So, in the overall picture, both devices are initially in approximately "equal to", the Nighthawk X4 (its very good predecessor with me for almost a year without any major disturbances in use was) but comes in the end to "5 star", while the Linksys unfairly "4 star" comes. Unfair because I often wish an intermediate size between 4 and 5: There are just gradations between "good" and "very good" and between "good" and "okay". The Linksys had come with me right away at 4 to 4.5 stars, but ends up to 3.5 stars, I would kindly even round up to 4 stars (as a bonus that the Linksys is already longer on the market). Priced devices are so close together (almost 10% price difference), that given the technical grading of AC1900 (the Linksys) to AC2350 (the Nighthawk) already a demarcation would be necessary - even if the two hoped "maximum performance" not necessarily a measure of may be what the device really afford. The reasons for the assessment are always more individual nature.
Let us therefore ow officially the extensive clarification of the question: Why?
At this point, however, before the first ball was made: Of course there are other devices in this class. Not many, but they are there. For example (a half generation "older" but basically again) cavort in the same segment as the device Asus RT-AC68U, the actual "Nighthawk" Netgear R7000, the Fritz box 7490 (although this is a router with DSL modem) and ... and ... and. It would be idle to mention here. I want to make it clear that under the "tip of the flagpole" (from which we can talk with the two devices already discussed here) are also many other options.
Let's look first as a "baseline" the "Linksys" to:
Linksys provides here a good bit of technology, let the key data to watch very nice; mainly because it has acted according to the motto here that one wants to use the limitations of technology. OK then. Not so good is If the accumulating power hungry (15 watts) and the resulting waste heat. There is even a "leaflet", which explicitly warns the vents Do not cover - ironically, these on the top, so that the device can very nice zustauben (counterproductive as anything: dust is indeed a very good Wärmedämmer).
Both on the 2.4 GHz band, and on the 5 GHz band, I feel well but picked up by the device. The configuration was now not overly difficult, although the amount of configuration options but is still quite beyond what you're used to from other manufacturers. It can be seen here clearly: Linksys is here definitely a device to the market, which was made for "nerds". This is also reflected in the advertised support for "OpenWRT" = resist an open source Linux. In theory at least, because - and this is a main point of criticism - whether OpenWRT actually comes again for the device, is completely written in the stars. See here also ask the supplement, the "Lui Kast" to its very good reviews to the Linksys has made: "The OpenWRT developers have therefore stopped work on the unit and recommend to return all buyers of WRT1900AC the devices".
Hm That sounds like fiasco -. But it is not. It means that a certain part of the audience, the device is no longer want. Most of the users will have but anyway had only question mark in the eyes with OpenWRT.
But back to the performance - basically yes, what all of us most interested in: The Linksys is now running for a while as a tester with me and has shown behind changing DSL modems as well stable, sound and rapid solution. Important in the consideration of this device is, of course, that it "German point of view" somehow very "basic functional" coming over from the (very DSL-focused). It needs a (good) uplink to the Internet - any modem so - and then exploit its strengths as a wireless component. Since it is the way the Nighthawk X4 same. Again, this has no built-in modem, but aims to deliver a high-performance in the WLAN area.
Anyway: the Linksys may result as an additional gimmick an eSATA interface into the field; the taken for the device already raises once produced some of the wishy-washy of the other market. Unfortunately, however, can in turn sometimes the USB ports without reconfiguration (instructions are available on Youtube) clean use of hard drives. In my test, I had but with a Western Digital and a no-name board no major problems.
The illumination is reached at 5 GHz as expected was relatively weak (this shortcoming had also other devices that I have tested, already), but the data throughput is consistently high in corresponding devices. Once more devices come into play, it gets a little confusing, but Beamforming and QoS with a powerful 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM processor to do their best. 1.3 Gb / s with 5 GHz and 600 Mbit / s at 2.4 GHz are already possible, but rather unlikely (the value at 2.4 GHz can only with special hardware, dominates the TurboQAM be achieved - are conventional rather 150 Mbit / s with normal equipment). I usually reach between 500 and 700 Mbit / s and then stand well next to the router. Transfers "through the basement ceiling" as in my previous configuration usual ("old" with the Nighthawk on one side and an AC-AP on the other side) were more bad than good. As has already delivered better performance than the Linksys the "old" Nighthawk. Important: Can also be dependent on the configuration.
