Linksys EA8300 Review (Max-Stream AC2200 MU-MIMO Tri-Band WiFi Router)

The Linksys AC2200 Max-Stream is a bulls-eye when it comes to fast, wireless networking. With the help of Tri-Band, the router knows how to distribute the right devices in the right way over the many antennas and thus prevent traffic jams within the network. For a modern family with modern needs when it comes to the network, this is definitely recommended as well as for gamers and streamers.

It is a beast, the new Linksys AC2200 MU-MIMO Tri-Band WiFi Router. The huge routercontains no less than eight external antennas to simultaneously keep three networks in the air. Indeed. The Linksys Max-Stream AC2200 is a tri-band router where the different networks do not have to share thesame antenna. In addition, you get an 8-gigabit ethernet port on it and that is nice in a modern house.

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Pros

• Very fast
• High bandwidth
• Combines Tri-Band with MU-MIMO
• Easy to use interface
• Great tools for solving problems yourself
• 8-gigabit ports

Cons

• Nothing to complain about

Video-Linksys Max-Stream AC2200 Tri-Band WiFi Router Review

Linksys Max-Stream AC2200 Router For Home Features

• Gaming,4K HD streaming at the highest level with no buffering
• Using your own modem, the fast AC2200 gives you full wireless WiFi coverage for your entire house.
• Multi User> Multiple Input, Multiple Output feature(MU-MIMO), gives a WiFi connection that releases the fastest speed simultaneously for all the users.
• The AC 2200 is designed to receive automatically the firmware updates from Linksys once they come out.
• 5 GHz / 867 Mbps + 2.4 GHz / 867 Mbps + Tri-band WiFi speeds up to 2.2 Gbps 5 GHz / 400 Mbps
• The AC220 Router comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, supporting wired connections up to 10 times quicker than regular Ethernet
• Displays a super fast USB 3.0 port, that can be easily connected to printers,shared storage units and several more devices to your set up.

Video-Unboxing The Linksys AC2200

Linksys knows how to pack a premium product beautifully. In addition to the router, we also find a CD withsoftware, documentation and a network cable in the box of the Linksys Max-Stream.

Design Of the Linksys Max-Stream AC2200 MU-MIMO Tri-Band WiFi Router

He is big, very big. Not only because of the electronics included in the Linksys Max-Stream. The antennasmust also have an optimum distance from each other in order to build up an optimum range. The frontdisplay is especially nice but gives little really useful information about the router.The back of the Linksys Max-Stream is very generously aired. Here we find a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0connection. A WAN port and four gigabit LAN ports. The power and reset switch are also located here.The bottom has no holes to hang the Linksys Max-Stream on a wall. You shouldn’t want that either. Theantennas are optimized to be used in a standing position. So you just have to make room for a good WiFiconnection.The rubber legs of the Linksys Max-Stream AC2200 are also striking. These are somewhat larger thanused so that sufficient air flow can come under the Linksys Max-Stream AC2200. Moreover, they are antislip.Tri-Band with MU-MIMOThe Linksys Max-Stream is an AC2200 router. This means that it can realize a total data throughput of5,400Mb per second, wirelessly. 1,000Mb on the 2.4GHz band and twice 2,11676Mb on the 5GHz band.The theoretical maximum speed for one device over the most optimal WiFi connection is therefore 2,167Mbps. If we translate Mb to MB, we arrive at around 270MB per second. The condition is that the devicemust have MU-MIMO. Linksys also has a handy USB dongle for computers.To achieve its speed, the AC2200 Max-Stream is equipped with a dual-core 1.4 GHz processor.

Buyers opinions About the Linksys AC2200

Positives Review: (5 stars)

I intentionally waited a month before reviewing this router. I got it on Deal of the Day or it would have probably been out of my price range (or needs). I work from home, have 8 desktops/laptops, 2 printers, security cameras, various tablets and smart phones, smart TVs and devices, netflix, Amazon Instant Video, etc. This router replaced a Belkin RT68U that was about 3 years old, so I do typically purchase high end routers.Setup:Simple and quick. I configured my Network name and passwords exactly as in my old router, and all my devices connected without the need to re-configure.

Not so satisfied: (3 stars)

Bought this router to replace my Linksys ac 1900 which couldn’t handle the added streaming of my Sony Tv and Roku 4K hdr and it works great network wise. No more lagging and constant good speed with Time Crap Warner and great 2.5 wireless network , reaches farther in my house and outside then the 1900. The only real downside which pisses me off and the reason for the 3 stars is it totally blows on 5 ghz bandwidth . It drops if I’m not standing directly in front of it . I can’t change the channel or channel width for whatever reason.

