Linksys EA6350 Wi-Fi Wireless Dual-Band+ Router with Gigabit & USB Ports - (Renewed)

Before I begin the review, here's a little background on me and why my opinion on this device is worth listening to: I am a computer science guy who has set up networks for the US Department of Energy. I have a degree in networking, as well as various certifications. Suffice it to say, I am experienced with setting up networks - both on the enterprise and home level.I have a network of seven computers in my home, hard-wired via CAT6 cables, and I also have numerous other devices (Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, iPad Mini, etc.) connected via wireless. Since this is fairly complex for a home network, it's crucial to me that I have a solid router as the backbone of this setup. I previously had a Linksys wireless N router, which served me well for about two and a half years, but it finally died, so I decided to upgrade to wireless AC when purchasing a new router.The router itself is fairly standard fare as far as the actual hardware - you've got four gigabit LAN ports, one gigabit WAN port, and two non-removable (but adjustable) antennas on the back of the device. The antennas on the back of the router feel a little cheaper than I'd like, and I wouldn't want to adjust them frequently or place the router in an area where my toddler might play with the antennas. That said, if you're like me, you'll probably just adjust the antennas once and put the router somewhere relatively out of sight, so this shouldn't be a problem (and by itself shouldn't deter you from getting this otherwise excellent router). In addition, there is a USB 3.0 port on the router, allowing the user to easily add a fast NAS drive to their network. I didn't test the USB port, but it's nice to know it's there in case I ever wish to add more network storage to my home.Likewise, the router's software is pretty much exactly what you'd expect; if you've ever had a Linksys router before, you'll find essentially the same functionality here. The only way in which things are a bit different is where Linksys' new "smart router" interface is concerned. When you set the router up for the first time, you'll be asked to register the device with Linksys' website. Once you do this, you can access your router's configuration from anywhere by logging in to your account on the smart router site - even if you aren't connected to the network. It's a neat feature in theory, but if I'm being honest, I can't imagine more than one or two scenarios where you'd ever have reason to do this. For 99% of users of this router (or any other Linksys router with the smart router functionality), this will be nothing more than a pointless gimmick. Of course, you aren't obligated to ever use it, so it's not hurting anything.The router works fantastically once set up, and has both excellent range and terrific speeds. This is a dual-band router, and by default is configured to broadcast two networks at once - one network for legacy devices (using wireless G, for example) and another network for your shiny new iPhone, iMac, or gaming laptop with a wireless AC chip.Speaking of devices with a wireless AC card, using them with this router is a treat if you are lucky enough to own such a device. I frequently stream full HD video from my media center iMac (connected to the router via CAT6) to my iPhone 6 (connected via wireless AC), and the connection is almost shockingly fast. A full HD stream starts within seconds, and only pauses to buffer very rarely - and even then, only when there is heavy activity from other wireless devices on the network.Finally, it's worth knowing that this is indeed a refurbished router. I originally intended to buy a new router of the exact same model I'm reviewing here, but the savings offered by buying a refurbished model were too tempting for me to resist. The refurbished unit I received was in excellent condition, and came with an insert containing the default network name as well as the default username and password to configure the router. The device appeared to have been cleaned, and was in great shape - even with new protective plastic applied. It really looked like new, and I was very impressed. The warranty included with the refurbished router is only 90 days, but really, once you've set up the router and verified that it works, it's very unlikely that you'll suddenly develop any problems; routers tend to just work or not work. Also included in the box was a new networking cable (only CAT5e rather than CAT6, but for the majority of users, this won't matter) and a brief quick-start guide. I tend to stray away from buying refurbished or recertified products, but I am quite happy with my purchase of this router, especially since it was essentially half the cost of buying the same router brand new.The final word: if you're looking for a great router with the very latest networking technology (wireless AC), but don't want to spend a fortune investing in a top-of-the-line router, the Linksys EA6350 is an excellent option to consider.

Great deal on an AC router. This replaced a Linksys E2000 which was still working fine but outdated.Newer routers have simultaneous 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands, and the new AC standard. This router was a breeze to set up. All of my wired and wireless PC's, laptops, tablets, and phones connected to it without a hitch. Granted, I've only had it a couple of days, but very happy with it's performance. My cable modem delivers about 100-130 Mbps wired. I'm getting about 55+ Mbps in the same room and about 35+ all the way in my living across the house. Latency seems to be between 25-65 milliseconds.Built in router software has a wizard to guide you through the setup. Worked great and super easy to use. I switched all of my devices to the 5ghz band.Only negative I could find is that this shipped with an obsolete firmware. I'd have thought a refurbished product would be flashed to the latest one. I ran the update, and it's now on the latest version. No problem.You can spend $200 or more on AC routers, but unless you need every last scrap of speed, these basic AC models are a great bargain.UPDATE (5-17-16)I've had the router for several months now with little issue. I think I may have rebooted it twice in all that time. Signal is very reliable although for longer distances, I did switch back to the 2.4 GHz band for better performance. Not saying that others aren't having problems, but mine works great. I'll keep this until the next generation of routers comes out.

AC Band is amazing fast. Speeds were insane. But the signal is too low. Kind of makes it redundant to have all that speed but not enough coverage. The standard 2.5Ghz band had a better coverage area, but apparently runs slower than a standard N150. It was horrible. I loved the AC, but not every device in my home uses 5Ghz band, so for those things on the 2.5Ghz band, it was quite a downgrade from my previous router. Had to send it back.Other Thoughts:I tried hooking up a printer to the USB port. No dice. Hard drive? Yes. If all your devices are 5Ghz or AC compatible, this may work better for you, but be warned of the coverage issues. Then again with the new Wi-Fi standards "ad, ah, & af" announced, "ac" may become redundant.