Cisco Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 router
Manufacturer: Cisco Part number: E4200V2
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Linksys E4200 v2 makes a great upgrade to the original version and an excellent investment for those who need a fast, feature-rich, advanced, yet easy-to-use router for the home or even a small business.
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CNET editors' review
Cisco Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 router price range: $99.99 - $288.52
- Reviewed by: Dong Ngo
- Reviewed on: 12/12/2011
The good: Cisco Systems' Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 router offers true dual-band with concurrent 450Mbps, Gigabit Ethernet, excellent storage and 5GHz wireless throughput, and a nice set of networking features. The router looks good and includes Cisco Connect, an intuitive software application that helps home users set up and manage a home wireless network with ease.
The bad: The Linksys E4200 v2's range throughput speed on the 2.4GHz band could be better. The included desktop application can't be used to manage all of the router's settings, doesn't work well with the Web interface, and requires a live Internet connection for the initial setup.
The bottom line: The Linksys E4200 v2 makes a great upgrade to the original version and an excellent investment for those who need a fast, feature-rich, advanced, yet easy-to-use router for the home or even a small business.
User reviews
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Firmware bugs really cripple the router.
by mb822 on March 11, 2012
Pros: Awesome hardware.
Cons: Firmware. This firmware is so buggy, just go to the community support site at Cisco's website, you'll be pretty amazed at some of the simple, yet very crippling, bugs that made it through.
Summary: The hardware specs of this router are awesome. However, the firmware cripples it. There are some pretty fundamental bugs that made it through, which still, after 100+ days since the ...
Summary: The hardware specs of this router are awesome. However, the firmware cripples it. There are some pretty fundamental bugs that made it through, which still, after 100+ days since the last update, still affect the router. Go to the community support site and you'll see nothing but silly issues with the router. I've been fortunate that none of the bugs have been show-stoppers for me, but I wouldn't recommend this router with its current firmware (2.0.36 as of the time of this writing).
Cisco switched to a Marvell chipset on the v2, which means that you can't load any solid 3rd-party firmware to address the stock's shortfalls. With this, you would hope that more substantial firmware updates would come through, or at least more often. The routers of some of the others in this price range have undergone quite a few updates which have fixed many issues they experienced. Yet this router, as a flagship of the E-Series, still has a lot of problems.
My final point is that, for some unexplained reason, Cisco has removed functionality that was there in other flagship routers. I'm coming from a WRT610N to this, and I still can't understand how the parental controls are so much weaker than on my previous router. Also, the advanced wireless settings have been removed. In addition to fixing the bugs in the firmware, it's really getting hard to stick with firmware that doesn't feel like it offers any additional value, things like bandwidth monitoring and so forth.
If you're going to go with the e4200, definitely get your hands on the v1 so you can load decent firmware on it. If you get the v2, you'll have buggy firmware, and it doesn't seem like there will ever be a way to get around the lack of updates and fixes, due to the Marvell chipset. It's awesome on paper, and the hardware is there, but being stuck with sub-par firmware is really quite unfortunate.5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good speed and range... but don't expect anything more.
by Renegade_Raul on April 30, 2012
Pros: - Excellent data speeds (although I think the included speed test software exaggerates it)
- Nice looking
- Seemed pretty reliable (no dropped connections in my brief experience)
- Very good range even through several walls speed remained pretty goodCons: - At this price range I was expecting more, my previous router cost me $50! and worked well.
- VERY few external hard drives are compatible! Make sure you google to see if your HD will work.
- Problematic setup.
- Tech Support wasn't very helpful.Summary: I was leaning towards the Airport Extreme but this router had better reviews from cnet. Setup was problematic it just didn't go smoothly (Never had any problems with any ...
