Linksys Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 Router (E4200 v2)

by Cisco

• Wireless-N technology uses multiple radios to create a robust signal that travels farther and faster, with reduced dead spots
• All Ports support Gigabit speed and Auto-Crossover (MDI/MDI-X) - no need for crossover cables
• USB Port Support for USB Printer
• Built-in UPnP AV Media Server, streams music, video, and photos to any other compatible media adapter
• Guess Access feature allows your visitors access to the Internet, but not your computers or data

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 8.9 x 1 inches ; 12.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0068ALV8Q
• Item model number: E4200 v2
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (255 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #907 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 30, 2011

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Create a maximum performance wireless home network.

Enjoy unrivaled speed and HD/3D quality streaming for the ultimate home theater and gaming experience.

Best-in-class performance for home entertainment, ideal for:

• Networking large, multi-room homes and home theaters
• Streaming HD video and music plus multiplayer gaming
• Transferring and downloading large files
• Connecting multiple users and devices – TVs, Blu-ray players and game consoles
• Adding storage and printers

The Cisco Advantage

• Cutting edge technology from the networking leader
• Best-in-class security
• 24/7 Award-winning customer support
• One year hardware limited warranty

See how the E4200v2 stacks up against the rest of the Linksys E-Series routers below.

Key Features^*

• Maximum speed (up to 450 + 450 Mbps) for faster HD video streaming
• Simultaneous dual-band to maximize throughput and help avoid network interference
• Maximum range and reliability with full 3x3 MIMO antenna array
• Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) ports for speeds 10x faster than Ethernet
• USB port to add storage and printers

Maximum Wireless Speed

The Linksys E4200v2 offers leading wireless speeds for fast video and music streaming. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, and other Wi-Fi devices at transfer rates up to 450 + 450 Mbps speed for a premium home network experience.

Superior Wireless Coverage

Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, the Linksys E4200v2 offers maximum range to create a powerful wireless network. Full 3x3 MIMO antenna array boosts signal strength to provide exceptional coverage and reliability so you can enjoy your wireless network from anywhere in your home.

The Power of Dual-Band

Double your network bandwidth with dual-band N (2.4 and 5 GHz) designed to avoid interference and maximize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.

SpeedBoost

Higher quality antenna technology helps to maintain high speeds across greater distances throughout your home for maximum wireless coverage and in-home mobility.

The rear of the Linksys E4200v2 with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 2.0 port

Benefits of Gigabit

Use the four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) ports for quick file sharing, 10x faster than standard Ethernet, between other Gigabit-enabled devices like computers, hard drives, and servers.

Advanced Security

Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA2 encryption and SPI firewall to help keep your network protected.

Built-in USB Port and UPnP Media Server

The USB port lets you add storage and printers to your network. The built-in UPnP AV Media Server enables seamless streaming of your video and media files to an Xbox 360, PS3, or other UPnP compatible device.

Home Theater Ready

Bring the ultimate entertainment experience to your home by connecting computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, media players and more to your wireless network and the Internet. QoS traffic prioritization technology designed to deliver your timesensitive Internet traffic efficiently so you can enjoy fast downloads, smooth video and music streaming, and gaming and VoIP.

IPv6 Enabled

The Linksys E4200v2 supports the latest Internet Protocol technology to future-proof your network.

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Technical Specs

Model:	Linksys E4200v2
Technology:	Wireless-N
Bands:	Simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
Transmit/Receive:	3 x 3 on 2.4 and 5 GHz
Antennas:	6 internal
Ethernet Ports x Speed:	4 x Gigabit
USB:	Yes, Shared Storage, Virtual USB and Media Server
Setup:	CD Install
OS Compatibility:	Windows, Mac

Minimum System Requirements

• Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 7, Safari 4, or Firefox 3 or higher for optional browser-based configuration
• PC: Wi-Fi enabled PC with CD or DVD drive, running Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, or Windows 7
• Mac: Wi-Fi enabled Mac with CD or DVD drive, running OS X Leopard 10.5.8 or later or Snow Leopard 10.6 or later

Package Contents

• Linksys Linksys E4200v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 Router
• Ethernet Cable
• Power Adapter

Package Dimensions

12.00” x 9.25” x 2.88 in

^{* Maximum performance derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications. Actual performance can vary, including lower wireless network capacity, data throughput rate, range and coverage. Performance depends on many factors, conditions and variables, including distance from the access point, volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, operating system used, mix of wireless products used, interference and other adverse conditions.}

