How to Set Up a Linksys Velop Mesh WiFi System

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Getting reliable WiFi signal everywhere in your home can be challenging. Often times, having a single wireless router can provide decent WiFi coverage for a smaller home or apartment, but can end up leaving certain areas of a larger home with very slow or no WiFi coverage at all. Linksys Velop mesh networking devices aim to make this a problem of the past.

Using mesh networking technology, multiple Velop Nodes can be placed throughout your home, eliminating dead spots altogether. This guide will help you get to know how the Linksys Velop system works, and how to build a mesh network in your home that will provide WiFi coverage everywhere you want and need it to be.

Before You Begin:

• Have your smartphone or tablet available for setup.

Linksys App Installed
You will need to have the Linksys app installed on your device to complete the setup.

• How to Install the Linksys App

How Linksys Velop Mesh Networking Works

Before you begin setting up your Linksys Velop mesh network system in your home, it's important to understand how the hardware itself works.

The idea behind a mesh network is to have multiple WiFi broadcast points throughout your home whose signals overlap one another to provide wireless coverage everywhere. This is much different than traditional WiFi, which usually only consisted of a single wireless router that was either attached to your Internet Provider's modem, or was built right into their modem. That single router is only able to broadcast WiFi from wherever its location is in your home, and getting coverage everywhere can be next to impossible depending on how large of a home you have.

Mesh networks are designed to be modular. This means that your home network will consist of multiple Linksys Velop mesh networking devices; one primary Velop Node that connects to your Internet Provider's modem, and up to two "satellite" nodes that will all broadcast WiFi. The number of nodes you'll need for your home largely depends on its size. Linksys offers solutions for homes sizing 1500-6000 square feet. While these distances are a rough estimation, other factors can increase or decrease the number of Velop nodes you might need to create a reliable WiFi signal in all the areas of your home that are important to you.

Primary Velop Node

Getting started with Linksys Velop mesh networking devices is not much different than setting up a traditional wireless router. All Velop mesh networks must begin with a primary device or router. This primary device is made to connect to your Internet Provider's modem. This primary Velop Node is where your WiFi network begins, very much like how a traditional wireless router creates a WiFi signal in your home.

Secondary Velop Nodes

Once you have a primary Velop Node working with your internet service to create a WiFi signal in your home, this is where the modular nature of mesh networks really shine. You can add up to two Velop Nodes in your home that will also broadcast WiFi. Having these multiple WiFi broadcast points ensures that all of your home is blanketed in WiFi signal. Keep in mind that each one of your Velop Nodes need to be placed strategically in your home so they're close enough to be able to wirelessly communicate with one another to be able to create a reliable WiFi signal.

As an added benefit, there are multiple types of Velop Nodes on the market such as:

Velop Tri-Band

For a larger home, and a faster internet connection.

Velop Dual-Band

For an apartment, dorm, or smaller area.

Velop Plug-In

Simple plug-in Node to expand your Wi-Fi coverage to every corner of your home.

2. Set Up the Primary Velop "Node"

1. Open the Linksys App, and select Launch setup at the bottom.
   

1. Linksys needs location data to function, and will ask permission. Select Allow.
   

1. Carefully read the Terms and Conditions. When you are ready to continue and agree, select Agree.
   

1. You'll be asked what kind of router you are setting up. Select Velop.
   

1. Select which type of setup you have.
2. I use a modem from my ISP and am replacing my router with the Linksys Velop
3. Select Separate Modem and Router.
   

1. Unplug your old router and disconnect it from your modem, then select It's Disconnected.
   

1. I have a Gateway (modem and router combined) from my ISP
2. Select Single Device.
   

1. Plug in your Velop Node, then select It's Plugged In.
   

1. Place the node in an open area, then select It's In the Open.
   

1. Using an Ethernet cable, connect your new Velop router to your modem, then select It's Connected.
   

1. Your smartphone will talk to your new Router, and start setting up your Internet connection for you.
   

1. The light on your Velop Node will turn purple. Select Next once it's changed.
   

1. Enter your email address, and create a password to manage your Velop network. Then select Create Account.
   

1. Enter the email address and password you just created to log into the account you just created, then select Next.
   

1. Enter the name and password for your Wi-Fi network. This will be the network name you find on all your devices, and the password you'll use on all your devices, it's best to make it different than the administration password you just created. Then, select Next.
   

1. Select a name for this Velop Node, or enter one, then select Next.
   

1. Your first node is setup and ready to use! Select Next.
   

1. You can setup new Nodes at any time. If you have another Node, we'll set it up next. For now, select That's it for now.
   

1. Your Node will ask to allow it to report errors, and remind you that it will always keep itself up-to-date. Select Next.
   

1. You will be taken to the dashboard for your Linksys Velop system. Your Velop Node is fully setup and ready to use!
   

3. Add a Secondary Velop "Node"

You can add up to two Velop Nodes in your home that will also broadcast WiFi. Now that your Velop network has been established, adding another node is simple and can be done at any time from the Linksys app.

1. From the Linksys app, select Menu in the top-left corner.
   

1. Select Set Up a New Product.
   

1. Select Add Nodes.
   

1. Place the node in an open area, then select It's In the Open.
   

1. Your smartphone will talk to your new Router, and start setting up your Internet connection for you.
   

1. The light on your Velop Node will turn purple. Select Next once it's changed.
   

1. Select a name for this Velop Node, or enter one, then select Next.
   

1. Your node is setup and ready to use! Select Next.
   

You can repeat this process any time you want to add a new node to your Velop system.