -I find the router’s interface to be lacking of some more advanced features which you would expect on a device costing this much, VPN, Dynamic DNS, etc. I have $60 wireless N routers with more functionality and similar processing power (wireless transfer speeds are nearly as high as this AC router) -I find the routers interface to be a little unintuitive, as I have been primarily using different brand routers, so swapping from one to the other is takes some getting used to -Some newer Linksys router will give errors when you try and access the router from a modern web browser (One I had would not work in in the latest version of Chrome, or Internet Explorer, Only in an older version of FireFox until I updated the firmware) I am concern about this becoming a problem again in the future with new versions of web browser coming out all the time now. -Personally not a fan of the fact that it trys to get you to setup the Linksys Smart WiFi (which requires an internet connection), but once you cancel out of that it stop bothering you and you can log into the router with the default password “admin” -The 4 external detachable antenna’s depending on how you move them can easily come a little loose and flop around, keep that in mind when setting them up. -Power brick is a little on the large side, we have laptops with 45w power bricks that of a similar size.

Overall Review: -The 4.6x times data transfer speeds advertised may be a bit misleading, unfortunately they do not say what devices they are comparing their router to, so it may be some cheaply made underpowered device versus a moderately priced AC router. -This router is honestly a bit expensive but it may be worth it depending on the amount of devices you connect wirelessly and if they re heavy bandwidth users. Knocked off one egg due to the extremely high price

Pros: Aesthetics: Very nice looking router. Very unobtrusive. It will sit on a desk or mount on the wall. I prefer mounting on the wall to get the router above possible interference. Setup: It's extremely easy to set up. Follow the Quick start guide, answer A few questions and your ready to go. Documentation: A user guide is on the included CD. It is more than adequate in getting you through any normal setup issues you may have. It's doubtful that you will need it. In case something does go wrong an you need some help there is a link to tech support Range: It has great range.The signal strength on my laptop indicated 5 bars (100%) every where inside the house. It could be as much as 50' away. Outside, it maintained a 80% signal strength out past 125' until it dropped to 60% which it kept until I reached almost 300'. Speed: My family noticed an increase in speed from the start. I haven't had complaints lately that the online games were lagging. Everyone seems to be happier with this router. I previously used a high end router in this price range. This one is noticeably faster Connectivity: Very configurable to suit your needs including advanced routing and VLAN capabilities Server:The Server capabilities are very nice. Connecting a USB or eSATA external drive or both, gives you network attached storage with capabilities that, just a short time ago, would only be found in a dedicated server. This router turns your external hard drives into a ftp server and/or a media server, with full control over what is shared. . Security: Security on this router was certainly not an after thought. The basics are there for the less technical users, to more advanced features like DMZ, DDNS and port forwarding. Other Features: Parental controls are really nice It's nice to be able to choose which devices can be accessed or when they can be accessed. Wireless can also be scheduled to turn on or off at certain times. If no one is home during the day, wireless is not needed nor wanted.

Cons: No real cons for me. The Twonky server interface is apply named. It works quite well., but the interface is a bit different than I have been used to. I would prefer a more traditional interface, but that's just personal preference.

Overall Review: While the price may seem high at first glance, this is a lot of router. The NAS capabilities could save you much time, money and frustration by being a central backup for your devices instead of a back up drive for each device. The server features would be greatly appreciated to a family member that is away from home. This router has features that the basic user will greatly appreciate, and advanced features that should satisfy all but the most demanding users. If you bought a Smart TV for its additional features, and you like a few luxuries in your car, then you will like this router.

Pros: -Summary- A rock-solid router with excellent coverage from solid hardware. The MIMO antennae make a huge difference in perceived bandwidth and having multiple of these antennae positively affects the range of both signal bands. Coverage - excellent coverage, even through several walls. While MIMO isn’t inherently related to better coverage, its impact on coverage is noticeable. MIMO is more effective in increasing bandwidth, but when you have multiple MIMO antennae that are also directionally optimized (hence the weird placement on this router and other models), you get both benefits of directionally focused antennae and multiple channels for send/receive (increased bandwidth). Bandwidth and performance - large family gatherings are an extremely effective test of a router’s ability to perform. The EA8500 passes with flying colors. My test was simple: swap out the current router (a 2 year old TP-LINK) with this one and keep the same SSIDs, then see how all the new devices coming onto the network start to behave. No one will know the router was swapped! As soon as the router was setup, 28 devices connected. At peak, there have been closer to 60, with all but one being wireless. Netflix, Plex, Prime video, Hulu, and other sources of streaming video were all played simultaneously, also coexisting with web browsing and gaming on this network, and not a single issue came up. The internet connection is at most 75Mbps down/25Mbps up. It was incredible to see how well this router could handle all of it with zero issues. Firmware features and operations - This router is alike with other current Linksys router and uses the “Smart Wi-Fi” branding of firmware. Many people will enjoy the polished, easy-looking interface. There are some pitfalls, but for the most part, even non-technical people don’t have to worry about getting the router’s features configured correctly.

