Setup is easy. I use the browser instead of my phone. 22 instructions are explained in the attached quick guide: Once you have connected the router to your modem, in step 5 you will be asked to connect using the default WiFi name and password. Please note that you will not be able to access the Internet until the router setup is complete. complete. Step 6 will then ask you to enter the LinkSysSmartWifi.com link into your browser, i.e. online. Rule 22. You can get around this obvious danger by connecting your computer via Ethernet to one of the router's LAN ports, which then allows access to your browser. (You have an Ethernet cable and a computer with an Ethernet port, right? If your computer doesn't have an Ethernet port, make sure you have or purchased a USB-to-Ethernet adapter before starting this setup.)
I live in a 1,000 square foot bungalow, I'm not a gamer, I don't have major Wi-Fi needs, and my computer is a Wi-Fi 5 client, so this cheap little old router serves my needs well. I can't even increase the speed because I only pay for the 200Mbps download speed from my ISP. However, for these lenient requests, the router performed well, consistently hitting the ISP's throttling speed of 200Mbps.
The user manuals are terrible, but the online support articles are generally very clear and Google can find the answers easily.
So far I only have a few complaints about the router:
1: The four antennas are not fixed tightly and are easy to fall after installation.
Second: I can't find a way to disable "Remove Administrator Access", which is a major security risk.
There is a general Linksys article on enabling, but no article on disabling, and no article specific to the EA8100. Under the Connect > Administration interface for this router, there is a section called “Local Administration Access,” but I can't find any instructions on how it works and whether it can be used to disable remote access.
Third: There does not appear to be a way to restrict access to the router settings to the local IP address (192.168.1.1). Even if you enter this, you will be redirected to the Smart WiFi web page (another security risk). It appears that you were previously able to select local access when logging in to this site, but that option no longer exists. I thought there might be a way to restrict access to the router's settings interface by manually rebooting (resetting) the router and configuring it, but that's too much of a hassle for me.
I specifically chose this router because I don't want to buy a Chinese-made router (goodbye TP-Link), I don't need or want a Wifi-6 router, and I don't want to buy an Asus router that would require me to provide my personal information to Trend Micro to use With certain router settings/options. I was considering the Netgear R6700 router until I read a review on Amazon saying they had swapped chips etc. In later production runs, the model continues to be labeled as the same premium original router. suspecious. I was originally considering the Asus AC66u B1, but it's sold out everywhere and my old router will be scrapped soon, so I'm looking forward to waiting a few weeks for the router to arrive.
- 1600 square meters* space for more than 16 devices
- Wi-Fi speeds up to 1.9 Gbps
- Up to twice the speed of non-MU-MIMO routers
- Enjoy high-quality 4K HD streaming, gaming, and more without buffering
- Easy setup via the Linksys app