Latest news with #Linksys
CNET
05-08-2025
- CNET
Mesh Router or Wi-Fi Extender: Which Is the Wireless Internet Champion?
Wireless internet has come a long way over the years, but figuring out the best option for you isn't always cut and dry. A Wi-Fi router can deliver internet through your home, but depending on the building materials in your home, it might deliver a weak or slow connection to certain areas. Adding a Wi-Fi extender can help to expand your coverage, while a mesh router can extend its own range with satellite devices (nodes). I've tested both, and after multiple tests, I found that Wi-Fi range extenders are the best cheap option for smaller spaces. The best model I've tested so far is the Linksys RE7310, which costs $100, but there are cheaper options available, too. On the other hand, I've found that mesh routers are unequivocally the best for whole-home coverage,though they tend to be more expensive. We have a handful of recommendations if you're looking to upgrade to a mesh system, including the TP-Link Deco W7200 and the Eero 6 Plus -- both available for around $200 for a two-pack. While a Wi-Fi extender is the simpler and cheaper option -- you just plug it into an outlet and connect it to your existing router -- a mesh router does a much better job of boosting speeds throughout your entire home. There are also some initial steps you can take to boost your connection without buying anything, but in many cases, eliminating dead zones in the house will require a hardware upgrade. That's the quick overview, but here's how I got there. Locating local internet providers Watch this: Mesh Wi-Fi or range extenders? Pick the best option for you 05:11 The quality of your Wi-Fi comes down to three things: location, location, location. Whether you choose range extenders or mesh extenders, you can only put out a network signal as strong as the incoming wireless signal from the router -- minus whatever penalty you're paying for connecting at a distance. So, if you can't connect in a particular place in your home, the best approach is to run speed tests in different rooms to find the spot closest to your dead zone where the router's incoming signal is strong. That'll ensure that the range extender or mesh point can put out the best possible network and cover your dead zone. From there, it's just a matter of finding the right hardware for the job. There's a lot to think about as you upgrade your home network; here's a quick rundown of what you should know. Read more: Best Wi-Fi router in 2025 Start with a speed test When you aren't feeling well and you go to the doctor, that doctor will start by asking you questions before running some tests to figure out what's wrong. That's the same diagnostic approach you need to take when you're trying to improve the quality of your home network. Your secret weapon on that front? Speed tests. Enlarge Image The Ookla Speed Test is a quick and easy diagnostic tool for your home network's health. Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET Running them is really easy. There are lots of free services on the web that'll let you check your speed, but the most popular (and the one I use when I'm testing routers out at home) is the Ookla Speed Test. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) It'll pair you up with one of several nearby servers as soon as you load the page -- from there, just click the big "GO" button and wait about a minute to see your current upload and download speeds, as well as the connection's latency. Also, make sure you're connected to your home network while you do this, preferably from whatever device you use online the most. If you're using a phone, disable cellular while you run this test. You'll want to move around in your home, running a few speed tests at a time in each room where your Wi-Fi connection matters. If you want, you can repeat this process at different times of day. When you're done, average those download speed results in each room to get a sense of where your connection is and isn't up to snuff. If you're seeing speeds that are less than half of what you get when you're close to the router, then that's an area where you might be able to boost your signal (and if those close-range speeds aren't close to what your internet plan allows, then you should call your provider). At this point, you'll want to run through the basics. Try moving the router to different spots (out in the open is best, preferably as high up and as centrally located as possible). You might also be able to eke out small speed improvements by repositioning the antennas. If none of that works, then it's time to evaluate your hardware. If you can find it in stock, the TP-Link RE220 is a great range extender value pick. It's easy to use, it provides a steady, workable connection with surprisingly good range, and you can get it for less than $30. Ry Crist/CNET Wi-Fi range extenders: A good fix for small dead zones If you've just got one or two rooms with poor connection, then a simple Wi-Fi range extender might be all you need. You've got a lot of options, but the best value that I've tested is the TP-Link RE220, a Wi-Fi 5 plug-in extender that you can find online at various retail outlets for as low as $15. If you're willing to spend a little more, go with the TP-Link RE605X, which adds faster, more robust speeds and support for Wi-Fi 6 for $85. (A major caveat: TP-Link routers are under investigation by the US government over security concerns and could be banned in the US this year. Read CNET's reporting for more information.) Range extenders like these are a cinch to use. You'll plug it in, press the WPS button to put it into Wi-Fi Protected Setup mode, and then press the WPS button on your router to pair the two together. Wi-Fi extenders won't boost your existing home network, but they will use that connection with your router to broadcast its own network. In most