Linksys E900 Vs Netgear N300- A Comprehensive Router Performance
Routers are used to connect your home networking devices to the internet, and that is why you have to pick the right one that offers wide coverage, has the relevant networking speeds, and is customizable.
So, I love to keep with the trend and currently am searching for a router with the current Wi-Fi standard, the 802.11ax, also known as the Wi-Fi 6. The new standard is an upgrade from the previous Wi-Fi standard version the 802.11ac and one of the advantages of installing the new version is that it is backward compatible.
According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the new Wi-Fi standard 802.11ax is yet to be released and if we are lucky then we will get it by mid-2020. Well, that is not very far, so meanwhile, I bumped into two incredible routers the Linksys E900 and the Netgear N300, read on as I share my findings.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Linksys E900 and the Netgear N300?
Model |
Linksys E900 |
Netgear N300 (Winner) |
Speeds |
300mbps at 2.4GHz |
300mbps at 2.4GHz |
Wireless communication standard |
802.11n |
802 .11bgn |
Connectivity Technology |
Wired, rJ45 |
Wi-Fi˄Wired |
Antennas |
Two internal antennas |
None |
The Linksys E900 vs the Netgear N300-How do they compare?
Design
The Linksys E900 features a very simple design and has not incorporated the led light indicators that help inform a user if the router is up and running. Deployment of the unit is also pretty easy since it doesn’t have an external antenna. At the back of the unit, you have been provided with four Ethernet ports and one internet port, but the USB port is significantly missing limiting the unit’s connectivity.
To reset the router, you have been provided with a bottom panel that has incorporated the reset button. And to find out if the router is working the ports at the back have been fitted with the led lights, and here the WPS button will produce a solid green color when the router is powered and if the WPS has been successfully set.
The Netgear N300 on the other hand can be a head-scratcher when it comes to deployment given its upright design. The front panel is well functional with all the indicative led lights that inform users if the router is up and running. At the side, you get the ventilation detail and at the back, you have been provided with the wired connectivity ports.
The Netgear N300 does not utilize a USB port; it is therefore limited in the number of devices that you can connect to the unit, meaning that you won’t be able to connect an external storage device or a printer to be used by devices that have been connected to your network.
Speeds
The Netgear N300 offers fast download speeds, at 300mbps enabling HD video, users can also game online with minimal lag. The router can be adapted for homes of different shapes and sizes, and comfortably cater to the manufacturer’s estimated number of devices. Large homes will not benefit from this router but there is always the option of getting the Wi-Fi extenders.
The Linksys E900 offers users up to 300mbps at 2.4GHz, and users can, therefore, run the bandwidth-intensive applications with minimal latency. The above is, however, dependant on the number of devices connected to the network. The Linksys E900 offers a faster and reliable networking signals given the two antennas incorporated at the back of the router.
Performance
Both the E900 and the Netgear N300 operate on the wireless standard 802.11b/g/n, meaning that they are both single bands and can only support the 2.4 GHz band. Both of these routers can, therefore, not support the 5GHz frequency band which is known to offer faster connectivity to devices that are located within a shorter distance.
However, devices located at a farther distance will be provided for with faster Wi-Fi speeds because of the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The above also means that if you are to game online then you will not encounter hiccups because the 5GHz band works better for gaming as it transmits faster speeds, while the 2.4GHz frequency is slow thus best adapted for business scenarios.
Netgear N300 and the Linksys E900 both offers high data transfer rates of 300mbps meaning that users can carry out their networking activities fast, but remember these high speeds are subject to the location of the connected devices. If the device is far from the router, then data transmission will be slow when compared to when the device is close to the router.
The Linksys E900 vs Netgear N300 – A Comparison Overview
Linksys E900
- 1-Year Warranty
- Linksys E900-NP
The E900 allows users both the wired and wireless devices to share the networking resources and operates on a single band, offering users up to 300mbps download speeds. The router has been equipped with advanced security features such as the SPI firewall that is sure to offer protection to your data and online privacy.
Important to note especially for parents that are looking to install routers in their homes and have their kids access it, this router does not have the parental control feature, and does not support the guest network, making it a bit traditional given the new advanced and innovative technologies incorporated in most new routers.
Pros
- Setting up the router is pretty easy
- The design makes deployment easy
- Fairly priced
- Though traditional, the router allows wired connectivity
Cons
- Does not provide the guest network
- Has not incorporated the parental control feature
Netgear N300-Overview
- Supports Windows 8
- Fast downloads and online gaming with speeds up to 300 Mbps
So unlike our Linksys E900 counterpart, the Netgear N300 has incorporated a lot of advanced features, for example, you will be able to utilize the live parental control option, meaning that you can control how all the devices connected to the network access the internet, including filtering the adult sites for the sake of the kids.
The unit has also been equipped by the highest grade protection for your wireless network; set up and management is via the Netgear Genie application, which will help you repair your home network and will provide you with an intuitive dashboard to help with the customization of the network.
Pros
- The router supports windows 8
- Allows customization via the Genie application
- Equipped with the highest grade protection
- The router features the Netgear lifetime warranty
Cons
- Connectivity is rather short range
- Not reliable for the long haul
Verdict; so, which is the better router? The Linksys E900 or the Netgear N300?
The Netgear N300 is the better router because it has been equipped with the parental control feature, and allows users to customize and control how devices connected to their network interact with the internet. Being a single band router the unit offers high networking speeds at 2.4GHz thus capable of handling the basic networking activities at a shorter range and as a plus the router offers both the wired and wireless connectivity options, users can therefore, scale their networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I set up my Linksys E900 without a CD?
Yes you can set up the Linksys E900 without a CD and the process is simple, so you will first, make the connection to the router, then open the setup page, and proceed to change your internet connection settings. Then access the internet in the main computer, change the wireless settings, and connect to the wireless network.
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Can I use the Netgear N300 with the 5GHz frequency band?
No, you cannot use the Netgear N300 with the 5GHz frequency band
