Linksys EA6900 manual How to get the most out of your dual- band router

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Linksys EA-Series

How to get the most out of your dual- band router

I bought a dual band router, but I’m not sure that I’m getting the most out of it. What should I check? Of the many reasons for owning a dual-band router, the most common is to ensure available bandwidth for streaming high- definition video. At the same time, owners want to make sure that their video streams won’t be interrupted by other wireless network traffic. To get the most out of your dual-band router, you can:

•• Upgrade your wireless clients

•• Split your traffic

Upgrade your wireless clients

If you have network adapters that support only legacy wireless network standards such as 802.11b, you should consider upgrading them with Wireless-N (802.11n) network adapters. Wireless-B (802.11b) devices can slow your entire wireless network. For the best performance, all of your wireless devices should support Wireless-N. You can then select Wireless-N Only as your Network Mode below.

NOTE

If you select Wireless-N Only, you may need to temporarily change your network settings to Mixed to provide access to guests without Wireless-N networking.

Split your traffic

The best way to improve your multimedia wireless performance is to split your wireless traffic between your router’s two bands (ranges of radio frequencies). Your router supports the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band, and handles the two bands as two separate wireless networks to help manage the traffic.

The most common way to split wireless traffic is to use the 2.4 GHz band for basic Internet tasks such as web browsing, email, and downloads, and use the 5.0 GHz band for streaming multimedia. There are several reasons for this approach:

•• Although the 2.4 GHz band may be more crowded with wireless traffic from your neighbors, it’s fine for basic Internet traffic that is not time- sensitive (such as e-mail).

Setting Up: Advanced

•• Even though you are connected to your own wireless network, you are still sharing “air time” with nearby networks.

•• The 5 GHz band is much less crowded than the 2.4 GHz band, so it’s ideal for streaming multimedia.

•• The 5 GHz band has more available channels, so it is more likely that you will have your own, interference-free channel for your wireless network.

By default, your dual-band router uses the same network name on both the

2.4GHz band and the 5 GHz band. The easiest way to segment your traffic is to rename one of your wireless networks. With a separate, descriptive name, it will be easy to connect to the right network.

To reconfigure your wireless network:

1.Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart Wi- Fi” on page 7.

2.Under Router Settings, click Wireless. The Wireless page opens to the Wireless tab.

3.Click Edit next to the network band you want to modify. Change any of the settings below:

a.Enabled—Deselect this checkbox to disable the network band.

b.Network name (SSID)—You can provide a unique SSID for each band of your wireless network. The name must not exceed 32 characters.

c.Password—You can provide a unique password for each band of your wireless network.

