Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1750 HD Video Pro (EA6500) - Wireless Cruiser

Linksys Smartens Up For The Party

We received an email from Linksys recently, stating they'll prefer the EA6500 to be referred to as the 'Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1750 HD Video Pro" where possible. We respect that, but the name is too long and esoteric for our review, so we'll just call it EA6500 for short. In a nutshell, the EA6500 is the networking firm's first and only router based on the 802.11ac draft standard. In other words, this true dual-band router now sits at the apex of Linksys E-series of routers; consider it a class higher than the 802.11n-based EA4500 released almost half a year ago. As with the current slate of AC contenders from ASUS and D-Link, one can expect the usual spiel of features to accompany the EA6500, including a cloud platform, remote access capabilities (either through the web browser or mobile apps), and simultaneous theoretical speeds of up to 450Mbps and 1,300 Mbps on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands respectively. 

Linksys, or Cisco as its parent company is known by, is banking massively on the so-called 'smart' capabilities and easy usability of its latest range of E-series routers. Compared to its competitors, Linksys undoubtedly has a larger portfolio of apps available for the mobile interface, ranging from titles such as "Gemini IP Camera Viewer" for grabbing real-time feeds from compatible IP cameras, to "Netproofer", an app which enables users to restrict access to specific websites on their home network via their smartphones. Trouble is, most of them are paid apps, and they are only available via Google Play or iTunes. And to complicate matters further, some of them, like "Block The Bad Stuff" for example, are exclusive to iTunes only. With that in mind, let's move on to the review proper, and see if the EA6500 is able to give the competition something to think about.     

Sleek & Sophisticated

We aren't huge fans of Linksys' older E-series of routers, like the E2000 for example. It appeared different from the usual crowd at the onset, but its glossy finishing and ashtray-esque form makes one wonder if Linksys could have done better. And thankfully, they did. The EA6500 is a vast improvement over the older generation where its design is concerned. We love the new matte material, and the curvy yet sleek profile. Similar to the E4200 we reviewed last year, the all-black dress code on the EA6500 is accentuated by a gunmetal "clasp" right in the middle of the unit, which makes the access point appear more like an expensive clutch bag rather than a wireless router. In the case of the EA6500, however, the clasp doesn't extend all the way across the top of the device like the E4200 does. The LAN and WAN status indicators have been relegated to the rear, which leaves only a single LED in the form of a sassy and white CISCO logo. This indicator stops blinking after the router is initialized. 

The back panel features four Gigabit LAN ports and a single Gigabit WAN (Internet) port, labelled in blue and yellow respectively. Next to the switch sits two USB 2.0 slots, with support for content or printer sharing over the network. Other controls include a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button on the far left, a recessed Reset button, and an inlet for the power adapter. All in all, Linksys did a fine job in crafting the EA6500; from its design all the way down to the presentation of its I/O ports. There's one interesting item in its package worth a mention. Apart from the bundled Ethernet cable and power adapter, Linksys has thrown in a SimpleTap NFC card for mobile devices as well. Essentially, it enables any NFC compatible mobile device to connect to the router simply by tapping the card on the smartphone. The only catch is you'll require the Cisco Connect Cloud (CCC) mobile app for SimpleTap to work.

Features

To configure the router, you may either connect to the Cisco Connect Cloud portal remotely or do so locally. For the former option, you'll need to associate the router with an existing or new Smart Wi-Fi account upon signing in to the CCC platform. The upside with this implementation is it is fairly painless. However, an online route isn't the best solution in some circumstances, like when you need to access the router to troubleshoot a faulty Internet connection for instance. Privacy issues aren't quite a concern now, considering that Cisco has since assured clients that the company does not track users' network logs or surfing habits. To configure the unit locally, access the "http://myrouter.local" page using the web browser, before clicking on the link at the bottom right that says "for local access, click here". This option wasn't obvious to us at the onset, and we feel compelled to highlight this. It also took a good 10 seconds before we were able to key in the router's admin password on the relatively sluggish Smart Wi-Fi interface. Impatient users, be warned.

The main splash page sports an attractive spread with network options listed under the Smart Wi-Fi Tools menu. The right flank is peppered with "windows" displaying various information about the router, such as its network status, device list, and so forth. Linksys' menu is noticeably less comprehensive compared to brands like D-Link or Netgear, but the core functions are present, such as wireless, security, media prioritization, and USB storage. You may prioritize both devices and applications, of which Linksys has provided an extensive list of common applications and MMO gaming titles within the drop-lists. In addition, both USB slots are capable of file and printer sharing over the home network with added support for DLNA and UPnP compatible devices. Parental Controls is fairly easy to use, with a configurable grid to block internet access for designated time zones. And lastly, this router is also backward compatible with 802.11n clients as well, although you may clamp it in AC mode with a 80MHz channel width if a compatible 802.11ac adapter is available.

Test Setup

Our routine test setup includes a desktop PC, the reviewed router, and a laptop to simulate a wireless home network. The desktop system takes on the role of a host machine, while the router acts as a gateway. And lastly, an external 802.11ac adapter attached to the notebook is used to fulfill the role of a wireless remote client. We'll be using Netgear's A6200 802.11ac USB adapter for our throughput tests to reduce the number of variables involved.

