Known for its reliable performances and its portfolio of classic utility routers, Linksys has found its way as one of the major OEMs in the market. MR9000 is one of its popular models, which we are going to dive into today. How does it live up to the activity load of the modern-day household? Who is it made for? We will get into that nitty-gritty in this Linksys max stream AC3000 review.
Just before we start, let’s take a look into improvements that Linksys has made over its previous model. Using the same chipset as its predecessor, MR8300, Linksys has doubled the throughput capacity and the number of data streams on its primary 5GHz channel. Upgrades to the working memory (RAM) make it more feasible to tackle the increased load.
Our Top Recommendation for Linksys MR9000
- This Certified Refurbished product is manufacturer refurbished, shows limited or no wear, and includes all original accessories plus a 90-day warranty.
- Provides up to 3000 square feet of Wi-Fi coverage for 25 plus Wireless devices.
- Enjoy 4K HD streaming, gaming and more in high quality without buffering.
Table of Contents
Best Suited For
- Large homes
- Small Offices, Conference halls, convention centers
- Up to 30 devices
- Up to 10 individuals with multiple gadgets
| Product Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Linksys |
| Special Feature | WPS |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer |
| Frequency Band Class | Tri-Band |
| Color | Black |
| Control Method | App |
| Price | $83.00 |
| Wireless Standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Speeds | 400 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz) + 1733 Mbps (5GHz) |
| Range/Coverage | Up to 3000 Sq Ft |
| Processor | 716MHz Qualcomm IPQ4019 (Quad-Core) |
| RAM Memory | 512MB |
| Flash Memory | 256MB |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| Beamforming | Yes |
| QoS | Yes |
| Parental Controls | Yes |
| Mesh Technology | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa |
Pros & Cons of Linksys MR9000
Pros
- Tri-Band
- Mesh Technology
- Quad-core processor
- Works with Alexa
- MU-MIMO, Beamforming
Cons
- Bulky
- Limited customization
Linksys MR9000 Review
Having tested a few tri-band & gaming routers over the last few years, I was quickly in action for testing this Linksys router with a curated list of challenging tasks and varying data loads.
In this review of Linksys MR9000, we will see how the router performed and handled the load of a household over a week. I have used a combination of 2 smart TVs, an XBOX, a wired Desktop, an HP laptop, and a dozen of mobile gadgets, including smartphones, tablets, etc.
Speeds & Performance
This tri-band router comes with individual top speeds of 400 Mbps on 2.4GHz, 867 Mbps on its secondary 5GHz band, and 1733 Mbps on its primary 5GHz channel. This leaves a total of 3Gbps of aggregate speeds and a total of 8 data streams for a large household to share.
For testing this router, I used the 500Mbps internet package of the Verizon FiOS. The iPad connected to the primary 5GHz band clocked download speeds north of 400 Mbps, even while I was standing as much as 10ft away from the router. While this was not the fastest router I have tested, the download speeds were impressive for a WiFi-5-based device.
While I was in my front yard, at approximately 50ft away from the router while maintaining line of sight, the router managed to deliver download speeds close to 100Mbps. I left the front door open while I was testing the device. The upload speeds were close to 250 Mbps in proximity and slowed down to 30 Mbps as I moved closer to the farthest end of the living room.
Coverage & Connectivity
The Linksys MR9000 range is 3000 Sq Ft, which makes it a reliable machine for large houses. It has four high-powered adjustable antennas surrounding its chassis. You’ll be able to place the router and focus the signals in a particular direction.
The Beamforming technology also ensured the signals were stronger on my first floor. The smart TV in one of the bedrooms on the first floor, right above the router, was able to stream a 4K video with no hassles. I was able to stream an HD-quality video on my iPhone in the front yard without buffering.
Credit to MU-MIMO technology, this device would easily handle close to 30 devices. Optimized communication makes sure you can access high speeds on multiple devices at the same time. To reduce the loss of bandwidth, you can connect your primary gadgets to the router via the 4 Ethernet ports. They can support up to 1 Gigabit speed.
The Linksys AC3000 router comes with a USB 3.0 port. You can choose to connect a printer or storage device or even a USB data dongle to the router and share it within the network. One doesn’t have to connect and reconnect devices every time they have to take a printout. This setup works well for a commercial setup/small offices with multiple PCs sharing the network.
