Linksys Velop - WiFi that sets you free

[uRiZEn]

ZTE brand is configured as ONT even though it may have "Singtel Optical Network Router" printed on the top cover . My Singtel ONT is also ZTE brand (replacement in Sept 2018 for my old Ericsson ONT).

Therefore you can not directly connect Velop to the ZTE.

If you do not want to use the Singtel issued router as the main router, you can buy TP-Link TL-SG105E smart switch and then use the following configuration. Take note it is TL-SG105E (smart switch) and not TL-SG105 (dumb switch).
ZTE ONT -- TP-Link TL-SG105E Port 1
TP-Link TL-SG105E Port 2 or Port 3 -- Velop WAN port
TP-Link TL-SG105E Port 4 -- Singtel TV box if you have any
TP-Link TL-SG105E Port 5 -- backup use

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-singtel-asus-rt-ax86u.6564040/post-137498724

Darn. Thought I luck it out. Thanks for the advice and information bro

 

[wira]

hi
not sure if this has been asked before.
am wiring my house with LAN points on every floor with each LAN point terminate to the DB box.

I want to use linksys velop with ethernet backhaul for all the child nodes.

according to linksys i need to connect the lan cable in daisy chain as per diagram below.
How do i do that with my lan wiring at my property ?

Or can all the linksys node connect to a switch and the ethernet backhaul will work ?

 

[xiaofan]

hi
not sure if this has been asked before.
am wiring my house with LAN points on every floor with each LAN point terminate to the DB box.

I want to use linksys velop with ethernet backhaul for all the child nodes.

according to linksys i need to connect the lan cable in daisy chain as per diagram below.
How do i do that with my lan wiring at my property ?

Or can all the linksys node connect to a switch and the ethernet backhaul will work ?

It is possible to use a switch to connect the additional nodes to the parent node.
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=243552

 

[wira]

It is possible to use a switch to connect the additional nodes to the parent node.
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=243552

thanks the advice. would i need to set the velop in bridge mode for this setup ?

alternatively instead of using a bridge, is it also better for me to use this linksys mesh router MR6350 ?
https://www.linksys.com/sg/wireless...-stream-mesh-wifi-5-router-mr6350/p/p-mr6350/
Will it work with the Velop ? if so how should the setup be ? should the MR6350 be the primary node and the velop be child nodes all connected to the MR6350 lan points ?

 

[xiaofan]

thanks the advice. would i need to set the velop in bridge mode for this setup ?

No need.

You can put the main Velop in the DB box as the main router, then add the switch in the DB box as well (eg: cheap TP-Link TL-SG105 at below S$30) if your Velop model does not have enough LAN ports.

I am not familiar with the MR series so no comments there.

 

[wira]

No need.

You can put the main Velop in the DB box as the main router, then add the switch in the DB box as well (eg: cheap TP-Link TL-SG105 at below S$30) if your Velop model does not have enough LAN ports.

I am not familiar with the MR series so no comments there.

thanks @xiaofan !

I checked with Linksys support just now as well.

seems MR6350 is a Mesh router. It's compatible with all the Linksys Velop models.
so i can use MR6350 router as the parent node/router and set the Velop as child nodes and can be connected wired to its 4 LAN Ports.

seems better as mr6350 also works as a node to expand my wifi coverage and it cost around $50 now only

 

[omelet]

Anyone here uses guest network? Does the linksys's guest network still uses captive portal nowadays?

 

[wira]

Anyone here uses guest network? Does the linksys's guest network still uses captive portal nowadays?

i do using the velop ...it behave just like normal wifi ..just only access to internet but not to the home network

 

[omelet]

i do using the velop ...it behave just like normal wifi ..just only access to internet but not to the home network

Thanks, what I am trying to find out is if it support WPA2/3 for guest wifi.
My last Linksys EA8500 router uses captive portal for guest network, it's an open wifi, no encryption.
User connects to it and presented a login page on the web browser, then they key in the username and password in order to access.
I am currently looking for a new router, but do not like how past linksys router behave. So was wondering if they had changed it.

