Linksys WRT3200 ACM WiFi Router Review

Introduction

Do you crave a blazing-fast and reliable home network that can keep up with your demanding online activities? Look no further than the Linksys WRT3200 ACM. This powerful router boasts an impressive array of features designed to deliver exceptional wireless performance for every device in your connected household.

Linksys WRT3200 ACM: Design and Performance

The WRT3200  packs a punch when it comes to both design and performance. Its compact size (9.68 x 7.63 x 2.04 inches) makes it easy to place discreetly in your home, while four high-powered antennas ensure expansive Wi-Fi coverage. This dual-band router delivers a combined speed of up to 3200 Mbps (600 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band and 2600 Mbps for the 5 GHz band), making it ideal for streaming 4K content, online gaming, and seamlessly connecting multiple devices. To further enhance speed, the WRT3200 supports 160 MHz channel width.

• On the back panel, you’ll find a versatile selection of ports, including one Gigabit WAN port for your internet connection, four Gigabit LAN ports for wired devices, and a USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 port for sharing storage and peripherals. The front panel features a row of LEDs that provide a quick and clear visual representation of the router’s status.
• Under the hood, a powerful 1.8 GHz dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM work together to ensure smooth operation, even under heavy network traffic. This combination allows the WRT3200ACM to handle demanding tasks efficiently, delivering exceptional data transfer rates for all your connected devices. Beamforming technology further enhances performance by focusing the wireless signal on your connected devices, while MU-MIMO ensures that multiple devices can achieve optimal speeds simultaneously.

Advance Features

 This router boasts OpenWrt and DD-WRT compatibility, granting you access to a vast library of customizable firmware options. This opens the door to a world of personalization, allowing you to tailor your network settings to fit your specific needs. For example, you can prioritize bandwidth for specific devices or applications. The WRT3200ACM also supports VPN services, adding an extra layer of security and privacy to your online activities. With its powerful hardware and open-source flexibility, this linksys wifi router puts you in complete control of your home Wi-Fi experience.

On the security front, the WRT3200 safeguards your connected devices with WPA2 encryption, helping to shield your network from unauthorized access. Additionally, guest network capabilities allow you to create a separate Wi-Fi network for visitors, keeping your primary network secure. Parental controls give you the power to manage your children’s internet access by restricting websites and scheduling internet access times. With these features and more, this router empowers you to create a robust, secure, and personalized home network experience.

Linksys WRT3200: A Real-World Performance Check

To evaluate the Linksys WRT3200ACM’s Wi-Fi coverage, I ran a series of tests throughout a typical home environment using an iphone 12. This smartphone boasts a maximum speed of 110 Mbps (155Mbps Theoretical) on the 2.4 GHz band and 710 Mbps (899Mbps Theoretical) on the 5 GHz band. The tests encompassed various locations, including close proximity to the router, the kitchen, a bedroom, the upstairs area, and finally, the backyard.

• Near the Router: Just a few feet away from the router.
• Kitchen: Approximately 30 feet from the router, with one intervening wall.
• Bedroom: Roughly 40 feet away, separated by two walls.
• Upstairs: Approximately 70 feet from the router, with two walls and a floor separating them.
• Backyard: Roughly 100 feet away from the router, outdoors.

Near the Router

Right next to the router (around 10 feet), I consistently achieved blazing-fast speeds exceeding 95 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and a staggering 580 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. This is a testament to the router’s raw power for close-range connections. The signal strength (RSSI) hovered around -45 for both bands, indicating an exceptionally strong connection. Streaming 4K content, downloading large files, and online gaming were all a breeze with no lag whatsoever.

Kitchen

Moving on to the kitchen, approximately 30 feet away, speeds remained impressive at over 70 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and a very respectable 400 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The signal strength stayed healthy, with RSSI readings around -52 for 2.4 GHz and -57 for 5 GHz. Streaming 4K content and downloading large files continued without any hiccups.

Bedroom

Both bedrooms presented a slightly different scenario. In Bedroom 1, with two walls separating it from the router, speeds dipped to around 45 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 240 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The signal strength remained decent, with RSSI readings of -58 for 2.4 GHz and -63 for 5 GHz. Streaming HD video and browsing the web were still smooth experiences.

Upstairs

Further away (around 70 feet), saw a more significant drop. Still, usable speeds of around 30 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 180 Mbps on the 5 GHz band were achievable. The signal strength dipped to a moderate -62 for 2.4 GHz and -68 for 5 GHz. While 4K streaming might not be ideal here, browsing the web and streaming SD video remained functional.

Backyard

The backyard test, at roughly 100 feet from the router and facing the outdoor environment, showcased the limitations of Wi-Fi range. Speeds dropped to around 15 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 50 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The signal strength reached a weak -65 for 2.4 GHz and -70 for 5 GHz. While basic web browsing might be possible, more demanding tasks would likely experience buffering and interruptions.