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Contents User Guide Contents Specifications Features Package contentsProduct Overview EA6900Home theater ready Top viewBack view Port activity indicatorsWall-mounting template Wall-mounting placementHow to create a home network Setting Up BasicsWhere to find more help What is a network?To install your router How to install your routerTo connect to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi How to configure your routerHow to connect to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi How to improve your wireless connection speed How to connect directly to your routerHow to disable remote access To disable remote accessHow to change your router’s local access password How to change your network’s name and passwordTo change your router’s name and password Under Router Settings, click WirelessHow to change your router’s time zone How to test your Internet connection speedTo set your router’s time zone To test your Internet connection speedHow to connect a computer to your network How to connect devices to your networkHow to connect a USB printer To connect a computer to your networkHow to connect a network device using Wi-Fi Protected Setup How to connect other devicesHow to manually connect a network device To view network device details How to view device detailsTo set parental controls How to set up parental controlsHow to set parental controls Under Block specific sites, click Add How to configure your guest networkTo set up guest access to your network How to back up your router configurationCustomizing the Device List How to customize Linksys Smart Wi-FiUsing widgets Overview Using an External DriveHow to attach a USB drive To enable access to shared folders How to use secured folder accessHow to set up authorized users and shared folders Click Add User How to access shared foldersTo access shared folders while on your network To configure your router as a media server How to set up your router as a media serverTo connect an UPnP device to your router’s media server How to remotely access storageTo set up the FTP server Linksys EA-Series How to manually set up your router Setting Up AdvancedHow to manually set up your Internet connection How to configure basic Internet connection settingsTo manually configure your router’s IPv6 settings IPv6 Internet connection settingsTo reconfigure your wireless network How to get the most out of your dual- band routerMixed Wireless-N Only Wireless-G Only How to control access to your networkWireless-N Only 802.11n only Wireless-AC Only Auto 20 MHz or 40 Mhz MHz OnlySetting Up Advanced Changing firewall settings How to improve security using the built-in firewallTo change your firewall settings VPN PassthroughChanging IPv6 firewall settings How to set up the Dhcp server on your routerTo set IPv6 firewall settings To configure your router’s Dhcp server settingsTo configure Dhcp reservation How to set up Dhcp reservationHappyBunny.linksysnet.com1024 How to access your network on the InternetTo set up Ddns How to connect to your corporate office using a VPN How to clone a MAC addressClick the Internet Settings tab To change your VPN passthrough settingsTo configure media prioritization How to optimize your router for gaming and voiceSet the maximum Upstream Bandwidth How to enable Voice over IP on your networkTo configure UPnP How to configure UPnPTo configure the router for VoIP To view your new router’s settings How to use a router as an access pointTo add your router to an existing router or gateway How to put your new router behind an existing routerTo add your router to your existing wireless network To add another router to share an Internet connection To share an Internet connectionTo use their DNS To extend your network or add wireless capabilities How to expose a device to the InternetTo set up a device in the DMZ To extend your networkSetting Up Advanced How to set up port forwarding for a single port How to set up port forwardingTo set up single port forwarding Port Forwarding and Port TriggeringTo set up single port forwarding for multiple ports How to set up port forwarding for multiple portsHow to set up port forwarding for a range of ports Click Add a new Port Range Forwarding How to set up port range triggering for online gamingTo set up port range forwarding Click Add a new Port Range Triggering To back up your router configuration How to back up and restore your router configurationUnder Router Settings, click Troubleshooting To restore your router configurationHow to restore factory defaults How to upgrade the router’s firmwareHow to check the status of your router To disable the lights How to disable the Ethernet port status lightsHow to test your Internet connection To enable and view logs How to configure and use logsYour router was not successfully set up TroubleshootingWindows XP Service Pack update To install Service PackMessage To fix the problemTo fix the problem on Windows computers Linksys EA-Series Linksys Smart Wi-Fi does not open in your web browser After setupRebooting your router Internet appears to be unavailableAll other troubleshooting has been unsuccessful You cannot access Linksys Smart Wi-FiEnvironmental SpecificationsLinksys EA6900 8220-01617A00

EA6900 specifications

The Linksys EA6900 is a dual-band wireless router that stands out for its impressive performance and advanced features tailored to meet the demands of modern households. Designed to deliver reliable connectivity for multiple devices simultaneously, it supports the latest Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) technology, enabling faster speeds and improved coverage compared to older routers.

One of the main features of the EA6900 is its dual-band capability, which operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. This allows users to connect to the less congested 5 GHz band for activities that require higher bandwidth, such as streaming HD video or online gaming, while still having the 2.4 GHz band available for basic activities like browsing and email.

The router provides a maximum throughput of up to 1900 Mbps, making it suitable for bandwidth-intensive applications. The beamforming technology further enhances the signal strength and reliability by focusing the wireless signal directly toward connected devices rather than broadcasting it in all directions. This results in better performance and coverage throughout the home, eliminating dead zones and improving connectivity in challenging locations.

The Linksys EA6900 also features four Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing wired connections for devices such as gaming consoles, PCs, and smart TVs, which benefit from stable and high-speed connections. Additionally, it comes equipped with a USB 3.0 port for sharing files and media across the network, allowing users to connect external storage devices for easy access to data.

Another key characteristic of the EA6900 is its user-friendly interface, facilitated by the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi app. This application allows users to manage their network settings remotely, including monitoring connected devices, setting parental controls, and prioritizing bandwidth for specific applications or devices.

Security is a top priority for the Linksys EA6900, featuring WPA2 encryption and a built-in firewall to protect the network from unauthorized access and threats. The router also supports IPv6, ensuring compatibility with the latest internet protocols.

In summary, the Linksys EA6900 is a robust and versatile router that combines advanced technology with user-friendly features, making it an excellent choice for households with multiple devices requiring reliable connectivity. With its dual-band capability, impressive speed, and enhanced security measures, it provides users with the performance they need for today’s connected lifestyle.
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