Edimax EW-7438AC User manual

EW-7438AC
User Manual
06-2015 / v1.0

CONTENTS
I. Product Information.............................................................................. 1
I-1. Package Contents ..........................................................................................................1
I-2. System Requirements....................................................................................................1
I-3. LED Status ......................................................................................................................2
I-4. Switch.............................................................................................................................4
I-5. WPS Setup......................................................................................................................5
I-6. Reset to Factory Default Settings ..................................................................................6
I-7. Safety Information.........................................................................................................7
II. Installation............................................................................................ 8
II-1. Wi-Fi Extender Mode...................................................................................................12
II-2. Access Point Mode.......................................................................................................19
II-3. Wi-Fi Bridge Mode .......................................................................................................23
III. Browser Based Configuration Interface.................................................29
III-1. Login.............................................................................................................................29
III-2. Save Settings................................................................................................................31
III-3. Main Menu ..................................................................................................................32
III-3-1. Status ...........................................................................................................................33
III-3-2. Setup Wizard................................................................................................................34
III-3-3. LAN...............................................................................................................................36
III-3-4. 2.4GHz Wireless & 5GHz Wireless ...............................................................................37
III-3-4-1. Basic .............................................................................................................................37
III-3-4-1-1. Disable .........................................................................................................................40
III-3-4-1-2. WEP..............................................................................................................................41
III-3-4-1-3. WPA Pre-Shared Key....................................................................................................42
III-3-4-1-4. WPA Radius..................................................................................................................43
III-3-4-2. Guest............................................................................................................................44
III-3-4-3. WPS..............................................................................................................................46
III-3-4-4. Access Control..............................................................................................................47
III-3-4-5. Schedule.......................................................................................................................49
III-3-5. Advanced .....................................................................................................................51
III-3-5-1. 2.4GHz Wireless...........................................................................................................51
III-3-5-2. 5GHz Wireless..............................................................................................................53
III-3-6. Administration .............................................................................................................55
III-3-6-1. Wireless .......................................................................................................................55
III-3-6-2. Time Zone ....................................................................................................................56
III-3-6-3. Password......................................................................................................................57
III-3-6-4. Backup/Restore ...........................................................................................................58

III-3-6-5. Upgrade .......................................................................................................................59
III-3-6-6. Restart..........................................................................................................................60
IV. EdiRange App.......................................................................................61
IV-1. Login.............................................................................................................................61
IV-2. Main Menu ..................................................................................................................63
IV-3. Parental Control...........................................................................................................64
IV -4. Wi-Fi Scheduling ..........................................................................................................65
IV -5. Admin...........................................................................................................................66
V. Appendix .............................................................................................66
V-1. Configuring your IP address.........................................................................................66
V-1-1. How to check that your computer uses a dynamic IP address....................................68
V-1-1-1. Windows XP .................................................................................................................68
V-1-1-2. Windows Vista .............................................................................................................70
V-1-1-3. Windows 7 ...................................................................................................................72
VII-1-1-4. Windows 8 ...................................................................................................................75
V-1-1-5. Mac OS .........................................................................................................................79
V-1-2. How to modify the IP address of your computer ........................................................81
VII-1-2-1. Windows XP .................................................................................................................81
V-1-2-2. Windows Vista .............................................................................................................83
VII-1-2-3. Windows 7 ...................................................................................................................84
V-1-2-4. Windows 8 ...................................................................................................................88
V-1-2-5. Mac ..............................................................................................................................92
V-1-3. How to Find Your Network Security Key .....................................................................95
V-1-3-1. Windows 7 & Vista.......................................................................................................95
V-1-3-2. Mac ..............................................................................................................................97
V-1-4. How to Find Your Router’s IP Address.......................................................................100
V-1-4-1. Windows XP, Vista & 7...............................................................................................100
V-1-4-2. Windows 8 .................................................................................................................102
V-1-4-3. Mac ............................................................................................................................105
V-2. Connecting to a Wi-Fi network..................................................................................107
V-3. Troubleshooting.........................................................................................................109
V-4. Glossary......................................................................................................................111

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I. Product Information
I-1. Package Contents
-EW-7438AC
-CD with multi-language QIG & user manual
-Quick installation guide (QIG)
-Access key card
I-2. System Requirements
-Wi-Fi extender/Wi-Fi bridge mode: Existing 2.4GHz and/or 5GHz wireless
network
-Access point mode: Cable/DSL modem router
-Computer with 802.11/b/g/n/a/ac Wi-Fi adapter, and web browser for
software configuration (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera
or Safari latest version)
-Smartphone setup: iOS 6 or Android 4.x and above

