Linksys - Max-stream Ac2200 Tri-band Wi-fi Router Review
Our Verdict
Despite having short range, the Linksys EA8300 Max Stream delivers excellent speed at a good toll.
For
- Tri-ring design
- Fantabulous performance
- Good software and options
- Meaty
- Inexpensive
Tom's Guide Verdict
Despite having short range, the Linksys EA8300 Max Stream delivers excellent speed at a good toll.
Pros
- +
Tri-band design
- +
Splendid functioning
- +
Good software and options
- +
Meaty
- +
Inexpensive
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream Fundamental Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Tri-Band AC2200
Number of Antennas/Removable: 6/No
Ports: one WAN/four LAN gigabit per second, USB 3.0
Processor/Memory/Storage: Quad Core 717MHz/256MB/256MB
Wi-Fi chip: Qualcomm IPQ 4019
Peak Throughput: 626.5 Mbps
Range: 75 feet
Size: 8.five x 6.iv x two.2 inches
Small and easy to hibernate, the EA8300 Max Stream router can evangelize the data at loftier speeds, but lacks the long range needed in larger homes. All the same, you can customize Linksys' router to run the fashion you desire it to, making information technology among the all-time Wi-Fi routers around for power users. And the Max Stream is a relatively inexpensive option for filling an apartment or small house with Wi-Fi.
Editor'southward Notation: Nosotros periodically update our reviews to make sure that pricing and information is upwards to engagement. Our rating and recommendation for the Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review is unchanged from when it originally published in Apr of 2018.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Pattern
If monster routers, like the Linksys WRT 32X, seem too big for your lifestyle, decor or home, there's an alternative. At 12.5 ten x.five 10 2.6 inches, the EA8300 Max-Stream router at is much smaller and easier to hide, though it's merely every bit powerful every bit some other Linksys models.
The EA8300's black-and-grayness color scheme ways that it won't stand out, only unlike the WRT 1900ACS and 32X routers, the EA8300 can't exist easily stacked with other networking gear. What you tin do is easly set up the EA8300 on a shelf, windowsill or out in the open up, and its condom anxiety accept inserts for wall-mounting.
Happily, the EA8300's design is demure and reserved, rather than looking like a traffic light with red, greenish and xanthous blinking lights. There'southward a small-scale panel on acme with a Linksys logo that blinks during setup and glows white when everything is OK. Information technology shows either a globe (when the internet is connected) or a LAN cablevision (when it isn't).
In addition to 2 antennas inside, the EA8300's four antennas swivel so you tin can aim the Wi-Fi indicate. Unlike the WRT 1900ACS and 32X models, the antennas tin can't be removed and replaced with off-the-shelf high-proceeds antennas, though.
The router is based on Qualcomm's ubiquitous tri-band IPQ4019 chipset that creates 2X2 Wi-Fi traffic. This provides an extra aqueduct to deliver data, compared to the WRT1900ACS. Information technology may not have the extra bandwidth available to the 32X router but the EA8300 uses beamforming and MU-MIMO for efficiently connecting several devices at a time.
The EA8300'due south quad-core processor runs at 717MHz, has 256MB of RAM and storage space for firmware and settings. That's a step downwardly from the WRT 32X's i.8GHz dual-core CPU, 256MB of RAM and 512MB of storage space. Capable of moving data at up to 400Mbps through its unmarried ii.4GHz channel also as 867Mbps through each of its 2 5GHz channels, the EA8300 has an AC2200 rating for throughput.
Despite its small-scale advent and aspirations, the EA8300 is an excellent performer.
It may lack the 32X's low latency design and Killer Prioritization Engine that gamers are so fond of, just the EA8300 is a more mainstream device. Still, it has two approaches to distributing its data: its Airtime Fairness feature spreads data out evenly among continued devices, while Media Prioritization gives specific clients showtime dibs on the data. All of this can exist managed manually through the app, or gear up to automatically requite priority specific devices.
Nether the surface, the EA8300 has a Wi-Fi Traffic Optimizer to balance the data menstruation among its three bands. In other words, when a device asks for information, the EA8300 finds the most efficient style of delivering it.
The router's back has a single WAN connection alongside iv downstream LAN ports. This is augmented by a USB iii.0 port for adding storage to the network and a power connection. On the downside, the EA8300 lacks the WRT1900ACS's ability to plug an E-SATA drive right into the router.
In addition to an on/off switch, the router has a recessed reset button in the back. On the side, it has a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button for rapidly connecting to devices such every bit printers, desktops or notebooks.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Performance
Despite its modest appearance and aspirations, the EA8300 was an excellent performer in our Utah exam lab. Information technology uses Qualcomm's IPQ4019 WI-Fi chip to create a tri-ring 802.11ac network that carries an AC2200 rating.
Using Ixia's IxChariot software to monitor network performance, the EA8300 was able to move a maximum of 626.5 Mbps to a device 5 feet away. That's 13 percent college than the 544.5 Mbps that the gaming-oriented WRT 32X could muster at its meridian throughout 15 feet from a client. Notwithstanding, it's off the pace set up by the Norton Core at 672.two Mbps (at v feet).
