INTRODUCTION

   I don't know if you've noticed but whenever a discussion is all about WiFi signal strength modem/routers and repeaters/range extenders are the very two device types that come to mind. This has actually happened quite a few times not only here in the office/lab but also when I’m out with friends and family and so we all decided it would be nice if we could "illustrate" that access points are just as useful (if not more) as repeaters/range extenders (even compared to modem/routers depending on the situation). Sure we mostly see access points used in consumer/public areas like hotels, shopping malls, cafeterias and restaurants but they are also very widely used in large offices and corporations. The most powerful access point in Linksys's arsenal is the LAPAC2600 AC2600 Dual-Band MU-MIMO model and that's what we have on our test bench today.

   The Linksys brand has pioneered wireless connectivity since its inception in 1988 with its leading innovation and engineering strategies, and best-in-class networking technology, design, and customer service. Linksys enables a connected lifestyle for people at home, at work and on the move, and with its award-winning products, simplifies home control, entertainment, security and Internet access through innovative features and a growing application and partner ecosystem.

   The LAPAC2600 AC2600 Dual-Band MU-MIMO model by Linksys is among the most advanced access points in the market today and just like all similar devices it's part of their business pro line of products. The LAPAC2600 actually already counts over a year in the market but since Linksys equipped it with the best technologies at launch it still has almost nothing to be jealous when compared to all the latest models. So in order to make the LAPAC2600 one of the best access points available to date Linksys gave it support for many technologies including MU-MIMO (Multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output technology - allows a Wi-Fi router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously), Beamforming (directs wireless signal to were connecte devices are at), 802.11r and 802.11k standards (enables 802.11r-enabled client devices to roam between access point with minimal dropped packets thus enabling uninterrupted VoIP calls or video calls), clustering (single point control - can control many access points at the same time), captive portal (customized guest WiFi access forwarding people to a web page for verification - mostly found in cafeterias and hotels), 802.3at PoE+ (Power Over Ethernet Plus - eliminates the need for extra power adapters) and 802.1x with remote authentication Dial-In user service (RADIUS). Under the hood of the LAPAC2600 Linksys placed the IPQ8065 quad-core network processor by Qualcomm (combines a dual-core Krait™ CPU @ 1.7GHz and a dual-core 800MHz Network Subsystem), QCA9990 Wave-2 802.11ac radio with 4x4 high-gain (4.4/5.2dBi) dual-band internal antennas which offer concurrent signal output on both the 2.4GHz (up to 800Mbps) and 5GHz bands (up to 1733Mbps) and dual RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet ports (support link aggregation up to up to 2Gbps).