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I-3. LED Status
All LEDs are disabled in green mode.
LED
Color
Status
Description
Blue
On
Excellent signal
strength: 60 –100%
Slow
Flashing
Good signal
strength: 40 –60%
Quick
Flashing
Device is starting up or waiting for
setup
Off
Wi-Fi is off, disconnected or in
green mode
Blue
On
Excellent signal
strength: 60 –100%
Slow
Flashing
Good signal
strength: 40 –60%
Quick
Flashing
Device is starting up or waiting for
setup
Off
Wi-Fi is off, disconnected, or in
green mode
Signal
indicator
Red
On
Signal strength for either 2.4GHz or
5GHz: 0 –40%
Slow
Flashing
Signal strength for either 2.4GHz or
5GHz: 40 –60%
Quick
Flashing
Signal strength for both 2.4GHz or
5GHz: 40 –60%
Off
Excellent signal
strength for both 2.4GHz & 5GHz:
60 –100%

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Power
White
On
Extender is on
Flashing
Resetting to factory default
settings, or system is booting up
Off
Extender is off
Blue
On
WPS connection established (LED
will remain on for 30 seconds to
indicate a successful connection)
Flashing
WPS in progress (waiting for
another WPS device)
Off
No WPS in progress
LAN
Green
On
LAN port connected
Off
LAN port not connected

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I-4. Switch
The EW-7438AC includes a hardware slide switch
on the underside of the device which can switch
between normal, green mode and off as shown
in the table below. “Wi-Fi power” refers to the
strength of the extender’s wireless radio signal.
If you are using the extender in a small or
medium sized space, you may not need the full
power of the wireless radio. Try it, and determine
if you still have sufficient Wi-Fi coverage using
green mode. If so, you can save some energy.
Mode
Switch Position
Description
Normal
Right
100% Wi-Fi power
Green Mode
Middle
25% Wi-Fi power
Off
Left
Power off
Tx power works in conjunction with the Tx power setting in
the web-based configuration interface (Advanced  2.4GHz
Wireless/5GHz Wireless). The switch is the primary setting
and the Tx power value will be a percentage of the slide
switch setting. E.G If the slide switch is set to Green Mode
(25%) and Tx power to 75%, the overall output will be 75% of
25%.

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I-5. WPS Setup
The WPS button is a quick and easy method to establish a secure connection
between your EW-7438AC and wireless router/access point.
If your wireless device supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) then you can use
this method to setup your wireless extender in extender or adapter/bridge
mode, instead of the setup wizard described in II. Installation.
Please do not hold the WPS button for too long –this may reset
your device.
1. Press the WPS button on your wireless
router/access point for the correct
length of time to activate its WPS.
Please check the instructions for
your wireless device for how long
you need to hold down its WPS
button to activate WPS.
2. Within two minutes, press and hold
the WPS button on the wireless
extender for two seconds. The
extender’s blue WPS LED should flash
to indicate that WPS is in progress.
3. The devices will establish a connection.
The extender’s blue WPS LED should
display on for 30 seconds to indicate a
successful connection.
The extender can establish either a 2.4GHz or 5GHz connection
using the WPS button. By default the extender will establish a
5GHz connection where available. Use iQ Setup to extend both
2.4GHz & 5GHz together.

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I-6. Reset to Factory Default Settings
If you experience problems with your extender or if you want to change the
extender to a different operating mode, you can reset the device back to its
factory settings. This resets all settings back to default.
1. Press and hold the WPS button for at least 10 seconds and release when
the white power LED is flashing.
2.Wait for the extender to restart. The extender is ready for setup when the
white power LED displays on.

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I-7. Safety Information
In order to ensure the safe operation of the device and its users, please read
and act in accordance with the following safety instructions.
1. The device is designed for indoor use only; do not place it outdoors.
2. Do not place the device in or near hot/humid places, such as a kitchen or
bathroom.
3. Do not pull any connected cable with force; carefully disconnect it from the
EW-7438AC.
4. Handle the device with care. Accidental damage will void the warranty of
the device.
5. The device contains small parts which are a danger to small children under
3 years old. Please keep the device out of reach of children.
6. Do not place the device on paper, cloth, or other flammable materials. The
device may become hot during use.
7. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the device. If you experience
problems with the device, please contact your dealer of purchase and ask
for help.
8. The device is an electrical device and as such, if it becomes wet for any
reason, do not attempt to touch it without switching the power supply off.
Contact an experienced electrical technician for further help.
9. If you smell burning or see smoke coming from the EW-7438AC then unplug
the device immediately, as far as it is safely possible to do so. Call your
dealer of purchase for help.

