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It’s sort of hard to get excited about routers. Yeah, they do have flashing lights. However, the little box that you’re used to shoving under the desk is just that—a box that you usually shove under the desk.
Cisco is looking to breathe some life into the networking category and its Linksys line, with the new Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band Wireless-N Router. One of the product’s main selling points is that it’s “home theater ready.” We expect that computers and even the home theater computers to need a router. However, Cisco wants this thing to be a real hub, promising maximum performance for smart TVs, gaming consoles, media players, and more.
That performance promises to double your networking pleasure, via dual-band and speeds of up to 300Mbps at 2.4GHz (450Mbps at 5.0GHz). Other features include four gigabit ports, a 3x3 MIMO configuration, USB and UpnP features, and Cisco Connect software to guide you through setup and the rest of the streaming process.
What the Manufacturer Says
Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology. The Linksys E4200 offers maximum speed and range to create an ultra-powerful network designed for home theater performance. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, and other Wi-Fi devices at transfer rates up to 300 + 450 Mbps for an unrivaled experience.
Visit the Cisco Website to Learn More About the Linksys E4200 Wireless-N Router
Reviews and Ratings from Around the Web
Dual-band with 450Mbps @ 5GHzHome theater readyWPA/WPA2 encryption and SPI firewall
No IPv6 support (yet)Bulky power adapterCNET
4 out of 5 stars
” So far the E4200 is the fastest true dual-band router we’ve seen when it comes to wireless performance.”
Read the Full Review
GadgetKing.com
“All-in-all I believe the E4200 is the best router on the market today. Top notch design, clean and easy to use interface, great signal strength, and dual frequency bands.”
Read the Full Review
PCMag.com
3.5 out of 5 stars
“If you are looking to build a home network with a future-looking router that will show its true muscle when client adapters and software catch up to the E4200’s its capabilities, then by all means, go for it.”
Read the Full Review
What Electronic House Says
With so many A/V goodies to be had, it’s hard to think about spending $180 on a router. However, Cisco’s Linksys E4200 isn’t really designed for the everyday user. It seems to be for the enthusiast who demands the best of the best, and that would include the best router. This could actually be it. That said, unless you want to futureproof or upgrade your equipment in the near future, you may want to wait until Best Buy loses its E4200 exclusivity. We’re guessing it will also lose some of its hefty price tag as well.
Rather than bring our users a single opinion on a product or service, our EH Buyers Scorecard combines what the manufacturer has to say about their product with real ratings and reviews from other websites, along with our own opinions and knowledge of the product to derive a wider lens recommendation that can help you in making a purchase decision.
Last summer I purchased the Linksys E3000 which set me back a few bucks and it performs great. I know innovations can better a product but what specifically is the difference between these two routers? What was gleamed from the article was “home theater ready” and the speeds up to 300Mbps at 2.4GHz (450Mbps at 5.0GHz) the E3000 does the 2.4 Ghz but not the 450Mbps at 5.0 Ghz would that make a “BIG” difference in a 4,000 square foot home? Give us real world stats not just lab talk. We are people too although we have some technical expertise.
Last summer I purchased the Linksys E3000 which set me back a few bucks and it performs great. I know innovations can better a product but what specifically is the difference between these two routers? What was gleamed from the article was “home theater ready” and the speeds up to
300Mbps at 2.4GHz (450Mbps at 5.0GHz) the E3000 does the 2.4 Ghz but not the 450Mbps at 5.0 Ghz would that make a “BIG” difference in a 4,000 square foot home? Give us real world stats not just lab talk. We are people too although we have some technical expertise.
What exactly does “home theater ready” mean? What specific features distinguish this product from other products in this regard?
-bab
lolz @ you referring to this as a “best of the best” router with a “hefty price tag”. It’s that kind of attitude that makes people think a $700-2,000.00+ router from Cisco (non-linksys) or Fortinet or Sonicwall is a rip off.
Everything has an application. And for the small home user with a 2,000 square foot home and fewer than 10 or 12 devices, a piece like this is usually fine. But in a house that’s 5-10,000 square feet or more, with 40 or 50 devices on the network, these things are a joke. They just can’t handle the throughput nor can they provide the kind of reliability systems of that size require. And for the uninformed “throughput” is not determined by the speed of your Internet connection.
While I don’t doubt that this is a huge upgrade from the plentiful POS that is a WRT-54G, it is far from being categorized as a “best of the best” product unless compared solely to other boxes shoved under desks.
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How is this a “review”? I can easily rewrite the same stats and marketing blurb anyone else does too… can I have a job at Electronic House? Way to go Rachel, I hope they pay you well for retyping other posts and not actually doing a review.