At first we would like to thank Linksys for offering samples of their Linksys MX5300 Velop Whole Home Intelligent Mesh WiFi 6 (AX) System, Tri-Band, for testing and reviewing.

 

 

 

 

Makes Your Current WiFi Feel Like Dial-Up

 

WiFi 6 technology delivers true gigabit speeds throughout your entire home, with up to 5.3 Gbps and 12-stream connectivity. Next-generation OFDMA (orthogonal frequency-division multiple access) increases efficiency in high-density scenarios, delivering high-speed WiFi to multiple devices simultaneously.

 

Increased Coverage Range

 

Velop's Intelligent Mesh Technology, combined with WiFi 6, delivers gigabit WiFi speeds to every corner of your home, including outdoor areas.

 

Supports Even the Biggest WiFi Hoarders

 

With 4x the capacity of WiFi 5, WiFi 6 provides enough bandwidth for 50+ devices. And MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology allows downloads and uploads on eight devices simultaneously.

 

Protect Your Connected Life with Linksys Shield

 

With Linksys Shield, you have greater control of your network and can protect your family against online security risks. You’ll gain access to Parental Controls, so you can easily manage your family’s connected life and selectively filter content, manage screen time on specific devices, and even pause the internet during family time.

 

Linksys Aware, the first-ever Mesh WiFi motion sensing technology

 

Linksys Aware is a WiFi motion-sensing subscription service that uses your existing Intelligent Mesh WiFi network to sense motion without the use of cameras or additional hardware, ensuring privacy and convenience throughout your home. It detects activity via WiFi signals and sends you notifications through the Linksys App when unexpected motion has occurred.

 

Eliminates Interference from Nearby Networks

 

WiFi 6 BSS (Basic Service Set) Coloring technology eliminates interference from nearby WiFi networks, so you always have a strong, clear signal for all your devices.

 

Advanced Security

 

Safeguard your network with wireless WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access 2) encryption and an SPI (stateful packet inspection) firewall.

 

USB and Ethernet Ports Offer Versatile Connectivity

 

Equipped with four Gigabit-Ethernet ports, the MX5300 supports wired connections up to 10x faster than standard Ethernet. And thanks to the ultra-fast USB 3.0 port, you can easily connect shared storage devices.

 

Backed By 3-Year Limited Warranty and Tech Support

 

Velop is backed by both a three-year warranty and a three-year tech support guarantee. This premium level of support also includes a dedicated phone support line.

 

CUSTOMIZE AND MANAGE YOUR HOME WiFi ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

 

With the Linksys App, you can closely monitor and manage your home WiFi remotely using a smartphone or tablet.

 

Parental Controls: Ensure a safe Internet experience for your kids--even when you're away from home. Reduce online distractions during homework, family or dinnertime. Restrict access to inappropriate or distracting content, control usage, and block specific devices from accessing the Internet.

Guest Access: Generate a separate, password-protected Wi-Fi network for up to 50 guests and easily share the password via text.

Device Prioritization: Prioritize devices that need the most speed.

 

A WiFi Mesh Network in Minutes

 

Velop creates an efficient mesh WiFi network with all Internet-service-provider-supplied equipment and speeds. The simple, app-based setup will guide you through the process in minutes.

 

Wi-Fi Technology:

AX5300 MU-MIMO Tri-Band Gigabit, 1147+2402+1733 Mbps

 

Key Features:

Easy Setup Easy Setup

4x Better Performance than an AC Router

Tri-Band Dynamic Backhaul

4x4 MU-MIMO

2.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor

Next-Gen OFDMA Technology

Advanced Security

USB 3.0 Port

Control from the App

Four Gigabit Ethernet Ports

 

Network Standards:

802.11a

802.11b

802.11g

WiFi 4 (802.11n)

WiFi 5 (802.11ac)

WiFi 6 (802.11ax)

 

Wi-Fi Speed:

AX5300 (1147+2402+1733 Mbps)

 

Wi-Fi Bands:

2.4 GHz + 5GHz (x2)

 

Wi-Fi Range:

Large Homes

Number of Ethernet Ports:

1 Gigabit WAN

4 Gigabit LAN

 

Other Ports:

USB 3.0

Power

 

Antennas:

Internal

 

Processor:

2.2 GHz Quad-Core

 

Memory:

Flash: 512MB; RAM: 1GB

 

Wireless Encryption:

up to 128-bit

 

Easy Setup:

Simple and secured App based set-up

Required for set-up: Internet connection with Modem. Mobile device with Android 4.4 or iOS 9 and higher, Bluetooth preferred.

