Linksys EA8300 Max Stream Router - Full Review and Benchmarks
Our Verdict
Despite having short range, the Linksys EA8300 Max Stream delivers excellent speed at a good toll.
For
- Tri-ring design
- Excellent performance
- Practiced software and options
- Meaty
- Inexpensive
Tom's Guide Verdict
Despite having curt range, the Linksys EA8300 Max Stream delivers splendid speed at a good price.
Pros
- +
Tri-band design
- +
Splendid performance
- +
Skillful software and options
- +
Compact
- +
Inexpensive
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream Fundamental Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Tri-Band AC2200
Number of Antennas/Removable: half dozen/No
Ports: 1 WAN/4 LAN gigabit per 2nd, USB 3.0
Processor/Retention/Storage: Quad Cadre 717MHz/256MB/256MB
Wi-Fi chip: Qualcomm IPQ 4019
Peak Throughput: 626.5 Mbps
Range: 75 feet
Size: viii.five ten 6.4 x 2.ii inches
Minor and easy to hide, the EA8300 Max Stream router tin can deliver the information at high speeds, only lacks the long range needed in larger homes. Nonetheless, you lot can customize Linksys' router to run the way you lot want it to, making it amongst the all-time Wi-Fi routers around for power users. And the Max Stream is a relatively inexpensive option for filling an apartment or minor house with Wi-Fi.
Editor'southward Note: We periodically update our reviews to make sure that pricing and information is up to date. Our rating and recommendation for the Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review is unchanged from when it originally published in April of 2018.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Design
If monster routers, like the Linksys WRT 32X, seem too big for your lifestyle, decor or habitation, in that location'due south an culling. At 12.5 x ten.5 10 2.6 inches, the EA8300 Max-Stream router at is much smaller and easier to hide, though it'due south just as powerful as some other Linksys models.
The EA8300's black-and-grey color scheme means that it won't stand out, but unlike the WRT 1900ACS and 32X routers, the EA8300 can't be easily stacked with other networking gear. What you can do is easly prepare the EA8300 on a shelf, windowsill or out in the open, and its condom feet take inserts for wall-mounting.
Happily, the EA8300's design is demure and reserved, rather than looking like a traffic light with ruby, light-green and yellow blinking lights. There's a small-scale panel on tiptop with a Linksys logo that blinks during setup and glows white when everything is OK. It shows either a world (when the internet is continued) or a LAN cablevision (when information technology isn't).
In improver to 2 antennas inside, the EA8300's four antennas swivel so yous can aim the Wi-Fi signal. Unlike the WRT 1900ACS and 32X models, the antennas can't be removed and replaced with off-the-shelf loftier-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 channel to deliver data, compared to the WRT1900ACS. It may not accept the extra bandwidth bachelor to the 32X router but the EA8300 uses beamforming and MU-MIMO for efficiently connecting several devices at a fourth dimension.
The EA8300'southward quad-core processor runs at 717MHz, has 256MB of RAM and storage infinite for firmware and settings. That's a step down from the WRT 32X's one.8GHz dual-core CPU, 256MB of RAM and 512MB of storage infinite. Capable of moving data at upward to 400Mbps through its unmarried 2.4GHz channel as well every bit 867Mbps through each of its 2 5GHz channels, the EA8300 has an AC2200 rating for throughput.
Despite its modest appearance and aspirations, the EA8300 is an excellent performer.
It may lack the 32X's low latency blueprint and Killer Prioritization Engine that gamers are then fond of, but the EA8300 is a more than mainstream device. Still, it has two approaches to distributing its data: its Airtime Fairness feature spreads data out evenly amongst connected devices, while Media Prioritization gives specific clients first dibs on the data. All of this can be managed manually through the app, or set to automatically give priority specific devices.
Under the surface, the EA8300 has a Wi-Fi Traffic Optimizer to remainder the information flow amid its 3 bands. In other words, when a device asks for data, the EA8300 finds the nigh efficient mode of delivering it.
The router's dorsum has a unmarried WAN connection alongside four downstream LAN ports. This is augmented by a USB 3.0 port for calculation 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 improver to an on/off switch, the router has a recessed reset button in the back. On the side, information technology has a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) push for speedily connecting to devices such as printers, desktops or notebooks.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Performance
Despite its pocket-sized advent and aspirations, the EA8300 was an excellent performer in our Utah exam lab. Information technology uses Qualcomm's IPQ4019 WI-Fi bit to create a tri-band 802.11ac network that carries an AC2200 rating.
Using Ixia's IxChariot software to monitor network functioning, the EA8300 was able to move a maximum of 626.five Mbps to a device five feet away. That'due south 13 percent college than the 544.5 Mbps that the gaming-oriented WRT 32X could muster at its peak throughout 15 feet from a customer. However, it's off the pace set past the Norton Cadre at 672.2 Mbps (at 5 feet).
