Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK Frequently Asked Questions

HARDWARE INFORMATION

1. What is the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK for Gigaclear ISP WiFi 6 Whole Home Mesh System?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK for Gigaclear ISP WiFi 6 Whole Home Mesh System supports the latest Wi-Fi® 6 (802.11ax) standard to deliver next-level streaming and gaming to more than 40 devices on your network. It offers faster WiFi performance for lag-free online gaming and simultaneous streaming to any device.

With the powerful WiFi 6 mesh coverage, this is designed to deliver gigabit WiFi speeds to every corner of your home, including the backyard and outdoor smart home devices.

NOTE: The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK is for Gigaclear ISP subscribers in the United Kingdom.

2. How do I check the model number of my Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK?

The model number SPNMX42 of your node is printed on the product label located at the bottom of the node. In the Linksys app and LinksysSmartWiFi.com page, this is identified as Linksys MX4000 Series.

3. What are the parts of the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK has the following parts:

Ports:
Three gigabit ethernet ports
One gigabit internet port
Power port (12V, 3A)
One USB 3.0 port for external storage support. The supported formats are as follows:
Windows®: NTFS and FAT32
Mac®: FAT32 and HFS+ (journaled, non-journaled)
Supports SMB v2.0
UPnP®
Supports up to 900mA current draw

Buttons and switch:
Reset button
WPS button
One power switch (sliding)

4. What are the features of the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK?

These are the features of the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK.

IEEE 802.11ax
Up to 4.2 Gbps speed
Tri-band
Backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Eight spatial streams
Nine internal antennas
1.4 GHz quad-core processor
Intelligent Mesh™
Easy Setup
Band steering
Bluetooth® 4.0/LE
WiFi security
Beamforming
Guest Network
Parental Controls
Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS)
Supports Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
Supports Automatic Setup via ACS
Supports video calls for Zoom or Microsoft® Teams
Supports parent and child mode
Coverage of up to 2,700 sq ft per node

5. What is its warranty period?

For warranty information, contact Gigaclear ISP.

6. What do the light behaviors of the node indicate?

The light indicates the different states and activities of your node. For a detailed description, click here.

7. Can I plug my USB hard drive or a printer into its USB port?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK has one USB 3.0 port for a USB storage device. Virtual printing is not supported.

8. What type of processor does it have?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK has a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor.

9. What are the default settings of this product?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK has the following default settings:

The default IP address is 192.168.1.1.

NOTE: If the upstream device uses the same IP address, the node will automatically use a different IP address to avoid any conflict.

The default administrator password is the combination of the default WiFi Password (this is case-sensitive) plus the Recovery Key number, located on the product label.

NOTE: If the node is on factory defaults without an internet connection, the default password is admin but once the node has an internet connection, the password changes. Once you are logged in to the Linksys app or LinksysSmartWiFi.com page, you can customize the admin password.

The default WiFi name is Gigaclear_xxxx where xxxx represents the last four digits of the parent node’s MAC address. It is located at the bottom of the node.
Each node has a unique pre-assigned WiFi password located at the bottom of the node.
The default Guest WiFi name is Gigaclear_xxxx–guest where xxxx represents the last four digits of the node’s MAC address.
The default Guest IP address range is 192.168.3.x.

10. Does it support HomeKit®, Linksys Aware and Linksys Shield?

No. The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK does not support HomeKit, Linksys Aware or Linksys Shield.

11. What are the weight and dimensions of the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK?

The weight of the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK is 0.95 kg (2.09 lb) and its dimensions are 4.45 in x 4.45 in x 9.57 in.

SETUP AND INSTALLATION

1. What are the requirements for setup?

You will need the following:

A modem with an active internet connection from Gigaclear ISP
The latest version of the Linksys app with a Linksys cloud account to manage your network from anywhere
Latest iOS or Android™ mobile device

2. Does the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK support Auto Configuration Server (ACS)?

Yes. The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK supports automatic setup via Gigaclear's Auto Configuration Server. Once the node is powered ON, plugged into the Gigaclear's equipment, and detects an internet connection, it will automatically configure itself as the parent node. The light on your node will change from solid purple to blinking white. Once the node is configured and has an internet connection, the light will turn to solid blue. After setup, you can link your router to your Linksys cloud account to manage your network.

