News Linksys Starts Shipping 6E Mesh System, Announces $500 6E Router

[thiggins]

Updated: Linksys today announced it has started shipping its 6E Mesh Wi-Fi System that was announced during this January's virtual CES 2021. It also unveiled a new $500 6E router.

The Atlas Max 6E was announced as the AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System in January. The tri-radio (2.4/5/6 GHz) mesh system still is priced at an eye-popping $1200 for the three-pack that's available today from Linksys' online store. The $450 $500 single and $850 $900 two-pack SKUs don't appear to be available yet.

The Atlas Max 6E is based on Qualcomm's Networking Pro 1210 Platform featuring three four-stream radios and powered by a 2.2 GHz quad-core processor backed by 512 MB RAM and 1 GB of flash. The 2.4 GHz (1147 Mbps maximum link rate @ 40 MHz bandwidth) and 5 GHz (2402 Mbps maximum link rate @ 80 MHz bandwidth) radios support client connection and the 6 GHz (4804 Mbps maximum link rate @ 160 MHz bandwidth) is dedicated to backhaul duties. Ports include a 5 Gbps WAN port, four switched gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and USB 3.0 port for storage sharing

The Hydra Pro 6E is Linksys' offering for those preferring a less-expensive 6E traditional single-point router. The $500 MSRP router is also available today from Linksys' online store and is based on Qualcomm's Networking Pro 810 platform with a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor and 512 MB each of RAM and flash.

Radio complement is two-stream 2.4 GHz (600 Mbps maximum link rate @ 40 MHz bandwidth), two-stream 5 GHz (1201 Mbps maximum link rate @ 80 MHz bandwidth [no 160 MHz bandwidth support]) and four-stream 6 GHz (4804 Mbps maximum link rate @ 160 MHz bandwidth). Ports include a 5 Gbps WAN port, four switched gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and USB 3.0 port for storage sharing

 

[avtella]

I think you meant to use Mhz rather than Mbps for bandwidth though .

 

[thiggins]

I think you meant to use Mhz rather than Mbps for bandwidth though .

At least I was consistent! Thanks for the catch. Fixed.

 

[thiggins]

I have both here for testing, BTW.

 

[Fatawan]

Curious if they waste the first 160MHz of bandwidth in the 6GHz area. I am sure your tests will let us know!

 

[thiggins]

Curious if they waste the first 160MHz of bandwidth in the 6GHz area. I am sure your tests will let us know!

I'm not sure what you mean by this...

 

[Fatawan]

I'm not sure what you mean by this...

As in the Asus AXE11000 where the poor filtering leads to the loss of the first 80-160MHz of UNII5. Instead of dealing with it, manufacturers are just cutting out that portion of the new bandwidth. The DR/Cavity filters used in the spectrum below are not very "steep skirted", meaning they trail off gradually above 5.9GHz. Because of that, the AXE11000 can't utilize channels 1-29. There are new filters out that will allow full use, so I wonder if Linksys was able to include them on this new model. I will check the FCC website to see if internal pics are available, but probably not yet.

 

[Fatawan]

From the FCC filing, it appears that the Velop also skips the first 160MHz of UNII5

 

[thiggins]

I remember the discussion now. I suspect this will be common practice. Sharper filters cost more, don't they?

 

[Fatawan]

Yes, they would be more, but not orders of magnitude. The newer filters are also a tiny fraction of the size. It would really help reduce the footprint on the board.

 

[Maverick009]

AM I reading that correct? 5Gps WAN port? Not too shabby, seems one thing is increasing quickly and that is bandwidth. Here I thought 2.5Gbps was more then enough, I mean with modems just moving to adding a 2.5Gps WAN port as standard. If the likes of Comcast and others continue speed up their networks, like they have over the last year I could see 5G being a thing within a year or 2 at the earliest. I am in Comcast backyard right here in PA, and 1.3Gbps is at the high-end as standard and 2Gbps right now is the premium. I also saw they will be adding at least Fiber nodes now

 

[SoCalReviews]

At least I was consistent! Thanks for the catch. Fixed.

I feel a little better knowing that I'm not the only one who sometimes flips MHz and Mbps when I type posts too fast.

 

[thiggins]

I think the 5 Gbps port is primarily for marketing purposes. The downside is that it is WAN only.