– Today, we are going to take a look at the #Linksys Dual-Band #AC1200 WIFI 5 #Router (E5600). If you are looking for an entry level router with many of the features of more premium routers, you cannot go wrong with this one for general gaming, video streaming and web surfing. This content was sponsored by Linksys (http://www.linksys.com/) by Belkin International, Inc.

After unboxing, I simply had to connect an Ethernet line from the modem to the router and another from port one on the router to my computer. Once that was done, I plugged the router in and flipped the power switch on. After about a minute, the WIFI networks popped up on my computer. I connected to the 5GHz wireless network and followed the instructions for the web browser-based set up in the Quick Start Guide. Once I set my network and access information, I was tasked to upgrade the router’s firmware.

Once the firmware update was complete, I was taken to the System Status page in the browser. The router’s System Status page provides basic router information. There are some configuration options for network administration and routing as well as parental controls. However, the moment that you click on “Configuration,” the true amount of control is revealed. For an entry level router, there were a lot more administration settings than anticipated.

While you can more or less set it and forget it after the step where the firmware is updated, the ability to customize connections and routing can get deep. There is also plenty of security to protect the router from outside access, but I would like to see a few things better explained in the configuration. For example, in “Security->DMZ,” you can check mark DMZ and save it. If you are just playing with the settings and have no idea that DMZ does, you could inadvertently open someone’s computer to the Internet without protection. By the way, it means Demilitarized Zone and it is used in cases where the firewall prevents access to another server.

I like this router’s sleek black look. I have gotten so used to multiple antennas on a router that when I first saw this router’s box, I thought it was a modem. Watching the dimly lit blue lights blink as the router works surely beats the old days with the bright LEDs. Directly in front of me, on the top shelf of my desk in my office, the lights do not blind or distract me.

The connection to the Internet via both LAN and WIFI is easy. Web pages load quickly, downloads are fast and streaming video is as smooth as butter. If you are looking for an entry level router with many of the features of more premium routers, you cannot go wrong with this one for general gaming, video streaming and web surfing.

This is the part where we do a little bench marking. For a base, we will run a connection test via my cellular telephone via WIFI and another with the AC3000 router via LAN line. Afterward, we will perform a WIFI test and a LAN line test of the AC1200 with my PC. All connection tests will be a best a three average from my home to Everstream in Cleveland, OH using Speedtest by Ookla.

ROUTER (DEVICE): PING MS / DOWNLOAD / UPLOAD
AC3000 WIFI (Cell 5GHz): 46/4.66/11.6, 48/5.38/11.1, 47/5.27/10.9 =
AVG: 47/5.10/11.2

AC3000 LAN (Router): 34/5.4/12, 34/6.2/12, 34/6.4/11 =
AVG: 34/6.1/11.66

AC1200 WIFI (PC 5GHz): 47/3.53/11.31, 47/3.47/11.47, 47/5.01/11.53 =
AVG: 47/4.0/11.44

AC1200 LAN (PC): 46/4.29/11.12, 46/4.48/11.48, 46/4.17/11.34 =
AVG: 46/4.31/11.31

Due to the current national health situation, my bandwidth is not close to its 100 Mbps potential from prior. In the WIFI test, the AC1200 performed 22 percent slower on downloads, but three percent better in uploads and had the same ping. In the LAN test, the AC1200 was 29 percent slower on downloads, but only three percent slower on uploads and 26 percent slower ping. Accounting for a margin of error of five percent, The AC1200 is 17 to 21 percent slower than the AC3000 on downloads and even with the upload speed, despite a 21 percent variation in ping. Ping is the time it takes for the Internet connection to connect with the server.

Review on Linksys website: https://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-E5600#review/237108706