cases, you'll see it listed as the existing network name with "_EXT" tacked onto the end. Enlarge Image In my tests, the RE220 was able to boost the speeds in this back bathroom from single digits up to about 80Mbps. Ry Crist/CNET And don't worry too much about the brand. Range extenders like these are typically designed to work no matter what kind of router you're using. Just double-check that your router has a WPS button (almost all do) and you'll be fine. Extenders like these are unlikely to hit your network's max speeds, mind you. In fact, most of the cheap, plug-in models that cost $50 or less won't connect much faster than 50Mbps, and they'll offer only enough range to cover a couple of rooms at best. When I tested a few of the top value picks out in my home, the RE220's 5GHz band could sustain speeds of about 75Mbps throughout my entire test area, with a radius of about two rooms (or roughly 40 feet). That might not sound like much, but it's fast and steady enough to support video chats, high-quality streaming and even basic online gaming, if needed. That's terrific performance for the price, especially if it means the difference between a steady connection and no connection. Just keep in mind that location matters a lot with these things, because they can only put out a network that's as strong as the incoming wireless signal from the router. The best bet is to take a look at your speed test data and find the room closest to your dead zone that has a strong signal from the router. That'll ensure that the extender is able to put out the best possible network, and that it'll be able to cover your dead zone. Most of today's options also include signal strength indicators on the device or in the app that'll let you know if you've picked a good spot -- make sure to pay attention to those. We like Google's Nest Wifi the best for its fast, steady connection, impressive range, and sophisticated software. You've got lots of good mesh router options right now, though. Chris Monroe/CNET Mesh routers: Best for whole-home coverage If your problem is bigger than a single room where you can't connect -- say, an entire floor where your speeds are spotty -- then your best move is almost certainly to upgrade to a mesh router. With multiple devices spread throughout your home, a good mesh router can sling a speedy signal from room to room, and you won't have to juggle multiple networks like you will with a range extender -- you'll just connect to the same network throughout your home (or two networks, if you're splitting the 2.4 and 5GHz bands into their own separate connections). There's a bit of a mesh router renaissance underway these days, with lots of new, second-wave options hitting the market. Many of them cost a lot less than in previous years, but you should still expect to pay at least $150 for an entry-level system with multiple devices, and hundreds more than that for something top-of-the-line. One thing to keep in mind as you shop: Software makes a huge difference with these things, because mesh routers are constantly using algorithms to calculate the best way to route your connection depending on where you are in your home. The best systems will always know when to connect directly to the router and when it's better to route your connection through one of the satellites, but others with less sophisticated software might get tripped up and route you incorrectly, which can needlessly slow your connection down. In my tests, the brands that do the best job of routing your connection around drops or slow-downs are Google, Eero and Asus. Netgear and TP-Link have each performed pretty well too, though not without a couple of hiccups with certain systems. Enlarge Image It didn't make much difference upstairs, but that third Eero device, located downstairs, had a huge impact on signal strength in the CNET Smart Home's basement (blue is bad, green is good, and yellow is best here -- look for the boost in the basement when that third device comes into play). Steve Conaway/CNET If you live in a large home, then a three-piece system is definitely a worthy investment. Nest is nice, but Eero, another option with strong software chops, currently offers three-piece setups for $200, complete with support for Wi-Fi 6. That Eero 6 system wasn't quite as sharp as Nest at steering my connection when I tested, but adding a second satellite to any mesh setup will make a noticeable difference in the strength of your connection. For example, when we tested a three-piece Eero setup at the 5,800-square-foot CNET Smart Home, we placed the second satellite down in the basement and measured the signal strength throughout the entire house. It made a clear impact, as that heat map indicates. Wired connections can help One last thing worth remembering: Wireless speeds are all well and good, but a wired, Ethernet connection will always give you speeds that are as fast as possible. If you have a home office that's far from the router, for instance, then placing either a plug-in range extender or a mesh router's satellite in the room and wiring your computer to it can guarantee speeds that are faster and steadier than what you'd get if you tried to connect wirelessly from afar. Another range-extending option worth considering is a powerline extender. Like a plug-in extender, a powerline extender uses two plug-in devices that pass the connection back and forth through your home's electrical wiring, which is typically a speedy way to do it. Just plug one near your router and connect it with an Ethernet cable, then plug the other wherever you've got a dead zone. Powerline extenders can also be a nice option if you have pesky physical obstructions between your router and your dead zone that would stress the wireless connection between the router and the extender. A good powerline extender will use your home's wiring like a shortcut to get around obstacles like those.
