Cisco Linksys E3200 High Performance Dual-Band N Router

You know that router you have been putting off buying for a friend or relative because you know you'll be called in to troubleshoot after the recipient becomes lost in the tricky setup process? Consider the Cisco Linksys E3200 High Performance Dual-Band N Router. It has a flawless setup process that's so simple just about anyone can manage.

Cisco Linksys has come close to perfecting the art of router setup with the E3200. We saw the genesis of Cisco's Easy Connect setup process when the Cisco Valet Plus debuted almost two years ago. The Valet delivered a setup process unprecedented in its ease?yet there were still some issues with the Cisco Connect software, (a conflict using both Cisco Connect and the router's Web-based management console was the most problematic). Cisco Linksys has worked out the kinks with the E3200.

Besides giving an effortless setup, the E3200 delivers good throughput, and it retains a signal well at longer distances. I found only two issues that caused concern in my testing of the E3200. First, it felt quite warm to the touch after running overnight. Second, although it's almost identical in specs to its predecessor, the Cisco Linksys E3000 High Performance Wireless-N Router, the E3200 didn't match the E3000's excellent 5-GHz band speed. The E3200 bests the E3000 in setup and software, however and it has excellent throughput at 2.4 GHz.

Listing for $160 (although, as with many routers, it can be found cheaper online), the E3200 is a simultaneous dual-band router with 6 internal 2x3 antennas, the same antenna configuration as the E3000 model.? The E3200 features four Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports, and a USB port that can be used to connect a printer or a storage device for NAS functionality.

The E3200 has the flattened, elongated shape of Cisco Linksys's newer E-series single-band routers like the E1200 and the E1550. It's an unusual design for a Cisco Linksys dual-band, since most of the Cisco Linksys dual-band routers are larger with a design reminiscent of a flat space ship.

Setup

The E3200's setup is incredibly simple?it takes only seconds and just a few steps. You double-click open the bundled CD that ships with the router and accept the license terms in the window that opens. The software then checks for latest software, which will be futile for most users, since they won't have Internet at this point. Setup also does not require a wired computer connection. My laptop that ran the setup CD was automatically connected to the router without requiring me to do a thing.

The software details how to properly connect the router with clear, easy-to-follow graphics. One click more and the router automatically gets configured with an SSID, security, and passphrase which is displayed on screen that you can copy and paste in a document.

Finally, the software re-checks for firmware updates which you can apply right on the spot or the next time you open the Cisco Connect software.

Setup is easy and elegant. Except in specific cases of hardware failure or broadband issues, I cannot imagine a majority of users having problems. All that's required is the ability to follow a few simple instructions. Cisco Linksys has hands-down, the best router setup on the market.

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