Linksys EA7500 by starhub

[coconut1]

headaches with 5GHz wifi?

Anyone here experience headaches with 5GHz wifi from linksys ea7500?

not sure if it is the cause, but after turning off the 5GHz band, headaches seem to have stopped occurring. Wondering if may be sensitive to the strong electromagnetic field from the hardware antenna esp for the 5GHz AC band at 1733Mbps.

 

[derrickgoh]

https://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/tec...-first-offer-linksys-new-ea8100-ac2600-router

Now switched to EA8100 liao. That was fast.

 

[chaiscool]

Anyone got issue setting static dns in router? The dns on my devices if set to automatic are still router ones and cannot disable ipv6 also. Firmware 2.0.5.186189

 

[xiaofan]

Just tried the wireless bridge mode with EA7500 V2. Upload is very fast at 673Mbps with PT Indosat TBK SpeedTest server, but download is only half of it at 326Mbps. Strange.

Main router is SingTel Mesh 1900AC, about 5m away.

Tested using latest FW, Windows 10 Laptop with Ugreen USB 3.0 Ethernet adapter, wired connection to the EA7500 V2.

Edit to add:
Retest with SingTel speedtest server, closer but still a big gap.

Still this (600+ Mbps) is the fastest WiFi AC speed I have ever got.

So if you still have this router but move on to use better main router, you can use it as a pretty good AP or wireless bridge.

 

[xiaofan]

From the other Linksys thread.

EA7500 V1 vs V2 vs VI.
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=316765

However, V2 sold in Singapore should be rated AC2600 class just like EA8100. Not so sure about V3.

Ref: Linksys special website for EA7500 v2 and EA8100 v1.
https://linksys-sh.com/stream-ea7500/

MAX-STREAM AC1900+ Multi User-MIMO Router offers two dedicated Wi-Fi bands that deliver combined speeds of up to 800 Mbps (for 2.4 GHz) + 1733 Mbps (for 5 GHz).

 

[hk7310]

Just tried the wireless bridge mode with EA7500 V2. Upload is very fast at 673Mbps with PT Indosat TBK SpeedTest server, but download is only half of it at 326Mbps. Strange.

Main router is SingTel Mesh 1900AC, about 5m away.

Tested using latest FW, Windows 10 Laptop with Ugreen USB 3.0 Ethernet adapter, wired connection to the EA7500 V2.

Edit to add:
Retest with SingTel speedtest server, closer but still a big gap.

Still this (600+ Mbps) is the fastest WiFi AC speed I have ever got.

So if you still have this router but move on to use better main router, you can use it as a pretty good AP or wireless bridge.

I am using wireless bridge, connected with wired as you did, on M1 500Mbps.

Occasionally, it just cannot surpass 350Mbps. But usually, i can get 480 - 495Mbps/Ul and 450 - 489Mbps/Dl. I suspect that it may due to the wireless interferent.

When the DL cannot surpass 350Mbps, I use my mobile phone to test it at close range, 2metre away, i can get 420Mbps/DL.

When DL cannot go beyong 350Mbps/DL, i usually get 420 - 450Mbps on UL.

https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/d/d91548c7-006e-4d51-b2c5-55aaf9eed30d

 

[xiaofan]

I am using wireless bridge, connected with wired as you did, on M1 500Mbps.

Occasionally, it just cannot surpass 350Mbps. But usually, i can get 480 - 495Mbps/Ul and 450 - 489Mbps/Dl. I suspect that it may due to the wireless interferent.

When the DL cannot surpass 350Mbps, I use my mobile phone to test it at close range, 2metre away, i can get 420Mbps/DL.

When DL cannot go beyong 350Mbps/DL, i usually get 420 - 450Mbps on UL.

https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/d/d91548c7-006e-4d51-b2c5-55aaf9eed30d

You are using it in wireless bridge mode?

Wireless bridge means the router is connected to a wireless AP/router using the 5GHz band wireless in this case, and then provides network access to the devices connected to LAN. Optionally it can act as an AP using the other band 2.4GHz.

It seems you are using it in wireless router or AP mode, not the wireless bridge mode, based on the speed you are getting, because no way you can surpass 200Mbps from the 2.4GHz band in Singapore.

