Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 router review
Linksys introduced the EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 router in 2020. It is powered by MediaTek MT7621AT @ 880 MHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM, and 128 MB of flash memory.
Curious if this Linksys router is a real gem? Find out soon!
Table of Contents
- Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 specifications
- Body, dimensions, weight
- System, chipset, RAM, flash, power supply
- Network, protocols, WAN and LAN ports
- Wireless, antennas, speed, security
- Connectivity
- Administration, user interface, login information
- Links
- Verdict, Pros and Cons
- Photos
- Comparisons
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. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5, please let us know.
The EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 is a popular router. It provides excellent networking capabilities due to its advanced features. Linksys is known for being a respected and well-known maker of networking equipment.
Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 specifications
| Brand | Linksys |
|---|---|
| Name | EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 |
| Type | EA8100 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2020 |
Body
| Dimensions | 257 x 184 x 56 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 558 g |
If you plan to move a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. Otherwise, the size isn't too crucial. The weight of the router is not typically a critical factor for most setups.
System
| Chipset | MediaTek MT7621AT @ 880 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Linksys |
| Power supply | 12 V / 2.5 A |
The MediaTek MT7621AT @ 880 MHz CPU provides processing power. You cannot expand the router's memory (256 MB). When selecting a router, it's essential to think about the RAM specifications.
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 also supports IPv6. This allows you to use the latest Internet Protocol. The router has Gigabit Ethernet ports. They allow for faster communication between devices on your local network. A Gigabit WAN port is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds.
Wireless
| Antennas | 4 x 2 dBi fixed |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 6 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC2600 |
| Speed | 800 + 1733 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 28 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
The router supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The 5 GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4 GHz band. This AC Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a safe wireless network with the push of a button or a simple PIN entry.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 1 x USB 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). The USB 3 ports provide a fast interface for external storage with data transfer rates of up to 4.8 Gbps. By connecting a USB printer to the EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 router, you can make it accessible to all devices on your network. This router has a USB file server. It lets you connect external storage devices to your network.
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.
Links
| Official site | https://www.linksys.com/ |
|---|
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. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- generous memory
- adequate flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- works on 5 GHz band
- decent Wi-Fi performance
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 photos
Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 comparisons
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Updated: July 5, 2024