AC2200 (EA8300)Setup

The installation of the Linksys is done entirely through the browser. A matter of entering the basic datawithin five minutes is the AC2200 Max-Stream online. Please note, if you want to set the Linksys MaxStream as an access point, then you have a bit of a challenge. The AC2200 Max-Stream initially really wantsto function as a router. He also cannot be set up without having a working connection to the internet. Thenyou can give it a fixed IP and disable DHCP.During installation, the AC2200 Max-Stream will, if necessary, download the latest version of the firmware.In addition, AC2200 Max-Stream also creates a cloud account. This allows you to log in to the Linksys Max-Stream remotely. Also useful when you start using the AC2200 Max-Stream app.Web interfaceThe web interface of the EA9500 Max-Stream is particularly good. We already know him from previousLinksys routers and are specially adapted to the functionality of the AC2200 Max-Stream.The Smart Wi-Fi web interface provides a clear view of all devices on the network via network allocation.The app also immediately tries to connect the good icons to the devices so that you can easily distinguishthem visually. The icons can also be adjusted manually and then you can also give names to the devices.Very handy.

Linksys Network Mapping

Parental Control makes it possible to impose restrictions on certain devices. For example, for viewing 18+websites, downloading illegal content, etc. It is also possible to limit certain devices when they may beonline. In this way, the children’s tablet can be disconnected from the internet after 19:00.linksys parental controlThe priority for media is not unimportant. Gamers want their consoles and PCs in front here. Audiophilestheir multi-room speakers and film lovers their TVs. The router independently makes all the necessarylogical adjustments based on the QoS protocol, but here you can adjust the rules to your own preferences.This is fine-tuning your network.linksys-priority-for-mediaExtremely handy is the Ookla speed test that Linksys has built in. The advantage of this is that it measuresfrom the router instead of measuring from the computer. This way you know if there is a performanceproblem between the router and the internet or between you and the router.linksys speed testThe last thing I want to draw attention to is the possibility to link external storage with the AC2200 MaxStream. USB sticks and external hard drives can be connected to the AC220 Max-Stream via the USB 2.0and USB 3.0 ports. You can share the files on this within the local network, but you can also make it publicvia the internet. For example with the function of the FTP server. Keep in mind that the speed at which thisdata is accessible is not the speed that you get when using a real NAS.linksys external storageWhat we have not discussed are all options for configuring and securing the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz networks.Linksys has the latest technology and support for VLANs for this, but this review will become very drywhen we examine it one by one. Linksys has everything in order here.What is useful to know is that there is a special support part when you have problems. From here you canping, but also compile error reports for the Linksys help desk. A handy part of this interface.When you have created a Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account, you can access this configuration from anywhere inthe world. Handy!

Linksys Smart WiFi App

With the Smart WiFi app from Linksys, it is possible to control the functions of the router via yoursmartphone. This is not as extensive as the web interface, but all important things seem to be present. Whenyou press start on the video below, it starts the moment we explain the interface on an Honor 8 Androidsmartphone.

Performance of The Linksys Max-Stream AC2200

We extended the network to 30 connected devices during the test period. We have three multi-room speakersplaying FLAC files while we have switched on Netflix on two TVs. One of these TVs ran Netflix on 4K.This setup was no problem for the router.In terms of reach, it is important to know that telecom legislation determines how fast routers in theNetherlands can shine. Even the most inexpensive routers are pinched to sit tightly at the maximum values.This Linksys does it no different. The range is therefore comparable to other routers.On the other hand, bandwidth is a lot higher. Here you also clearly notice the advantage of Tri-Band andMU-MIMO technology. The MU-MIMO devices clearly achieve a higher speed than devices that simply use5GHz ac connections. For this, we also tested with the Linksys dongle itself.With other devices, we also notice that the router knows how to switch properly between the different 5GHznetworks. Devices with a fast ping are all collected on the same network. The devices with a slower pingcome on a secondary 5GHz network. Because the networks operate the devices alternately, a device with aslow ping cannot destroy the performance of a device with a fast ping. Something that only becomes clearerwhen several devices are connected to the network.

Linksys AC2200 Manual And Firmware Downloads

To get more information directly from Linksys about this product, you can download the user manual from this link:

AC 2200 Manual:

http://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/userguide/EA8300_UG_International.pdf

Linksys Ac2200 Router Firmware:

http://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/firmware/FW_EA8300_1.1.4.191539_prod.img