Summary: I was leaning towards the Airport Extreme but this router had better reviews from cnet. Setup was problematic it just didn't go smoothly (Never had any problems with any previous routers). After all was said and done, the signal was strong and fast BUT I cant stand behind this price. Specially since I cant use it with my WD MyBook HD. At this price point everything should work spectacularly right out of the box! I didn't want to sound like an Apple Fanboy but I will be exchanging it for the Airport Extreme. Apple has always been straightforward, no caveats. And im sure it will work well with my Macbook and my HFS+ formatted external hard drive.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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USB NAS sounds better than it really is
by Reni Perez on April 4, 2012
Pros: Easy setup off CD software
Good speed on both 2/5 Ghz bands
Fast USB with flash driveCons: Pricey
USB NAS slows down or stops depending on drive size and number of files
Occasional drop outs in wireless signalSummary: I wanted to upgrade from a G router since I now own an iPhone and iPad which use N-wireless plus was looking to connect a USB drive for use as ...
Summary: I wanted to upgrade from a G router since I now own an iPhone and iPad which use N-wireless plus was looking to connect a USB drive for use as a NAS drive. The setup was very easy using the included CD and the connections strength to all my devices is strong though I have experienced a couple of periods where there is no wireless activity and then it comes on after a while.
In addition, CNET gave the USB to NAS speed on the Linksys E4200 V2 great marks but in my trying to connect a Western Digital 2TB drive via a USB enclosure to the E4200V2 router, I found that it worked fine and fast when it had a few files on it but once I copied 1.5 GB of movies and music to the drive and tried it, Windows 7 gave me an error message on trying to access the drive. After a couple of hours with Cisco support, I learned that the USB connection is limited to 2TB and to the number of files and folders which I had exceeded. So one main reason for buying this router over a less expensive one, became pointless. I may return the router for a Netgear or ASUS and buy a separate NAS box.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Fantastic router!
by darrylx on May 16, 2012
Pros: This router works great for me! Believe it or not, I have it housed in the basement under the stairs, and wi-fi reception is still incredibly strong two floors up. Set-up was easy and mobile app is useful and beneficial for network identification.
Cons: The interface for the external option (ftp, networking,etc.)is somewhat confusing; but, I have to admit this is the first time I have tried to use such an option.
Summary: Overall, it is an incredibly powerful router that would be a plus to have for common use or if one is proficient with networking to take advantage of all of ...
Summary: Overall, it is an incredibly powerful router that would be a plus to have for common use or if one is proficient with networking to take advantage of all of the options.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy to setup and use, fast wireless, solid reliability
by NaranKPatel on March 27, 2012
Pros: Easy Setup
High Speed on Wireless/Wired
Software is simple use & setup first time users
Expert Mode expanded
Solid reliability, no reboots or disconnects
Good speed on both 2/5 Ghz bands
Got a working Ipv6 setup now, including firewall settingsCons: A Little Pricey
Needs more services out of the box1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Have not run into any problems.
by santosomar2 on March 16, 2012
Pros: It is a lot faster than the E3000... not sure about the previous E4200, since I have never used it.. But definitely faster than the E3000.
Fast and easy to configureCons: I was expecting the price to be the same or just a little higher than the E4200v1...
Summary: Overall, is probably the fastest router in the market and so far has had a good experience with it. I stream a LOT of video in the house and share ...
Summary: Overall, is probably the fastest router in the market and so far has had a good experience with it. I stream a LOT of video in the house and share a LOT of large files, and the kids play a lot of games at the same time.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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V2 nearly identical in performance to V1
by LGmbrider on January 19, 2012
Pros: V1 very good router
Cons: V1 better value unless NSA USB storage speed is important.
Summary: V2 nearly the same as V1.
The only real performance improvement the V2 provides is about twice the speed of the V1 for sharing a USB drive. 20 MB/s ...Summary: V2 nearly the same as V1.
The only real performance improvement the V2 provides is about twice the speed of the V1 for sharing a USB drive. 20 MB/s is actually pretty good, especially when you consider that's using an NTFS-formatted drive. If that, plus three-stream N on the 2.4 GHz band, is worth $20 to you, then by all means go for the E4200V2.