 

[wira]

Thanks, what I am trying to find out is if it support WPA2/3 for guest wifi.
My last Linksys EA8500 router uses captive portal for guest network, it's an open wifi, no encryption.
User connects to it and presented a login page on the web browser, then they key in the username and password in order to access.
I am currently looking for a new router, but do not like how past linksys router behave. So was wondering if they had changed it.

As i mentioned for linksys velop guest network works like the normal wifi network. you choose the guest wifi ssid, enter a password ( which you preset when setup ). I presume it will follow the normal wifi security settings ie WPA2/3.
No need open browser to enter password to connect to internet.

 

[cscs3]

Thanks, what I am trying to find out is if it support WPA2/3 for guest wifi.
My last Linksys EA8500 router uses captive portal for guest network, it's an open wifi, no encryption.
User connects to it and presented a login page on the web browser, then they key in the username and password in order to access.
I am currently looking for a new router, but do not like how past linksys router behave. So was wondering if they had changed it.

Same here. Also using EA8500. Gave up on Linksys support. Will not consider another Linksys.

Normal use is ok. But never expect they dont even support any security fix to their router after so many years.

 

[wira]

Same here. Also using EA8500. Gave up on Linksys support. Will not consider another Linksys.

Normal use is ok. But never expect they dont even support any security fix to their router after so many years.

hmm ...linksys support usually quite good. i always managed get help via the live chat.
is your product end of life already hence no more firmware upgrades ?

 

[xiaofan]

hmm ...linksys support usually quite good. i always managed get help via the live chat.
is your product end of life already hence no more firmware upgrades ?

Indeed the EA8500 mentioned by omelet and csc3 are EOLed. It was released in April 2014 (as a high end model) and the last FW release was in March 2019.
https://downloads.linksys.com/suppo...A8500_1.1.9.192968_Customer_Release_Notes.txt
To Linksys standard, it is not bad actually to have the FW updates for about 5 years. And it is actually supported by OpenWRT so people can install OpenWRT to extend the life.
https://openwrt.org/toh/linksys/ea8500
My Linksys WRT1900AC v1 was released in April 2014 (kind of flagship model at that time) and the last FW release was in April 2018.
https://downloads.linksys.com/downl...00AC_Customer_Release_Notes_1.1.10.187766.txt
I think it is quite normal for the average consumer router companies to act like this, with the exception of Asus which still provide the support to RT-AC68U which was released in Oct 2013. Relatively "short-life" product from Asus is RT-AC87U which was released in Nov 2014 and the last FW was in May 2021 (roughly 6.5 years).

I tend to think Linksys HW/FW were solid -- I have the WRT1900AC and EA7500 V2 myself. FW feature may be more limited compared to Asus but still get the job done. WRT1900AC was my main router from April 2014 to Sept 2020 (for 6.5 years). Both are supported by OpenWRT and I have flashed OpenWRT FW to extend the life of them.

BTW, main feature missing from the Velop/MR series is the Singtel VLAN support (only relevant to Singtel ONT users).

 

[cscs3]

hmm ...linksys support usually quite good. i always managed get help via the live chat.
is your product end of life already hence no more firmware upgrades ?

Is quite bad actually. Has one friend worked in Starhub also comment the same.
This could explained why the company has sold and change hand so many times.