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Linksys Wireless-N Router Comparison
	E1200	E1500	E2500	E3200	E4200 v2
Technology	Wireless-N
Wi-Fi Max Speed	300 Mbps	300 Mbps	600 Mbps	600 Mbps	900 Mbps
Compatibility	Wireless-N, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -A, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -A, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -A, -B, -G
Bands	Single-band 2.4 GHz	Single-band 2.4 GHz	Simultaneous Dual-band 2.4 + 5 GHz	Simultaneous Dual-band 2.4 + 5 GHz	Simultaneous Dual-band 2.4 + 5 GHz
Transmit/Receive Streams	2 x 2	2 x 3	2 x 2	2 x 3	3 x 3
SpeedBoost		√		√	√
Power Amplifiers	Integrated On-Chip	External Off-Chip	Integrated On-Chip	External Off-Chip High Power	External Off-Chip High Power
Ports	4 x 10/100	4 x 10/100	4 x 10/100	4 x Gigabit 1 x USB	4 x Gigabit 1 x USB
USB Features				Shared Storage Shared Printer	Shared Storage Shared Printer Media Server
Wi-Fi Protected Setup	Yes
UPnP Support	Yes
Parental Controls	Time of Day Access Controls Specific Website Blocking
Guest Wi-Fi Access	Separate SSID for guests keeps your WiFi private
Wireless Security	WEP, WPA and WPA2 Personal and Enterprise, RADIUS
Warranty	1 year hardware limited warranty, 90 days complimentary assisted support
Package Contents	Router, AC Adapter, CD-ROM with setup software, Ethernet Network Cable, Quick Start Guide
Setup Software CD	Cisco Connect Windows XP SP3, Vista SP1 or later, Windows 7 Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6

Product Description

Dual-band 3x3 wireless supports high bandwidth applications such as video streaming or file sharing

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

213 of 218 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars V2: Very good range and performance December 30, 2011

By LDB

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have been operating the V2 for about three weeks now (Firmware version 2.0.26.124551). I've been able to "real-world" compare this router in my home with two other excellent dual band wireless routers: the Asus NT-R56U and the Apple Time Capsule, 3rd Generation. I give the V2 five stars because this router delivers the best consistent range and performance in my "heavy wireless device usage home" than any other router I have owned.

Pros:
Setup: Set up in minutes with the included setup disk--I chose to skip the disk and setup via the browser on my iMac. (Both approaches = 3-4 minutes)
Future Proof: Supports IPv6, dual band 5Ghz/2.4Ghz, supports up to 450 Mbps on the 2.4/5 Ghz band
Powerful: Range and throughput in my house exceeded both the Asus NT-R56U and the Apple Time Capsule 3rd Generation. E.g. 5-7 Mbps vs 25+ Mbs at the most distant areas of my house from the router
Load Testing: Exceeded range and performance ( significantly) of the R56U and the TC 3rd Gen during multiple device/heavy use streaming, gaming, computer, iPad connections in my house
Consistent: I haven't run into any performance issues whatsoever with the e4200 V2 after 3+ weeks of continuous operation
Cisco Connect Express: This is a great app for your iPhone/iPad/Android device to monitor and manage your Cisco Home Network ( Very similar to the Apple Airport Utility app)
Editors Choice: Both CNET and PC Magazine awarded the e4200 V2 their "Editors Choice" 2011

Cons:
Runs very warm: Maybe some will call it "hot"--I haven't experienced any issues yet ( that I know of) but it does run warmer than any other wireless router I have owned
Expensive: The Asus Nt-R56U ( another very fast dual band router) might be a better value especially for smaller spaces ( compared to current V1 or V2 list prices)
450Mbps: According to the recent professional reviews you need a 450MBps capable wireless client to experience the "maximum" range and performance from this router (None of my current wireless devices are 450Mbps capable so the max speed I could get was up to 300 Mbps when in very close proximity to the e4200 V2) So if you don't experience "advertised" performance it may be due to your own wireless clients
5Ghz;short range: The 5Ghz band does not have anywhere near the range of the 2.4ghz band--but I think is the same for most current wireless routers. (If your wireless devices are located more than one or two rooms away from the router use the 2.4Ghz band)

Professional Reviews:
See helpful e4200 V2 professional reviews on:
-cnet.com
-pcmag.com
-smallnetbuilder.com

For those of you looking for settings for your wireless router to maximize your router's performance in a Home environment try these:
Set Security to "WPA2-Personal" and Channel to "Auto" for both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands. Channel Width for the 2.4Ghz band should be set to "20Mhz Only" and 5Ghz should be set to "40Mhz Only". Network mode should be set to "N-Only" for both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands. **Note: if you have older wireless devices that only use wireless a,b,or g, then set the 2.4Ghz to "mixed" Network Mode else these devices will not connect to the N-Only network.

