After doing the reserach I found that not only does Asus make routers that support open source firmware, but they actually provide regular updates for their routers as well.

Luckily there is a "classic" firmware version and since I was forced to start over anyway I downgraded to that level

The new firmware apparently can be removed if you call Cisco technical support, but they will advise you that the firmware on your router is no longer supported (the router is only 3 months old, so basically they trashed the original software and wont support you if you use it).The new firmware is very buggy and reports my internet connectin is down when it clearly isnt

I didn't create a linksys account or try to upgrade the firmware as all is working as expected

This is quite time consuming but Linksys(now a Belkin brand) has failed to address the concerns of its customers properly by releasing prompt firmware updates for their products.

Moreover, the instructions to downgrade to the regular "classic" firmware are complicated and not subject to technical support.

After resetting my router, it reloaded the Smart Wi-Fi firmware and I continued to have the same random errors using the Smart Wi-Fi interface

While there is a annoying workaround to downgrade the firmware to a earlier version that did not require this clout crap, that firmware still allows for push updates so your router will eventually update to the privacy invading firmware again

firmware has a bug which sometimes causes it to misidentify devices

The new firmware makes it impossible to log in to your router locally, you must have internet access and log into what they call the Cisco Cloud Connect

Although on paper this is a great router, the firmware of this router is a joke

The current firmware has major performance issues that are fairly widespread, yet it has been nearly a year since its last update

Firmware is unreliable and klutzy.

Once your router is rolled back, you will need to log back into your router and disable automatic firmware updates or your router will upgrade again.9.

I used the classic firmware that was on the router

1 day after I posted this review, Cisco/Linksys responded via Amazon and added the original firmware (2.0.36) and an update (2.0.37) as well as the Cloud Connect firmware (2.1.38) in the Download tab of their EA4500 support page

For those that don't know, recently, Cisco rolled out a silent firmware "upgrade" to all devices

The firmware is horrible and may not work well with your wireless devices (like my laptop).

The setup process worked smoothly, I upgraded firmware and enrolled in the cloud management without a hitch

The new firmware steals a copy of all of my internet surfing and its right in their terms and conditions

They reinstalled firmware and the Router worked for five minutes then failed again

also hear it support the OpenWrt (3rd-party) firmware, and I am tempted to try flashing that to see if additional parameters can be controlled

(which I definitely did not want to do due to a bad experience with flashing custom firmware on a WRT-45GL, which I got working again)

Customer support would suggest things like, reboot, reset, load latest firmware....none of it worked.

Their current firmware is flawed!

Even worse, the Connect Cloud firmware was forced on consumers without their approval or consent

20.2 MBWill customers that use the "Non Cisco Connect Cloud" firmware eventually be supported or not

Super easy setup on both the Classic firmware and the Cisco Cloud connect.

I did have one problem updating the Firmware so I could have access to the linksys smart wi-fi

new, mandatory firmware is too buggy and to risky to be of any good use.

Upgrading to the latest firmware causes more issues which one of them making it unable to access admin page until you reset the

I contacted their customer service who then instructed me to downgrade the firmware.

The setup doesn't work because the disk it came with has firmware that no longer works.

I was then provided this link by Cisco ([...]) which has directions and links to what they call the "Classic" firmware.

you use the Service, we may keep track of certain information related to your use of the Service, including but not limited to the status and health of your network and networked products; which apps relating to the Service you are using; which features you are using within the Service infrastructure; network traffic (e.g., megabytes per hour); Internet history;I have successfully downgraded my firmware so I am no longer in the cloud, but was told by Cisco that now my 3 month old router is no longer supported by them

the Asus firmware far more than the Linksys Smart Wi-fi and stock firmware.

The new firmware apparently can be removed if you call Cisco technical support, but they will advise you that the firmware on your router is no longer supported (the router is only 3 months old, so basically they trashed the original software and wont support you if you use it).The new firmware is very buggy and reports my internet connectin is down when it clearly isnt

, I I've only reset it once and it doesn't slow down my ping speed or drop connections randomly or any of the unwanted firmware

I updated the firmware for the EA4500 and the WD live streaming, but Hulu shows would still freeze with the EA4500.

so they have sacrificed valuable setting options which were available with their so called Classic firmware

Works well once firmware manually updated2.

However because Cisco Linksys has forced their Smart Wi-Fi firmware on all Smart routers and has yet to provide a 2013 update to their classic firmware, I cannot give this product a 5 star rating.*************************************************************************************************************************************************UPDATE 9/12/2013: I have now changed my mind

After I downgraded the firmware I am still having problems.

Note, they do give you an option to downgrade the firmware on the router, but have expressed that they will not release any updates--security or otherwise

It's a Marvell-based device, so no luck installing an alternative firmware to get around the limitations

and it was probably corrupted firmware.

And at that, the real issue isn't so much the hardware, but the firmware and their insistence on their cloud based support and controls, which are almost totally useless.

They also added rollback instructions for those who don't like the new firmware.

So today what I did is I rolled back to the classic firmware and everything works fine.

I don't like how Cisco's classic firmware is over a year old, but I feel that I have no choice because Smart Wi-Fi IMHO is not ready to be used because other users like myself have the same problem.

To anyone reading my review, please see my update at the bottom of this page as I no longer have confidence in this device, nor can I recommend this product to anyone.**************************************************************************************************************************************************I purchased this router a year ago to replace our aging WRT54g after we moved into our home last year and we needed a router that could adequately handle both our wireless needs for our laptops, Roku boxes, iPhones, iPads, and Kindles, but also handle our MoCa based wired Ethernet network that has one media server, a desktop

Customer service is HORRIBLE, yes, H O R

If you do not have an internet connection your menu items are severely limited as you are not accessing your router through Ciscos servers.3- PLEASE

Works as it should and was a snap to set up.

cuz the damn thing just won't reset/restart properly and get back to work as it's supposed to!I'd always had Cisco network devices, but it's all been downhill since I purchased the EA4500

My objectives are simple... to be able to access email anywhere in the house as well as on the outside decks/swimming pool area... but forget that

Upgraded as we had many wireless devices plus a streaming ROKU player.

Their suggestions were inane and lead me to believe that a key selling point may not actually work as

I'm not a computer guru by any means but this router works as well as

Cisco's CloudConnect online configuration utility is pretty slick; and I like the ability to access the router and manipulate settings remotely via the available iPhone app as well as from any computer anywhere via the Web.

After spending an hour trying to get it to work as it should, the technicians from my ISP explained that it worked fine if I plugged my computer directly into the router, otherwise the WiFi worked worse than the ancient router it was supposed to replace.

This is kind of embarrassing as I'm a life-long computer guy

Customer service is HORRIBLE, yes, H O R

Much better coverage than my Cisco E-4200 I replaced.