Unlike other traditional Linksys routers, this device has Ports at the bottom of the device. On the other Linksys routers, you will find connection ports on the rear side of the device.
This device contains 2 Ethernet ports. You can connect your primary node with your Internet modem or modem/route to one of the Ethernet port on Node.
In case of other Linksys routers, you need to connect one computer or laptop to the router for the initial configuration. But in case of Linksys Velop setup, you do not need any computer. This system can be configured using mobile. You need to Download and install Linksys Velop App on your Android or Apple device. Using this App, you can setup the device easily.
Take the Ethernet cable that comes with the device and connect it to Internet modem and Velop Ethernet port. Plugin the Power and turn on the device. While Starting up the Node, you will see Blinking Blue Light. When the Blue light is solid, the Node is turned On and working.
Launch the Linksys App. Select Velop System from the option. Your Mobile Bluetooth connection will used to configure the system, so I will ask you to turn on Bluetooth on your mobile. In case if it ask to turn on Location then turn on the Location Access also. Now the App will look for the Primary Node in the network and it will try to connect to it automatically. Once it finds the device.
The Program will check for the Internet connection. In case of PPPoE Internet connection type, program will not find Internet connection if it is connected directly to the modem. Here click on the link that says I want to enter my ISP settings manually. Enter the PPPoE User name and password and go Next. In some cases, ISP may give you Static IP address settings. Enter the Static WAN IP address given by ISP.
If everything is okay then it will give you success message.
If you are adding a new node with the wired connection then you do not need to do anything. Just plugin the power to the device. Connect Ethernet cable to the device that goes to main or other existing node. Wait for the device to turn on. Wait for the Blue light to become solid. once it is solid blue then it is working.
Launch Linksys App on your mobile and login. Tap on Menu icon. Select the option at the bottom "Setup a New Product" Select Add nodes to existing Wifi Network. Tap Next.
Instead of relying on a single Wi-Fi router at one end of your home, you place several Velop hotspots around the house to create a mesh network - which looks like a single WiFi network to all your wireless gadgets. Your gadgets can seamlessly jump between Velop nodes as you move around the house, depending on the strongest signal, which is like your mobile switches between mobile towers.
Using Range Extender will reduce the Wifi Speed of the network. Image below explains how the range extender will affect the speed.
According to Linksys tech support on their forum - Each Node can handle up to 32 users. So if you have 100 users then 4 nodes will be sufficient. The maximum number of nodes that can be added is still being tested by Linksys Engineering team but currently, they have tested up to six nodes.
You do not need computer for initial configuration. You can do it using Linksys App which you can download on your android or iOS.