The router is locked down in N-only mode for the 2.4GHz band, and 802.11ac for the 5GHz band, mainly to prevent the use of varying 802.11 standards. Typically, a channel bandwidth of 40MHz is selected where applicable, while 80MHz is used for the 5GHz AC band. The QCheck application measures wireless throughput (TCP) and streaming (UDP) speeds between the host and client endpoints based on a 1MB data packet. On the other hand, NetIQ's Chariot benchmark offers a more detailed account with average throughput and response time readings recorded over 30 seconds, based on a High Performance throughput script.

Range is determined by the distance between the router and wireless client. Here's how the DIR-865L fared. 

 

Chariot and QCheck Performance Results - 2.4GHz Band

Linksys delivered a commendable 2.4GHz downlink performance on the whole. In most instances, it proved to be the faster router compared to the ASUS RT-AC66U. At 2 meters, however, its throughput was crippled slightly with WPA2 encryption enabled, with average data speeds dipping from 65Mbps to 43Mbps. Transfer of a 1GB file between host and client took 91 seconds and 131 seconds, measured at 2 meters and 10 meters respectively. The EA6500 also offered a notable average downlink result of 36Mbps at 25 meters, compared to its less stellar opponents at this range. On the other hand, there was a considerable amount of packet loss during UDP streams when distance is increased. This might have an impact on video and voice wireless streaming qualities at a range of 10 meters or more. That said, let's move on to the EA6500's uplink results. Undoubtedly, it was Netgear's R6300 which topped this category although Linksys didn't fare too badly either. Apart from its 'encrypted' performance, it is clear that the EA6500 is one of the speedier gateways on the uplink front compared to the likes of D-Link and ASUS. Similar to its downlink performance, the router delivered a fairly decent and consistent throughput at 25 meters.  

Chariot and QCheck Performance Results - 5GHz Band

Linksys's downstream performance on the 5GHz (AC) band is similar to the D-Link DIR-865L on most counts. The EA6500 is relatively fast, but it isn't quite fast enough as the ASUS RT-AC66U by comparison. And although the router was superseded by Netgear's R6300 on the 2.4GHz charts, the EA6500 was able to prove its mettle with a healthy showing of 134Mbps and 114Mbps at 2 meters and 10 meters respectively. If you could look at the graph below, the R6300 barely breached the 100Mbps mark across all the tested distances. One thing we have to take into account is that the R6300 was tested in bridge mode with two R6300 units, while the EA6500's results were gathered using the Netgear's 802.11ac USB adapter. Transfer of the 1GB file was equally zippy. It only required approximately 35 seconds to push the file from host to client at the 2-meter mark. Conversely, the EA6500's uplink speeds were less impeccable compared to its downlink numbers. The Linksys router managed an average upstream throughput of 98Mbps at 2 meters, and 91Mbps at 25 meters. On the bright side, security encryption (WPA2) had lesser impact on the router's throughput, unlike its 2.4GHz results. As for UDP streams, packet loss was only detected at a range of 25 meters.

The Final Word

Linksys has crafted a fine home networking device in the guise of the EA6500. Design wise, it is undoubtedly one of the prettier routers among the recent brood of AC routers. Netgear's R6300 is too bland and bulky in our opinion, whilst ASUS' RT-AC66U has three unsightly antennas to contend with despite its swanky outfit. Truly, the EA6500's clean and curvaceous profile will most definitely appeal to those who want to flaunt the handsome gateway on desks or shelves. The router's remote login function via the online Cisco Connect Cloud portal is a step forward, generally speaking, and we do applaud its ease of use and pretty interface too. However, users who are new to Linksys' Smart Wi-Fi platform might not be aware of the local configuration option, plus the UI's sluggishness is another point of contention. Overall, however, the attractive yet detailed interface stands in good stead for both novices and savvy users alike. The dual USB slots with storage and printer sharing support is a nice bonus as well. There are some features which are lacking, on the other hand, such as Samba and iTunes server support which the ASUS RT-AC66U offers. 

As for its throughput performance, the EA6500 did well for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, although it wasn't the top of its class either. For the former, it peaked at 2 meters with downlink and uplink results of 66Mbps and 56Mbps respectively. Unfortunately, the router has two general flaws on the 2.4GHz band. Data speeds were crippled rather significantly with WPA2 encryption, and two, packet loss is evident with UDP streaming distances of 10 meters or more. Things were notably more upbeat on the AC band. The EA6500 is a relatively zippy contender with speeds comparable to D-Link's DIR-865L. The Linksys unit clocked downstream speeds of 134Mbps at 2 meters, and 114Mbps at 10 meters respectively. It also exhibited a decent range and throughput at 25 meters with a downlink result of 116Mbps. To sum the EA6500 up, Linksys has designed a capable 802.11n dual-band router with ample cloud and networking features to ensure it stays relevant in 2013. Price wise, however, D-Link's DIR-865L is still the most affordable of the 802.11n bunch with its shelf tag of $299.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.