Linksys E5350 Router: An Overview

The Linksys E5350 router, which we are reviewing, is positioned in the budget segment. The price of the router is $ 30. An ordinary network device with all the functionality on board for home use. We have a long-standing love with the Linksys brand. This is a technique that can be tweaked once and hidden out of sight. The router does not need rebooting or other manual manipulations.

Linksys E5350 Router Features Overview

 

Router model	Linksys E5350 (AC1000)
WAN	RJ-45 1 × 10/100
LAN	RJ-45 4 × 10/100
Wi-Fi standard	802.11b / g / a / n / ac, Dual Band 300 + 700 Mbps
Ranges	2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
Antennas	Yes, 2 pieces, external, non-removable
Dimensions, weight	170 x 112 x 33 mm, 174 grams
The presence of a firewall	Yes, SPI software
Encryption	128-bit WEP 64-bit WEP WPA2-Enterprise WPA2-PSK
WPS	Yes
Bridge mode	Yes
USB	No
NAT	Yes
DHCP server	Yes
DMZ	Yes
VPN	Yes
fTP Server	No
Management and monitoring	WEB interface only
Price	$30

 

Of all the technologies and functionality in demand, for complete happiness, there is not enough USB port. Although, having life experience in setting up routers for people at home, it can be noted that no one needs it. For the budget segment, this is a very remarkable router in terms of technical characteristics.

 

Linksys E5350 router review: first acquaintance

 

An ordinary cardboard box contains a standard set for budget-class network equipment:

 

• Router.
• Power supply unit with cable (one-piece).
• Patch cord 100 cm, clips not in molded braid, UTP
• CD with instructions.
• An instruction book for setting up a router.

The router case is completely plastic. It is matte to the touch, does not collect fingerprints. I really liked that the bottom and sides of the entire Linksys E5350 router is like a sieve. A well thought out cooling system will completely eliminate overheating of the electronics. On the bottom there are wide legs made of soft material. But all the same, the router slides on the smooth surface of the table. There are also mounts for fixing the router to the wall, for example. There are no screws included.

The advantages of the Linksys E5350 router can be added to the complete absence of LEDs on the front panel. You can put it safely on your desktop - it won't shine in your eyes. There are indicators only on the rear panel - they highlight the links. The power cable is not loose in the socket. There is a toggle switch on the case to turn on the router.

 

Linksys E5350 first launch and excitement

 

When we first turned it on, once again, we made sure that the American brand Cisco is vigilantly following the development of its subsidiary Linksys. Everything is automated. A child and an elderly person can handle the device:

• In the WAN (socket with the inscription Internet) you need to insert a cable from the provider.
• In any LAN port (1, 2, 3 or 4) the cable is out of the box with one end. The other end is to the network card of the PC or laptop.
• The power cable is connected and the toggle switch is moved to the on position "I".
• A browser opens on the screen of a PC or laptop, and the Linksys E5350 Assistant prompts you to complete the setup.
• You need to provide names and passwords for Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. And also, enter the administrator password.
• And that's all. All other security settings are already installed and running. You just need to wait a couple of minutes for the router to update the information and reboot.

 

And what to do if the router needs to be configured not by cable, but by air. Flip the Linksys E5350 over. The bottom panel shows the name of the router and the Wi-Fi password (factory settings). They just need to be entered for authorization.

 

Linksys E5350 router - impressions

 

For a state employee, network equipment is very cool. For 30 US dollars, the user gets a smart gadget with charged functionality for safe surfing on the Internet. And, importantly, there are no questions about the router during operation. It does not cut the speed, and under load (downloading torrents from 2 PCs) it does not freeze. Our Linksys E5350 router is working perfectly. A review of a piece of hardware of a cool American brand once again confirmed that you need to buy time-tested devices.

The reader will ask - what is the point of buying then routers at a price of $ 50 and above. It all depends on the need. For a home with a couple of entertainment devices, you don't need more. But there are users who have a server, file storage or streaming equipment installed at home. A more functional device is required to protect valuable information. Which is able to track activity from the outside, cut off attacks and notify the owner of unauthorized actions. For example, ASUS RT-AC66U B1 router has hardware FireWall AI Protect and built-in antivirus.