Linksys EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 router review
Linksys introduced the EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 router in 2015. It is powered by Qualcomm Atheros QCA9558 @ 720 MHz chipset, 128 MB of RAM, and 128 MB of flash memory.
Curious to see if this router impresses? Keep reading to find out!
Table of Contents
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Linksys EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, offering both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. You can connect supported USB devices to the router. Linksys provides affordable networking solutions. They are accessible to many users.
Linksys EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 specifications
| Brand | Linksys |
|---|---|
| Name | EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 |
| Type | EA4500V3 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2015 |
Body
| Dimensions | 225 x 25 x 160 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 360 g |
The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
| Chipset | Qualcomm Atheros QCA9558 @ 720 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 128 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Linksys |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 2 A |
The Linksys EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 router has a Qualcomm Atheros QCA9558 @ 720 MHz processor. You cannot expand the router's memory (128 MB). When choosing a router, it is important to consider the RAM specifications. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. Linksys often releases firmware updates. They improve the router's features, security, and bugs. They also add new features.
Using a custom OS on a router has benefits. But, it also has risks. OpenWrt has a community that actively develops it. They continuously work on improving its security. The 12 V / 2 A PSU provides power to the router. If it breaks, you can replace it with a new one.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
The router supports many networking standards. It ensures compatibility with different devices and systems. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP). It is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The latest firmware supports IPv6. It provides a system to identify and locate computers on networks. The router has Gigabit Ethernet ports. They allow for faster communication between devices on your local network. A Gigabit WAN port is helpful. It is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds.
Wireless
| Antennas | 6 x 3 dBi internal |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Class | N900 |
| Speed | 450 + 450 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 25 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
This router has 6 x 3 dBi, internal antennas. Antennas are key parts of wireless routers. They send and receive radio signals to make wireless connections. The 2.4 GHz band is widely supported by many devices. This includes older ones that may not work with the 5 GHz band. The 5 GHz band is less crowded. This leads to less interference and a clearer wireless signal. The EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 router is 5 GHz capable.
This is a Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) router. Wi-Fi 4 improved the range and coverage compared to previous Wi-Fi standards.. The top speed, 450 + 450 Mbps, is the highest data rate the router can reach. It's the theoretical limit in perfect conditions. WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides an easy method. It connects devices to a Wi-Fi network.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). USB print servers let you connect a USB printer to your network. This makes it accessible to many devices. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
Changing the password often is a good security practice. It protects your network and devices from unauthorized access. Changing the default password improves your router's security. It reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals controlling your network.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this Linksys one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- lightweight
- sufficient memory
- adequate flash
- OpenWrt compatible
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- works on 5 GHz band
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- incompatible with WPA3
Linksys EA4500 v3 Smart Wi-Fi N900 photos
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