It is popularly known to be useful for personal and commercial purposes. The company itself caters to unique feature requirements at fair prices. You never have to worry about slow and interrupted internet signals. With a Linksys router, you can enjoy streaming your favorite TV shows and surf the web all day long. You will be able to play online games, perform well at your online work, and all other things. Read the article and decide for yourself that it is time to upgrade to the best router in the field.
What Is Linksys?
Linksys is one of the most popular creators of routers in the market. Their products are used by some of the largest internet service providers, thus making them a primary make in this field. They make for Time Warner Cable and Comcast, which are the biggest in the United States. It is the most popular choice for the majority of households. People buy these to achieve a home network with high-speed internet broadband connection. Their routers are certainly of high-performance. Linksys has fair prices, and evident use of the latest technology. Its hardware can easily be found, installed, and set up. The WiFi range is exceptional. Users do not need to be in the same room to access the same high speed. You can connect to other multiple devices simultaneously and experience equally great connections. The Linksys routers are considered the best among others.
10 Best Linksys Routers
What Are Routers?
The Linksys EA6900 is an exemplary router. It provides unprecedented performance with its interface and features. The EA6900 is the best fit for homes with multi-device networks. It is effective even with so much TV streaming and online gaming, considering that it had a dual-band connection but only as good as a single-band router.
Pros
Good cloud-based management Has 2 USB ports and 4 Ethernet ports Practical and compact design Has an excellent range Super-fast Wi-Fi speed
Cons
Pricey Reported glitches on Smart Wi-Fi cloud-based features An unstable 5 GHz band Overheating and no mesh options
Linksys Velop is perfect for those whose main concern is the appeal of their routers. It is a great option for a good WiFi system and connection. Among all other Linksys routers, Velop has a reliable, easy-to-setup, and feature-rich mesh Wi-Fi system. It has a wide WiFi range that is accessible to even up to four or five bedrooms. Moreover, it has a minimalistic color design of black and white. This may easily complement the design of your home.
Pros
Has a full-strength mesh WiFi Easy to set up and fits anywhere If one node is unplugged, the others still pick up the slack Has a dual-band connection Available in either black or white
Cons
It only has 2-Gb Ethernet ports There are other better routers with cheaper prices
All in all, it is a superb all-rounder. It is feature-packed and has a terrific wireless performance. The price is reasonable as it performs a great wired activity. This will give you full control of your routers. Linksys EA9500 is brimming with eight Ethernet ports and wicked-fast management aspects. It is indeed a great contender that’s cutting-edge and high-end.
Pros
Stellar Wi-Fi performance MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) capable 8-Gb Ethernet ports Two USB 3.0 ports useful for file and device sharing
Cons
Too expensive Leaves a very large footprint Laptop-style pack makes it too bulky
The Linksys WRT3200ACM tri-band router has one of the fastest processors. This is among all other Flash Routers in the market. It offers the most reliable speed with up to 3,200 Mbps dual-band wireless speeds. Linksys has done a great job by creating this performance-based WiFi router. It supports clients and users without sacrificing the data speeds on the LAN. This model is a great option if you want to stick with a traditional router that could last up to several years.
Pros
MU-MIMO capable Open-source firmware that offers advanced customization. (OpenWrt and DD-WRT) Parental controls to restrict internet access Very fast 5 GHz throughput speed The router has a familiar nostalgic look Its front panel has LED status indicators
Cons
Subpar long-range performance A high price point 2.4 GHz throughput speed is sluggish
Linksys EA9300 is a solid-performing tri-band router. This is useful for high-bandwidth online gaming and video streaming scenarios. Those high-end users who expect the best from their network best fit with this router. There is an upgraded quad-core CPU with extra microprocessors. These handle beamforming, QoS, and many others. Overall, this model is great for people who are more into video streaming and gaming.
