Linksys EA6100 AC1200 Dual-Band Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Router Frequently Asked Questions

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
HARDWARE INFORMATION

1. 
What is the Linksys EA6100 AC1200 Dual-Band Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Router?
2.  What are the parts of the Linksys EA6100?
3.  What do the LEDs on the Linksys EA6100 indicate?
4.  What is the warranty period of the Linksys EA6100?
5.  Where can I find the router’s serial number?
6.  What USB standards does the Linksys EA6100 support?

SETUP & INSTALLATION

1. 
What are the requirements in setting up the Linksys EA6100?
2.  How do I set up the Linksys EA6100?
3.  Will I be able to run the setup on a hardwired computer even though my wireless adapter is disabled?
4.  What is the default IP Address, Username, and Password of the Linksys EA6100?

FIRMWARE UPGRADE

1. 
How do I upgrade the firmware on the Linksys EA6100?

WIRELESS CONNECTION & SECURITY

1. 
What wireless security modes do the Linksys EA6100 support?
2.  Which wireless connection standards and frequencies are supported by the Linksys EA6100?
3.  How do I connect a wireless device to the wireless network of the Linksys EA6100?
4.  Where can I see the default wireless network name (SSID) and wireless password of the Linksys EA6100?
5.  Can I change the default wireless settings during Smart Setup?
6.  Does the Linksys EA6100 support simultaneous dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)?
7.  What is 802.11ac, and what kinds of speed does it support?
8.  Which wireless band should be used to achieve a speed of up to 1300 Mbps?
9.  How do I change the channel of my wireless network?

ADVANCED CONFIGURATION

1. 
What is a media server and how does it work?
2.  Can I connect a USB hub to the USB port of the Linksys EA6100 to use multiple devices?
3.  Does the Linksys EA6100 allow VPN tunnels using IPSec, L2TP or PPTP protocols to pass-through the router?
4.  Does the Linksys EA6100 support SPI firewall?
5.  What is the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and what is it used for?
6.  
Does this support IPv6 RD for its internet connection?

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. 
How can I reset the Linksys EA6100 to factory defaults?
2.  I have reset the Linksys EA6100 and now I can’t launch the Smart Setup.  What can I do?
3.  What should I do if I can't connect to the Internet wirelessly and my network name is not listed in Available Networks?
4.  What should I do when my wireless network performance is slow, inconsistent, suffers from weak signal, or having difficulty maintaining a VPN connection?
5.  My Parental Controls blocks HTTPS but returns a blank page instead of redirecting to the Parental Controls screen.  Is this a normal behavior?
 

HARDWARE INFORMATION

1.  What is the Linksys EA6100 AC1200 Dual-Band Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Router?

The Linksys EA6100 AC1200 Dual-Band Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Router is a dual-band 802.11ac/802.11n router, in the EA-series product line, with Fast Ethernet ports and one (1) USB 2.0 port.  It supports data rates up to 300 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps at 5 GHz.

The Linksys EA6100 also supports Smart Setup.  For more information about its product features and specification, click
here.

2.  What are the parts of the Linksys EA6100?

The Linksys EA6100 has the following parts:
  • Ports - Four (4) Fast Ethernet/LAN, one (1) Internet/WAN, one (1) USB 2.0, one (1) power adapter
  • LEDs - Power/WPS, Ethernet/LAN, Internet status light
  • Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) push button
  • Reset button
  • Two (2) external antennas
3.  What do the LEDs on the Linksys EA6100 indicate?

Power / WPS (Green)    

 
Status
  • OFF - Power OFF
  • Flashing (0.7 Hz) - Booting / system self-test / firmware upgrade
  • Flashing (1.0 Hz) - WPS in progress (up to 2 minutes)
  • Flashing (2.0 Hz) - WPS error / WPS session overlap for 2 minutes, then back to solid green
  • Solid - Power ON / device is ready / WPS is successful
LAN (Green)
 
Status
  • OFF - No physical link on LAN port
  • Flashing - Data is transmitting through LAN port
  • Solid - Physical link is up on LAN port.  No data activity.
Internet (Green)
 
Status
  • OFF - No physical link on Internet port
  • Flashing - Data is transmitting through Internet port
  • Solid - Physical link is up on Internet port.  No data activity.
4.  What is the warranty period of the Linksys EA6100?