Good performance review: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/31651-cisco-linksys-e4200v2-dual-band-n900-router-reviewed?start=41 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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10% of the speed of my old Linksys WRT54G
by russpalmeri on May 8, 2012
Pros: It looks nice. Yep. That's it for the pros ...
Well, OK, the tech support is great, but see below.Cons: It gave 10% the speed of my old WRT54G. A direct to router connection 10 MBps, WRT54G wireless 5MBps, E>4200v2 0.39 - 1 MBps. This after an hour rejigging the router setting with tech support!
Summary: You may have a different experience, but this was a big loser for me. Thanks, Amazon, for your return policy. For $200 it should work out of the box. This ...
Summary: You may have a different experience, but this was a big loser for me. Thanks, Amazon, for your return policy. For $200 it should work out of the box. This one hardly worked at all, even with a nearly complete change of settings.
Save your money and get something else.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wish I could return it.
by MarkHBenoit on April 4, 2013
Pros: It is very easy to set up and it does offer many great features.
Cons: Not much good to say. It freezes all the time. I get crazy lag when using wifi. Which I could return it.
Summary: Even after updating the firmware many times I am constantly facing a router that freezes up. Completely dead. I have to leave it unplugged for 10+ minutes to even have ...
Summary: Even after updating the firmware many times I am constantly facing a router that freezes up. Completely dead. I have to leave it unplugged for 10+ minutes to even have a shot of it booting up properly. Not getting much in the way of help from service either. Also, I am gamer and I have found that in order to prevent lag that I need to be hard wired to the router. Using Wifi just isn't cutting. I get so much lag that I just have to shut the game down.
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Awful product and support, to be avoided at all cost.
by boazsal on February 26, 2013
Pros: Packaging was nice.
Cons: Everything else about the product was awful.
Summary: Product broke down out of the blue one month after the warranty expired. Cisco tech support was useless essentially telling me "there's nothing we can do" for 45 minutes. ...
Summary: Product broke down out of the blue one month after the warranty expired. Cisco tech support was useless essentially telling me "there's nothing we can do" for 45 minutes. Would recommend staying away.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Part number: E4200V2
- Description: The Linksys E4200v2 offers leading wireless speeds for fast video and music streaming. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, and other Wi-Fi devices at transfer rates up to 450 + 450 Mbps speed for a premium home network experience. Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, the Linksys E4200v2 offers maximum range to create a powerful wireless network. Full 3 x 3 MIMO antenna array boosts signal strength to provide exceptional coverage and reliability so you can enjoy your wireless network from anywhere in your home.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Device Type Wireless router - 4-port switch (integrated)
- Enclosure Type Desktop
- Connectivity Technology Wireless ,
Wired - Data Link Protocol Ethernet,
Fast Ethernet,
Gigabit Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11a,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
IEEE 802.11n - Frequency Band 2.4 GHz,
5 GHz - Data Transfer Rate 450 Mbps
- Network / Transport Protocol IPSec ,
L2TP ,
NAT - Remote Management Protocol HTTP,
HTTPS - Encryption Algorithm WPA2
- Features MIMO technology ,
IPv6 support ,
Firewall protection ,
Quality of Service (QoS) ,
UPnP Media Server ,
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) - Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11n ,
UPnP - Built-in Devices LED panel
- Status Indicators Power
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces LAN : 4 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45,
Hi-Speed USB : 1 x 4 pin USB Type A,
WAN : 1 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 Networking
- Networking type Wireless router
Antenna
- Antenna Internal integrated
- Antenna Qty 6
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Miscellaneous
- Cables (Details) 1 x Network cable
Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Drivers & Utilities|Cisco Connect
- OS Required Microsoft Windows 7,
Apple MacOS X 10.5,
Microsoft Windows XP SP3,
Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 or later,
Apple MacOS X 10.6 Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Cisco products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Cisco
- Address:
170 W. Tasman Dr.
San Jose, CA 95134 - Phone: 800-553-6387
- Email: tac@cisco.com