 

Dimensions (LxWxH):

4.5" x 4.5" x 9.6"

 

Weight:

3.5 lbs

 

Security Features:

WPA2

WPA2 / WPA3 Mixed Mode

 

Power Supply:

Input: 100-240V, 50-60Hz; Output: 12V/4A

 

With the introduction of MX5300, Linksys brand has updated the Velop series with WiFi 6 support (802.11ax), while the MU-MIMO Tri-Band Gigabit feature does support a 2.4GHz + 5GHz + 5GHz configuration, with a bandwidth of 1147Mbps + 2402Mbps + 1733Mbps. The last 5GHz band is used as backhaul between the main unit and the child nodes, for not interfering with the client device connections. As we have seen before, each Velop unit can act as a standalone router or as an additional satellite node in existing Velop networks, in order to extend the coverage further.

 

The MX5300 does also come with next-gen Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology, for boosting the total throughput, a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 512MB of internal memory, 1GB RAM, eight internal antennas, support for WPA3 encryption and more!

 

The single-unit variant does ship inside a medium-sized cardboard enclosure and right on the frontal area we will get to see how the product does look like. Here, we will be also able to spot some of the highlights:

 

 

 

On the side of the box, we will learn of the product specifications, but also of the configuration application. Linksys is insisting on using it right after the router has been plugged in, because it comes with a handy, easy to use wizard:

 

 

 

Product requirements can be spotted as well:

 

 

 

In the back, the manufacturer has included the full list of product highlights, in multiple languages:

 

 

 

After removing the top packaging layer, we will end up with another box, which is all-blue and comes with a large WiFi logo on top:

 

 

 

By lifting the top cover, we will be able to spot the router, but also its bundle:

 

 

 

We will receive the power adapter, a nice-looking tangle-free Ethernet cable, a Setup Guide in multiple languages but also a small disk with documentation in electronic format:

 

 

 

The installation leaflet provides the user with a few steps in order to begin the installation:

 

 

 

The supplied flat-type cable does share the color scheme of the router and comes with the printed Linksys logo as well:

 

 

 

The power adapter is noticeable larger versus the one that was shipped along with the previous Velop model. The unit is rated 12V at 4A for the output:

 

 

 

The adapter cable ends up with a jack plug:

 

 

 

There is a visible difference in size between the first Velop model and the one we are reviewing, but some design elements have been preserved:

 

 

 

The Velop mesh router chassis does have the shape of a small tower, elegant enough to fit in with most other hardware you may have in your living room, bedroom or other areas of the house. In the front, we will be able to spot a subtle Linksys logo:

 

 

 

While with the older Velop we could spot a ventilation grill on one side, this newer model does not seem to need it:

 

 

 

The connectivity is no longer limited to two Ethernet ports, but we are getting a layout like regular routers out there:

 

 

 

From left to right, we can spot the 12V DC-IN port, the WAN port highlighted as Internet, for connecting the cable coming from our ISP modem or other hardware, no less than four LAN ports for connecting PCs, laptops, printers or other Ethernet-enabled hardware in wired mode, but also an USB port for connecting storage:

 

 

 

Instead of crowding up the Ethernet interfaces with the rest of the buttons, the new Velop does come with the On/Off button, the WPS but also the Reset buttons on the bottom. All around, we do have a rubber foot so the small tower will remain steady on the surface. Lastly, we would like to remind of the two stickers, one of which contains the necessary info that needs to be entered up in the setup wizard, while the second shows the product serial number along with the MAC address of the router:

 

 

 

The design layout of the top area has been preserved, with the ventilation grill and the status LED, which signals the following:

 

-blinking purple -> the router OS is loading up

-solid blue -> connected, all operational

-blinking purple -> setup in progress

-solid purple -> ready for setup

-blinking red -> disconnected (parent node disconnected from ISP or child node could not connect to parent node)

-solid red -> no Internet connection from ISP

-solid yellow -> weak connection, will light up only on the child node and means that we haven’t positioned the node optimally

