Linksys EA6900 AC1900 802.11ac Wireless Router Review

1. Introduction2. Linksys EA6900 AC1900 Router3. User Interface & Settings4. Testing Methodology5. 2.4GHz 802.11n Wireless Performance6. 5GHz 802.11ac Wireless Performance7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

The Linksys EA6900 AC1900 wireless router is a powerful device which offers an excellent software implementation and impressive transfer speeds in line-of-sight and extended-range scenarios.

In short, line-of-sight tests the EA6900 is able to offer a 5GHz 802.11ac connection capable of more than 400Mbps in our signal-cluttered test environment. A stable, 400Mbps connection makes a fast wireless network a reality for users who want line-of-sight performance. Copying large files across the network delivered Windows transfer rates of over 50MBps without any noticeable drops in performance.

Short range 2.4GHz 802.11n performance isn't quite as impressive; our testing delivered a maximum speed of 119Mbps, which is average even when compared to budget 802.11n routers. It is likely that signal interference is causing the Linksys EA6900 to revert away from the wireless channel which uses TurboQAM for a 33% increase in 802.11n throughput.

Medium range performance for the EA6900 was strong for our test environment, dependent upon the receiving adapter used. In my test scenario, the Linksys WUSB6300 adapter still managed to perform well with increased range and a greater number of obstacles.

Despite difficulties inherent to the 5GHz band, the high frequency signal was able to penetrate thick obstructions and overcome competition from connections on the same frequency band. A stable connection speed of almost 80Mbps was delivered to the strong Linksys WUSB6300 adapter over a substantial range.

It is important to realise that not only is router performance important, but the operation of the receiving adapter is also critical to achieving stable connection speeds. Even a 5GHz 802.11ac signal is no guarantee of satisfactory wireless performance – that can depend on the characteristics of the receiving adapter that is used. The strong Linksys WUSB6300 external adapter was able to maintain solid performance levels even at longer ranges.

Where the Linksys EA6900 really shines is its software. The level of control offered by the Smart Wi-Fi application is excellent, both on a browser-based system and on the smartphone-developed app. And it's not only functionality that Linksys Smart Wi-Fi delivers – it is well laid-out and is very easy to use.

Available for £149.97 from Amazon, the Linksys EA6900 AC1900 is priced similarly to Asus' RT-AC66U and is £20-30 cheaper than the same company's flagship RT-AC68U. As far as pricing of three-stream 802.11ac routers goes, the Linksys EA6900 AC1900 is a competitive option.

Judging by the 400Mbps performance exhibited in the short-range 802.11ac tests and the ability to send a strong signal to our challenging long-range location, Linksys' EA6900 AC1900 has the potential to form the foundation for a stable, high-speed wireless network based around the new standard – 802.11ac. Just make sure that your receiving adapter can keep up with the router's transfer rates.

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Pros:

• Strong 5GHz 802.11ac performance, especially at short range.
• Consistent and stable 2.4GHz wireless-n performance.
• Linksys Smart Wi-Fi is an excellent application.
• Good level of control over settings.
• Competitively priced for an AC1900 router.

Cons:

• 2.4GHz wireless-n speed no greater than that of a budget router.
• Needs a powerful receiving adapter to show strong 802.11ac performance over a long range.

KitGuru says: A solid, sensibly-priced router from Linksys that has the potential to excel when used with a powerful receiver, such as the WUSB6300 adapter.

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