Linksys N300 Wi-Fi Wireless Router (E900)

We recently switched to a different internet provider who was able to hook us up with a way faster connection speed than what we had been using. But we had to buy a router in order to have wireless access since the new company doesn't provide their own. When the computer was hooked up directly with an ethernet cable our speed was clocking at least 30 Mbps and usually closer to 50 or 60. After reading up on the various brands of wireless router available, we went down to a brick and mortar store planning to buy this precise Linksys model. But they didn't currently have it in stock. Impatient to get wireless, we instead bought a seemingly comparable Netgear router from the store and hooked it up the next day. It seemed to work well enough at first and although it did reduce our speed significantly we had sort of expected this so no big deal.BUT within a day or two of use the Netgear device was dropping the internet connection about once every other day. Not a huge problem, we just reset the router and once it booted up again it worked fine for another day or two. But we had just been through this kind of dropped-connection drama with our previous internet provider and were not really as tolerant of it as we might have been. Besides which, the Netgear reduced our speed so far that actual downloading was only around 300 Kbps. So we researched again, saw this router with the tip in the comments about how to adjust the settings to boost the speed and performance and ultimately we decided that this really was the one we wanted and had from the beginning. So we went ahead and ordered it on Amazon and while waiting for it to arrive continued to use the Netgear, which continued to perform pretty much the same. Once the Linksys came we set it up and crossed our fingers. Sure enough, the Linksys was only giving us around 600 Kbps. But we went ahead and followed the directions given by another reviewer here and changed the settings. The directions were as follows:"Go to [...] and login to your router. If you've never done this, look for instructions that came with your router or do a google search to find the default username and password.Find a page that has QoS settings. For the E1200, you need to click on "Applications & Gaming" and select the "QoS" sub-menu. (It is the same for the E900 as well)Disable WMM Support.Click save."Once we did this the speed immediately went up to the 25 to 35 Mbps range and has stayed there since. No dropped connections, faster speed than we even expected, and the extra reassurance of knowing that if we do have a problem customer service will be available indefinitely, rather than having to pay for it after the first 90 days (as was the case with the Netgear router). We couldn't be happier with this router, it has made the internet a pleasure to use again and I just wish we had bought it in the first place!

Once I got this router set up, it worked perfectly and gives a great signal throughout my small (1000 sq. ft) apartment. I even notice that I pick up the signal a couple hundred feet before I get to the front door of my apartment when I am walking home. If the CD is giving you issues when you are attempting to set it up, set it up manually with an ethernet cord instead. I tried to use the included software but kept running in to problems. I thought I was going to have to return the router because it was incompatible with my setup or just faulty. It turns out that it was just the set up software, and once I attempted to set it up manually I got it working with absolutely no issues. All-in-all, a great value for the price if you're looking for a simple router for a small apartment or house.

This is an amazingly simple little router for a small home. I always choose to go with Linksys over the other brands because they just have a tendency to work more effectively for a longer period of time.PROS:Still has a lot of features in the firmware like Port Forwarding and triggering.Very simple set up.CONS:They still include a CD in it. I have multiple certifications in networking, and I can't get a router working with a CD....just plug it in and go to 192.168.1.1 in a web browser and set up your SSID and security that way.BEGINNERS TIP: When you start up a router, make sure your modem has been on for a few seconds. You want to run one Ethernet cable from your Internet source (Modem) to the INTERNET port of your router, one Ethernet cable from ANY numbered port on the router to your computer's Ethernet, and then power up your modem...wait a minute or two, then turn on your router. Then go to a web browser, open up 192.168.1.1, username is admin, password is admin...if admin doesn't work try password for the password; so either admin admin, or admin password. Under basic settings and basic security settings you should be able to find SSID and Security. The SSID is the broadcast name of your router, like when you look for a router at Starbucks it says "ATT Starbucks WIFI" you can make yours say whatever you want there. Then you can change your security. I suggest using a WPA/WPA2 Mixed, because some older devices do not play well with WPA2. I've even seen some later devices not like that type of security. Make your password something you know, and apply the settings. If you don't have Internet after that, go ahead and power cycle the modem and router...What does power cycling mean? I mean turn your modem and router off at their power sources. Turn your modem on, wait a minute, and then turn on your router. After a minute you can try to connect to the Internet again and it should work well. ALSO: This is a great tip for you if the router ever stops working, like you think its' broken....POWER CYCLE THEM!Short and Sweet: Great router for an apartment or small house!