Linksys WRT1900AC First User Reports

[hewligun]

Thanks for the feedback.
So, just to confirm, you had a weaker signal on 2.4 GHz (2 bars) than 5 GHz (3 bars) when using your iPhone? Was this relatively close to the router?

I can't wait to try mine out and run tests on both bands in my usual 3 test locations so I can compare them to my RT-AC66U results:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10577



By the way, my last sentence had a typo which I have since fixed (I meant of course just 5 GHz being needed according to the reviewer).
I see you knew what I meant of course.

no no. 5ghz (2bars) 2.4ghz (3 bars) but the 5ghz was still a lot faster.

 

[stevech]

no no. 5ghz (2bars) 2.4ghz (3 bars) but the 5ghz was still a lot faster.

5GHz in 40MHz channel size mode whereas 2.4GHz in 20MHz mode?
40MHz mode in 2.4GHz is not advised.

 

[hewligun]

5GHz in 40MHz channel size mode whereas 2.4GHz in 20MHz mode?
40MHz mode in 2.4GHz is not advised.

Whatever the highest options are. My router I dont recall seeing it in mhz. it was based on speed in Mbps. I did 600 on the 2.4ghz range and 1300 on the 5ghz range.

I am not on my network now to check to be sure though. I am on stock firmware on the r7000.

 

[jalyst]

I'd be surprised if it didn't have channel width mode for both bands, often 40Mhz for 5Ghz & 20Mhz for 2.4Ghz.

 

[stevech]

Whatever the highest options are. My router I dont recall seeing it in mhz. it was based on speed in Mbps. I did 600 on the 2.4ghz range and 1300 on the 5ghz range.

I am not on my network now to check to be sure though. I am on stock firmware on the r7000.

Suggest you configure it to not use widest in 2.4GHz. Jargon is 40MHz or double-wide or some such. Just too many active systems in 2.4GHz to use 40MHz mode. Doing so occupies 2/3 of the entire 2.4GHz band and net speeds are often less due to higher interference.

 

[kenrok1]

Sharing my experience / comparison with the WRT1900AC

Pros
Setup was fast and easy, and I liked the snappiness of the UI and how quickly settings applied without having to be rebooted.
Signals on both 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz were very flat when checking w/ inSSIDer
Range was good enough to have a strong signal throughout the house, including garage, basement, and patio (router is in 2nd floor office)

Take your pick
5 Ghz was just as fast as anything I've tried
None of the routers seem to have a client list / network map that accurately resolves everything

Cons
Lousy 2.4 Ghz transmission speed, even though the link rate was very high and signal was good. The best I could muster was 6 Mbps down / 9 up where I average 110+/10+ wired or 5Ghz. I tried all the tricks using several clients. Funny thing is unlike one of the reviews I read this is the first router I've had that defaulted to and stayed on 40 Mhz.
Poor simultaneous throughput – two computers side-by side on 5Ghz AC with very high link rates (one using WUMC710 the other Intel AC 7260) and running a speed test on one would cause the other to lag horribly.

Final thoughts
I’ve got 20-25 wireless devices and 5-6 wired devices connected at any given time. I don’t care about storage performance or tons of features from a router just good solid wired/wireless network performance.

The 2.4Ghz performance wasn’t much worse than on Linksys EA6900 or Netgear R7000 (or any other handful of N and AC routers I’ve had) and 5Ghz seems to be on par across the board, but for now I am still getting the best overall performance from Asus RT-AC68U so that is what I am sticking with.

 

[thiggins]

kenrok1 thanks for the report. What are you using for 2.4 GHz devices?

 

[kenrok1]

kenrok1 thanks for the report. What are you using for 2.4 GHz devices?

2.4 Ghz only: iPhone 4s, Xbox360, Netgear WNCE2001
Dual Band, selected 2.4 Ghz: iPad Air, Intel Wireless-N 7260*

*not the Wireless-AC 7260, kind of confusing since Intel chose to use the 7260 for both

 

[thiggins]

2.4 Ghz only: iPhone 4s, Xbox360, Netgear WNCE2001
Dual Band, selected 2.4 Ghz: iPad Air, Intel Wireless-N 7260*

*not the Wireless-AC 7260, kind of confusing since Intel chose to use the 7260 for both

Thanks. How are you measuring throughput. And are any of the devices more troublesome than others?