The "Nighthawk X4" now as a clear opposite of Linksys represent would be unfair at this point and would not do justice to both devices. Nevertheless, differences there that you can turn out well. Where the Linksys rather applies hobbyists because the Nighthawk more gamers and Streamer has in mind. OpenWRT and other Chichi be of Netgear in favor of once again compared to the previous significantly improved QoS (Quality of Service) - so a targeted prioritization - and provided a relatively slight configurability back. Netgear has here as I said rather a different clientele in mind: people who want to achieve the lowest possible latency and high data throughput while gambling over WLAN. In other words: People of the "genius" (ie the "simple" configuration tool from Netgear) everything is set up so that it "simply funzt" and "fast". Exactly is achieved at this point - although the firmware at one point or another still shines with translation errors (which varies with Netgear always fast and in my eyes is not a shortcoming - you should router eh best on "English" to configure, if it is possible).
The above performance values of Linksys reached the Nighthawk all. The "basement ceiling" test runs right around - it comes a useful compound. Overall, the differences are not striking, however - they express themselves more in a larger "reliability" of what I get. Nonetheless, that's what the Nighthawk on paper and in reality may well be described as "high-end". I also get here clean 500 to 700 MBit / s existence, sometimes even more - here it is worth, the Dynamic QOS off for once and make sure that you will find in the optimum range: 10 to 15 feet should that be ( ie 3 to 5 meters). And voila: My laptop comes with a USB A / C adapter to a Gbit / s. That's so much that my other network components no longer come there.
Talked out of school nor the Tip: Try to use channel 153 at 5 GHz and the channels 4 to 8 at 2.4GHz - if that is possible, they should achieve (according to the manufacturer) with the Nighthawk there the best performance. 802.11ac WiFi cards as counterpart to the Nighthawk (and, incidentally, for Linksys) must actually be to achieve the best performance, and you can be fooled here quickly if you have hired QOS: QOS affects namely massively from it, whether a connection "fast" is or not. But it is also with the right application can work more slowly than expected to connect.
How come? Now, for example, occurs at Amazon Instant Video and Netflix at startup always "peak" in the load when clients see the "how fast you can because". This tip is quite meaningful in terms of the possible throughput. But what then follows that the tip crashes into a deep valley, because the application only accepts the following load test, what she needs. It can sometimes be so act as would get (thanks or despite QOS) a program only 1 Mbit / s allocated. That the program here but only takes what it says and get so much more could, is often overlooked because. QOS does not mean in this context: "The Game gets 95%, the rest gets 5%", but "The Game can pull up to 95% if it wants; the rest will receive: the rest (but not less than 5%)".
I want it not to unnecessarily complicate at this point: The Nighthawk makes me also because of the significant improvement in Netgear always "in one piece" (ie from one device to another also not significantly different) built, also for "normal people" suitable configuration and the slightly better performance the better figure. That even the Netgear router can connect both via eSATA, or via the USB ports external drives and acts as NAS, is a real plus in my eyes. In addition, however, that Netgear also offers a program which allows you to make printer via these USB ports controlled. This works with the usual "old" for the Nighthawk or a Netgear A / C-AP used app now without problems even with the Nighthawk X4. My Kyocera printer is detected clean and is available via the router.
Oh yes: Netgear also "tricking" the way as with the Linksys to TurboQAM (256-QAM) based and therefore unlikely to be achieved by normal terminals "600 Mbit / s" 2.4 GHz wireless around - but theoretically it's just because , In 11ac is theoretically even 1733 MBit / s. I was told as glad to see finally in reality more than 1 Gbit / s.
The conclusion we already had; but I would still like to give at this point again a short résumé:
The Linksys WRT1900AC is definitely a good device, which unfortunately due to unfulfilled promises 'worse' position than would have it (OpenWRT, IP V6, ...). It is a very solid device whose purchase you can certainly consider. The Nighthawk X4 acts with its almost 30 euros higher price more like a pricing challenge: He, too, has compared to FritzBox & Co only the basic functionality "WLAN", this for but quickly, fairly easy to configure and at a stable, high level ,
If you are looking for it and is not necessarily native to the open source hobbyist area, but along the lines of "it just has to be fast - I do not care how" going on, who does not regret the purchase of Nighthawk certainly.
Important:
Note when considering the two devices that the Nighthawk X4 was officially released just a few days, so I see the (on Vine obtained free) Linksys WRT1900AC with a (also free) test equipment from Netgear. The tester of Netgear has this Although the current firmware version, but there are usually just after the release of ever more versions that expand the scope of services once again clearly and stability issues can be resolved (if any occur - so far I have not noticed anything yet) , I will report here with supplements and / or comments on the progress, when it is doing something significant.