Still your wireless speed is very good.

 

[hk7310]

You are using it in wireless bridge mode?

Wireless bridge means the router is connected to a wireless AP/router using the 5GHz band wireless in this case, and then provides network access to the devices connected to LAN. Optionally it can act as an AP using the other band 2.4GHz in Singapore.

It seems you are using it in wireless router or AP mode, not the wireless bridge mode, based on the speed you are getting, because no way you can surpass 200Mbps from the 2.4GHz band.

Still your wireless speed is very good.

I connect 2.4Ghz and link the internet with 5Ghz on this wireless bridge, and connect my laptop to a Lan port to attain this result. If reverse, yes, the best result will be 200+Mbps. You may try it out yourself.

 

[xiaofan]

I connect 2.4Ghz and link the internet with 5Ghz on this wireless bridge, and connect my laptop to a Lan port to attain this result. If reverse, yes, the best result will be 200+Mbps. You may try it out yourself.

Interesting. What is your main wireless router that the EA7500 connect to? What do you mean by "Connect 2.4GHz and link the internet with 5GHz"? I tend to think you have the same configuration as I, 5GHz is the uplink. 2.4GHz uplink can not be that fast even though the theoretical max for AC1900 router is 600Mbps and 800Mbps for AC2600 class.

I will try again by moving the EA7500 closer to the main router later.

For me the main router (3*3 AC1900) can be a limiting factor as well. I am just not that satisfied with the download speed but it is still pretty decent. You may have a better main wireless router.

 

[hk7310]

Interesting. What is your main wireless router that the EA7500 connect to? What do you mean by "Connect 2.4GHz and link the internet with 5GHz"? I tend to think you have the same configuration as I, 5GHz is the uplink.

I will try again by moving the EA7500 closer to the main router later.

For me the main router (3*3 AC wifi) can be a limiting factor as well. I am just not that satisfied with the download speed but it is still pretty decent. You may have a better main wireless router.

My main wireless router is the same EA7500. This apply to EA8100 as well.

I connect both the router and the wireless bridge in 2.4Ghz. And the 5Ghz is being locked as wireless bridge. At page 1, Connectivity ->Basic ->5Ghz is locked as wireless bridge mode. Then go to page 1, Connectivity -> Internet settings -> Wireless bridge - it is where your 5 GHz being connected.

 

[xiaofan]

My main wireless router is the same EA7500. This apply to EA8100 as well.

I connect both the router and the wireless bridge in 2.4Ghz. And the 5Ghz is being locked as wireless bridge. At page 1, Connectivity ->Basic ->5Ghz is locked as wireless bridge mode. Then go to page 1, Connectivity -> Internet settings -> Wireless bridge - it is where your 5 GHz being connected.

I see. Then we have very similar setup but you will win as your main router is 4*4 AC no matter it is EA7500 V2 or EA8100. So your uplink is faster (theoretical max 1733 Mbps). My uplink can only be 1300Mbps with theoretical max value.

I tend to think you may hit higher speed if you are not limited by the 500Mbps WAN internet speed.

 

[hk7310]

I see. Then we have very similar setup but you will win as your main router is 4*4 AC no matter it is EA7500 or EA8100. So your uplink is faster (theoretical max 1733 Mbps). My uplink can only be 1300Mbps with theoretical max value.

I tend to think you may hit higher speed if you are not limited by the WAN internet speed.

No chance to test is out. Maybe other bro here can follow our configuration and test it on 1G plan.

 

[xiaofan]

I will try again by moving the EA7500 closer to the main router later.

For me the main router (3*3 AC1900) can be a limiting factor as well. I am just not that satisfied with the download speed but it is still pretty decent. You may have a better main wireless router.

Okay, moving the EA7500 V2 closer to the main router does not help the download speed, rather it further increases the upload speed to 719Mbps but upload speed never hits above 447Mbps.

So I think this is due to limitation of the main router which is the free SingTel Mesh Router (Consumer) AC1900 given by SingTel. I think EA7500 V2 is fine.

Edit to add:
Then I tested my only 3*3 client (not a good one, TP-Link Archer T9UH USB 3 AC1900 adapter) against the main Singtel Mesh router AC1900 at close range and I get similar imbalanced results, faster upload (676Mbps) and slow download (433Mbps). So this kind of confirm it is the problem with the main SingTel Mesh router and not EA7500 V2.