Service Package Suitability
Linksys MR9000 Tri-Band WiFi router supports up to 1 Gigabit internet plan. Choosing the right package is contingent on the availability of your neighborhood and the number of devices in your household.
If you have multiple devices streaming videos at 4K quality, a gaming device, and a multitude of smartphones, then go for a 1Gbps connection. AT&T, Verizon FiOS, and Xfinity offer 1 Gigabit speed. Google Fiber has the cheapest 1Gig plan to date, but the services are limited to bigger cities.
If you are living with a bunch of working professionals who have nothing to do with gaming, you can settle down for a 500/600 Mbps internet connection. Cox internet plans offer download speeds of 500 Mbps. while AT&T and Verizon FiOS have similar plans with speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to 500 Mbps. Etc.
Security Features
This is one of the few areas where I felt Linksys offers limited customization and features. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to protect your network from unauthorized access with WPA 2 encryption standards. The support of VPN protocols and SPI firewalls keeps your data safe from any privacy threats.
There is no advanced protection with this router like its other competitors Netgear, TP-Link, or ASUS. The Linksys max stream AC3000 router has basic parental controls that allow you to have more control over limiting your kids’ consumption. Schedule and pause internet access, and block specific websites that you want the children to avoid.
Linksys MR9000 Setup
Download the Linksys WiFi app and switch on the Bluetooth for easy installation. The guided installation process takes you through steps. You’ll hardly face any trouble with the installations. The router starts with purple light, once the installation is complete with an active internet connection, the light turns to a stable blue.
Linksys Application is easy to handle. You can add devices to the network and apply parental control settings. You’ll also be able to prioritize the devices for optimal bandwidth utilization. Create guest networks and protect the home network and devices from any infection, just from the comfort of your mobile.
Even if you don’t prefer using a mobile application, Linksys allows you to set up and manage the router through its web- portal, allowing you to replicate the actions supported by its mobile app. The old-school network aficionados will be at home with its simple, uncomplicated interface.
Hardware & Internals
With four cores clocking at 716MHz, Linksys relies on the Qualcomm IPQ4019 chipset to withstand the loads of a large household. It complements the reliable CPU unit with a solid 512MB RAM and 256MB storage which is paramount to handling data-laden activities and multiple devices.
I had 2 smart TVs that were streaming FHD videos at the same time, there was no blip in the performance. The stress test doesn’t stop with that. I wired my Xbox to the router. And took it through a couple of online multi-player FIFA sessions and an episode of Last of us. The router cruised through it.
All these activities were carried out, while there were instances of video calling and web surfing. The Linksys AC3000 router survived the test with flying colors.
Design
Sporting its classic design, Linksys MR9000 comes in a highly ventilated black chassis measuring 8.4 x 6.3 x 2.12-inches. The glossy black panel in the center has an LED light indicating the working status. On the front side, you’ll see two of 4 huge antennas.
On the rear side, Linksys sticks to the staple design placing all its Ethernet ports, WAN ports, USB port, manual reset button, and power buttons. Right along the edge of each corner, you’ll find the other two antennas. They are positioned in a way to adjust the antennas in different angles and directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Linksys MR9000 is backed by solid performances in its primary 5GHz as a standalone router and as a part of a mesh system. Its easy compatibility with other velop mesh systems and other mesh routers saves you a lot of money during future upgrades.
The MR9000 can cover large surface areas up to 3000 square feet, which makes it ideal for large homes with a big front yard or backyard. Get the placement right and use the flexible, adjustable antennas to get the most out of its coverage.
The red light on the Linksys MR9000 means there is no active internet connection. It could be a planned service maintenance or Adhoc outage or service disruptions. You might have to check the wires connecting your router and modem for any damaged wires or loose connections.
The Linksys MR9000 can easily support over 25 devices. It includes your smart TV, gaming console, ring camera, video doorbell, garage mechanism, CCTV camera, desktop, laptop, tablets, and other mobile gadgets.
No, Linksys MR9000 doesn’t support OpenWRT yet. Its predecessor, MR8300, which comes with similar hardware, works with OpenWRT.
Verdict
While it’s not one of the ideal routers focused on gaming, it does survive through our sessions with ease. If you are looking for a reliable router with good coverage, either for your home or your office, there is hardly any reason to doubt the capacity of the Linksys MR9000. If you grab this router on offer, the value-for-money router becomes a steal.
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