The warranty period is dependent on the country of purchase.  For more information about your device’s warranty, click here.

5.  Where can I find the router’s serial number?

The router’s serial number is printed on the sticker located underneath the device.

6.  What USB standards does the Linksys EA6100 support?

The Linksys EA6100 has one (1) USB 2.0 port.

SETUP & INSTALLATION


1.  What are the requirements in setting up the Linksys EA6100?

Before setting up the Linksys EA6100, you will need the following:
  • A broadband Internet connection such as a Cable or DSL modem with RJ45 (Ethernet) port
  • At least one (1) computer with an installed network interface adapter
  • RJ45 Ethernet networking cable
  • Internet browser (Internet Explorer® 8 or higher, Firefox®, Google Chrome™ or Safari®)
  • Minimum 1 GHz processor and 512 MB RAM or a mobile device running the latest iOS or Android™ operating system, and Windows® 7.5 or higher
2.  How do I set up the Linksys EA6100?

There are two (2) ways to set up the Linksys EA6100 on the computer:
  • Smart Setup - The Smart Setup is embedded in the firmware of the latest Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers.  It allows you to run setup from a web browser.  To learn how to set up the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers using Smart Setup, click here.
IMPORTANT:  For PPPoE users, in order to start the Smart Setup you must enter “linksyssmartwifi.com” or “192.168.1.1” in a web browser since you will not be automatically redirected to the Smart Setup wizard.
  • Manually - There is an option to bypass Smart Setup and log in straight into the web-based setup page.  On the home page of the Smart Setup, check the I want to skip Setup and configure my router manually option and click Next.
3.  Will I be able to run the setup on a hardwired computer even though my wireless adapter is disabled?

Yes, you will be able to run the setup on a hardwired computer even though the wireless adapter is disabled.  Just connect the router to the computer using an Ethernet cable and start the Smart Setup.

4.  What is the default IP Address, Username, and Password of the Linksys EA6100?

The default IP Address for this router is 192.168.1.1 and admin is the default for both Username and Password.

FIRMWARE UPGRADE


1.  How do I upgrade the firmware on the Linksys EA6100?

Log in to your Linksys cloud account.  Go to Connectivity and under the Basic tab, check Automatic.  This will automatically upgrade the Linksys EA6100 if there is a new firmware available.  You may also click the Check for Updates button to check if there is a new firmware available.

NOTE:  If you wish to upgrade the Linksys EA6100 manually, download the latest firmware from the
Linksys EA6100 Downloads page first.  Then, click the Choose File button on your Linksys cloud account.

WIRELESS CONNECTION & SECURITY


1.  What wireless security modes do the Linksys EA6100 support?

The Linksys EA6100 supports WEP (64-bit/128-bit), WPA2/WPA-Mixed, WPA-Personal, WPA2-Personal, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise, and RADIUS.

2.  Which wireless connection standards and frequencies are supported by the Linksys EA6100?

The Linksys EA6100 is compatible with 802.11ac, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11a.  It supports the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, at the same time supporting the 20 MHz, 40 MHz and 80 MHz (5 GHz band only) channel widths.

3.  How do I connect a wireless device to the wireless network of the Linksys EA6100?

To connect your wireless device to the network, follow the steps below:

 
Step 1:
Go to your device settings or adapter settings if you are using a laptop and enable the Wi-Fi setting.

 
Step 2:
Scan the wireless networks in the area and select the wireless network name (SSID) of your router.

Step 3:
If you wireless network is secured, enter the password/security key and tap Connect or Join.

4.  Where can I see the default wireless network name (SSID) and wireless password of the Linksys EA6100?

The default SSID and passphrase can be located at the bottom of the Linksys EA6100.

NOTE:  If you want to personalized the SSID and wireless password, click
here for step-by-step instructions.

5.  Can I change the default wireless settings during Smart Setup?

Yes, you will have the option to customize the SSID and the passphrase.

6.  Does the Linksys EA6100 support simultaneous dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)?

Yes, the Linksys EA6100 supports simultaneous dual-band.