The EA8300 excelled at midrange functioning with its available bandwidth dropping off to 592, 597.6 and 459.5 Mbps at 15, 50 and 100 feet, respectively. This is slightly behind Norton'due south Cadre at the same distances, but ahead of the WRT 32X at each interval. At its final measurement (150 feet), the EA8300 mustered an first-class 477.9 Mbps versus 302.iv- and 384.i Mbps for the WRT 32X and Norton Core at the same distance.
The EA8300 had a range of merely 75 feet, leaving a third of my 3,500-square-foot home uncovered.
The EA8300 is second best in older homes, though. The router punched signals conveying 428.v and 619.3 Mbps of information through metallic walls and soundboard. This was well off the pace gear up by Norton Cadre's respective results of 662.half dozen and 700 Mbps. The EA8300 was able to transfer 489.8 Mbps through a ceiling, which was 44 percent lower than the Core's 705.8 Mbps.
Using an iPad Pro, the EA8300 had a range of just 75 feet, but backside Norton Core'southward fourscore feet and well off the 110- and 95-human foot ranges that the Netgear Orbi and WRT 32X delivered. This left almost one-third of my old 3,500-square-human foot house uncovered. Linksys doesn't sell matching mesh extensions for the EA8300, merely a couple of off-the-shelf extenders should make full the space with Wi-Fi data.
The router successfully sent 4K videos to an iPad Pro, which played them without a problem. It also easily passed the informal saturation test where I played HD videos on my iPad Pro and a Surface Pro 3 while listening to the BBC'south World Service Internet radio station on my MacBook Air and moving data onto and off a network storage arrangement with a Samsung Tab Pro S. The video and sound arrived gratis of skips, freezes or annoying lags.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Setup
Unlike some of the newest dwelling-networking gear, you can configure the EA8300 via a connected device or web browser, your choice. Once information technology'south online, you tin utilise Linksys' Smart Wi-Fi app on an Android or iOS phone or tablet to make changes or monitor the network.
Start past creating a Linksys account that you'll need to log-on later. Afterward plugging the EA8300 into an Ac outlet and my broadband router, I connected with a wireless customer to set up it upward; a wired Ethernet connexion works just every bit well. After typing linksyssmartwifi.com into the accost window, I was connected; using 192.168.i.1 is a good culling.
The router'south default name and password are semi-random, only yet should exist chop-chop changed to something more secure and personal. I likewise customized the circulate channels, fix invitee admission and parental controls to limit internet access on a schedule. And I used the EA8300 QOS engine to prioritize my devices.
When washed, the router does a restart. I checked its connectivity with a born Speed Test bandwidth meter, which is provided as office of the management panel. The tool measures ping latency and has a central circular guess to display up- and download speeds. It also shows your IP address.
While other EA family routers tin use DD-WRT open-source firmware, the EA8300 can't. If you lot're the sort to get frustrated at the limitations of manufacturer firmware, or but have an ideological commitment to open source alternatives, you may desire to consider another router. For most users, however, it won't exist an issue.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Configuration
Happily, the EA8300 router gives you two entry points for configuring the system. You go on using the web interface or use Linksys' Smart Wi-Fi app. There are versions for iOS (iPhones and iPads) likewise as for Android systems.
The main dashboard window of the web interface squeezes a lot of information and choices into the typical computer screen. In the heart are large boxes with overviews of everything from the connected devices, performance, network names and the Guest Network to data prioritization, parental controls, the guest network and external storage using the router's USB port. Click on any to reveal the details and customization options.
Forth the left is a similar listing of categories that pb to the about important configuration items. For instance, Network Map and Parental Controls are repeated, but this section too includes links for Connectivity, Wireless and Security settings.
By contrast, the Smart Wi-Fi app starts with a Dashboard that summarizes the network with whether you have an internet connectedness, the number of devices connected and links to the main and guest networks. Farther downwardly, there are places to suit the Parental Controls and prepare the device prioritization.
Like and then many apps these days, the 3-line hamburger icon leads to a variety of configuration choices. These include all of the above, plus Avant-garde Settings (for things like Port Settings and MAC filters) and Router Assistants (for checking on the firmware, time zone and updating the router'south password).
Behind the scenes, the router uses WPA2 encryption to protect your data and family's identity. When it's updated, all firmware packages are encrypted for extra security. The EA8300 is behind the times, compared with Norton'southward Core, which adds sophisticated antiviral software that uses machine learning and heuristics to ferret out infections before they become problems.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Back up
Linksys has 1 of the deepest support sites online, with everything from manuals and setup tips to FAQs and videos. You lot'll even find sections if y'all're having trouble logging on to the router or adding devices to the network, or y'all just want to explore some of the EA8300's advanced options.
The router's one-twelvemonth warranty is par for the form with home routers. However, it can't compare with the two years of coverage included on F-Secure'southward Sense router.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Verdict
If you've been assaulted past huge routers with lots of blinking lights, the minor black EA8300 Max-Stream router tin can move lots of data, though it falls brusk of the all-time when it comes to range. For those in modest homes or apartments, however, the EA8300 might be just enough router for less than $200.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/linksys-ea8300-max-stream,review-5302.html
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