Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 router review
The Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 (EA8100) router released in 2020. It is powered by MediaTek MT7621AT @ 880 MHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash. The AC2600 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 is 800 + 1733 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports.
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 EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 is a popular router. It offers great networking. This is thanks to its advanced features and cutting-edge technology. This router has USB connectors. They add features and expand your network's capabilities. Linksys is a well-established brand and has a significant market presence globally.
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 or travel a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. It needs to be small to be easy to carry. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office 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. It handles tasks and services within the EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 router. You cannot expand the router's memory (256 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. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface. The Linksys packages the EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 router with 12 V / 2.5 A PSU.
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 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). 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 helpful. It 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 |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. The router supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The 5GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4GHz band. This Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. The top speed, 800 + 1733 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 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. For example, you can connect USB flash drives or hard drives.
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
- 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
If there’s information about the Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 5 that you would like to see on this site, then write to us.
