TABLE OF CONTENTS

HARDWARE INFORMATION

1.  What is the Linksys MX5501ST for Starry ISP?
2.  What is the warranty of the router?
3.  Where can I find the router’s serial number?
4.  What does the behavior of the router's light indicate?
5.  Is it compatible with other mesh routers?
6.  What type of processor does it have?
7.  Does it support Linksys Aware and Linksys Shield?
8.  How many ports does the router support?
9.  How do I know the model number of the router?

SETUP AND INSTALLATION

1.  How do I set up the router?
2.  What are the requirements for setting up the router?
3.  My router automatically detected an internet connection and is now online.  How can I manage the router using the Linksys app?
4.  How do I add another node to my existing mesh system?
5.  Can the Linksys MX5501ST replace a standard router?
6.  How do I add a wired child node to an existing parent node?
7.  What are the router's default WiFi name and password?
8.  What is the router's default administrative password?
9.  How do I configure the WiFi access for guests?
10.  How do I configure Parental Controls?

SECURITY

1.  What WiFi security modes does the router support?
2.  Does it have VPN passthrough support?
3.  Does it have SPI firewall support?

ADVANCED TROUBLESHOOTING

1.  How do I upgrade the router’s firmware?
2.  How do I check the router's firmware version?
3.  Can I manually update the firmware from the Linksys MX5500 support page?
4.  How do I access the router using the Linksys app?
5.  What is Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)?
6.  How do I enable the DFS feature on the router?
7.  Can I use DFS with other routers on child mode?
8.  Can my clients connect to the DFS channels?
9.  How do I replace a defective Linksys MX5501ST?
10.  I am trying to set up my router again, but I do not see Starryxxx broadcasting.  How do I check the router's SSID?
11.  Why is the “admin” password not working?
12.  Why did the upgrade fail when I tried to manually upgrade the node using the retail firmware of the Linksys MX5500?
13.  Why does the node keep auto-updating when new firmware is available even if  I have turned off auto-updates on the Linksys MX5501ST?
14.  My Linksys mesh router isn't working with my ISP's 5G router. What should I do?
 

HARDWARE INFORMATION

1.  What is the Linksys MX5501ST for Starry ISP?

The Linksys MX5501ST for Starry ISP offers simultaneous capacity for video, gaming, and high-speed data.  It is easy to add to a modular system of nodes to give you flawless WiFi everywhere and easily replaces a standard router with mesh WiFi.  The Linksys MX5501ST is for Starry subscribers only.

2.  What is the warranty of the router?

For warranty information, contact Starry.

3.  Where can I find the router’s serial number?
 
The serial number is printed on the sticker underneath the device.  
 
4.  What does the behavior of the router's light indicate? 

The router has a status indicator light that gives you information about its operation.  To learn more, click here.  

5.  Is it compatible with other mesh routers?

It is recommended to use another Linksys MX5501ST as a child node to extend your network.  Contact Starry if you need additional nodes to extend your network.

6.  What type of processor does it have?

The Linksys MX5501ST has a 1 GHz dual-core processor.

7.  Does it support Linksys Aware and Linksys Shield?          

No.  The router supports the free basic Parental Controls feature only.

8.  How many ports does the router support?   

The router has one fixed 1 Gbps WAN/internet port and three 1 Gbps LAN ports.

9.  How do I know the model number of the router?  

The model number on the product label on the bottom of the router is MX5500.  In the Linksys app and LinksysSmartWiFi.com page, the router is identified as MX5500 Series.  On the packaging, the model number is MX5501ST or MX5501ST-RF.

SETUP AND INSTALLATION

1.  How do I set up the router?

The latest firmware adds Automatic Configuration Server (ACS) support to the router, meaning that once your node is plugged into your Starry equipment, the router will self-configure itself.  The solid purple light will start flashing white. 

If you do not see the light flashing white, the router may be on an older firmware and will require setting it up using the Linksys app or LinksysSmartWiFi.com browser.

2.  What are the requirements for setting up the router?

Below are the requirements for setting up the router:
 

• Starry internet connection
• Latest Linksys app (for managing the router)
• Linksys cloud account (for remote access)

3.  My router automatically detected an internet connection and is now online.  How can I manage the router using the Linksys app?

Once you plug in the router to Starry’s equipment, it will automatically call home, download your internet profile, and set up the router.  The light on the router will start blinking white.  Once the light turns solid blue, the router should already be set up and online.  You can then log in to the Linksys app and tap on Add to Account, enter the required credentials, and then tap again on Add to Account to manage the router via the Linksys app.  To learn more, click here.

4.  How do I add another node to my existing mesh system?

For instructions on how to add a node to an existing mesh system, click here.
 