 

 

 

 

After plugging in the cable from the ISP and powered on the unit, the startup procedure ended up with a solid purple color, meaning that the product is ready for setup:

 

 

 

The Linksys application can be easily downloaded from either Apple or Google application stores. After creating a new account, the wizard will search for nearby configurable hardware:

 

 

 

We will be asked to confirm that the LED of the node is currently blinking purple (the application has found the node and has started the setup procedure):

 

 

In the next step, Internet connectivity will be tested on the node:

 

 

If not found, the user will be asked some additional questions:

 

 

If needed, we can enter some extra ISP-related settings from the next screen:

 

 

If we choose one of the custom ISP options, we will be prompted to log in to the SSID if the node, by using the supplied credentials on its bottom stickers:

 

 

Depending on the ISP settings, the next page will differ; here we only have to enter up the PPPoE credentials:

 

 

The settings will be immediately applied:

 

 

Internet connectivity will be checked again:

 

 

If all went well, the node will be linked to the Linksys account:

 

 

In the next step, we will be asked of the name of our WiFi network and a password for it:

 

 

Some configuration options will be uploaded to the node:

 

 

The node can be also named, for an easier identification inside the platforms:

 

 

If all went fine, we will be confirmed via the application:

 

 

The user will be informed that updates to the latest firmware versions will happen automatically, overnight, so normal activity will not be disturbed:

 

 

By pressing the Go to Dashboard button, we will go to the main interface, but let’s first explore the options when installing a secondary (child) node:

 

 

When trying to connect a new child node, it will link up to the parent node, exchange data and then extend the WiFi coverage accordingly. The wizard has prepared options for that, but also for setting up a completely different network:

 

 

Node placement instructions will be offered as well:

 

 

Next, we will be instructed to get the child node ready:

 

 

After detection, we will be prompted to confirm that the status LED is blinking purple:

 

 

The node will then be configured automatically and added to the network:

 

 

A final message will be displayed if all configuration went smoothly:

 

 

The main configuration screen looks about the same as we have noted with the previous Velop model and is quite easy to use! The Dashboard will show the Internet connection status, the number of connected devices to the network, allow some easy access regarding the WiFi network settings, enable/disable Guest Access, enable Parental Controls or work with Device Prioritization:

 

 

The devices will be shown how are connected to the network but also on which node:

 

 

The WiFi settings can be configured in more detail from the dedicated section:

 

 

A Channel Scanner/Finder is also available, for improving the connection quality:

 

 

We can also get to see the currently connected channel details:

 

 

Guest access can be enabled as well:

 

 

In case we do have external storage connected, we will be shown details on how to connect to it in this specific menu:

 

 

The utility packs a SpeedTest section for testing out the ISP subscription connection speeds:

 

 

Parental Controls are available as well:

 

 

Bandwidth can be prioritized to specific devices, if needed:

 

 

We can receive notifications from the application if a child node goes offline:

 

 

More information can be found in the Velop Administration menu:

 

 

Besides Velop system reboot, we can also find details regarding the nodes:

 

 

Advanced Settings menu is populated with some more configuration sections:

 

 

Internet Settings

Port Settings

WiFi MAC Filters

Local Network Settings

 

The Linksys account details can be modified as well:

 

 

Of course, Feedback can be offered to the developers:

 

 

A Help section is available, for the users to take advantage of:

 

 

While the Linksys mobile application is preferred for configuration, we are also permitted to access the browser GUI:

 

 

 

First, we will be prompted to login to the interface:

 

 

The graphical user interface is very similar to the one we have seen with other Linksys non-mesh routers: we have multiple widgets in the middle and lots of menus on the left side:

 

 

The Device List option will list the devices connected to the nodes since their last reboot, even the offline ones:

 

 

Guest Access can be configured next:

 

 

The Parental Controls can be configured as well, on specific stations:

 

 

The Device Prioritization menu will configure the bandwidth utilization depending on the detected values via SpeedTest:

 

 

Speed Test utility is also available in the browser GUI:

 

 

External Storage menu will list the detected storage device, display its IP for easy access but also prompt for a user and password for more security (if needed):

 

 

 

The Connectivity menu does come with its own sub-sections as well:

 

Basic

Internet Settings

Local Network

Advanced Routing

Administration

 