CNET
31-07-2025
- CNET
Mesh Router vs. Wi-Fi Extender: I Tested Both and Found the Clear Winner
Wi-Fi routers can do a lot of impressive tricks these days, but they still can't connect seamlessly through walls and floors. If a room or floor of your home is getting slower speeds and you can't reposition your router closer, you generally have two options: Add a Wi-Fi extender to your existing router or upgrade to a full-fledged mesh system, with its own range-extending satellite devices (nodes). I've tested both, and after multiple tests, I found that Wi-Fi range extenders are the best cheap option for smaller best model I've tested thus far is the Linksys RE7310, which costs $100, but there are other cheaper options available, too. On the other hand, I've found that mesh routers are unequivocally the best for whole-home coverage,though they tend to be more have a handful of recommendations if you're looking to upgrade to a mesh system, including the TP-Link Deco W7200 and the Eero 6 Plus -- both available for around $200 for a two-pack. While a Wi-Fi extender is the simpler and cheaper option -- you just plug it into an outlet and connect it to your existing router -- a mesh router does a much better job of boosting speeds throughout your entire home. There are also some initial steps you can take to boost your connection without buying anything, but in many cases, eliminating dead zones in the house will require a hardware upgrade. That's the quick overview, but here's how I got there. Locating local internet providers Watch this: Mesh Wi-Fi or range extenders? Pick the best option for you 05:11 The quality of your Wi-Fi comes down to three things: location, location, location. Whether you choose range extenders or mesh extenders, you can only put out a network signal as strong as the incoming wireless signal from the router -- minus whatever penalty you're paying for connecting at a distance. So, if you can't connect in a particular place in your home, the best approach is to run speed tests in different rooms to find the spot closest to your dead zone where the router's incoming signal is strong. That'll ensure that the range extender or mesh point can put out the best possible network and cover your dead zone. From there, it's just a matter of finding the right hardware for the job. There's a lot to think about as you upgrade your home network; here's a quick rundown of what you should know. Read more: Best Wi-Fi router in 2025 Start with a speed test When you aren't feeling well and you go to the doctor, that doctor will start by asking you questions before running some tests to figure out what's wrong. That's the same diagnostic approach you need to take when you're trying to improve the quality of your home network. Your secret weapon on that front? Speed tests. Enlarge Image The Ookla Speed Test is a quick and easy diagnostic tool for your home network's health. Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET Running them is really easy. There are lots of free services on the web that'll let you check your speed, but the most popular (and the one I use when I'm testing routers out at home) is the Ookla Speed Test. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) It'll pair you up with one of several nearby servers as soon as you load the page -- from there, just click the big "GO" button and wait about a minute to see your current upload and download speeds, as well as the connection's latency. Also, make sure you're connected to your home network while you do this, preferably from whatever device you use online the most. If you're using a phone, disable cellular while you run this test. You'll want to move around in your home, running a few speed tests at a time in each room where your Wi-Fi connection matters. If you want, you can repeat this process at different times of day. When you're done, average those download speed results in each room to get a sense of where your connection is and isn't up to snuff. If you're seeing speeds that are less than half of what you get when you're close to the router, then that's an area where you might be able to boost your signal (and if those close-range speeds aren't close to what your internet plan allows, then you should call your provider). At this point, you'll want to run through the basics. Try moving the router to different spots (out in the open is best, preferably as high up and as centrally located as possible). You might also be able to eke out small speed improvements by repositioning the antennas. If none of that works, then it's time to evaluate your hardware. If you can find it in stock, the TP-Link RE220 is a great range extender value pick. It's easy to use, it provides a steady, workable connection with surprisingly good range, and you can get it for less than $30. Ry Crist/CNET Wi-Fi range extenders: A good fix for small dead zones If you've just got one or two rooms with poor connection, then a simple Wi-Fi range extender might be all you need. You've got a lot of options, but the best value that I've tested is the TP-Link RE220, a Wi-Fi 5 plug-in extender that you can find online at various retail outlets for as low as $15. If you're willing to spend a little more, go with the TP-Link RE605X, which adds faster, more robust speeds and support for Wi-Fi 6 for $85. (A major caveat: TP-Link routers are under investigation by the US government over security concerns and could be banned in the US this year. Read CNET's reporting for more information.) Range extenders like these are a cinch to use. You'll plug it in, press the WPS button to put it into Wi-Fi Protected Setup mode, and then press the WPS button on your router to pair the two together. Wi-Fi extenders won't boost your existing home network, but they will use that connection with your router to broadcast its own network. In most cases, you'll see it listed as