The faster router in the West

A powerful wireless router with a very fast transmission speed and good range, the Linksys WRT1900AC harks back to Linksys’s best-selling WRT54G though it has been updated with the latest and fastest wireless-AC technology and delivers a maximum bandwidth of 1.3 Gigabits per second.

This speed means that the wireless 802.11AC is very good for streaming HD video. The wireless-AC protocol is increasingly being used for new products including TVs, smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S5, tablets, PS4 and Xbox One game consoles, Apple TV and Google TV devices as well as new set-top boxes.

The WRT1900AC is a dual band router that also supports Linksys’s enhanced wireless-N technology with a maximum speed of 600 Mbps.

The new router uses a four-antenna configuration and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM processor giving it exceptional signal strength and range.

To provide strong, reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, the WRT1900AC uses its four external adjustable antennas to ensure the Wi-Fi signal is always at maximum strength. The antennas also enhance 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz simultaneous dual wireless bands performance for a strong, reliable Wi-Fi signal that eliminates dead zones even in multi-storey homes. The antennas can be detached for future upgrades.

With its powerful processor and the fastest wireless-AC technology, the WRT1900AC router is capable of moving data at very fast rates because it pushes wired and wireless speeds to their ultimate capabilities. It can also easily support multiple users at once – whether they’re streaming music, watching HD videos, or playing online games.

With two ports – a USB3.0 and a dual eSATA/USB 2.0 – the WRT1900AC is really a router for multimedia content and video streaming. The USB 3.0 and eSATA ports let you connect an external hard drive with HD videos for streaming through the router and viewing on your smart TVs, tablets and notebook computers. Once a hard drive is connected, the router automatically and conveniently turns it into a media server without the need to write any complex code. And you can then access the multimedia content on the hard drive from anywhere in the house.

You can easily have a print server too simply by connecting your printer to the WRT1900AC’s USB 2.0 port. You then install Cisco VUSB software on your desktop or notebook computer to print files without having to connect to the printer. This makes it very convenient to work at any spot in your home.

The router also has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, which are 10 times faster than the Fast Ethernet port, to provide the fastest wired speeds.

During the test, I found that setting up the WRT1900AC was a breeze. I simply connected its Internet LAN port-in to the Internet LAN port-out of my ADSL modem. The WRT1900AC automatically talked to my modem and set all the technical settings by itself. Normally, you would need the technical settings from your Internet service provider and set them correctly for the connection to be established successfully.

After the WRT1900AC talked to the modem, all I had to do was key in the username and password of my True Online Internet connection. Finally, I changed the new router’s SSID (Service set identification) and Wi-Fi password making them the same as for the router I removed for the test. All of my gadgets could thus connect to the router without my having to tamper with them.

Changing the SSID name was a breeze. I simply connected to it wirelessly (it comes with built-in SMART Wi-Fi software), entered the wireless password provided with the package and registered for a Linksys account.

You can also download and install SMART Wi-Fi app on your smartphone and monitor and control a home network from anywhere and at any time. You can set parental controls to restrict Internet access during certain times of the day and create secure Wi-Fi passwords for your guests. You can also monitor activity on your home network, add new devices, and check upload and download speeds. In addition, SMART Wi-Fi allows you to prioritise which devices on your network receive the most bandwidth to reduce lag times and buffering when you’re streaming HD media or gaming.

WRT1900AC is the first Linksys router to incorporate the Network Map tool in SMART Wi-Fi. Network map provides a visual overview of your network allowing you to see all devices on your network, their online status and signal strength, and also measure how much bandwidth they’re using at any time. It also allows you to create personalised identifiable names so that you can identify your connected devices.

The WRT1900AC provided a very strong signal throughout the test. I tested the connection with a Macbook Air computer with wireless-AC connection. The router was located on the first floor and I found that on my rooftop, which is equivalent to the third floor, the Macbook Air still displayed the full level of wireless signal strength.

I downloaded a 5.1 GB folder of data from an external hard drive connected to the USB 2.0 port of the router to the Macbook Air in just 4.52 minutes to complete. It would have completed even faster had the drive supported either the USB 3.0 or eSATA ports.

Linksys WRT1900AC also supports Open Source, which will need Open Source firmware, offering an additional layer of customisation to suit the needs of advanced users.

Linksys WRT1900AC retails for Bt9,890.

 

Key specifications

Technology: Wireless-AC 

Standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n. 802.11ac 

Frequency: Dual 

Bands: Simultaneous: 2.4 GHz (Wireless-N), 5.0 GHz (Wireless-AC) 

Security: WEP 64/128-bit, WPA2-Personal & Enterprise (AES/TKIP), WPS 

Antennas: 4x External Detachable Antennas 

Antenna Gain (peak): 2.4GHz: 2.5dBi; 5GHz: 3.8dBi 

Antenna Type: Dipole 

Output Power: 2.4GHz: 19dBm; 5GHz: 21dBm 

OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac 

Minimum System Requirements:

PC: PC with CD or DVD drive, running Windows XP SP3 (32-bit), Vista SP1/SP2 (32 & 64-bit), Win7 (32-bit & 64-bit) and Win8 (32-bit & 64-bit)

Mac: Wi-Fi enabled with CD or DVD drive, Mac OS X Leopard v10.5.8 or later, Snow Leopard v10.6.1 or later, Lion v10.7, or Mountain Lion v10.8 Available USB 2.0 port

Package Contents: Linksys Dual Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router AC1900, WRT1900AC, Quick Start Guide, CD-ROM with Documentation, 4 Antennas, Ethernet Cable, Power Adapter, Power Cord