Cons: -Summary- Not much to complain about. Power users may find that the router interface is hard to navigate. The setup process is picky about the internet connection or being a downstream AP. But overall, there isn’t enough that keeps this router from doing a great job. Setup - this router requires an internet connection to setup. For many people who like to configure certain settings (DNS, MTU, parental controls) first, this may be a bit of an annoyance. You also cannot have an upstream router that uses the 192.168.0.0/24 subnet and use this as a wired AP, because this router by default will also try to use that same subnet. Other Linksys routers that use a CD setup do not have this issue. Interface - all settings are configured in windows/”apps” rather than the entire webpage. Consequently, settings hide in tabs and are cramped into a small window box. It takes quite some time to get used to.

Overall Review: Probably obvious disclaimer: I’m not a signals expert! Low-level hardware operations aren’t my expertise, I usually work above the physical layer in my line of work. However, my research into MIMO and signals is hopefully interpreted properly, but take my explanations with a grain of salt. This is an incredible router and I’m happily looking forward to more MIMO technology making its way into consumer networking equipment.

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.

Overall Review: 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.

Overall Review: 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!

Pros: The interface continued to be refined which is pleasing. It’s easy to get this up and running with little configuration for most users. The Network map is pretty nice showing how each device is connected. LAN, 5GHz, or 2.4 GHz. It features simple guest access that like your internal WiFi can be configured for both 2.4 and 5 GHz letting you specify how many total guest connections you want to allow 5-50. It has a feature to allow you to turn off Activity Lights. I enjoy this given I have it set in a room that at night the lights glowing could be annoying. You can turn them on should you wish to use them for troubleshooting with the click of a button. DHCP Reservation has always been extremely simple with Linksys Systems and is just as simple in this model. I use this on my various systems so I don’t have to use a static IP in case I bring them elsewhere but to ensure they retain the same IP each time they return home. I loaded up all 5 LAN ports and pushed traffic through. It seems the CPU can handle the transfer of all 5 LAN at 1Gbps which is nice as there are models that can’t push it. I setup the VLAN, it allows for 2 additional VLAN, and was surprised how well it worked. It’ll let me keep my IP Cameras off my main routing network. Simple to turn on and off. Which really is how their whole interface is now. Simple and quick. It allows DDNS. I setup my DnsDNS account which took about 5 minutes to register and pull through verifying it as functional. A big selling point here is the additional external antenna. My range given a few tweaks in the arrangement is higher than almost any router I’ve used. Using WiFi Analyzer I’m continually able to pull –45dBm to -35dBm at a range of more than 30 ft. away from the router itself. I also am in a high capacity condo with cement walls which makes 5 Ghz and powerful antenna a necessity. I can finally keep a constant steady 5Ghz stream going around the house.

Cons: Sometimes the antenna have trouble staying up on their own. I had tightened them over many times to no avail. Linksys still refuses to add a PPTP sever to their routers. It’s available on a variety of other even lower end models and given the cost of this device a high end user has a good chance of wanting this. PPTP pass-through means I have to continue to host an OpenVPN or PPTP server elsewhere to connect on my LAN meaning more configuration.

Overall Review: Parental controls will let you block all access or specific sites from a device. It does work for some things but there are various sites I was able to still route through to given a bit of effort. I feel like you’d still be playing cat and mouse with end users a lot of the time. I’ve kept this router running without a single reboot in 2 weeks. This isn’t a super long term test but no power cycles in that time works well for me.