the existing network name with "_EXT" tacked onto the end. Enlarge Image In my tests, the RE220 was able to boost the speeds in this back bathroom from single digits up to about 80Mbps. Ry Crist/CNET And don't worry too much about the brand. Range extenders like these are typically designed to work no matter what kind of router you're using. Just double-check that your router has a WPS button (almost all do) and you'll be fine. Extenders like these are unlikely to hit your network's max speeds, mind you. In fact, most of the cheap, plug-in models that cost $50 or less won't connect much faster than 50Mbps, and they'll offer only enough range to cover a couple of rooms at best. When I tested a few of the top value picks out in my home, the RE220's 5GHz band could sustain speeds of about 75Mbps throughout my entire test area, with a radius of about two rooms (or roughly 40 feet). That might not sound like much, but it's fast and steady enough to support video chats, high-quality streaming and even basic online gaming, if needed. That's terrific performance for the price, especially if it means the difference between a steady connection and no connection. Just keep in mind that location matters a lot with these things, because they can only put out a network that's as strong as the incoming wireless signal from the router. The best bet is to take a look at your speed test data and find the room closest to your dead zone that has a strong signal from the router. That'll ensure that the extender is able to put out the best possible network, and that it'll be able to cover your dead zone. Most of today's options also include signal strength indicators on the device or in the app that'll let you know if you've picked a good spot -- make sure to pay attention to those. We like Google's Nest Wifi the best for its fast, steady connection, impressive range, and sophisticated software. You've got lots of good mesh router options right now, though. Chris Monroe/CNET Mesh routers: Best for whole-home coverage If your problem is bigger than a single room where you can't connect -- say, an entire floor where your speeds are spotty -- then your best move is almost certainly to upgrade to a mesh router. With multiple devices spread throughout your home, a good mesh router can sling a speedy signal from room to room, and you won't have to juggle multiple networks like you will with a range extender -- you'll just connect to the same network throughout your home (or two networks, if you're splitting the 2.4 and 5GHz bands into their own separate connections). There's a bit of a mesh router renaissance underway these days, with lots of new, second-wave options hitting the market. Many of them cost a lot less than in previous years, but you should still expect to pay at least $150 for an entry-level system with multiple devices, and hundreds more than that for something top-of-the-line. One thing to keep in mind as you shop: Software makes a huge difference with these things, because mesh routers are constantly using algorithms to calculate the best way to route your connection depending on where you are in your home. The best systems will always know when to connect directly to the router and when it's better to route your connection through one of the satellites, but others with less sophisticated software might get tripped up and route you incorrectly, which can needlessly slow your connection down. In my tests, the brands that do the best job of routing your connection around drops or slow-downs are Google, Eero and Asus. Netgear and TP-Link have each performed pretty well too, though not without a couple of hiccups with certain systems. Enlarge Image It didn't make much difference upstairs, but that third Eero device, located downstairs, had a huge impact on signal strength in the CNET Smart Home's basement (blue is bad, green is good, and yellow is best here -- look for the boost in the basement when that third device comes into play). Steve Conaway/CNET If you live in a large home, then a three-piece system is definitely a worthy investment. Nest is nice, but Eero, another option with strong software chops, currently offers three-piece setups for $200, complete with support for Wi-Fi 6. That Eero 6 system wasn't quite as sharp as Nest at steering my connection when I tested, but adding a second satellite to any mesh setup will make a noticeable difference in the strength of your connection. For example, when we tested a three-piece Eero setup at the 5,800-square-foot CNET Smart Home, we placed the second satellite down in the basement and measured the signal strength throughout the entire house. It made a clear impact, as that heat map indicates. Wired connections can help One last thing worth remembering: Wireless speeds are all well and good, but a wired, Ethernet connection will always give you speeds that are as fast as possible. If you have a home office that's far from the router, for instance, then placing either a plug-in range extender or a mesh router's satellite in the room and wiring your computer to it can guarantee speeds that are faster and steadier than what you'd get if you tried to connect wirelessly from afar. Another range-extending option worth considering is a powerline extender. Like a plug-in extender, a powerline extender uses two plug-in devices that pass the connection back and forth through your home's electrical wiring, which is typically a speedy way to do it. Just plug one near your router and connect it with an Ethernet cable, then plug the other wherever you've got a dead zone. Powerline extenders can also be a nice option if you have pesky physical obstructions between your router and your dead zone that would stress the wireless connection between the router and the extender. A good powerline extender will use your home's wiring like a shortcut to get around obstacles like those.
