{"product_id":"linksys-hydra-pro-6e-mr7500","title":"Linksys Hydra Pro 6E MR7500 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh Router | 5 Gbps WAN","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mg-desc\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eLinksys Hydra Pro 6E (MR7500)\u003c\/strong\u003e is a \u003cstrong\u003etri-band AXE6600 WiFi 6E mesh router\u003c\/strong\u003e that adds the 6 GHz band to the usual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios and feeds it with a 5 Gbps multi-gig WAN port. Linksys rates it for about 2,700 square feet of coverage, and it runs on a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM, four Gigabit LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port. It can stand alone as a router or act as the parent node of a Linksys Intelligent Mesh system with Velop nodes. It is a router only, so it works behind any cable, fiber, or DSL modem with an Ethernet handoff, including multi-gig cable plans above 1 Gbps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho the MR7500 is for\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHomes on a 1.2 Gbps to 2.5 Gbps cable or fiber plan that need a WAN port faster than 1 GbE to use the full speed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHouseholds with WiFi 6E phones, laptops, or VR headsets that can use the clean, uncongested 6 GHz band\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who wants one strong router now with the option to add Velop mesh nodes later for a larger home\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTri-band WiFi 6E (AXE6600):\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz radios with a 2x2x4 stream layout (two streams each on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, four streams on 6 GHz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e5 Gbps WAN port\u003c\/strong\u003e that negotiates at 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, or 5 Gbps, so a multi-gig modem is not capped at 940 Mbps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour Gigabit LAN ports\u003c\/strong\u003e plus one USB 3.0 port for sharing a drive over the network\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1.8 GHz quad-core processor\u003c\/strong\u003e (Qualcomm Networking Pro 810 platform) with 2 GB DDR3L RAM\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLinksys Intelligent Mesh:\u003c\/strong\u003e works as a parent or child node with Velop and other Linksys mesh products\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWPA3-Personal\u003c\/strong\u003e on every band; the 6 GHz band is WPA3 or Enhanced Open only, as the WiFi 6E standard requires\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBridge mode, SPI firewall, parental controls, guest network, and IPv6\u003c\/strong\u003e from the Linksys app or web interface\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mg-spec-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eModel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eLinksys Hydra Pro 6E, MR7500, tri-band AXE6600 mesh WiFi 6E router\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eWiFi standard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eWiFi 6E, IEEE 802.11a\/b\/g\/n\/ac\/ax on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eRated speeds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eAXE6600 class: about 600 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 1,201 Mbps (5 GHz), and 4,804 Mbps (6 GHz); 2x2x4 spatial streams\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eWAN port\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003e1 x multi-gig Ethernet, 100 \/ 1000 \/ 2500 \/ 5000 Mbps (5 Gbps max)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eLAN ports\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003e4 x 10\/100\/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eUSB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003e1 x USB 3.0 (up to 1,100 mA); FAT, FAT32, NTFS, HFS+ drives; parent mode only; no printer, FTP, or media server\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eProcessor and memory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003e1.8 GHz quad-core (Qualcomm Networking Pro 810), 2 GB DDR3L SDRAM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eAntennas\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003e4 external adjustable (non-detachable) plus 1 internal\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eCoverage and devices\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eUp to 2,700 sq ft (Linksys rating); 55+ devices\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eWireless security\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eWPA3-Personal, WPA2\/WPA3 mixed, WPA2-Personal, Enhanced Open; 6 GHz is WPA3 or Enhanced Open only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eMesh\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eLinksys Intelligent Mesh; parent or child node with Velop and Linksys mesh routers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003ePower\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eExternal adapter, 12 V 3 A; rocker power switch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eDimensions and weight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003e253 x 172 x 55 mm (9.96 x 6.77 x 2.16 in); 909 g (2 lb); wall-mountable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eWorks with\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eAny cable, fiber, or DSL modem\/ONT with an Ethernet port. Router only, no built-in modem\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eSpec\u003c\/span\u003eIn the box\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mg-td-label\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/span\u003eMR7500 router, quick start guide, Ethernet cable, 12 V 3 A power adapter, regulatory and warranty documents\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the 5 Gbps WAN port matters\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA standard Gigabit WAN port tops out near 940 Mbps after overhead, so a router with one wastes everything above that on a 1.2 Gbps or 2 Gbps plan. The