3. How do I set up the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK?

To learn how to set up your Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK, click here.

4. How do I link my Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK to a Linksys cloud account?

After you set up your node, you can add your mesh network to your Linksys cloud account using the Linksys app. To learn more, click here.

5. How can I add another node to my existing mesh system?

You will need the Linksys app to add additional child nodes to extend your WiFi. For instructions on how you can add a node to an existing mesh system, click here.

IMPORTANT: A node that is not from Gigaclear may be added to your network so long as it will be set up as a child node and not as the parent node.

6. Can my Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK replace a router?

Yes, you can replace your standard router with the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK.

7. What WiFi security options are supported?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK supports the following WiFi security modes:

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

8. If I have a mixed mesh network with other mesh models as child nodes, can I use WPA3 or any of the Enhanced Open security options?

No. If you have other mesh models in the network that do not support WPA3, they will not be able to connect to your network. It is highly recommended to leave the setting to defaults.

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

For instructions, click here.

FIRMWARE UPGRADE

1. How do I upgrade the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK's firmware?

The node will automatically update when the firmware is available.

2. How do I manually upgrade the firmware of my Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK?

Manual updates are not supported since firmware updates are approved and will be provided directly by Gigaclear. Make sure the auto-updates feature is turned ON to automatically install firmware updates when they are available.

3. How do I check a node's current firmware version?

The firmware version can be found in the Linksys app on the Network Administration screen. To access the Linksys app, click here. Then, tap on the menu icon and go to Network Administration.

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. How do I access my mesh dashboard?

To learn how to access your mesh dashboard or the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page, click the links below:

How to log in to the Linksys app dashboard
How to log in to the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page

2. Why can’t I log in to the local interface using “admin” as a password?

Once the node has an internet connection, the admin password changes to the default WiFi Password (this is case-sensitive) plus the Recovery Key number, located on the product label of the parent node.

3. What is the External Storage feature?

The External Storage feature of the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK allows you to connect an external storage device to its USB port to share an entire hard drive.

It features one USB 3.0 port for a storage drive. If you have more than one node, you can connect a USB hard drive to each node. To learn more, click here.

4. What file system formats does the Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK support?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK supports these file formats:

Windows®: NTFS and FAT32
Mac®: FAT32, and HFS+ (journaled, non-journaled)

5. Does the USB port support File Transfer Protocol (FTP)?

No. The USB port doesn't support FTP.

6. How do I safely eject my hard drive from the node?

To learn how to remove the storage device safely, click here for instructions.

7. Can I protect my hard drive from unauthorized access?

Yes. You can do this by enabling Authentication on the node.

The username should have a minimum of four and a maximum of 12 alphanumeric characters while the password should have a minimum of four and a maximum of 50 alphanumeric characters. Both can include valid characters such as an underscore ( _ ) or a dash ( - ). To learn more about the External Storage feature, click here.

8. How can I access the storage device connected to the node?

To learn how to access the storage device connected to your node, you need to first identify the IP address of the storage device. For instructions, click here.

9. How can I reset the node to factory defaults?

To reset your node to its factory defaults, press and hold the reset button until the light on top of the node turns red, fades, and flashes bright red.

IMPORTANT: Make sure that a bright red flash, followed by three to four quick faded red pulses then another bright red flash occurs before you release the button.

10. How do I recover my admin password?

You can recover the admin password through the five-digit recovery code printed on the product label at the bottom of the node. To learn more, click here.

11. When should I prioritize the internet connection for my device?

When Priority By Device is enabled, a message will appear recommending that the Device Prioritization feature be turned OFF if the internet speed is 200 Mbps or greater since the bandwidth is sufficient for your devices. It is ideal to prioritize internet connection for your devices when the internet speed is slower than 200 Mbps.

12. The Linksys app failed to set up my parent node. What should I do?

The Linksys SPNMX42GC-UK model supports ACS setup, meaning that once the node is plugged into the Gigaclear equipment, it will automatically detect a connection and configure itself as a parent node. Attempting to set up the node while the router is going through ACS setup will cause the Linksys app to not detect your node. Wait until the light is solid blue meaning that your router has been set up, you can then link your router to your Linksys cloud account. To learn how to link your router, click here.

13. 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.