I will be testing interoperability next with N and AC devices.

 

[speedingcheetah]

Another review with which to compare:

http://www.cnet.com/products/linksys-wrt1900ac-wireless-router/

I can't stand that guy in the video. Can't understand a word he says. Why did CNET hire that guy...he is so annoying.

Anyway, finally, least one review points out the mis-categorization issue that Linksys newer "smart wifi" firmware has. DDNS and port forwarding setting under Security...really. When I first used it in the EA2700(?) totally confusing.

 

[kenrok1]

Thanks. How are you measuring throughput. And are any of the devices more troublesome than others?

I will be testing interoperability next with N and AC devices.

Mostly through Ookla or response times in games. I have 4 IP cameras that are connected to the WNCE2001's and an NVR wired to router, the NVR shows the stream from each in Kbps

No I cant really say any of the devices were more troublesome it was pretty equal. WNCE2001's may have a slight advantage, but I'm not comparing the same.

 

[m00n22]

Is there a way yo see what connection speeds (G/N/AC/54/130/300) your wireless and wired (100/1000) devices are connected?

 

[thiggins]

Is there a way yo see what connection speeds (G/N/AC/54/130/300) your wireless and wired (100/1000) devices are connected?

Not that I have run across. The information is not available in the Network Map.

 

[speedingcheetah]

Is there a way yo see what connection speeds (G/N/AC/54/130/300) your wireless and wired (100/1000) devices are connected?

You can check on the client side, via the OS Network properties (or there are network monitoring software you can get) or a an app if it is a smartphone etc.

 

[hewligun]

anyone know if bestbuys website is current stock? I see its not available at the 2 local best buys. Been checking all week. Was hoping they would have got a new shipment.

 

[KGB7]

anyone know if bestbuys website is current stock? I see its not available at the 2 local best buys. Been checking all week. Was hoping they would have got a new shipment.

In late 1800s, several people invented a wonderful communication device that is still used to this day.

When I was a young man, many years ago when there was no internet or emails, people across the globe used this invention to communicate with other people from vast distance. It has 10 numbers on it, a pound and a star buttons. Over time it became wireless and later on it became cellular. Now days its VoIP based, yet works just as well or better.

 

[hewligun]

In late 1800s, several people invented a wonderful communication device that is still used to this day.

When I was a young man, many years ago when there was no internet or emails, people across the globe used this invention to communicate with other people from vast distance. It has 10 numbers on it, a pound and a star buttons. Over time it became wireless and later on it became cellular. Now days its VoIP based, yet works just as well or better.

I take it you have never called best buy. They dont answer the phone. I like the cheeky response though.

 

[KGB7]

I take it you have never called best buy. They dont answer the phone. I like the cheeky response though.

Many many years ago, a man invented a wheel that was later attached to a carriage.....



I rarely have issues calling my local best buys. Its takes a few tries though.

 

[kenrok1]

anyone know if bestbuys website is current stock? I see its not available at the 2 local best buys. Been checking all week. Was hoping they would have got a new shipment.

Hi - I'll try to answer your question without the rhetoric ... Yes BestBuy stock online is relative to what's in the store. If they do have in stock you can order online and pickup in store same day ~ otherwise they are out. If you put in zip you should be able to broaden your search and see what the next closest stores are with stock.

Back to the router - you mentioned you've been through the RT-AC68 and the R7000 and had problems with both. I have too but found the Asus the better of the bunch. Not sure what features are most important to you but I've never used any of the sharing (drives or printers) since I have dedicated NAS and network printers. I had high hopes for the WRT1900AC but it kind of falls down on the 2.4ghz. One thing I noticed is the Marvell SoC is the same my Synology NAS uses and that maybe why the drive performance is so good. I just wish they has better radios.

 

[thiggins]

Hi guys,

I removed some of the Best Buy related posts to keep the thread tidy. Please try to stay on topic.

If you want to discuss availability, please start another thread. I'll be happy to move the removed posts to it.

Thanks