MR7500's WAN port negotiates at 2.5 Gbps or 5 Gbps with a multi-gig modem, which removes that ceiling. The four LAN ports are still Gigabit, so a single wired PC sees about 940 Mbps; the extra headroom is shared across all devices and the 6 GHz band. To use the port at full speed, pair it with a modem that has a 2.5 GbE port, such as the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hitron-coda56\"\u003eHitron CODA56\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat the 6 GHz band does for you\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWiFi 6E opens the 6 GHz band, which only WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 devices can use, so it is free of the older laptops, smart plugs, and neighbors' networks that crowd 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The MR7500 puts four of its eight spatial streams on 6 GHz, which is where its 4,804 Mbps rating comes from. The trade-off is range: 6 GHz does not pass through walls as well as 5 GHz, so it shines in the same room or an open floor plan and hands off to 5 GHz farther away. The 6 GHz band also requires WPA3 or Enhanced Open security, so every device on it gets the newer encryption by default. Compare other 6E options in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tri-band-wifi\"\u003etri-band WiFi\u003c\/a\u003e lineup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProvider compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe MR7500 is a standalone router and works with any cable, fiber, DSL, or Starlink modem or ONT that provides an Ethernet handoff. If your ISP gave you a combined modem-router gateway, set it to bridge mode and let the MR7500 handle routing, WiFi, and the firewall. Linksys notes that an ISP-supplied 5G home internet router must have an Ethernet port to connect to the parent node.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E a modem or a router?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a router only. Connect its 5 Gbps WAN port to a cable modem, fiber ONT, or DSL modem with an Ethernet cable; it does not include a modem of its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes the Linksys MR7500 work with Velop mesh nodes?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It uses Linksys Intelligent Mesh and can be the parent node or a child node. To make it the parent of an existing Velop system, Linksys says to factory reset the Velop nodes first and add them after the MR7500 is set up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes the Linksys MR7500 have a 2.5 Gbps port?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts single WAN port negotiates at 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, or 5 Gbps. The four LAN ports are 1 Gbps each, and the WAN port cannot be switched to a LAN port.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many devices can the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E handle?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLinksys rates it for 55 or more devices and about 2,700 square feet of coverage. Adding a Velop node extends both figures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I run a VPN on the Linksys MR7500?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt supports VPN pass-through for IPsec, L2TP, and PPTP so a VPN app on your computer works behind it, but it does not run a VPN client itself. For a whole-home WireGuard setup with Proton VPN or Mullvad, see our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/modemguides-blog\/hardware-vpn-routers-whole-home-vpn-setup\"\u003ehardware VPN routers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\n.mg-desc p,.mg-desc li{font-size:17px !important;line-height:1.6 !important;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc li{margin-bottom:6px;}\n.mg-desc h2{font-size:24px !important;margin:28px 0 10px !important;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc h3{font-size:19px !important;margin:20px 0 6px !important;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc .mg-affiliate-note{font-size:15px !important;line-height:1.5 !important;opacity:0.8;padding:10px 14px;border-left:4px solid rgba(179,164,134,0.9);background:rgba(179,164,134,0.08);border-radius:6px;margin:12px 0 20px !important;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc .mg-spec-table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:14px 0 22px;font-size:16px;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc .mg-spec-table th,.mg-desc .mg-spec-table td{padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.3);text-align:left;vertical-align:top;line-height:1.5;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc .mg-spec-table th{background:rgba(10,94,166,0.08);font-weight:700;}\n.mg-desc .mg-spec-table tbody tr:nth-child(even){background:rgba(128,128,128,0.06);}\n.mg-desc .mg-spec-table td:first-child{font-weight:600;width:34%;}\n.mg-desc .mg-td-label{display:none;}\n.mg-desc .mg-cross{border:2px solid rgba(179,164,134,0.6);border-left:6px solid #b3a486;border-radius:10px;padding:14px 18px;margin:24px 0;background:rgba(179,164,134,0.06);color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc .mg-cross .mg-cross-kicker{font-size:13px !important;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;opacity:0.75;margin:0 0 6px !important;font-weight:700;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc .mg-cross .mg-cross-text{margin:0 !important;font-size:17px !important;line-height:1.5 !important;color:inherit;}\n.mg-desc .mg-cross a{font-weight:700;color:inherit;text-decoration:underline;}\n@media (max-width:768px){\n  .mg-desc p,.mg-desc li{font-size:16px !important;}\n  .mg-desc h2{font-size:22px !important;}\n  .mg-desc .mg-spec-table{font-size:15px;}\n}\n\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Linksys","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50677355282518,"sku":null,"price":155.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0582\/9463\/2534\/files\/Linksys_Hydra_Pro_6E_MR7500_Tri-Band_WiFi_6E_Mesh_Router_5_Gbps_WAN.png?v=1792001252","url":"https:\/\/www.modemguides.com\/products\/linksys-hydra-pro-6e-mr7500","provider":"ModemGuides","version":"1.0","type":"link"}