Jetpack MIFI 7730L to Linksys Max-Stream 5540 Router

I just got a Jetpack MIFI 7730L and want to connect it with a USB-to-Ethernet adapter to my Linksys Max-Stream 5540 Router so that I have greater WIFI range in my house and dump my DSL internet service. -- similar to this image below, but I want to directly link my Jetpack to my router using a USB-to-ethernet adapter. Problem is that once I disconnect my old DSL modem from the router and connect the router to the Jetpack thru the adapter (essentially using my Jetpack as the Modem), I can't get the router to recognize the jetpack internet connection. I tried changing my Linksys Router to a Bridge connection type, and typed in the Jetpack's IPv4 settings, but that didn't work and then I lost my router connections and could't reset the Linksys router to the old DSL settings without doing a hard reset to the router. Should I need to change any settings on my router, and if so, to what? Or is there a better way to accomplish connecting my Jetpack as a modem to my Linksys as the router?

I have some very basic computer knowledge, but not the technical know-how to figure this out. Someone stated to another person to use a wireless bridge adapter to wirelessly connect the Jetpack to the bridge, then direct-connect the bridge adapter with ethernet cable to the Linksys Router's WAN port. Should I be doing that instead, and if so, would I need to change settings on my router? (P.S. -- I borrowed this picture from someone else).

Accepted answers

John_Getzke

This one looks fun, let me take a crack!

> Jetpack MIFI 7730L and want to connect it with a USB-to-Ethernet adapter to my Linksys Max-Stream 5540 Router

Nope. The Jetpack requires the receiving machine to have the appropriate drivers to utilize its USB tethering feature. A USB to Ethernet adapter will not work for you. You will need a wireless bridge to convert the WiFi signal into an Ethernet signal your Linksys can understand.

> I tried changing my Linksys Router to a Bridge connection type, and typed in the Jetpack's IPv4 settings, but that didn't work and then I lost my router connections and couldn't reset the Linksys router to the old DSL settings without doing a hard reset to the router.

I checked the User Guide for your Linksys to confirm the default functionality:

http://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/userguide/EA7500-MUG_International_20160610.pdf

Sadly there was no information on the features for bridging that I could find. Weak.

Then I found these articles specific to wireless bridging from Linksys:

http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=137888

http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=141083

The screenshots appear to match up with those from the model User Guide so there's a good chance what you want is under the Internet Settings tab as one of the Connection Type options. If you can get Wireless Bridge from here then just use Automatic IP and confirm it works. Come back to customizing your home network from there.

All comments

Elements

Are you still going to have other devices connecitng directly to the Jetpack, or do you plan on everything conencting to just your Linksys Wi-Fi now? if the latter, then you may need to tweak some Jetpack settings. With a device connected to it, navigate to the admin interface ( http://my.jetpack ). Once there, try setting it to automaticcaly provide internet over USB.

- Jetpack > Preferences > Device Preferences > USB Mode (try setting to Internet access via USB only)

If that doesn't resolve the problem, you may want to try adjusting some further settings. You may also want to try connecting that USB-to-Ethernet adapter directly to a comptuer to verify the adapter is working properly.

DRS_FAMILY

Thank you, I will change the USB settings on the Jetpack. The adapter is brand new and seems to be working fine. Do I have to change any other settings on the Linksys router? I'm assuming at this point that I don't have to set it up as a bridge or anything, that I can just use the previous settings when it was connected to a DSL modem?

DRS_FAMILY

PS, I was going to just let everything continue to conect directly to my Linksys router's WIFI -- it has the greatest range -- my house is too long distance from the router location.

Elements

Nothing else comes to mind, aside from that you'll want to make sure you don't have any IP address conflicts. Most devices by default have an IP subnet of 192.168.0.x with a mask of 255.255.255.0. If your Jetpack is handing out that for its LAN, and your Linksys is too, that could be a problem, so you may want to set your Linksys LAN subnet to something like 192.168.1.x.

Just to add, however, I'm not very familiar with using the USB connection on the Jetpack, so I'm not completely certain if it can work via an Ethernet connection.

Ann154

Why did you choose the Jetpack for the purchase? A 4G LTE USB modem would have been a better option for your home network arrangement.

Elements

I don't think so. The cx has multiple devices that they need connected, and the USB modem only supports one. Moreover, the cx's main focus is continuing to use the Wi-Fi from the existing Linksys router, and while I'm not sure if USB-to-Ethernet will work from the Jetpack 7730L due to conflicts with drivers transmitting, it certainly wouldn't work with the USB.

Ann154

It can if one plugs the USB modem directly into the router's USB port. It literally replaces the Jetpack icon in the image used by the OP. They are wanting to plug the Jetpack in the router through the USB port to create a LAN connection between the Jetpack and the router. The USB modem is designed for this type of functionality and is better suited for 24/7 operation than the Jetpack.

DRS_FAMILY

It appears I might have the wrong USB/ethernet adapter -- the one I have is not compatible with android. Will order a different adapter, unless there is a better way to connect this Jetpack to the existing router. This Linksys router is new and has great WIFI distance capabilities and would like to keep it. (The Verison modem would not work). Any other suggestions?

Ann154

John_Getzke and 7e18n1

DRS_FAMILY

Also, my intention is to cancel my DSL internet service and only use my Verizon Jetpack as my primary internet service, using the Linksys router for extended WIFI capability for multiple devices.

