Linksys MX42SH-SG WiFi 6 Whole Home Mesh System for StarHub ISP FAQs

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HARDWARE INFORMATION

1. What is the Linksys MX42SH-SG WiFi 6 Whole Home Mesh System for StarHub ISP?
2. How do I know the model number of my Linksys MX42SH-SG?
3. What are the parts of the router?
4. What are its features?
5. What is its warranty period?
6. What do the light behaviors of the router indicate?
7. Can I plug a USB hard drive or printer into its USB port?
8. What type of processor does it have?
9. What are the router's default settings?
10. Does it support Linksys Aware and Linksys Shield?
11. What are the router's weight and the dimensions?

SETUP AND INSTALLATION

1. What are the requirements for setting up the router?
2. How do I set up the parent node using an iOS device?
3. How do I set up the parent node using an Android™ device?
4. Can I set up the router using a desktop browser?
5. How do I add another node to my existing WiFi?
6. Can the Linksys MX42SH-SG replace a router?
7. What WiFi security options does the router support?
8. If I have a mixed WiFi with other Linksys routers as child nodes, can I use WPA3™ or any of the Enhanced Open security options?
9. How do I add a wired child node to an existing parent node?
10. Does the router support IPTV?
11. Does the router support Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) pairing for adding clients to the WiFi?
12. Is the Linksys Mesh WiFi system compatible with Starlink?

FIRMWARE UPGRADE

1. How do I manually upgrade the router's firmware?
2. How do I check the router's current firmware version?

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. Why can’t I access my router using 192.168.1.1 anymore?
2. How do I access the router's dashboard?
3. What is the External Storage feature?
4. What file system formats does the router support?
5. Does the USB port support File Transfer Protocol (FTP)?
6. How do I safely eject my hard drive from the router?
7. How do I protect my hard drive from unauthorized access?
8. How can I access the storage device connected to the router?
9. How do I reset the router to factory defaults?
10. How do I recover my admin password?
11. Why don’t I see the Mobile Gaming option in the Linksys app or LinksysSmartWiFi.com?
12. Why can I no longer see the option to change the Transmit Region?
13. I’m seeing a “Why am I getting a warning when I try to access my router settings in a browser?” message. How do I bypass this error message?
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 MX42SH-SG WiFi 6 Whole Home Mesh System for StarHub ISP?

The Linksys MX42SH-SG WiFi 6 Whole Home Mesh System for StarHub ISP supports the latest Wi-Fi® 6 (802.11ax) standard to deliver next-level streaming and gaming. It offers faster WiFi performance for lag-free online gaming and simultaneous streaming to any device.

It is designed to deliver gigabit WiFi speeds to every corner of your home, including backyard and outdoor smart home devices.

The Linksys MX42SH-SG is for StarHub subscribers only.

2. How do I know the model number of my Linksys MX42SH-SG?

This model is provided by StarHub ISP only. The model number on the product label on the bottom of the router is MX4200. In the Linksys app and LinksysSmartWiFi.com page, the router is identified as Linksys MX4000 Series. MX42SH-SG will appear in the sysinfo log.

3. What are the parts of the router?

The Linksys MX42SH-SG 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 with the following support:
- SMB v2.0
- UPnP®
- Up to 900mA current draw
- File systems:
  - Windows®: NTFS, FAT32
  - Mac®: FAT32, and HFS+ (journaled, non-journaled)
Buttons and switch:
Reset button
Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) button - must be enabled through the Linksys app first to use it
One power switch (sliding)

4. What are its features?

These are the features of the Linksys MX42SH-SG:

802.11ax
Tri-band
Eight Spatial Streams
1.4 GHz quad-core processor
Intelligent Mesh™
Easy setup
WiFi security
Seamless Roaming
Guest network
Parental Controls
Mobile Gaming
Coverage of up to 2,700 sq ft per node
IPTV support

5. What is its warranty period?

The warranty period is dependent on the country of purchase. For more information on your device’s warranty, click here.

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

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

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

Yes. The router 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 router has a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor.

9. What are the router's default settings?

With the latest firmware, the Linksys MX42SH-SG has the following default settings:

The default IP address is HTTPS://192.168.10.1.
The default Guest network IP address range is 192.168.3.x.

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

The router does not have a default admin password. You must create one when first accessing the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page through a browser or change the password using the Linksys app.
The default WiFi name is _VelopSetupxxx (the xxx is for the last three digits of the router’s MAC address).
Each router has a unique pre-assigned WiFi password (located at the bottom of the router).
The default Guest WiFi name is _VelopSetupxxx-guest (the xxx is for the last three digits of the router’s MAC address).
By default, all routers have the same guest default password which is BeMyGuest.
The Guest network is disabled by default. It can be enabled using the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page or the Linksys app.
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) support is enabled by default.

10. Does it support Linksys Aware and Linksys Shield?

Currently, the Linksys MX42SH-SG does not support Linksys Aware and Linksys Shield.