Pros
Has 6 external antennas, 5 Ethernet ports Tri-band technology MU-MIMO capable and supports beamforming Easy to install and has voice commands Speedy file transfer
Cons
Too expensive The parental controls are limited It lacks built-in malware protection
This is the best option to enjoy simultaneous streaming, surfing, and online gaming. The Wi-Fi coverage will certainly reach every area of your home with the help of Velop nodes. Moreover, it is future-proof because of the built-in mesh Wi-Fi technology. Some reviews complained about serious performance and USB ports. But all in all, it is great if you are looking for speedy Wi-Fi.
Pros
4-Gb Ethernet ports Tri-band WiFi router that delivers speeds up to 2.2 Gbps Users can enjoy simultaneous 4K online gaming, streaming, surfing, and more Capable of MU-MIMO and exhibits mesh Wi-Fi technology
Cons
The model is too heavy Some complaints include poor signal performance The settings for advanced configuration is tricky
Overall, the Linksys WRT32XB is a solid gaming router. It has prioritization features, speedy hardware, and a modernized user interface. If you are an avid or professional gamer, this router is a no brainer. It has a solid and stealthy design with enough ports to satisfy all your networking needs. This model is the perfect option for either your X-box or non-X-box gaming needs. It is also equally effective for other gaming platforms. Try out some of the best single-player PC games you can enjoy using this router.
Pros
4 Giga LAN ports and 1 Giga WAN port Easy to connect multiple gaming computers to the powerhouse router Provides ultra-fast Wi-Fi with next-gen AC speeds 3.0 USB port for hard drive or memory stick connections On-board firmware interplays with the web interface
Cons
Not applicable for WiFi 6 Has no mesh option No link aggregation or multi-gig Ethernet
Moreover, it provides WiFi coverage for 10+ wireless devices. And, it can reach up to 1,000 sq ft. The dual-band WiFi speeds can go up to 1.2 Gbps or 2.4 GHz / N300 Mbps, and 5 GHz / AC867 Mbps.
Pros
4 Gigabit LAN ports, 1 WAN port, and a single USB 3.0 port Cheap and affordable Has a fast 5 GHz performance Performs beamforming technology Features a dual-band functionality for compatible devices
Cons
The antennas are non-detachable The WiFi range is not as good as other router options The size is too big
The simple and sleek design comes with fairly good value and performance. It provides a good amount of bandwidth for daily gaming, streaming, and most general use. Its price range is quite reasonable considering the features that make it a solid router. The AC1200 is the right model for you if you are searching for a high-performing and powerful router.
Pros
4 Ethernet LAN ports, 1 WAN port Has up to 128-bit wireless encryption Has a guest Wi-Fi option for password security There are parental controls to restrict unnecessary access It has a fair value considering its perks
Cons
The external ports are non-detachable There is a minimal lack of mounting brackets
The bottom line is, WRT54G Wireless-G is a high-performing and standards-based router. It is an effective router with all extensive features, durability, and setup process. Take into consideration its security protocols, parental controls, good range, and great features. With all these, WRT54G Wireless-G is the best one for you.
Pros
Provides a strong signal Has good parental controls Does not disappoint regarding router problems Durable and can take incidental drops The antennas are removable Has an inbound and outbound traffic logging
Cons
The setup and configuration setting can be a little tricky Requires SpeedBooster client card for optimal performance Has a mixed-mode operation that kills some client throughput
Basically, a router is the backbone of your home network. It is a piece of network hardware that allows communication between the internet and your local home network. Routers are a network’s first line of security from intrusion. They are the physical or virtual appliances that pass information between packet-switched networks. Put simply, a router is a type of gateway. It is positioned where networks meet at an internet’s point of presence. There are two different types of routers: wired and wireless. Wired routers directly connect to wide-area networks (WAN) or modems through cables. They come with a port that interconnects the modem and internet for communication. Wireless routers connect to devices with the same wireless standards. They can send and receive information to and from the internet. Routers come in different sizes, shapes, and external appearances. They can also be traditional or virtual. The traditional routers are those stand-alone devices that use proprietary software. Whereas, virtual routers run in commodity servers. But still, they perform the same as the physical ones.