BTW, wired speed is not the problem, 947Mbps download and 902Mbps upload.

 

[xiaofan]

Just set it up again as bridge (AP mode) and tried the close range speed. It is decent for my 2*2 AC clients (mobile phones and one laptop with Intel AC7265 adapter).

Download speed is a bit slower than the upload speed but this may be due to the fact the family members who are using the internet.

Huawei P20 results
https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/6623772597

iPhone X results
https://www.speedtest.net/result/i/4195730771

 

[xiaofan]

BTW, Linksys routers may have an hidden page for advanced wireless settings (my year 2014 old WRT1900AC has it). EA7500 v2 has it. Just change "home.html" to "advanced-wireless.html" in the web GUI and you can access it.

The 2.4GHz and 5GHz Tab have some advance feature like AP Isolations and Transmission power. Then the "MediaTek" tab (WRT1900AC has the Marvell tab, depending on the chipsets) has settings for MU-MIMO and IGMP Snooping (default values are enabled).

 

[hk7310]

BTW, Linksys routers may have an hidden page for advanced wireless settings (my year 2014 old WRT1900AC has it). EA7500 v2 has it. Just change "home.html" to "advanced-wireless.html" in the web GUI and you can access it.

The 2.4GHz and 5GHz Tab have some advance feature like AP Isolations and Transmission power. Then the "MediaTek" tab (WRT1900AC has the Marvell tab, depending on the chipsets) has settings for MU-MIMO and IGMP Snooping (default values are enabled).

I change the 5GHz transmit power to "Medium", it seems has some help on improving wireless speed, to be confirmed by other's setup.

 

[xiaofan]

I change the 5GHz transmit power to "Medium", it seems has some help on improving wireless speed, to be confirmed by other's setup.

Not in my case (single EA7500).

I think this may be due to the fact you have multiple EA8100/EA7500 v2 units and indeed it is better to reduce the transmission power to have better roaming experience if you are using the same SSID.

 

[hereiam7788]

Okay, moving the EA7500 V2 closer to the main router does not help the download speed, rather it further increases the upload speed to 719Mbps but upload speed never hits above 447Mbps.

So I think this is due to limitation of the main router which is the free SingTel Mesh Router (Consumer) AC1900 given by SingTel. I think EA7500 V2 is fine.

Edit to add:
Then I tested my only 3*3 client (not a good one, TP-Link Archer T9UH USB 3 AC1900 adapter) against the main Singtel Mesh router AC1900 at close range and I get similar imbalanced results, faster upload (676Mbps) and slow download (433Mbps). So this kind of confirm it is the problem with the main SingTel Mesh router and not EA7500 V2.

BTW, wired speed is not the problem, 947Mbps download and 902Mbps upload.

seems like this is the common 1Gbps fibre broadband speed for wired connection. no matter which ISP.

 

[hereiam7788]

Not in my case (single EA7500).

I think this may be due to the fact you have multiple EA8100/EA7500 v2 units and indeed it is better to reduce the transmission power to have better roaming experience if you are using the same SSID.

for a single router as main router scenario, is EA8100 significantly better than EA7500 v2 in terms of coverage and speed?

 

[xiaofan]

for a single router as main router scenario, is EA8100 significantly better than EA7500 v2 in terms of coverage and speed?

Not at all. The main benefit and the main problem of Starhub EA8100 v1 compared to Starhub EA7500 v2 is the DFS. Other than that, they are more or less the same.

The advice given to EA8100 users to avoid disconnect and poor wifi are like the following.
1) disable DFS (nice feature but poorly implemented)
2) disable IPv6 (poor FW?)
3) use 3rd part DNS like Google or Cloudflare. (Starhub problem, not Linksys problem)

Once disable DFS, EA8100 v1 is pretty much the same as EA7500 v2, both have the same (lower end MTK dual MIPS core 880Mhz) CPU and same good wireless rating (4*4 AC, AC2600 rated) even though EA7500 v2 is market as AC1900+ to avoid the confusion with EA7500 v1 (v1 has faster CPU but lower wireless rating).