Time Business News
18-06-2025
- Time Business News
Why Can't You Access Linksys Velop Login and How to Fix It
There are two to three Velop nodes that you will find into the content box of the Linksys Velop WiFi mesh system. The connection instructions are pretty simple with which you can complete the Linksys Velop setup. But here we will not discuss about setup or configure Linksys routers, we will provide a troubleshooting guide here. The problem is can't access Linksys Velop interface and we will help you to resolve it, so let's dive in. Note, all these troubleshooting tips and solutions are already been tested and resulted as the solutions, so you can use these without hesitation. Let's start with the basics. If you're typing in something like you're going to hit a wall. The official URL to access the Velop dashboard is: or 192.168.1.1. That's your gateway to the control panel. Fix: Make sure you're connected to the Velop Wi-Fi network and then punch in the correct URL in the address bar (not the Google search box). You might be trying to log in while your device isn't even properly connected to the Velop network. This can happen if your phone or laptop automatically hops to a different saved network (like your phone's mobile hotspot or a neighbor's open Wi-Fi don't lie, we've all done it). Fix: Go to your device's Wi-Fi settings and manually select your Velop network. Refresh the login URL after that. Browsers hold onto old data like cookies, cache, saved pages. And sometimes, all this digital junk gets in the way. Fix: Clear your browser's cache and cookies. Better yet, try accessing the Velop login on incognito/private mode. Or switch browsers completely Chrome, Firefox, Safari they all work fine as long as they're updated. When you first set up your Velop system, you probably set an admin password. In the situations like you've changed it and forgotten it, the login page will keep rejecting you. Fix: in case, you are locked out from the interface because you have forgotten password, use the 'Forgot your password?' option on the Linksys app or reset the node manually by holding down the reset button for about 10-15 seconds. This reset will clear out your managed settings and bring the system back to factory defaults. If you've been ignoring firmware updates, your Velop system might be running on buggy software. That can mess with access, even through the Linksys app. Fix: Try logging in via a different method (e.g., web browser instead of the app). If you manage to get in, update your firmware right away from the dashboard under Connectivity > Firmware Update . If not, do a soft reset and attempt to log in again. Sometimes, your router assigns a new IP address to your node or there's an IP conflict in your network, and you can't reach the node. Fix: Unplug the main Velop node and wait 30 seconds. Plug it back in and wait till the LED turns solid blue or purple. Then try accessing it via the IP address (192.168.1.1). Sometimes, your antivirus or firewall settings block local access to the Velop dashboard. These programs mean well—but they're a pain sometimes. Fix: Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus and try logging in again. If you're using a company laptop, their IT policies may be blocking local access too. Try using a different device, like your personal phone or tablet. Unplug the node for a minute. Plug it back in and wait for the light to go solid blue. Press and hold the reset button (usually at the bottom) for 10-15 seconds. Release when the LED starts blinking red. Open the Linksys app and sign in or create an account. Tap Set Up a New Wi-Fi Network. Follow the steps name your network, set a password, all that good stuff. If you don't have the Linksys app, you can download it or use the Linksys Velop login interface using your computer. To add a new Velop node, tap 'Add a Node' in the app. Place the next node somewhere with decent signal. Plug it in and wait for the blinking purple light again. The app will detect it and add it to the mesh. Hopefully, this above given troubleshooting guide helped you to resolve the 'can't access Linksys router login interface page'. Even after, if you are facing any technical problem, then you can use the reset process which is also provided in the guide with the reconfiguration steps. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Tom's Guide
02-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
Linksys RE7350 review: a simple yet slow, app-free Wi-Fi extender