Ann154

If you have access to any other Internet service besides satellite or wireless, you should use the landline based service instead.

The data caps are much higher than the wireless networks. Especially since Verizon Wireless caps you at 10 GB of LTE high speed hotspot data before you are slowed down to 3G speeds. Routing a Jetpack or USB modem through a router is hotspot usage and if you already use a lot of data with the DSL service, you will be seriously disappointed when you are slowed to a crawl on the Verizon Wireless network after 10 GB for the remainder of the billing cycle.

DRS_FAMILY

Ann, Thank you for your kind information, but we have gotten a little off track. The decision for cellular internet vs poor land line internet with no other alternatives has already been made for various reasons, including slow dsl speed, poor dsl reliability, internet availability, cost, mobility, and others.

The basic issue is that this particular Jetpack (MIFI 7730L) is new, and there just isn't much information out there on how to connect a cellular modem it to a home-based LAN router and what settings or changes have to be made to the Linksys AC5400 router to do so (this router is also new and updated technology, it was expensive, and we have multiple devices, some that have to be hard-wire connected to the router, and others wireless. Bottom line is I'm trying to keep some very old technology running while at the same time add new technology, and mixing cellular and LAN based. I know very little about cellular and android technology, and a moderate amount about PC technology.

I was only able to find one other thread regarding similar issues, and that one suggested that you have to set your LAN router to a BRIDGE configuration, but in doing so with this router, I would also have to change the IPV4 settings on the router, which messes up the router. I thought that there would be an easier solution. I'm also posting this question so that others would have the information should they choose to go this route.

I have determined that the usb-to-ethernet adapter that I have is meant only for PCs (windows and MAC) and requires drivers, which the Jetpak apparently can't accommodate. So I have ordered a different usb-to-ethernet adapter that is specific for android connection that shouldn't need drivers. It should be here in two days and will try that next.

To answer the question about IP address conflicts, the Jetpack has its own separate IP and mask settings that do not conflict with the router's IP address (different numbers), so that does not appear to be an issue for this particular Jetpack.

I was able to find a different thread from someone that wanted to connect the jetpack wirelessly to a LAN router, so it was suggested that he use a wireless bridge that has an ethernet port, a little more expensive alternative to the usb/ethernet adapter, so I wanted to try the hard-wire adapter first before going the wireless direction.

7e18n1

Replacing DSL with Verizon Wireless or any cellular solution for that matter, is a step backwards.

AFAIK, you cannot use a USB to Ethernet adapter for this.

A Jetpack is the wrong device for home internet service. A more appropriate device is the Verizon Wireless LTE Internet and Home Phone. It can simulate bridge mode (bypass the internal firewall) and connect via Ethernet to your Linksys. More advanced devices are the M2M and Wi-Fi as WAN solutions from the 3GStore.com.

A wireless bridge is a recommended solution for your problem. You can use a separate device to support this function which essentially converts between Wi-Fi and Ethernet. TP-Link sells devices which support wireless ISP (WISP is another name for Wi-Fi as WAN). If you need more input, please provide the Linksys model number as written on the label affixed to the Linksys.

DRS_FAMILY

We live in a very rural area that has no other option for phone service from any other provider. Only one provider for phone and internet access, other than cellular. Next option if not cellular would be satellite. The Linksys Router is: MAX-STREAM AC5400 MU-MIMO GIGABIT ROUTER.

John_Getzke

This one looks fun, let me take a crack!

> Jetpack MIFI 7730L and want to connect it with a USB-to-Ethernet adapter to my Linksys Max-Stream 5540 Router

I checked the User Guide for your Linksys to confirm the default functionality:

http://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/userguide/EA7500-MUG_International_20160610.pdf

Sadly there was no information on the features for bridging that I could find. Weak.

Then I found these articles specific to wireless bridging from Linksys:

http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=137888

http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=141083

DRS_FAMILY

Thank you for your response, John. I got a wireless bridge and was able to connect it to the router as you suggested. But unfortunately we extremely SLOW internet speeds – 1.5 MBPS download speeds according to the speed test. The last test when I was on the phone with a Verizon support person showed only 0.6 MBPs download speeds, and jet the Jetpack was rated for up to 50 MBPS download speed. Even when I completely disconnect my router and check the download speeds of my Jetpack, we got no better results. So it appears that I will not be able to eliminate my DSL internet after all, and I will probably be returning the Jetpack. We can’t understand why we get such poor internet speeds from the Jetpack, even though I am in an area that gets 4GLTE service. Thanks again for your help – yours was the answer.

John_Getzke

> The last test when I was on the phone with a Verizon support person showed only 0.6 MBPs download speeds, and jet the Jetpack was rated for up to 50 MBPS download speed.

That seems strangely low for a direct connection to a Jetpack operating on a 4G LTE signal. Perhaps your Jetpack is only connecting on 3G or 1x in your current location. The Jetpack itself isn't as important as the incoming cellular connection it is presented with at the time. There are also natural distance and wireless interference issues that should be accounted for when performance testing by placing the target wireless device as close to the jetpack as possible.

> Even when I completely disconnect my router and check the download speeds of my Jetpack, we got no better results.

That is unfortunate. A 4G LTE connection should provide a minimum 5-12 Mbps connection. If VZW has no better answer for you then I would do the same and return the Jetpack too.