In mid-September, I went to work in my home office like I do every day. But, this day was different from the others. The internet wasn’t working. There was horror in my eyes and gnashing of my teeth. I tore at my clothes. The signal from our router (a Linksys EA6350) had been declining for months, and it finally stopped going through the many walls that separated it from my office. After spending hours trying to revive it, I realized I needed a new wireless router.
So, I turned to Amazon. After many grueling hours of careful research, I settled on the Linksys AC1900 Dual Band Wireless Router Max Stream EA7500. Below are the main features of this incomprehensible tech gadget and what I thought about it. There’s even a video with helpful closed captioning.
Design and Features
This router took its design cues from the large smokestacks that dominate the skyline in Lansing, Michigan. There are three antennas sticking up out of the back. I had to screw them in myself. There are a bunch of holes (four Ethernet ports, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, a WAN port, and a power outlet) that I’ll probably never use. The router also has hooks on the bottom so you can hang your it in fun places, like on your oven door. And, vents all around the unit remove any fears of overheating. The slight curvature of the housing makes it more aerodynamic.
I should point out that this router is not completely wireless. There are at least two wires you must use: one for the power and one to connect to the modem. But, you don’t need your devices to connect to the router with a wire unless you want to.
There are two ways you can mess with your family’s enjoyment of the internet. First, there is the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi web-based console. The second is the Linksys app. As far as I can tell, they have the same functionality. They allow you to block certain devices during specific hours of the night when teenage sons should be sleeping. They also let you block sites that facilitate your wife stepping out on you.
Installation
I’m no Bill Gates. I was born in the ‘80s (barely). Yet, I was able to set up this router in under ten minutes. And, within 20 minutes, I was keeping my family from enjoying the internet. I quickly gave my computer and phone prioritization. I even created my own 5GHz network for extra security, although I still haven’t figured out how to access it on my PC. Tech nerds, call me!
Performance
I have Comcast internet, and the speeds vary wildly. On my crappy Windows 8 computer, I’ve gotten speed test download results ranging from 3Mbps to 40Mbps. But the little icon in the bottom right corner of the PC in my office says I have five bars (versus zero with the dying EA6350). Here is a list of specifications that might make sense to some of you:
- Dual band 2.4 and 5 GHz 802.11n, 802.11b, and 802.11g
- Qualcomm chipset
- Up to 1.9 Gbps
- WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS, and WPA2-Enterprise security
- IPv6 compatible
- One-year tech support
- SPI, NAT firewalls
In addition, the Linksys EA7500 Max-Stream has MU-MIMO, which basically means it’s like a good lover: it can service several units at the same time. We have tested as Erin watched America’s Next Top Model, Bucky watched Peppa Pig, Jerome gamed on his computer, and I uploaded videos of my latest reviews. We can do all of these things at once while rubbing on our phones on the side without any speed issues. Thank you, MU-MIMO.
Here Is Our Video Review of the Linksys Max-Stream EA7500
I recommend watching this with closed captioning:
Should You Get It?
We’ve had our router for over a month and are very happy with its performance. Jerome set up a computer room in his closet, and he says the signal has never been stronger. I’ve never spent this much on a router and am glad that the money was well spent.
I recommend this router for anyone who doesn’t trust their family or just wants good internet connectivity.
Buy the Linksys AC1900 Dual Band Wireless Router Max Stream EA7500 on Amazon.
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