Linksys WRT1900AC WiFi router: Pros and Cons
The Linksys WRT1900AC (WRT1900AC) router released in 2014. It is powered by Marvell MV78230 @ 1.2 GHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash. The AC1900 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with WRT1900AC is 600 + 1300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports.
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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 WRT1900AC, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The WRT1900AC is a popular router. It offers great networking. This is thanks to its advanced features and cutting-edge technology. You can connect supported USB devices to the router. Linksys is widely recognized as a reputable and established manufacturer of networking equipment.
Linksys WRT1900AC specifications
| Brand | Linksys |
|---|---|
| Name | WRT1900AC |
| Type | WRT1900AC |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2014 |
Body
| Dimensions | 246 x 194 x 52 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.04 kg |
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 a router can matter in some situations. But, it is usually not as crucial as other factors. These factors include features and compatibility.
System
| Chipset | Marvell MV78230 @ 1.2 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Linksys |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT DD-WRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 4 A |
The Linksys WRT1900AC router has a Marvell MV78230 @ 1.2 GHz processor. The amount of RAM in a router can affect its performance. It also affects its capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. The 128 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. 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 offers many features and capabilities. They extend the functionality of networking hardware. The 12 V / 4 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 | PPTP L2TP/IPSec |
Like many modern routers, the WRT1900AC supports many network standards too. 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. This router has Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. They provide data transfer speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) over Ethernet connections.
This router ensures that you can use fast internet from your ISP fully. IPsec is a widely used network protocol suite. It provides security for IP communications. The PPTP is an older VPN protocol. It was widely used in the past.
Wireless
| Antennas | 4 x 3.8 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC1900 |
| Speed | 600 + 1300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 21 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
This router has 4 x 3.8 dBi, RP-SMA antennas. Antennas are key parts of wireless routers. They send and receive radio signals to make wireless connections. The WRT1900AC is compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. The 5 GHz band offers better noise immunity and less interference. It also has more available channels. Wi-Fi 5 uses the 5 GHz band. It uses wider channels and advanced techniques to send data faster.
Real-world WRT1900AC router speeds are lower than its theoretical maximum speed. 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 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 / ESATA |
|---|---|
| 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. 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.
Features
| Specials | ESATA port |
|---|
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | [blank] |
| Default password | [blank] |
If you can't log in to your Linksys router's setup panel, try resetting it. A reset can help you troubleshoot. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your WRT1900AC router. Do this after the initial setup.
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
- OpenWrt compatible
- 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
- too weighty
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Linksys WRT1900AC photos
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