 

[cscs3]

Indeed the EA8500 mentioned by omelet and csc3 are EOLed. It was released in April 2014 (as a high end model) and the last FW release was in March 2019.
https://downloads.linksys.com/suppo...A8500_1.1.9.192968_Customer_Release_Notes.txt
To Linksys standard, it is not bad actually to have the FW updates for about 5 years. And it is actually supported by OpenWRT so people can install OpenWRT to extend the life.
https://openwrt.org/toh/linksys/ea8500
My Linksys WRT1900AC v1 was released in April 2014 (kind of flagship model at that time) and the last FW release was in April 2018.
https://downloads.linksys.com/downl...00AC_Customer_Release_Notes_1.1.10.187766.txt
I think it is quite normal for the average consumer router companies to act like this, with the exception of Asus which still provide the support to RT-AC68U which was released in Oct 2013. Relatively "short-life" product from Asus is RT-AC87U which was released in Nov 2014 and the last FW was in May 2021 (roughly 6.5 years).

I tend to think Linksys HW/FW were solid -- I have the WRT1900AC and EA7500 V2 myself. FW feature may be more limited compared to Asus but still get the job done. WRT1900AC was my main router from April 2014 to Sept 2020 (for 6.5 years). Both are supported by OpenWRT and I have flashed OpenWRT FW to extend the life of them.

BTW, main feature missing from the Velop/MR series is the Singtel VLAN support (only relevant to Singtel ONT users).

Actually if you check EA8500. They only released FW in that 5 years one time only. My other ASUS AC1900 today still have FW release. And even new FW to support mesh.

 

[xiaofan]

Actually if you check EA8500. They only released FW in that 5 years one time only. My other ASUS AC1900 today still have FW release. And even new FW to support mesh.

Your comment about EA8500 FW update is certainly incorrect, just look at the release note and you will know multiple FW releases were done.

I can understand your unhappiness about Linksys though since you are comparing it with Asus.

 

[cscs3]

Your comment about EA8500 FW update is certainly incorrect, just look at the release note and you will know multiple FW releases were done.

I can understand your unhappiness about Linksys though since you are comparing it with Asus.

Sorry, mix up the model number. I am referring to EA9500 and especially the EA9500 v2 hardware. Singapore sold it as EA9500s. Which has the much faster CPU.

This has been widely discussed in Linksys user community. Suggest those who want to use Linksys visit their community.

 

[xiaofan]

Sorry, mix up the model number. I am referring to EA9500 and especially the EA9500 v2 hardware. Singapore sold it as EA9500s. Which has the much faster CPU.

This has been widely discussed in Linksys user community. Suggest those who want to use Linksys visit their community.

EA9500 V1 and V1.1 are not too bad with FW release from May 2016 to Feb 2021
https://downloads.linksys.com/suppo...A9500_1.1.8.204089_Customer_Release_Notes.txt
But indeed V2 FW support is bad with only one FW update in Mar 2018 after the initial release in August 2017.
https://downloads.linksys.com/downl...9500S_2.1.1.186574_Customer_Release_Notes.txt

 

[kimsix]

EA9500 V1 and V1.1 are not too bad with FW release from May 2016 to Feb 2021
https://downloads.linksys.com/suppo...A9500_1.1.8.204089_Customer_Release_Notes.txt
But indeed V2 FW support is bad with only one FW update in Mar 2018 after the initial release in August 2017.
https://downloads.linksys.com/downl...9500S_2.1.1.186574_Customer_Release_Notes.txt

woah the v2 is a big specs bump, should be a new model number

i guess because it came at end of ac and linksys moved to ax development, because v2 specs are what top ax routers have used

 

[cscs3]

EA9500 V1 and V1.1 are not too bad with FW release from May 2016 to Feb 2021
https://downloads.linksys.com/suppo...A9500_1.1.8.204089_Customer_Release_Notes.txt
But indeed V2 FW support is bad with only one FW update in Mar 2018 after the initial release in August 2017.
https://downloads.linksys.com/downl...9500S_2.1.1.186574_Customer_Release_Notes.txt

V1 and v1.1 is after a seriuos complaint in USA users. Some users wanted to put Linksys in Court base on discussion in the community.

I have the v2 hardware, the band steeling function really cannot make it. Report the issue many time and without any fix. All they can suggest is do not use the feature.