So you got your basic, ISP provided WiFi router all set up, but it just has way too many drawbacks. The WiFi range is bad, and maybe it doesn’t support a 5GHz band, beam forming antennae, and extensive control over the devices connected to your network, even remotely. If these are some things you’re looking for in a router, you did the right thing by getting the Linksys Smart WiFi Router EA7300 ($129.96). This router will alleviate all of these issues, and then some. So, here is how to set up the Linksys Smart WiFi Router:
Setting Up the Linksys Smart WiFi Router EA7300
For the most part, setting up the Linksys Smart WiFi Router is pretty straight-forward. However, if you’re having trouble, this step by step breakdown will help you:
- Connect your Linksys Smart WiFi Router to power, and insert the included Ethernet cable into the yellow port that says “Internet”. The other end of this cable will go into your modem.
- You should be able to see the Linksys logo light up on the router. Wait until the logo stops blinking and becomes stable. Under the router, you’ll be able to see a sticker that says “Wireless Network”, and “Wireless Password”. On your computer, connect to this WiFi network.
- When you’re prompted for the WiFi password, use the password printed on the sticker underneath your router.
- Once you’re connected to the WiFi, go to the Linksys Smart WiFi Router set up webpage. Your router will check for available updates, and you can also set up automatic updates for the router.
- Once the router updates, you’ll have to set up the SSID, and password of your WiFi network. The SSID is basically the name that’ll be displayed on devices when they search for WiFi networks.
- If you happen to change the name for the WiFi network, you’ll have to reconnect your computer to the WiFi network in order for the set up to continue.
- Once you’ve done that, you’ll have to set a router administration password, so you can control the devices connected to your WiFi, assign addresses to them, and do more. Once your router is set up, you’ll be shown the confirmation screen showing you all the usernames and passwords you may need. It is recommended to note these down.
Creating a Linksys Smart WiFi Router Account
With the Linksys Smart WiFi Router, you can actually control your home network connection from anywhere, as long as you have internet connectivity. You also get a plethora of cool features such as Parental Lock, Device Prioritisation, Drive Sharing, and a lot more. Creating the account is easy, and can be done in a matter of minutes; just follow the steps given below:
- When the router set up page asks you if you want to create your Linksys Smart WiFi Router account, click on “Next”.
- Fill up the form in the next page with your details. Make sure you use a valid email ID, as that’s where the verification mail will be sent.
- On your email, open the verification email, and click on the link to verify your account. You can then log in to your Linksys Smart WiFi Router account.
With this account, you can easily manage everything about your router, and the network that it’s connected to. You can see the devices connected to your router, and prioritize them. You can set up parental controls for devices, so you can limit what websites your kids can visit, and you can view network maps to see which devices are connected to your network, in a neat illustration.
Plus, if you download the Linksys app (free on Android, and iOS) on your smartphone, you can remotely do all of these things, and more!
SEE ALSO: How to Prioritize WiFi Networks on Mac and iPhone
Setup Your Linksys Smart WiFi Router and Get More Control
Setting up a Linksys Smart WiFi Router is pretty easy, and can be done by anyone willing to put in 10 minutes of their time. Of course, there is a manual set up mode as well, for people who just want to get into the nitty-gritty details of how their network is being set up. For the most part, though, using the Linksys set-up is definitely the way you should go with. Also, I’d recommend that you set up a Linksys Smart WiFi Router account as well, because it will give you access to a plethora of features, and let you control your WiFi network remotely as well through the apps. So, if you’ve set up a Linksys Smart WiFi Router, do share your experience with it, in the comments section below.
