Hydra Pro 6E Tri‑Band WiFi 6E Mesh Router - Wireless Gaming 8-Stream Router, 6 GHz Band for 8K Streaming, Up to 6.6 Gbps Speed, 2700 sq. ft Coverage, 55+ Devices, Works with Velop Mesh System

Needed to replace a 12 year old TP-Link Archer C7 (Dual Band, AC1750) after our 900Mb Toob install. I spotted a "Used, Like New" for £151 and it turned up with the box still sealed in cellophane. Was able to convert our ISP-provided router (an upgraded Linksys MX4200) to a child node, after a bit of fiddling with Factory Reset/Startup Wizards. We now have Wifi6E speeds throughout the house (even at the furthest points away, in a fully tiled bathroom). The Wife's Samsung S23 and my OnePlus 9 Pro get pretty close to the full 900/900 up/down speeds. The children's Fire HD10 (2nd gen) get approx 3-400 up/down. We did experience a few issues with devices not picking the closest/strongest hub (Hydra Pro downstairs next to all our network equipment, the Velop MX4200 is upstairs), but this was resolved by switching DHCP off and assigning static IP numbers to each device. We have various CCTV cameras, games consoles and 3 top-end gaming PCs in the house, with Cat6 cable running from two Gigabit switches upstairs & downstairs to our Yuanley 11 port POE Switch (then to the Hydra Pro & ONT) - we've yet to run a speed test that hasn't resulted in 900+ up/down speeds on each. On a Saturday evening, when there's 5 of us making the most of the speeds, either competing in Fortnite/Rocket League tournaments where every millisecond counts, streaming content via Netflix/Stremio, or having video calls with our family in Canada, we don't notice any drop in quality, speed or ping. In fact, the only time my son has complained about increased ping, is whilst I've been running the Ookla Speed test, ironically. The router's management software/Android App is clear and intuitive, allowing a straightforward setup with minimal involvement/knowledge, or slightly more complex setups with Port Forwarding/DMZ, for things like Playstation/Xbox Remote Access, Sunshine/Moonlight streaming on our PCs, global access to our CCTV system, etc. I've even managed to install our VPN (Windscribe Pro) directly onto the router, which makes a huge upgrade to our security. After a busy summer of house renovations, where we took the opportunity to run Cat6 throughout the house, we're now able to enjoy the results. We've been able to play games installed on our PCs & PS5, using a Bluetooth Controller/Headset with our Android tablets, from as far away as Mallorca & Bangkok (with a little help from our Windscribe Pro VPN & split tunneling). Currently at 54 various devices connected (wired & WiFi), with no doubt more after Xmas. (Excuse the messy cables from behind the media unit - still waiting for our distribution panel to arrive!!)

Range wise the 6E is very short but very fast iperf3 test goes to 900mbps on a 1gbps 5e cable. Keep that in mind. The wi fi 6 is good but the maximum speed tou can get per device is around 200mbps online and 500mbps with the iperf3 test. My internet connection is at 600mbps. Generally ita a good router with a 5gigabit port.

Bought this replace a Netgear. What a mistake. Highly unstable wireless. App cannot complete its diagnostics because it encountered an error. Internet is slow. Utterly inferior to Netgear. I regret buying this product.

Reduced speeds when integrated with the velop wifi mesh system.

In order to not configure my entire network, I used this in conjunction with my main router and was mainly testing the wifi capabilities of this. I have already a number of WIFI hotspots set up, with WIFI 5 (802.11ac) and WIFI 6 (which confusingly is still at 5Ghz) as well as old 2.4Ghz band. This router promises WIFI 6E which is exciting because it's actually 6Ghz and promises extra speed. Now the 1st and biggest issue is to make proper use is to have a compatible mobile device. Yes it's backwards compatible with WIFI 5/6 (5Ghz) and 2.4Ghz, however you're not going to see any benefits. Now luckily I do have a Pixel 6 Pro which supports WIFI 6E. Speed test copying a large file across my 1Gbit LAN stood next to my WIFI 6 (Ubquiti U6-Lite), I managed around 500Mbps. Stoof next to the Hydra pro 6E, I managed around 800Mbps, clearly faster. Though when I was stood in next room, I managed to get U6 at 300Mbps and Hyrda at 350Mbps. So better, but clearly distance and walls are affecting the figures. Pros - Faster performance than previous generation Wifi - Backwards compatible with 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz devices - Respectable price for new cutting edge technology Cons - Still very limited number of WIFI 6E compatible devices around - Walls and obstacles still cause signal/performance drop off Overall. This is an awesome router, providing great performance. Having looked at others online, this isn't the fastest WIFI 6E out there, but still good enough. If you want the latest 6Ghz technology to future proof, then this is a cost effective option to do so. However only really worth it if you have 900Mbit+ internet, or you copy lots of big files around your local wireless network.

Disappointed

Good speeds on its own, but connect to velops and it grinds to a halt. Very disappointing. But when combined with eeros the speed picks up again, which is weird as it's not good to mix mesh systems!

The Linksys Hydra Pro 6E is an exceptional piece of technology. With the latest WiFi 6E technology, this router provides faster speeds, increased bandwidth, and much better reliability than previous WiFi standards. The tri-band design also ensures that you get optimal performance, even in high-traffic areas, and the mesh system provides seamless coverage throughout your home. The Linksys App allows you to easily set up and manage your network, including parental controls, device prioritization, and advanced security features. The router also features 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, making it perfect for high-speed wired connections. The sleek and modern design of the router looks superb. if you're in the market for a high-performance router, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E is worth considering. With its easy-to-use app, seamless mesh system, and customisable settings, it's perfect for families, gamers, and anyone who demands fast and reliable internet. Thank you for reading my review, I hope you found it helpful.