Cisco Linksys EA2700
A prime candidate to replace a Virgin
Media router, but flaky 5GHz performance stops us recommending it
If you’re looking for better performance
than your Virgin Media-supplied cable router, your first port of call may be a
budget, dual-band product such as the Cisco EA2700. For only $134, it offers
concurrent dual-band wireless, and both bands can operate at up to 300Mbits/sec.
Cisco
Linksys EA2700
Cisco’s new app-centric approach to its
routers is evident. Instead of the text-heavy Linksys web UI, the EA2700
displays a user-friendly dashboard when you first log on, allowing you to view
the router’s status via a selection of large modules in the center of the
screen. The settings are accessed via a short series of links on the left-hand
side, and the front-end can be customized by replacing modules, or dragging
them to new positions.
It looks nice, but the features accessed
via these modules are a mixed bunch. The parental controls allow you to block
devices at particular times and blacklist sites, but there’s no category-based
filtering. The QoS tool is better, allowing prioritization of services and
network-connected devices via a simple drag-and-drop interface. The guest
access module merely allows you to change the username and password, offering
no control over what guests can access.
Cisco Linksys’ Smart Wi-Fi (formerly
Connect Cloud) technology is more useful. Like D-Link’s mydlink service, the
EA2700 can be linked to an online account that allows you to manage the router
remotely, without requiring a static IP address from your ISP or having to set
up DDNS. It also allows you to manage the router via iOS and Android apps, and
add advanced features, such as category-based website filtering, via the 69p
Block the Bad Stuff app.
Alas, all the good work is undone in the
performance tests. Over 2.4GHz, the EA2700 achieved 14MB/sec at close range and
5.5MB/sec over distance. Problems started to occur, however, when we attempted
to test over 5GHz. At close range, the router froze every time we attempted to
transfer files from and to our test laptop. At long range, the signal wasn’t
strong enough to even attempt the same test. Disappointingly, there’s also no
USB socket for sharing storage.
The
EA2700 makes a good first impression with its innovative and easy-to-use UI and
app management
The EA2700 makes a good first impression
with its innovative and easy-to-use UI and app management; the price is right,
and 2.4GHz performance is excellent. However, its flakiness over 5GHz means we
can’t recommend it.
Cisco Linksys EA2700 specs
Pricing
·
Part code: EA2700-UK
·
Price: $112 ($134)
·
Supplier: www.broadband
·
buyer.co.uk
·
Dimensions inc antennae (WDH): 173 x189 x 29mm
·
Warranty: 2yr RTB
Core specifications
·
Internet connection type: Cable
·
Dual band (2.4GHz/5GHz): yes
·
Concurrent dual band: yes
·
Wireless standards: 802.11 abgn
·
Maximum throughput (2.4GHz/5GHz):
300/300Mbits/sec
·
40MHz channels (2.4GHz/5GHz)
·
Gigabit Ethernet ports: 4
·
10/100 Ethernetports : no
·
USB ports (device support type): no
·
Security and parental controls
·
Security types: WEP, WPA (personal, enterprise),
WPA2 (personal, enterprise)
·
Web content filtering: no
·
URL whitelisting: no
·
URL blacklisting: yes
·
Schedule-restricted internet access: yes
·
WPS button/router PIN/device PIN support
Other
- IPv6 support S(with 6rd)
- Wireless repeater functions: no
- Wireless on/off switch : no
- Power switch: yes
- User-configurable QoS: yes
- Media server: N/A
- Torrent server: N/A
- Storage format support: N/A
- Guest network: yes
- Android/iOS app: yes
- Extendability via apps: yes
- Online firmware updating: yes
Measured average speeds (MB/sec)
- 2.4GHz short range: 14
- 5GHz short range: FTC
- 802.11ac short range: N/A
- 2.4GHz long range: 5.5
- 5GHz long range: FTC
- USB speed (wired): N/A
·
ADSL download (wired): N/A
D-Link DIR-845L
Unusually shaped, with plenty of
handy features, but performance is mediocre
Of all the routers in this Labs, the D-Link
DIR-845L has the most startling appearance. Its cylindrical design, with all
the ports running up the spine at the rear, makes this one of the neatest, most
living-room-friendly routers around.
Alas, the innovation ends there. It’s a
cable-only router with no ADSL support, and its top theoretical speed is
300Mbits/sec; to eke out the most speed from a 5GHz 802.11n connection you need
to be looking for a top speed of 450Mbits/sec.
D-Link
DIR-845L
Despite what the marketing material says
about the DIR-845L’s SmartBeam technology, which allegedly focuses the signal
in the direction of devices, our tests recorded middling performance. At close
range, average file-transfer speed topped out at 14.6MB/sec over 5GHz, falling
to 8.1MB/sec over 2.4GHz. In our long-range test, it scored a relatively better
4.9MB/sec over 2.4GHz, but failed to maintain a reliable enough connection over
5GHz to run our tests.
The DIR-845L doesn’t lack any major
features. It has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB socket for sharing storage
and, although we aren’t huge fans of the text-heavy design, the router’s
web-based UI offers plenty of power tools.
You can set up and manage an OpenDNS-based
website category filtering system, directly from the parental controls section.
It also offers the option to track and view a history of the websites visited
by each connected device.
There’s wireless repeater support, guest
network facilities, and the ability to manage the router remotely via the
mydlink service. The latter, via an app or the website, allows you to control
basic settings, such as switching the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks on and off,
viewing the IP address, and live traffic throughput. It can also send email
alerts when new devices connect to the network, fail to connect, or new
firmware is available, and you can take action to block specific devices.
There’s
wireless repeater support, guest network facilities, and the ability to manage
the router remotely via the mydlink service
The D-Link DIR-845L offers a handsome set
of features at a tempting price for cable users, but middle-of-the-road
performance sees it stumble in the category that matters the most.
D-Link DIR-845L specs
Pricing
·
Part code: DIR-845L/B
·
Price : $121
·
Supplier: www.broadband,
buyer.co.uk
·
Dimensions inc antennae (WDH): 95x119x 190mm
·
Warranty: 1 yr RTB
Core specifications
·
Internet connection type: Cable
·
Dual band (2.4GHz/5GHz): yes
·
Concurrent dual band: yes
·
Wireless standards: 802.11 abgn
·
Maximum throughput (2.4GHz/5GHz):
300/300Mbits/sec
·
40MHz channels (2.4GHz/5GHz)
·
Gigabit Ethernet ports: 4
·
10/100 Ethernetports: no
·
USB ports (device support type): 1 (storage)
·
Security and parental controls
·
Security types: WEP, WPA (personal, enterprise),
WPA2 (personal, enterprise)
·
Web content filtering (via OpenDNS)
·
URL whitelisting: yes
·
URL blacklisting: yes
·
Schedule-restricted internet access: yes
·
WPS button/router PIN/device PIN support: yes/
no / yes
Other
·
IPv6 support: yes
·
Wireless repeater functions: yes
·
Wireless on/off switch: no
·
Power switch: yes
·
User-configurable QoS: yes
·
Media server: yes
·
Torrent server: no
·
Storage format support: FAT32, NTFS
·
Guest network: yes
·
Android/iOS app: yes
·
Extendability via apps: no
·
Online firmware updating: yes
Measured average speeds (MB/sec)
·
2.4GHz short range: 8.1
·
5GHz short range: 14.6
·
802.11ac short range: N/A
·
2.4GHz long range: 4.9
·
5GHz long range: FTC
·
USB speed (wired): 7.1
·
ADSL download (wired): N/A