11. What are the router's weight and the dimensions?

The router weighs 0.95 kg (2.15 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 setting up the router?

You will need the following:

Active internet connection with StarHub
Latest version of the Linksys app
iOS or Android™ mobile device
Bluetooth® (preferred for setup)

2. How do I set up the parent node using an iOS device?

For instructions on how to set up the router using an iOS device, click here.

3. How do I set up the parent node using an Android™ device?

For instructions on how to set up the router using an Android device, click here.

4. Can I set up the router using a desktop browser?

Yes, to learn more, click here.

5. How do I add another node to my existing WiFi?

For instructions on how you can add a node to an existing mesh WiFi system, click here.

6. Can the Linksys MX42SH-SG replace a router?

Yes, you can replace your standard router with the Linksys MX42SH-SG. Click here for instructions.

7. What WiFi security options does the router support?

The Linksys MX42SH-SG supports the following WiFi security modes:

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

8. If I have a mixed WiFi with other Linksys routers as child nodes, can I use WPA3™ or any of the Enhanced Open security options?

No. Other Linksys routers currently do not support these security options. It is highly recommended to leave the setting to default, otherwise your other child nodes will disconnect from the WiFi.

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

For instructions, click here.

10. Does the router support IPTV?

Yes. Routers that are directly purchased from StarHub have support for IPTV feature.

11. Does the router support Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) pairing for adding clients to the WiFi?

The WPS feature is disabled by default. But yes, you may connect your client devices by first enabling the WPS feature. To do this using the Linksys app, go to Wi-Fi Settings > Connect a Device with WPS. To enable WPS using the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page, go to Wi-Fi Settings > Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

12. Is the Linksys Mesh WiFi system compatible with Starlink?

Yes. For the Linksys router to work with Starlink, you will need a Starlink ethernet adapter which you can find in the Starlink shop. Connect one end of the ethernet cable to the Starlink ethernet adapter and the other end to the Internet port of your Linksys router. Learn how to set up the Linksys router with Starlink.

FIRMWARE UPGRADE

1. How do I manually upgrade the router's firmware?

It is highly recommended to use the automatic updates. Your router should have the Automatic update feature enabled by default. You can click on the Check for Update button on the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page to see if new firmware is available for the router. To learn how to do this, click here.

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

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

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. Why can’t I access my router using 192.168.1.1 anymore?

With the latest firmware, the new default IP address has changed to 192.168.10.1.

2. How do I access the router's dashboard?

To log in to the dashboard, open a web browser, enter "https://myrouter.local" in the Address bar, and press [Enter]. You may also use the router’s default IP address which is "https:// 192.168.10.1". If you have set up an IP address for the router, use that specific IP address. To learn more, click here.

Depending on which browser you are using, you may encounter an error when logging in to the router. To bypass this, follow these steps:

Google Chrome™: click on Advanced > Proceed to 192.168.10.1 (unsafe)
Firefox®: click on Advanced > Accept the Risk and Continue
Microsoft Edge®: click on Advanced > Continue to 192.168.10.1 (unsafe)
Safari®: click on Show Details > visit this website > Visit Website

To learn more about resolving this error, click here.

3. What is the External Storage feature?

The External Storage feature of the Linksys MX42SH-SG 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 router, you can connect a USB hard drive to each router. To learn more, click here.

4. What file system formats does the router support?

The Linksys MX42SH-SG supports these file formats:

Windows®: NTFS, 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 router?

If you are on the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page and you want to safely remove the storage device, click here for instructions. If you are using the Linksys app, click here.

7. How do I protect my hard drive from unauthorized access?

To protect your hard drive, log in to the Linksys app or the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page and enable the Authentication option by setting up a username and password. 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 of the Linksys MX4000 Series models, click here.

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

To access the storage device, you need to first identify its IP address. To learn more, click here.

9. How do I reset the router to factory defaults?

To reset the router, press and hold the reset button until the light on the top turns red, fades, and then 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 occur 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 router. To learn more, click here.

11. Why don’t I see the Mobile Gaming option in the Linksys app or LinksysSmartWiFi.com?

The parent node should be a Linksys MX4000 Series model and should be purchased directly from StarHub. If you have purchased the node directly from StarHub and do not see the Mobile Gaming option or other StarHub features, make sure the node has the latest firmware.

You can log in to the Linksys app or the LinksysSmartWiFi.com page to see if there is an available update or you can set up the router to receive updates automatically. To learn more, click here.

12. Why can I no longer see the option to change the Transmit Region?

With the latest firmware, this has been removed. The default region is now Singapore since this model is only for StarHub customers only.

13. I’m seeing a “Why am I getting a warning when I try to access my router settings in a browser?” message. How do I bypass this error message?

With the latest firmware, the router requires you to log in using https://. You will get the error message if you use http://. To learn more, click here.

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.