7.  What is 802.11ac, and what kinds of speed does it support?

The draft 802.11ac technology works on the 5 GHz band.  The Linksys EA6100 can have a speed of up to 1300 Mbps wirelessly when matched with an 802.11ac adapter.

8.  Which wireless band should be used to achieve a speed of up to 1300 Mbps?

The 5 GHz band is used to achieve a speed of up to 1300 Mbps.

9.  How do I change the channel of my wireless network?

For instructions on how you can change the channel of your wireless network, click here.

ADVANCED CONFIGURATION


1.  What is a media server and how does it work?

The built-in media server streams music, video, and photos from the attached storage device to any UPnP compatible media adapter.  And you can get to your files from anywhere in the world through the Internet.

2.  Can I connect a USB hub to the USB port of the Linksys EA6100 to use multiple devices?

No.  You cannot connect a USB hub to the USB port of your Linksys EA6100.

3.  Does the Linksys EA6100 allow VPN tunnels using IPSec, L2TP or PPTP protocols to pass-through the router?

Yes.  The Linksys EA6100 allows VPN tunnels using IPSec, L2TP or PPTP protocols to pass-through the router.

4.  Does the Linksys EA6100 support SPI firewall?

Yes.  The Linksys EA6100 supports SPI firewall.

5.  What is the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and what is it used for?

The DMZ screen allows one (1) local user to be exposed to the Internet for use of a special-purpose service such as Internet gaming and videoconferencing.  DMZ hosting forwards all the ports at the same time to one (1) computer.  Port Forwarding is more secure because it only opens the ports you want to open.


6.  Does this support IPv6 RD for its internet connection?

Yes. It supports IPv6 RD and 6to4 tunneling.

TROUBLESHOOTING


1.  How can I reset the Linksys EA6100 to factory defaults?

There are two (2) ways to reset the Linksys EA6100 to factory defaults:
  • Hardware Reset - Press and hold the Reset button at the bottom panel of the Linksys EA6100 for about 10 seconds then release.
  • Software Reset - Log in to your Linksys cloud account.  Under Router Settings, click Troubleshooting > Diagnostics.  Click Reset under Factory reset.
2.  I have reset the Linksys EA6100 and now I can’t launch the Smart Setup.  What can I do?

You can try the following troubleshooting steps:

 
Step 1:
Enter “myrouter.local” or “192.168.1.1” in a web browser.

Step 2:
If your computer has a static IP Address, make sure it has valid DNS numbers.  If not, set the computer to obtain an IP Address automatically.

Step 3:
Retry Smart Setup then, if needed, reassign a static IP Address back on the computer.

3.  What should I do if I can't connect to the Internet wirelessly and my network name is not listed in Available Networks?

Try to perform the following steps to resolve the issue:
  • Verify that your router is ON and the Linksys logo is solidly lit.
  • If you are far from the router, you might try moving closer to see if your device is out of the wireless network range.
  • Using a computer attached to the router via a network cable, open the router's web-based setup page by entering “myrouter.local” or “http://192.168.1.1” and make sure that Broadcast SSID is Enabled under the Wireless section.
4.  What should I do when my wireless network performance is slow, inconsistent, suffers from weak signal, or having difficulty maintaining a VPN connection?

Wireless technology uses radio frequency as a medium to connect devices.  This means that connectivity and the throughput performance between devices decrease when the distance between devices increases.

Other factors that will cause signal degradation are the following:
  • Obstructions such as walls, fixtures, furniture, and metal appliances
  • Wireless signal interference caused by other wireless networks using the same frequency such as baby monitors, microwave ovens, and etc.
Troubleshooting Tips
  • In order to determine if wireless issues are related to distance, it is recommended to temporarily move the computer within 10 feet from the router if possible.
  • You may also change the wireless channel of your router.  This will resolve issues of wireless interference to improve the performance and reliability of your network.
5.  My Parental Controls blocks HTTPS but returns a blank page instead of redirecting to the Parental Controls screen.  Is this a normal behavior?

Yes, for HTTPS this is by design.  Some HTTP sites that redirect to HTTPS will produce a blank screen as well.

Was this support article useful?

Additional Support Questions?
Search Again