Before the problem, first the good stuff: The Linksys RE9000 Max-Stream Wi-Fi Range Extender is more than a range extender…it’s closer to a “mesh Wi-Fi system”, except that this unit (according to Linksys’ claim) works with ANY brand router.
As those familiar with range extenders know, they are typically dual-band (2. 4GHz & 5GHz), offering three operation modes: device-to-extender on 5GHz band & extender-to-router on 2. 4GHz band, device-to-extender on 2.
4GHz band & extender-to-router on 5GHz band, or device-to-extender AND extender-to-router on BOTH bands. The first two are good, in that they offer full-speeds between devices & router, but they sacrifice band usage.
The third option allows devices AND router connection with the extender on BOTH bands, but, unfortunately, cuts its data transmission rates in half. Because of the ‘half-speed data’ problem, home “mesh Wi-Fi system” emerged.
One unit would act as the router, & additional units would act as “nodes”. While some of these systems are tri-band configuration, others dual-band (no better than a router & range extender, as they operate identically).
In some ways, dual-band “mesh” Wi-Fi systems can be WORSE than a router & range extender, as most “nodes” only contain a single Ethernet port. If you have more than one device needing to be ‘plugged in’ (ie.
placing the node behind you’re A/V system, so as to connect (via Ethernet) your TV, home theater receiver, Blu-ray player, etc), then you’d need to plug in a switch, complicating things. Tri-band mesh Wi-Fi systems have two 5GHz radios – one connecting to devices, & the second communicating EXCLUSIVELY with the router.
Linksys has now, essentially, “married” the ideas behind a range extender & tri-band mesh Wi-Fi system into a single unit. What makes this so special, when compared to other range extenders, is that, unlike typical dual-band range extenders, the RE9000 has two 5GHz radios.
Next, unlike most mesh Wi-Fi systems (dual & tri-band), with only a single Ethernet port on the nodes, the RE9000 has a built-in 4-port Ethernet switch (the same as on almost all routers). Finally…and most importantly…according to Linksys, the RE9000 (according to the box) “works with ALL Wi-Fi routers”.
Most range extenders, as well as mesh Wi-Fi nodes, tend to be on the large size, often as large as the router, itself. Yes, there are a few exceptions (Google Wi-Fi, Samsung Smart Home, Amped Wireless ALLY), but many (Netgear Orbi, and even Linksys’ own Velop) are quite large.
The Linksys RE9000, on the other hand, is approximately the same size as your typical 4-port Ethernet switch (I have a Linksys SE1500, and they’re almost identical, in shape AND size). The only real difference is the four antennae (2 on each side, one near the front, one near the back).
So, how well does the RE9000 work? My initial answer would have been “great”. I have the router in the north-west corner (on top of the home theater stereo cabinet) of our 1,100sq ft 2BR condo, is an Asus RT-AC3100 Dual-Band router, and, while it’s signal strength in the living room is excellent, due to the numerous walls, as well as the placement of said walls, in our condo, the signal strength in the bedrooms can be “lacking” at times.
To give you an idea, in the living room, both 2. 4GHz & 5GHz average -20 to -30dBm. The bedrooms, on the other hand (master BR is south-west corner, guest BR is south-east corner) vary between -60 & -80dBm.
With the RE9000 placed in the guest bedroom (where the computers will eventually be placed, once our remodeling is finished), signal strength (both 2. 4GHz & 5GHz) increased considerably, to-20 to -30dBm in the guest bedroom, & -25—40dBm in the master bedroom.
At this point, anyone reading this would probably say, “Great, I’m getting one”………. but you would want to hold off until you read the remainder. Now comes the “bad” news…and, for those concerned with security, it’s EXTREMELY bad.
Like many people, I prefer to use MAC filtering, which provides an additional layer of security. If you don’t use, or have no intention of using, MAC filtering, you can skip this, and go buy yourself the RE9000.
On the other hand, if you do use MAC filtering, or are considering the possibility of using MAC filtering, know now that, with the RE9000, you CANNOT. Prior to setting up the RE9000, I disabled the MAC filtering on my router, as the RE9000’s MAC address hadn’t been saved in the router’s configuration.
After getting the RE9000 set up & configured, I returned to the router’s configuration utility, entered the RE90900’s MAC address, saved the new configuration, and re-enabled the router’s MAC filtering…and the RE9000 was immediately disconnected.
After speaking with Tier 1, Tier 2, & Tier 3 technicians at Linksys, it was finally uncovered that, in regards to the RE9000’s “upstream, there are actually three different MAC addresses. My next step was to enter what’s listed as the RE9000’s “AP MAC address”.
Unfortunately, this ended with the same disconnection. Finally, I entered the third MAC address, listed as the “Seen by MAC Address”, and, again, instant disconnection upon re-enabling the router’s MAC filtering.
In all honesty, I have no clue what they problem is…even worse, Linksys, themselves, has no clue. Today, I spoke with a Linksys engineer (one of the people responsible for designing the various Linksys range extenders.
She indicated that this had become a known/documented problem with their dual-band extenders, and that the problem had (supposedly) been fixed. In regards to the RE9000, she did not indicate whether, or not, this was a known problem.
At the same time, she did mention that a new firmware was recently released (possibly for “fixing this type of problem”), but I explained to her that I had already installed the update, and that there was no change.
The point of all this is, if you use MAC filtering, or are considering using MAC filtering, you should AVOID this product. Currently, there is only one other tri-band range extender on the market (manufactured by the maker of the line of “Nighthawk” products), and I am unaware as to whether, or not, it has the same problem, so I will not comment further on their product.
THE GOOD: • Tri-band configuration (the fastest speeds) • Auto-switching (seamless roaming) • Easy to set up, configure, and maintain • MU-MIMO THE BAD: • Only 1-year warranty (most others (including Linksys, with their Velop system) have moved up to 2-3 year warranties) • No USB ports THE UGLY: • MAC filtering can NOT be used on your router if using an RE9000 Conclusion On the surface, the Linksys RE9000 appears to be an excellent product.
It takes everything people like about mesh Wi-Fi systems, but allows them to have a similar home network no matter what brand of router they use. Put another way, it’s almost like having a wireless switch, which, to me, is better than your typical (dual-band) range extender.
additionally, just like your typical switch, you should (theoretically) be able to have more than one RE9000 in your home network…not that I would understand why anyone would need more than one, as the additional range provided by a single RE9000 should be more than enough for anyone living in anything smaller than a 10-bedroom mansion.
Unfortunately, once you get past the surface, the “cracks” start appearing. While very minimal, the short 1-year warranty is a disappointment, and the lack of any USB ports only increases that disappointment.
The “breaking point”, and the reason I can NOT recommend the RE9000 is its security problem. While the RE9000 provides its own internal MAC filtering (which, I’ll admit, I never got around to testing, or even setting up), its inability to connect to a router which has MAC filtering enabled is a HUGE “avoid at all costs” for anyone wanting to maintain the greatest home networking security possible.
Not that “home networking security” is perfect (as is said, those with a ‘will’ will find a ‘way), but when you have a networking component, such as the RE9000, which prevents you from using one of your router’s greatest security advantages, that product becomes a HUGE security liability.
Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or somewhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.