How Do They Work?
Many interconnected devices at home are smartphones, computers, tablets, and smart TVs. The router works by connecting a network through these devices. The information traveling on your home network could be a live feed, a movie, or an email. All these take a varying amount of bandwidth, but a router makes sure it is delivered quickly. They forward data packets between them. A router assigns a local IP address to each device on the network. It directs any incoming and outgoing internet traffic most quickly and efficiently. A router chooses the best route for your information to travel. It acts as a dispatcher and connects your business to the world. Moreover, it is responsible for protecting your information from security threats.
Things to Consider When Buying a Linksys Router
ISP and Router Speed Compatibility
There are different standards and speeds for each variety of Linksys routers. But, the actual performance of your internet depends on your ISP. Other things affect data transmission within your network. These are the router’s distance, physical obstructions, and adapter. It also includes the presence of other WiFi networks. The ISP bandwidth and router speed plays a vital role in getting the fastest possible connection for your devices. If both operate at the same speed, one of the two is responsible for the network bottleneck. This might limit the internet performance.
The Router Type
Linksys offers different types of a router that will cater to your specific needs. It varies if you are looking for the simple with cheap prices or the extra-performing ones. You can choose from routers that are best for streaming movies and TV shows or those that are fit if you are working from home. Linksys also offers routers with the best performance even when in long ranges or big houses. Some routers are made intentionally for gaming purposes. Others emphasize customization, which lets you alter depending on your preferences.
Built-In Modems
A modem and a router are not interchangeable matters. Both are needed for speedy and better internet connection. A modem is a device that takes the medium cable such as phone, fiber, and coax cable, from the IPS. Then, the modem converts it to an ethernet. Through this, the router will be able to create a local network and share resources. It provides a private address that is needed for traffic and security.
Security Features
Security features are important because these protect your WiFi network. They restrict outside attacks and malware. Some of these are the WPA2 Encryption, Guest Network Access, VPN, antivirus, firewall, and Parental Controls. The older your router is, the less security it offers. You can also check this article for tips and tricks and to see who is taking advantage of your WiFi and making it function slowly.
How to Use a Linksys Router
Linksys lets you manage your router in two ways: browser interface or the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi app. Through these, you can have access to your network status, map, and even internet bandwidth. It also permits you to go through the device information, IP addresses, and MAC addresses. Moreover, you can access info about any external storage connected to your router.
How to Set Up/Log Into the Router Using a Browser Interface
How to Set Up/Log Into the Router Using Linksys Smart WI-FI App
How to Access External Storage
How to Change Channels on the Router
Users feel the need to change channels because of too much traffic on one bandwidth. This generally results in the slow speed of your internet. Learn how to change it when one is congested.
How to Find and Change Router Password
Maintenance of a Linksys Router
How to Update Router Firmware
The router firmware works as an operating system of a network. It configures and customizes the operation of a network and its environment. A firmware is a pre-installed and embedded software like a ROM in a router. Through concrete internet technology, the security level increases. Update your Linksys router quickly in two minutes through these steps:
How to Configure Your Router
Configuring your Linksys router is a way of ensuring that you prevent unwanted users from accessing your connection. Doing this will help you protect your information and keep track of user security.
Final Thoughts on Linksys Routers
Undeniably, it is difficult to choose the right router that would best fit your standard. Routers offer unique features and specs, and have reasonable advantages and disadvantages. They also differ in speed, connectivity, and range. The external appearances add form and aesthetic to the routers too. Linksys routers provide the most exceptional kinds that depend on the users’ preferences. With the best 10 routers explained and classified, each has distinct and high-end features. You will certainly be able to choose the right router and investment for you. For more options, you can check some of the best Wi-Fi boosters that will certainly speed up your internet.
