INTRODUCTION

   As we all know most internet providers supply their own DSL modems (and modem/routers) to their subscribers free of charge most of the time, however how many people care to check just how good that device really is and act on it? Well most people i know really don't care and thus they remain with the same modem/routers for many years, at least until and if they switch ISP's (Internet Service Providers) in which case they will most likely use the new model. Certainly something that someone gives you free of charge is always welcome in my book but we all need to know that every ISP out there takes offers from many DSL modem/router manufacturers around the globe and in the end what they care most about is the best offer which unfortunately at the same time usually means lesser quality materials and of course features/performance. Because of that many people (the ones who don't have cable) choose to either pair a good modem with a good router (for more flexibility and features) or purchase an all in one modem/router device. So today we are taking a rather thorough look at one of the latest routers to hit the market by Linksys a subsidiary of Cisco, the E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N Router.

   At Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) customers come first and an integral part of our DNA is creating long-lasting customer partnerships and working with them to identify their needs and provide solutions that support their success. The concept of solutions being driven to address specific customer challenges has been with Cisco since its inception. Husband and wife Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner, both working for Stanford University, wanted to email each other from their respective offices located in different buildings but were unable to due to technological shortcomings. A technology had to be invented to deal with disparate local area protocols; and as a result of solving their challenge - the multi-protocol router was born. Since then Cisco has shaped the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors and ecosystem partners and has become the worldwide leader in networking - transforming how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco was founded in 1984 and currently employs over 66.000 people.

   Although I’ve worked, used and tested quite a few DSL modem/routers in my life the same can't be said for standalone routers while the ones that i have used were always connected to modem/routers. That means that no matter how good a router is and no matter how many features it carries the final internet speed and quality you will end up receiving has almost nothing to do with it (unless you have cable internet). So because of that it's always a good call to pair a router with a good modem or a good modem/router so you might need to pay extra attention on that part. Getting back to the subject at hand the Cisco Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N Router seems to be amongst the best 4/5 port routers you can currently get (at least based on its specifications sheet) since it offers dual-band (2.4/5GHz) wireless N connectivity via 6 internal antennas capable of reaching speeds of up to 450Mbps (for each band), 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a wealth of features including an comprehensive web interface and a very useful software suite (Cisco Connect Cloud) that allows you to access the device regardless of where you are in the world just as long as you have internet access. The time has come however to see just how well it performs.