Wi-Fi Spec: AX1800Number of Antennas/Removable: 2/NoPorts: NonePeak 802.11ax performance: 203.7 Mbps (10 feet from extender)Range: 110 feetSize: 5.2 x 3.9 x 1.8 inchesEstimated Annual Electricity Cost: $8.80 While its speeds couldn't match the best in the business, the Linksys RE7350 is an inexpensive way to extend a wireless network to fill in Wi-Fi blank areas. It goes the extra Wi-Fi mile with excellent range and more customization choices than many of the best Wi-Fi extenders but lacks access to the 6 GHz band as it only supports Wi-Fi 6. Rather than a convenient app, the RE7350 requires using a connected browser to set it up and make changes. Still, it could be an effective way to cover your entire house with Wi-Fi on a budget. See how it matches up with the best. With a list price of $130, the Linksys RE7350 can be had for as little as $70 at a variety of online stores, like Amazon. That's about one-third the price of some of its competitors. It's been designed to add coverage for 2,000 square feet to a network. The monolithic Linksys RE7350 is a dead ringer for the previous RE7310 model, although it's been significantly upgraded. At 5.2 x 3.9 x 1.8 inches, it's shorter and thicker than the TP-Link RE655BE and is available only in white. The back's two-prong AC plug goes right into a wall outlet and the unit leaves room for an additional plug. Alternatively, it can sit on its own with power coming from an extension cord. There isn't an on/off switch but the RE7350 has buttons on the side for resetting the device and starting up the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) procedure for a quickie installation. On the bottom is a gigabit per second Ethernet port for connecting a computer, printer, storage device or other networked appliance. It's a lot slower than the RE655BE's 2.5 Gbps port and the extender does without a USB port for a connected storage drive. The RE7350's front is dominated by an LED bar that shows its status and connections. Using Linksys Spot Finder technology, the light glows blue when it's connected and working fine. If it turns orange, it means that the extender is offline. There's no way to turn the light off though. Using our real world testing protocol and the Keysight IxChariot networking benchmark set up to simulate 10 data-hungry users, the RE7350 proved to be a reliable way to extend a Wi-Fi 6 network in my 3,500 square foot home. It was able to push a connection from the Netgear Nighthawk RS600 router into previously uncovered areas of the house. That said, the RE7350's overall performance lagged behind the others I tested although it had excellent range. With the Nighthawk RS600 router 40 feet from the RE7350 and the Acer Swift Edge 16 Wi-Fi 7 notebook next to it, the extender yielded a throughput of 203.5 Mbps, about half what other Wi-Fi 6 extenders deliver. At the more reasonable distance of 10 feet, the throughput rose slightly to 203.7 Mbps. Good, but well below competitors like the Wi-Fi 7 RE655BE's 719.5 Mbps result or the Wi-Fi 6 RP-AX58's 490.2 Mbps. When the repeater was set up at 40 feet from the router, the extender only exchanged 80.6 Mbps, well at the back of the pack. It had a 110 foot range that was only beaten by the RP-AX58 extender. Asus RP-AX58 Linksys RE7350 Netgear EAX17 TP-Link RE655BE 10 feet 490.2 Mbps 203.7 Mbps 383.1 Mbps 719.5 Mbps 40 feet 201.1 Mbps 80.6 Mbps 197.9 Mbps 376.7 Mbps The RE7350 was able to send emails, stream 4K videos and play music on connected devices but it lacks power-conservation settings to cut its 6.3 watt power draw. This translates into an annual power bill of roughly $8.80 if it's left on 24/7 and you pay the national average of 16 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity. Over two weeks of daily use, its passive cooling worked well, with the RE7350 never getting over 96.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot spot was at the top. Rated to handle Wi-Fi 6 transmissions, the dual-band extender uses 2x2 streams to move data over the 2.4 and 5 GHz data bands. It carries an AX1800 throughput rating, although it lacks the ability to tap into 6 GHz networks or 320MHz data channels. The RE7350 can work as an access point or extender and takes advantage of the Wi-Fi 6 to the fullest. In addition to using beamforming, the extender works with 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) and MU-MIMO. It can connect up to 20 clients at a time. Unlike other networking gear, the RE7350 does without a setup and configuration app. Instead, there's the choice between the WPS button on its side and tapping into the RE7350's internal user interface, which was anything but quick and easy. I started by connecting to the extender's default Wi-Fi network ('Linksys Extender Setup – 393') and typing ' into Chrome's address bar. The opening page has the Linksys license terms and auto firmware update prechecked. I set it for wireless range extender instead of access point and picked the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz LANs to extend separately. I entered the passcode for each. The extender had trouble connecting over the 5 GHz band although it worked on the third try. I finished up by adding an administrative password and reminder hint. The process took 13 minutes – double what it should. All that time and effort actually pays off with good customization options. The main page is for basic settings showing network names, passwords and connection status. Under each network is an advanced section for channel width details. Unfortunately, the