The EA8300 excelled at midrange functioning with its available bandwidth dropping off to 592, 597.six and 459.5 Mbps at 15, 50 and 100 feet, respectively. This is slightly behind Norton's Cadre at the same distances, but alee of the WRT 32X at each interval. At its final measurement (150 feet), the EA8300 mustered an splendid 477.ix Mbps versus 302.4- and 384.i Mbps for the WRT 32X and Norton Core at the same distance.
The EA8300 had a range of only 75 feet, leaving a 3rd of my 3,500-square-human foot home uncovered.
The EA8300 is second best in older homes, though. The router punched signals carrying 428.5 and 619.3 Mbps of data through metal walls and soundboard. This was well off the pace set by Norton Core's respective results of 662.6 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 only 75 feet, just backside Norton Core'due south 80 anxiety and well off the 110- and 95-foot ranges that the Netgear Orbi and WRT 32X delivered. This left well-nigh one-tertiary of my old three,500-foursquare-foot house uncovered. Linksys doesn't sell matching mesh extensions for the EA8300, but a couple of off-the-shelf extenders should fill the space with Wi-Fi information.
The router successfully sent 4K videos to an iPad Pro, which played them without a trouble. It likewise 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's Earth Service Net radio station on my MacBook Air and moving data onto and off a network storage organization with a Samsung Tab Pro S. The video and sound arrived free of skips, freezes or abrasive lags.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Setup
Unlike some of the newest abode-networking gear, yous tin configure the EA8300 via a connected device or web browser, your choice. Once it's online, you can apply Linksys' Smart Wi-Fi app on an Android or iOS telephone or tablet to make changes or monitor the network.
Offset by creating a Linksys account that you'll need to log-on later. After plugging the EA8300 into an AC outlet and my broadband router, I connected with a wireless client to ready it upward; a wired Ethernet connection works only as well. After typing linksyssmartwifi.com into the accost window, I was connected; using 192.168.1.i is a skilful alternative.
The router's default name and password are semi-random, only nonetheless should be quickly changed to something more secure and personal. I as well customized the circulate channels, set up guest access and parental controls to limit cyberspace access on a schedule. And I used the EA8300 QOS engine to prioritize my devices.
When done, the router does a restart. I checked its connectivity with a congenital-in Speed Test bandwidth meter, which is provided every bit part of the direction console. The tool measures ping latency and has a central circular estimate to display up- and download speeds. Information technology also shows your IP accost.
While other EA family routers tin can use DD-WRT open-source firmware, the EA8300 can't. If you're the sort to get frustrated at the limitations of manufacturer firmware, or just have an ideological commitment to open source alternatives, you may want to consider another router. For most users, however, it won't be an issue.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Configuration
Happily, the EA8300 router gives y'all two entry points for configuring the system. You continue using the spider web interface or use Linksys' Smart Wi-Fi app. There are versions for iOS (iPhones and iPads) as well as for Android systems.
The master dashboard window of the web interface squeezes a lot of data and choices into the typical calculator screen. In the middle are large boxes with overviews of everything from the continued devices, performance, network names and the Guest Network to information prioritization, parental controls, the invitee network and external storage using the router's USB port. Click on any to reveal the details and customization options.
Along the left is a like list of categories that lead to the most of import configuration items. For instance, Network Map and Parental Controls are repeated, but this section too includes links for Connectivity, Wireless and Security settings.
By dissimilarity, the Smart Wi-Fi app starts with a Dashboard that summarizes the network with whether yous accept an internet connection, the number of devices continued and links to the main and guest networks. Farther downward, there are places to accommodate the Parental Controls and set up up the device prioritization.
Like then many apps these days, the 3-line hamburger icon leads to a variety of configuration choices. These include all of the above, plus Advanced Settings (for things like Port Settings and MAC filters) and Router Assistants (for checking on the firmware, time zone and updating the router'southward password).
Behind the scenes, the router uses WPA2 encryption to protect your data and family unit'south identity. When information technology's updated, all firmware packages are encrypted for extra security. The EA8300 is backside the times, compared with Norton'south Core, which adds sophisticated antiviral software that uses machine learning and heuristics to ferret out infections earlier they get problems.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Back up
Linksys has one of the deepest support sites online, with everything from manuals and setup tips to FAQs and videos. You'll even find sections if yous're having problem logging on to the router or adding devices to the network, or you lot just desire to explore some of the EA8300'southward avant-garde options.
The router'south 1-twelvemonth warranty is par for the course with home routers. Yet, it tin can't compare with the two years of coverage included on F-Secure's Sense router.
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream review: Verdict
If you've been assaulted by huge routers with lots of blinking lights, the modest blackness EA8300 Max-Stream router can move lots of data, though it falls short of the best when it comes to range. For those in minor homes or apartments, however, the EA8300 might exist just enough router for less than $200.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/linksys-ea8300-max-stream,review-5302.html
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