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II.Installation
The EW-7438AC has three different operating modes:
Wi-Fi Extender
The device connects wirelessly to your existing network
and repeats the wireless signal.
Location: The best location for your extender is roughly
in the middle between your existing wireless
router/access point and the dead zone. The extender
needs to receive a good Wi-Fi signal from your
router/access point.
Wi-Fi Bridge
(Wi-Fi
Adapter)
The device connects to an Ethernet device such as a
games console or smart TV via Ethernet cable and
provides wireless Internet access for that device.
Location: Within Wi-Fi coverage, close to your wired
network device.
Wi-Fi Access
Point
The device connects to an existing router via Ethernet
cable and provides wireless Internet access for your
network devices.
Location: Connected to your router via Ethernet cable.
1. Plug the EW-7438AC into a power socket.

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2. The white power LED will flash while the extender is starting up. The
device is ready when the white power LED displays on.
3. Use a Wi-Fi device to connect to the SSID “EdimaxEXT.Setup **”. The last
two ** characters are unique according to your device.
If you are using a computer, please disconnect any Ethernet
cables.

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4. Open a web browser and if you do not automatically arrive at the “Get
Started” screen shown below, enter the URL http://edimaxext.setup and
click “Get Started” to begin the setup process.
If you cannot access http://edimaxext.setup, please make sure
your computer is set to use a dynamic IP address. For more
information please refer to Appendix.
5. To use a different operating mode, click “Change to a Different Mode”. Or
select “Yes, I need a Range Extender” to continue setup as a Wi-Fi
extender.

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6. Follow the on-screen instructions for your selected mode to complete
setup. You can configure the product for 2.4 GHz and/or 5GHz Wi-Fi. Refer
to the appropriate chapter for each mode below if you need more help.
7. After setup, you can download the EdiRange app by scanning the QR code
shown below. The EdiRange app allows you to control functions such as
Wi-Fi scheduling and guest network when using range extender mode.
Android: iOS:
For more advanced configurations, use the browser based
configuration interface at http://edimaxext.setup

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II-1. Wi-Fi Extender Mode
1. Please ensure your EW-7438AC is within Wi-Fi range of your existing
wireless router. Click “Next” to continue.
2. Select whether to use the 5GHz wireless frequency, 2.4GHz wireless
frequency or both. If you are not sure, select both and then click “Next”.

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3. Select whether to enable Cross Band technology. This can help to
maintain your router’s maximum speed capacity as the Wi-Fi signal is
extended.
4. Select the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) which you wish to connect to for the
specified frequency and click “Next” to continue.
If the Wi-Fi network you wish to connect to does not appear, try
clicking “Refresh”.
To connect to a hidden SSID, check the “Setup extender manually”
box and enter the details manually on the next page, as shown
below.

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5. Enter your existing wireless network’s security key/password in the
“Security Key” field and click “Next” to continue.
Device SSID will be the SSID of your extender’s Wi-Fi. If using
cross-band technology this will be 5GHz Wi-Fi for your router’s
2.4GHz signal and vice versa.

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6. Wait a moment while the EW-7438AC tests the wireless connection.
7. Select “Obtain an IP address automatically” or “Use the following IP
address” for your EW-7438AC. If you are using a static IP, enter the IP
address, subnet mask and default gateway. Click “Next” to proceed to the
next step.
“Obtain an IP address automatically” is the recommended setting
for most users. The IP address will be displayed in brackets.

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8. If you selected to use both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless frequencies in step
2, then repeat steps 4 –7 for the 5GHz wireless frequency.
9. A summary of your configuration will be displayed, as shown below.
Check that all of the details are correct and then click “Next” to proceed.
The device will use the same wireless password/security key as
the existing wireless network.
If you wish to backup the EW-7438AC’s settings, click “Backup this
configuration” to save your current configuration to a .txt file.

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10.Please wait a moment until the EW-7438AC is ready.
11.A final congratulations screen will indicate that setup is complete. You
can now connect to the device’s new SSID(s) which are shown on the
screen then close the browser window.