A Troubleshooting menu is also available for collecting different errors which may appear; here we do have the following menus:

 

Status

Diagnostics

Logs

 

The WiFi Settings can be configured separately for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands:

 

 

Here we can also access more menus as well:

 

MAC Filtering

WiFi Protected Setup

Advanced

 

A Security menu is also available for configuring specific options:

 

Firewall

DMZ

Apps and Gaming

 

In order to test out the performance of the MX5300 Velop, we have prepared two desktop test systems. One of the systems was linked directly to the node via Ethernet cable (Gigabit connection), while the secondary desktop was placed one room away, so the signal has had to pass through two walls in order to reach it. This second desktop was used on both wired and wireless interfaces, the wireless card being an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 160MHz adapter (from the ASRock Taichi AM4 motherboard).

 

The speed tests were conducted via LAN Speed Test software (client), while the wired desktop has had the LAN Speed Test Server Software installed and was listening for connections.

 

We have ran four separate tests cases:

 

1) A single WHW0301-EU unit (first Velop model) was connected in wired mode to the first desktop and we have transferred data to it and from it via the second desktop, thanks to the Wi-Fi 6 AX200 adapter

2) Another WHW0301-EU unit was installed as a child node near the second desktop and we have recorded the speeds to and from the first desktop, while having both stations connected in wired mode to the nodes

3) The WHW0301-EU unit was replaced by a MX5300-EU (MX5300 Velop) node and we have transferred data to it and from it thanks to the second desktop thanks to the Wi-Fi 6 AX200 adapter

4) Another MX5300-EU node was installed near the second desktop in order to see how much faster the data gets transferred between the parent node and the child

 

 

 

With the new hardware, even when using a single node we have seen a boost in performance, while adding the second node did further improve the situation. Versus the old Velop system, we have noticed better response times while browsing the web, on both desktop and the P30 smartphone, even if the later is not compatible with the new AX standard.

 

The nodes are now equipped with USB 3.0 ports as well, so we have tested the Copy/Read scenario by using a Crucial X8 1TB drive connected to it. The test program used was Total Commander:

 

Copy

 

Read

 

 

While we cannot consider the resulted speeds on the USB interface as NAS-grade, they are good enough for permitting playback of multimedia content at high bitrates.

With the MX5300, Linksys is introducing a new mesh WiFi member which sports the latest standards, incorporates more powerful hardware inside and a slightly redesigned chassis. The new towers (nodes) are considerably bigger versus the first generation and are powered by beefier power supplies as well; however, even though ventilation is mainly done from the top area, the units do barely get warm, proving better optimization of the cooling system as well.

 

The transfer speeds have been improved as well, while the supported AX standard makes this setup future-proof. With the previous generation we have had only two Ethernet ports per node, so in the node where you would connect the Ethernet cable from the ISP would remain with only on e free port; if in the same area you would’ve liked to connect more than one device via Ethernet cable, it was impossible without adding an extra switch so more cabling was required as well. The new units do come with proper connectivity options, like on a regular router, so now you have no less than one WAN port, four Ethernet ports but also one USB 3.0 port for connecting storage devices. The USB 3.0 interface speeds are quite good, so you should have no issues playing back hi-def multimedia content from it.

 

As before, Linksys is pushing the configuration via the mobile application, which is simple to use, there are no steps where you could ask yourself how to proceed next and after some minutes you will be up and running. After creating an account, the configuration options and even speed tests are available to you, wherever you would go, because it sends the data to the cloud. If the user really needs more to configure than is currently present in the mobile application, then the browser GUI can be accessed as well, with a few hidden options.

 

Points we did not like: well these are not too many when compared to the benefits…enjoyed the sleek design of the previous units a bit more and the fact that the power adapter was about half the size of the current one. Also, for an unknown reason, the power adapter has a shorter cable than before, so the installation options are a bit limited. Lastly, of course it is the price of about 400 Euros at the time of the review, an aspect that would limit the purchase option to some individuals; if you would need to extend the network for a larger network range, it is needed to purchase an identical unit, so you would need to shell out another 400 Euros.

Linksys MX5300 Velop Whole Home Intelligent Mesh WiFi 6 (AX) System is Recommended for:

 

 

 

We would like to thank Linksys for making this review possible!