Pros: - The GUI (Graphical User Interface) allowing you to configure the router is very well laid out and intuitive. It user friendly and has a dashboard where you can place your main features for easy access. Amongst all the routers I have reviewed this one is in my top 3 as far as interface preference - No CD required to do installation which makes installation a breeze, configuring your router can be done via Ethernet cable connected to a desktop and laptop opening an internet browser - Small footprint and takes up little space - Four external and one internal antenna. You can swivel the external one, not sure if folding it out makes a big difference though. - The Multi-User MIMO feature really makes a difference when you have multiple devices connected tapping the bandwidth of your internet feed. - Ability to set up a schedule that turns your WiFi on and via user interface, it is really neat, it looks like a calendar with blocks where you can black out the Wi-Fi, very handy if you have kids or when you go away for a weekend. - Ability to also set access to internet per device, you can set the time per day, again useful if you have kids that surf the net after hours when they are supposed to sleep. - On the back it has a dual port where you can either plug in a USB 2.0 or eSATA cable, first time I see that on a device - Speeds obtained are very consistent with what I expected and had with high end AC3200 routers, the same goes for range and stability, in fact as mentioned above the speeds are maintained even with multiple devices connected which on some routers drop as the router throttles.

Cons: - The unit itself only has one LED light under the logo, very minimalistic, if it flashes then there is a problem, if it is lit solid then you are connected, no other lights indicating different bands or internet connection etc. All other brand name routers have multiple LED’s, not sure why Linksys don’t have similar LED displays, makes it so much easier to see what is going on. They did on the older blue and black routers but with the newer all black ones there are only one LED display under the name in the front. - All the buttons related to power, Wi-Fi ON/OF and WPS sit on the back of the router, so if you want to use it is not very user friendly location. The Wi-Fi and WPS buttons are tiny and very close to each other. Similar to the LED’s complaint above I don’t understand why Linksys placed the Wi-Fi and WPS buttons on the back and made it so small. - Although I got great speeds, similar to the Engenius AP, I did not get the 4.6 x or 3 x faster speeds hardwired or via Wi-Fi as Linksys advertised, so not sure where they got that and how? - The router is pricey, for the same price and maybe for a few bucks more you can buy the latest tri-band AC3200 router, so not sure really why Linksys put this router on the market, I get the MU-MIMO feature but is it worth passing up a tri-band with better range and six antennas? In fact this router is quite a bit more expensive than the Linksys flagship AC3200 tri-band router so I am baffled at the marketing strategy of Linksys.

Overall Review: Network Setup : Existing Engenius EAP1750h Access Point Linksys EA8500 AC2600 WiFi router used in this review Equipment/computers connected to router : -Comcast dual band AC modem/router combo, set to bridge mode -The router is located in my office on the 2nd floor and connected via LAN cables to a printer, laptop in a docking station and my gaming desktop as well as my server which hosts all family pictures and backups. The following equipment is connected via wireless from the router.Two laptops, two remote desktops (located in the kids play room 30 feet away) and connected via WiFi Three tablets, remote printer, two cell phones – all connected to router via WiFi.I also have a power network adapter that is connected to the router, this connects the downstairs 2 TV’s, ROCO streaming box and TIVO which is located in the master bedroom and TV room. As you can see from above we in our household of four have a high internet data and streaming demand and can be very taxing on any router. The kids watch Netflix a lot, play games on their desktops and surf on their tablets. What’s in the retail box : When you open the box you will find the following : Quick installation guide, Router, four screw in antennas you screw in on the sides and back of the router. CD with further documentation, the power adaptor and cheap 3 ft Ethernet cable. The router has only one LED on the top of the unit and lights up under the Linksys name when the router is powered up, that is it, no other LED’s indicating connection, internet access or band activity. On the back you have a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0/eSATA combo port, four Ethernet ports for hard wired devices and one port marked yellow where you plud in the Ethernet cable coming from your modem. In addition you have two tiny blue buttons, one for Wi-Fi ON/OFF and the other for WPS setup. Lastly you have a small power ON/OFF switch next to the power port. Installation and setup :Installing the router is really simple and straightforward. First of all make sure your modem is powered down, connect your modem and router with an Ethernet cable, plug in your router’s power cable, the Linksys logo will flash slowly at the top.Now power up your modem and wait for it to have access to the internet. Power up your laptop or desktop that is connected to the Linksys router and open your browser, you should be welcomed by the Linksys installation screen, if not go to the Linksyssmartwifi.com. Follow the prompts to configure your router and enjoy the GUI experience, it is well laid out and functionally very user friendly.Connectivity, range, speed and stability. I tested the router over two days with multiple devices, hardwired and via Wi-Fi. I got very similar speeds as what I got with the Engenius AP (Access Point). The range and consistency ion speeds especially with multiple devices was indeed better than the AP. Stability was as expected with a high end AC router, so overall the router delivered and met my expectation