5.  Can the Linksys MX5501ST replace a standard router?

Yes, you can replace your standard router with the Linksys MX5501ST and set up a mesh system. 

6.  How do I add a wired child node to an existing parent node?

For instructions on how to add a wired child node to your mesh system, click here.

7.  What are the router's default WiFi name and password?

The router’s default WiFi name and password are printed on the product label at the bottom of the router.  

The default WiFi name is Starryxxxxx or _VelopSetupxxx (Linksys MX5501ST-RF) where the xxxxx or xxx represents the last five or three digits of the router's MAC address located on the product label. 

8.  What is the router's default administrative password?

With the latest firmware, the default administrative password is the default WiFi password located on the product label.

On the Linksys MX5501ST-RF with older firmware, the default password is admin.

9.  How do I configure the WiFi access for guests?

To learn how to configure the Guest Access feature on the Linksys app, click here.

10.  How do I configure Parental Controls?

To learn how to configure Parental Controls, click on the links below:

How to schedule a pause using Parental Controls or Family Time
How to Pause Internet Access

SECURITY

1.  What WiFi security modes does the router support?

The Linksys MX5501ST supports the following settings:

• WPA2™/WPA3™ Mixed Personal
• WPA3 Personal Only
• WPA2 Personal
• Enhanced Open Only
• Open and Enhanced Open
• Open

2.  Does it have VPN passthrough support?

Yes.  The router supports VPN tunnels using IPSec, L2TP, and PPTP protocols. 

3.  Does it have SPI firewall support?

Yes. 

ADVANCED TROUBLESHOOTING

1.  How do I upgrade the router’s firmware?

Only Starry firmware is supported on the router and the updates will be provided directly by Starry via auto updates. 

NOTE:  Starry routers do not support retail firmware upgrades.  Attempting to upgrade a non-Starry firmware manually will be rejected.  To learn more about firmware updates for your router, you may contact Starry.

2.  How do I check the router's firmware version?

The firmware version can be found in the Linksys app.  For instructions to access the Linksys app, click here.  On the Linksys app, tap on the menu icon and go to Network Administration.  Select a node from the list and look for Firmware Version.

3.  Can I manually update the firmware from the Linksys MX5500 support page?

No.  Manual retail firmware is not supported. Attempting to upgrade a non-Starry firmware manually will be rejected.  Linksys MX5501ST nodes will only allow Starry firmware via auto updates.

4.  How do I access the router using the Linksys app?

If you set up your router via ACS, meaning once the router is connected to the Starry equipment and the router configured itself, you will need to add your router to your Linksys cloud account to manage your network.  To learn more, click here.

To learn how to access the router through the Linksys app, click here.

NOTE:  To access the router via the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page, click here for instructions.

5.  What is Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)?

Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is a spectrum-sharing mechanism that allows multiple wireless local area networks (WLANs) to coexist with radar systems.  It automatically selects a frequency that does not interfere with certain radar systems while operating in the 5 GHz band.  The benefits of using DFS channels are less WiFi interference and better WiFi performance.  DFS channels are turned off by default.

6.  How do I enable the DFS feature on the router?

To learn how to enable the DFS feature, click here. 

7.  Can I use DFS with other routers on child mode?

Yes, you can use DFS if you are using other Linksys MX5501ST as child nodes.

NOTE:  If you have any non-Starry child nodes in your network that do not support DFS, your child nodes will not be able to connect.

8.  Can my clients connect to the DFS channels?

Only if your clients support DFS channels.  Clients that do not support DFS channels can connect to the 2.4 GHz band instead.

9.  How do I replace a defective Linksys MX5501ST?

Contact Starry for replacements.

10.  I am trying to set up my router again, but I do not see Starryxxx broadcasting.  How do I check the router's SSID? 

It’s possible that your node is a Linksys MX5501ST-RF, this node uses _VelopSetupxxx as the default SSID.  Check the product label of your node to know its WiFi credentials. 

11.  Why is the “admin” password not working? 

With the latest firmware, the default password is the default WiFi password located on the product label. 

12.  Why did the upgrade fail when I tried to manually upgrade the node using the retail firmware of the Linksys MX5500? 

The Linksys MX5501ST doesn't support the retail firmware and does not support manual firmware updates.  It only uses customized firmware that has been approved by Starry.  Firmware updates are provided via auto-updates only.

13.  Why does the node keep auto-updating when new firmware is available even if  I have turned off auto-updates on the Linksys MX5501ST? 

The Linksys MX5501ST has the auto-update feature turned ON at all times, regardless if you turn off the feature in the Linksys app or LinksysSmartWiFi.com.

14. My Linksys mesh router isn't working with my ISP's 5G router. What should I do?

For the Linksys mesh router to work with a 5G router, your ISP must provide a 5G router with an ethernet port for connection to the parent node.