Update 1/12/2012:
Apparently there is a recently discovered security issue with most routers that offer WPS ( Wi-Fi Protected Setup) to include the e4200 V2. Until a fix is released by the manufacturers, its probably a good idea to frequently monitor your networks "connected devices" for potential unknown/unwanted visitors. You can always restrict access to unwanted devices by enabling Parental Controls under Access Restrictions/Parental Controls/Target Devices

If your e4200 V2 is running too warm, try turning off the port lights on the back of the router under Setup(Tab)/Basic Setup/then scroll down to bottom of page and set Port Lights to off. (I ended up putting something under the router to lift it up about two inches to increase the airflow under the unit--this resulted in a much cooler continuous operating temperature .

Update March 6, 2012:
Firmware Version: 2.0.36.126507
The e4200 V2 has been pretty much a "set it and forget it" experience for me since I set it up. I haven't experienced any operational issues at all and was pleased to discover that the router also has an automated firmware update feature--so I don't even have to worry about making sure my router has the latest firmware since it updates itself. ( I think this is a default setting--but you can check for the same ( or you can turn off this feature) under the main Administration tab: Administration/Firmware Upgrade/then select On-Line Upgrade and then select Upgrade Automatically) From the same menu, you can also use the "Restore Previous Firmware" feature if you experience any issues with any of the new firmware updates.

Update August 3, 2012:
Firmware Ver.2.1.38.138880 Cisco Connect Cloud Firmware
There continue to be a lot of additions to the Cisco wireless home router model line since I purchased my e4200 V2 only 8 months ago. However, and most importantly I am happy to report that my V2 router continues without issue. Even better, I recently upgraded the e4200 V2 firmware to the new Cisco Connect Cloud which in my opinion converts my V2 to the same performance and functionality as the newer EA4500 App-Enabled Cisco Wireless router ( kudos to Cisco for offering this upgrade to existing V2 owners ! ) Note: I had to do a manual update to the Cisco Connect Cloud firmware even though I had my router set to automatic updates. If you are interested in experiencing Connect Cloud on your V2 then be sure to go out to the Cisco's Linksys e4200 support page and download firmware version Ver.2.1.38.138880. There is a little more to this download process then normal to include having to register with the Cisco Cloud Connect service. Once upgraded I think you will really enjoy the new router administration interface. Likewise with the new Cloud Connect app on your smart phone or tablet you can manage your home network in the cloud from other locations without having to be on your home network. Check out Cnet's review of Cisco Connect Cloud service to learn more about current and future capabilities of this new service. Apparently there is a lot more to come with new this new Cloud capability.

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Router I ever used December 22, 2011

By Thrill37

Amazon Verified Purchase

This router is worth the cost. Initial setup is so easy. Once connected to internet, you can easily setup to 2.4ghz, 5 GHz and Guest with different user-id and passwords. The security setting is all done automatically and you can easily change it if you want. Make sure to go to admin tab on web to do firmware upgrade. Wireless speed is really fast. Try using the Knowledge base. It has detailed explanations for novice users also.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb so far! Not sure what the fuss is all about January 10, 2012

By V. Parthasarathy

Amazon Verified Purchase

I usually don't write reviews but after seeing all the less than favorable posts on this one i had to butt in. This is by far the most robust, no-frills, non-tinkered with router you can use out of the box. Pretty flawless so far. I have 3 Gigabit ports occupied along with 4 WLAN clients. Not to forget a 1 TB passport Hard-disk attached to the router that acts as a media server.
I have always been a fan of DD-WRT firmware. I used the legendary Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router with DD-WRT firmware for over 3 years before I made the upgrade to E4200V2. After using this for about 10 days, I don't even think about not being able to load custom firmware on this one. We've had seamless streaming of High-Def Video, Local File Transfer, Printer sharing between our Windows 7 machines using the HomeGroup setup. I cannot stress this fact enough. Practically zero packet dropping.

Make sure to have separate SSID for the 5 GHZ and the 2.4 GHZ transmission. That way you can connect your high performance 5GHZ capable wireless clients to the correct SSID for maximum performance. You can use my setup as an example as depicted in the screenshot( [..] )

I'll probably give an update after 2 months of usage. Hoping it would be a non-event.

Update:

Sorry I promised a quicker update but here goes. the Router is still fantastic. Never had to RESET even once. The Device count gre to 15 at my place. The new firmware update gave us the ability to disable WPS.