extender is limited to a maximum of 80Mhz data channels, which limits the extender's throughput. In addition to QOS, there's a unique Spot Finder. Here, the extender visually tells you if you're too far, too close or just right for a prime connection. Finally, its statistics page provides excellent networking data, although in tabular and not graphic form. There are places for things like data packet count. There's no place to turn the LED off. Like most extenders, the RE7350 comes with a one-year warranty and lifetime support. That's not as good as TP-Link's two years of coverage but better than Netgear's standard 90 days of support, unless you pay to upgrade. The text-only support pages for the Linskys RE7350 may not be as pretty as its competitors, but it has what's needed to help get the extender online and working. The FAQ section is very deep and the extender has a basic manual but the site lacks helpful setup videos. A reliable way to fill a house with Wi-Fi, the Linskys RE7350 extender comes up short compared to the competition in terms of speed but had excellent range. Based on Wi-Fi 6, it can't use the 6 GHz high performance data band or 320MHz data channels and its 1 Gbps Ethernet port can't compare to the 2.5 Gbps ports that are starting to show up on extenders. Plus, unlike the others, it lacks an app for setting up and configuring the extender. That said, the RE7350 offers a good combination of price at $70, reliable operation and an excellent assortment of setup choices available. In fact, it's for those who care less about raw speed and more about tweaking and configuring the network.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
FBI says these 13 old internet routers are vulnerable to attacks. Is yours on the list?
The FBI has issued a security warning urging owners of old internet routers to replace their equipment, lest they become victims of a cyberattack. The flash notice, issued May 7, said that "end-of-life" (EOL) routers, or those made so long ago that their software is no longer supported by their manufacturers, are being targeted by bad actors due to their age. With no patches or regular software updates to address security weaknesses, the outdated equipment becomes exceptionally vulnerable, allowing cyberattackers to access it remotely and install malware. The targeted routers come pre-loaded with remote management software that threat actors know how to tap into, advised the notice. Once they do, they may install malicious software or set up a botnet − a group of internet-connected devices compromised and controlled by a third party that can then use them in an orchestrated manner to carry out activities such as stealing data, sending spam or committing denial-of-service attacks. Cybercriminals may also use compromised devices to sell proxy services, which entails selling access to these devices to other bad actors who then use them to hide their locations and identities. This specific notice concerns known attacks associated with 5Socks and Anyproxy, services known for selling these proxies to shady figures that were recently seized by the FBI. The vulnerable routers in question will be familiar to early internet users, as many are Linksys brand, one of the most popular and iconic at-home networking suppliers of the 2000s and 2010s. E1200 E2500 E1000 E4200 E1500 E300 E3200 WRT320N E1550 WRT610N E100 M10 WRT310N The remote administration feature that comes pre-installed on these routers is the major source of vulnerability, explained the FBI warning. Cybercriminals have become familiar with accessing outdated remote management software, allowing them to install their own software that gives them perpetual access to your device. Even if the remote administration feature of your router is password protected, threat actors can still easily get in. The installed malware then allows them to communicate with the router periodically, ensuring continued access. Because the malware is router-based, said the FBI, it can be more difficult for users to notice when something is wrong. While the agency suggests replacing any router from the above list altogether, the FBI did provide a list of file names you can check for that are associated with these attacks. If you have a router from the above list, it may likely have been struggling already to keep up with the demands of a modern digital home. The best course of action is to replace it with a more modern model, advised the FBI notice, and one that is new enough that it is still being serviced with regular software updates. Users can also disable remote administration and reboot their routers to cut off this primary access point. If you believe your router or another device in your home may have been compromised or the subject of suspicious activity, the agency asks that it be reported to your local FBI field office. Field offices can be located and contacted at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These 13 internet routers are vulnerable to attacks, FBI says
