Linksys unveils next-generation router that detects motion in your home

This story is part of THESE, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the hottest gadgets from fully virtual CES 2021.

Fun fact: Aquariums are a common headache for Wi-Fi networks, as Wi-Fi signals have trouble getting through water. The same is true for people, as our bodies are also made up largely of water – and that means we cause telltale interference every time we walk through a Wi-Fi network.

Some Linksys Velop mesh routers can use these spectral disturbances to detect motion and send an alert to your phone – and now, to CES 2021, Linksys brings the functionality to a new Velop device that supports Wi-Fi 6E, a new designation for high-end wireless devices capable of sending signals on the 6 GHz band.

Called the Linksys AXE8400 and is slated for launch this summer, the tri-band router is expected to join Velop’s line of mesh systems, where it will sell for $ 450 for a single device, $ 850 for a 2-pack with a router and repeater. or $ 1,200 for a router with two extenders. This will easily make it one of the more expensive mesh routers on the market – around $ 200 more than what you would spend for the fastest, most efficient mesh router we’ve tested, the AX6000 version of Netgear Orbi.

Like this system, the AXE8400 uses the latest generation of Wi-Fi, called Wi-Fi 6, to ensure fast and efficient performance, but the addition of Wi-Fi 6E support means it can also send signals in the 6 GHz band, which the FCC just opened for Wi-Fi use. Fi without license in 2020. With more than twice the bandwidth of the 5 GHz band – and no interference from older generation Wi-Fi devices – 6 GHz is like a shiny new multi-lane freeway with room for a lot of traffic, and 6E Wi-Fi routers like the AXE8400 have a ticket to the ride .

Of course, there are hardly any phones, laptops, or other client devices that support Wi-Fi 6E at this point, but we expect that to change in the coming year. Even without them, your home network will benefit from a multi-part Wi-Fi 6E mesh setup, as the router and its satellite nodes will all be able to transmit data back and forth on this luxurious 6 GHz band. Whether a sufficient benefit by this summer is worth the premium remains to be seen.

As for the specifications, the AXE8400 features a tri-band design capable of 4X4 ​​MU-MIMO connections on the 2.4, 5 or 6 GHz bands. The highest theoretical transfer speeds on this 6 GHz band are listed at 4.8 Gbps, compared to 2.4 and 1.2 Gbps on the 5 and 2.4 GHz bands, respectively. The router runs on a 2.2 GHz quad-core processor, it has a WAN port that supports inbound wire speeds of up to 5 Gbps, and it promises up to 3,000 square feet of range per node. This all adds up to the bill for a premium mesh router in 2021.

As for the Linksys Aware movement sensitivity, it costs an additional $ 3 per month or $ 25 per year. You will be able to manage it through the Linksys app, where you can adjust the sensitivity to specific, fixed-location Wi-Fi devices on your network and set alerts on your phone whenever the router detects motion-based interference. their. You can also track up to 60 days of past movement events, giving you a nifty glimpse of exactly when your teenager snuck out the other month, or when your spouse walked into the kitchen for a midnight snack. last week. This is where Linksys Aware ends, however – the feature cannot be used to trigger your smart lights, home security system, or other connected device.

“We are exploring all possibilities,” says Linksys.

Honestly, I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but the use cases have certainly piqued my curiosity. I’m also interested in whether Linksys stores this location alert data locally or whether it is uploaded to company servers. Linksys does not specify on the Linksys Aware Q&A page, although the company correctly notes that this feature could be a more privacy-friendly approach to home monitoring than rigging cameras and other sensors. throughout your home.

Regardless, the AXE8400 is high on the list of new 6E Wi-Fi hardware that I’ll be happy to test in 2021, alongside other new 6E Wi-Fi routers from names like Netgear and TP-Link. When the time comes to put it to the test, I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes and if this next-gen networking hardware is worth the price. At $ 850 for a 2-part setup (and you’ll need at least two devices to use the Linksys Aware feature), there’s not much room for error.