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Hey, I'm Ryan from Technically Well and this is not a gigantic robotic spider. This
is the Linksys EA9500 wireless router.
The Linksys EA9500 is for people serious about streaming high definition video, including
4K streams. It features 8 high throughput antennas supporting WiFi speeds up to 5.3
gigabits per second. A dual-core processor helps the router keep up with multiple streams
at the same time. There are also 8 gigabit network ports on the back, as well as a USB
3.0 port and a USB 2.0 port.
Setting up the router is easy. You plug it into an outlet and your internet company's
modem, then power it up and connect to the WiFi network included in the manual. Open
a web browser and go to 192.168.1.1 to access the router's settings. Linksys has implemented
cloud control and a smartphone app, but if you're not interested in those features, just
click "No thanks" to setup the router locally.
The built-in web pages provide an easy-to-use interface to access the router's various settings.
The Network Map allows you to see the devices connected to your network, as well as your
friends who may be using the Guest Network.
The Guest Network allows you to create a separate WiFi hotspot for your friends and visitors,
without giving them access to files on your home network.
Parental controls allow you to disable WiFi during certain times, such as when your kids
should be doing their homework, and it also allows you to block certain websites.
Media Prioritization allows you to select which devices should have priority over other
devices, such as giving your work laptop priority over your Netflix device.
The Speed Test allows you to test your internet connection, to be sure you're getting the
full speed advertised by your internet provider. This router did reach the maximum speeds for
my internet service.
External Storage allows you to connect an external hard drive or flash drive, and then
share those files with all of the devices on your network. This is handy for storing
your photos and then viewing them no matter what device you're on.
The Settings area allows you to change the basic settings of your router, as well as
more advanced features for power users, such as VLANs.
The Wireless area allows you to change your WiFi name and password, as well as apply MAC
filtering so only the devices you want are allowed on your network.
And the Security tab allows you to control firewall settings, but you'll probably want
to leave these settings alone. However, if you're having trouble connecting to other
players in your online games, the router does allow you to setup port forwarding.
Now while this router provides a lot of power, it may be overkill for the average consumer.
The router uses about 16 watts while in use, and figuring the average electricity price
of 12 cents per kilo-watt-hour, this comes out to only about $17 per year to have this
on all the time. If you have a large home and need your WiFi to reach in more places,
this router will definitely do the trick. It's also ideal if you've cut the cord on
Cable TV and need to be able to stream Netflix and Hulu to multiple devices at the same time.
Overall, the Linksys EA9500 gives you lots of power, lightning fast speeds, and many
configuration options. And you know what that they say: a family who streams together, stays
together. Thanks for watching.