Linksys E1200 Vs Netgear N300- Which router performs better

Routers are primary to most network topologies because they help determine the best path that data can follow, and connect dissimilar networks.

The 21st century is also the digital era where technological advancements have become the order of the day, and routers haven’t been left behind in the technology wave. But the one good thing with routers is that you can even use them at home, the problem with mine however, is that it cannot be integrated with a smart home like with Alexa or Siri.

Well, this is quite a draw-back for me, because I would like to keep with the trend. Apart from that my ancient router also lacked the USB port, and kept dropping the internet. While there might be a way around these problems, I chose to settle with a new router that can suffice most if not all of my needs. We will therefore, take a look at the Linksys E1200 and the Netgear N300, to find out which one is the best.

What are the differences between the Linksys E1200 and the Netgear N300

The Linksys E1200 Vs Netgear N300- How do they compare?

Performance in speeds

When engaging the online activities there is nothing that you can’t do with high speeds, therefore, the highly responsive Wi-Fi speeds will guarantee faster downloading of information such as music, large files in the form of PDF’s among others. The Netgear N300 has therefore, been equipped with 300mbps and operates at the 2.4GHz frequency band.

The 2.4 GHz frequency band is famous for covering devices that are at a farther distance, which then means that the devices covered at 5GHz will not be catered to. 5GHz is known for providing faster data rates at shorter distances. The above notwithstanding the N300 router complements homes of different shapes and sizes thus all the internet-enabled devices in your home will be provided for with internet.

The Linksys E1200 functions the same as the N300 when it comes to speed and the frequency band, so for your downloading tasks you have been provided with up to 300mbps at 2.4GHz. The above are reliable speeds even for the bandwidth-intensive applications such as gaming, you must however be aware that you will not be able to fully cater to the devices that are at a close range because of the absence of the 5GHz frequency band.

The Netgear N300 is the better router because it offer higher data transfer rates at 300mbp per second, while the Linksys E1200 only offers 54mb per second.

Security features

So how secure is your router, have you ever given thought to this critical fact, well if you haven’t it is high time that you counter check your routers security protocol especially for the wireless connections. The Linksys E1200 offers its users advanced wireless security, to help them keep their networks safe, the router has, therefore, integrated the WPA/WPA2 encryption complete with an SPI firewall.

The latter protects the network by examining the incoming packets against the existing connections.  Other significant security features that have been incorporated are such as the parental control options with which parents can keep a keen eye on their kid’s online activities and also filter the inappropriate websites. Management of the router doesn’t have to be on sight but from anywhere that the admin is located.

Lastly, there is also the guest network that features a unique password and offers convenience and security for the guests who have permission to access the network. When it comes to security the Linksys E1200 is the better router because it features the SPI firewall, which is conveniently missing in the Netgear N300.

Set up and Application

Both the professionals and the experts in routers don’t want a unit that features a steep learning curve during installation and setup. So the easier it is to install while offering good performance the faster it will fly off the shelves. And between the Linksys E1200 and the Netgear N300, the former is the easiest to install as it is just a three-step process and your Wi-Fi is up and running.

Netgear N300 as we mentioned earlier has a simple network management procedure, for starters you will install the Netgear Genie application on your tablet, computer, or Ipad.  From where you will be provided with an intuitive dashboard that you can use to control, monitor, and repair your home network.

You have also been provided with an economical power on and off button to help save on power when the router is not being used. Connecting other devices has been simplified and you just have to push the button and the Wi-Fi connections are made instantly. The router can also handle only two applications and that is the online gaming, and the low bandwidth activities such as emailing, chatting and surfing the net.

Linksys E1200 vs the Netgear N300- A comparison Overview

Linksys E1200 Overview

Linksys E1200 (N300) Wireless Router

• Enjoy the benefits of Wireless-N300 (802.11n) in your home ideal for surfing the web, emailing and...
• Connect your computers, wireless printers, smartphones, and other wireless devices at up to 300 Mbps...

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The Linksys E1200 offers excellence and professionalism in one easy to use and affordable package, the router can therefore; seamlessly connect to all your wireless devices including phones and printers. To enhance performance the router has been equipped with the MIMO antenna technology, which multiplies the capacity of a radio link using the multiple transmissions and the receiving antennas to take advantage of the multipath propagation.

Upon purchase of the Linksys E1200 router, you will be provided with a CD-ROM that contains the setup software, and you also don’t have to buy a separate Ethernet cable. Included in the package is a quick start guide, to be used by both the professionals and the newcomers in the world of routers.

Pros

• Set up and installation is a 3 step process
• The router features advanced wireless security
• Visitors have access to a password-protected network
• Connection of the wired devices is via the fast Ethernet ports

Cons

• Not convenient for the long term
• Setting up is a bit tough

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Netgear N300 Overview

NETGEAR Wireless Router - N300 (WNR2000)

• Supports Windows 8
• Fast downloads and online gaming with speeds up to 300 Mbps

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The Netgear N300 isn’t a very good option for a busy environment such as a business setting. The Provided 300 Mbps speeds will cater to a few bandwidth-intensive online engagements or just one, but will effectively oversee the successful engagement of myriad low bandwidth engagements. The above then makes it a better option for only home use.

The unit is pretty easy to use, and has an intuitive management Netgear Genie application complete with advanced security features.

Pros

• The router is easy to use
• Offers faster download speeds
• Offers reliable connection via the advanced QoS

Cons

• The router is very unreliable
• The firmware is terrible

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Conclusion

Both of these routers offer high download speeds, but cannot be adopted for home use. They however, offer high performance and have incorporated the latest advanced security features to keep your network safe. The units also allow customization and management while away from the location of the routers.

Verdict; so which is the better router? The Linksys E1200 or the Netgear N300

The Netgear N300 router is the better router because it offers higher performance by providing faster data transfer rates at 300megabits per second; additionally the unit operates the 2.4GHz single band but offers high networking speeds at 300mbps meaning it can comfortably cater to the basic networking activities, such as web browsing and emailing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the range of the Netgear N300 wireless router?

The Netgear N300 covers a range of 2m and a mid-range distance of approximately 10m.

2. Does the Linksys E1200 support the IPV6 setup?

The first version of the Linksys E1200 rarely supports the IPV6 setup, however, the second version supports the IPV6 setup.