Linksys launch EA8500, their first MU-MIMO enabled router

Linksys has announced the launch of their first MU-MIMO enabled wireless 802.11ac router, the Max-Stream AC2600 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router (EA8500). When compared to current generation Wi-Fi, MU-MIMO can provide up to three times faster speeds and can attain up to 2.53Gbps Wi-Fi speeds (1733Mbps for 5GHz and 800Mbps for 2.4Ghz). The EA8500 router uses Qualcomm MU | EFX MU-MIMO technology and has built in 1.4GHz dual core CPU, four gigabit ports, a USB 3.0 port, a combo USB 2.0/eSATA port. EA8500 is availablea t retail and online retailers in USA and has MSRP of $279.99.

“MU-MIMO technology revolutionizes the wireless experience in the home,” said Mike Chen, vice president of product management, Linksys. “The average home has more than 8 devices connecting to the Internet, and they’re not used for just sending emails and tweets. We’re streaming movies and TV shows in high definition, we’re video chatting with our friends and family, and we’re playing video games against competitors around the globe, all on different devices and often at the same time. To have dedicated bandwidth for their devices simultaneously will enhance the users’ experience so they won’t see that buffering icon when streaming a movie or listening to choppy music or worse, playing games with lag. We are so confident in the experience that MU-MIMO provides that we will be expanding our product line in the future to include more MU-MIMO routers.”

“Qualcomm MU | EFX is designed to greatly improve Wi-Fi performance and consumers’ connected experiences,” said Gopi Sirineni, senior director of product management, Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. “Industry leaders like Linksys recognize the impact that MU-MIMO can have on home networks, and are delivering advanced products with the speed and efficiency to address the ever-increasing number of devices and high-bandwidth applications.”

Key Specification

• Operating Temperature:
  32 to 104 F (0 to 40 C)
• Operating Humidity:
  10 to 80% Noncondensing
• Max. Link Rate:
  1733 Mbps
• LEDs:
  Internet, Ethernet (1-4), Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Protected Setup, Power
• Network Standards:
  • IEEE 802.11a
  • IEEE 802.11b
  • IEEE 802.11g
  • IEEE 802.11n
  • IEEE 802.11ac
• Radio Frequency Bands:
  2.4 & 5GHz
• Storage Temperature:
  -4 to 140 F (-20 to 60 C)
• Ports:
  Power, Internet, Ethernet (1-4), USB 3.0, USB 2.0 / eSATA combo
• Buttons:
  Reset, Wi-Fi Protected Setup, Power

Package content

• Linksys AC2600 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router, EA8500
• Quick Start Guide
• 4 Detachable Antennas
• Ethernet Cable
• Power Adapter
• CD-ROM with Documentation

For more information and to purchase, visit the product page.