NetComm CF40MESH User manual

Wireless Troubleshooting Guide
CF40MESH
Wireless Troubleshooting Guide – CF40MESH
FA01365 v. 1.01 10 February 2023
Wireless Troubleshooting guide
First, check that your Gateway WiFi is turned ON.
Next, check LED light status for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi. If 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi LEDs are not lit, it means
that your WiFi service is disabled.
Accessing Gateway web user interface
1Connect your computer to the Gateway using wired or wireless connection. A computer connected
using ethernet cable is strongly recommended.
2Open a web browser (such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox), type following
address into the address bar and press Enter.
http://192.168.20.1
3Enter Gateway Login Username and Password printed on the label at the bottom of the Gateway and
press Login.

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WiFi 2.4GHz/WiFi 5GHz
The gateway allows you to maintain separate wireless settings for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless services.
By default, 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSID and password are same as Band Steering is enabled which enables client
devices to steer smoothly between 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi.
We recommend that you access the web interface over a wired connection (using Ethernet cable) to
change the WiFi security key/password.
We recommend that you keep 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi Network name (SSID) and WiFi password same.
I cannot see my WiFi (Wireless network name/SSID)
1Navigate to WiFi > Main WiFi.
2Confirm that Band Steering and WiFi Status are Enabled. And SSID Hidden is Disabled.
The default Network Name (SSID) on this example is “NetComm 8386”.
A WiFi client (Laptop/mobile/Pad) cannot connect to Wireless network

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Case1 - MAC address is restricted
Ensure that the MAC Restrict Mode is: Disable
Case2 – Stored old WiFi password
This may occur if the client device is storing an old WiFi password and it is not prompting for new password.
In such case the saved WiFi network name and password should be removed:
1Scan for the WiFi network name, and
2Enter new password again.
It is recommended to re-check the WiFi security key/password from Gateway web interface. Check wireless
setup guide or wireless security setup guide for the instruction to check the WiFi security key/password.
Please follow the below instructions to remove stored WiFi network name/SSID and WiFi security
key/password from client devices. Find the appropriate operating system listed below and follow the
instructions.

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Windows 7
1Right click the Wireless symbol on the bottom right of your screen and click the “Open Network and
Sharing Center” link.
OR
aClick on the Start Menu and go to Control Panel.
bSelect View by: Category.
cClick View network status and tasks in the Network and Internet group.
2Click Manage wireless networks.
Note - If the following dialog is not shown, proceed to Step 4.

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3Select your WiFi network name/SSID, right click and select Remove network from the popup menu.
These are stored settings and passwords for connecting to the listed networks.
If your WiFi network name/SSID is not listed here, close this window and return to the Network and
Sharing Center.
4Click Yes in the confirmation dialog box.
5Click on "Change Adapter settings" on the left-hand side.

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6Right-click on "Wireless Network Connection" and select "Connect / Disconnect".
Note
–
If you cannot see a “Wireless Network Connection” item, your wireless adapter may not be installed or inserted
correctly.
Please check this before continuing with steps in this guide.
7You should see a network listed with the SSID you obtained at the start of this guide. Select your wireless
network and click Connect. Enter your WiFi security key/password and click OK. You will be connected
to the WiFi network (Example: NetComm 8386).
Do not forget to disconnect your ethernet cable.

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Windows 8 / Windows 10
1Click the Windows button on the bottom left corner of your screen and click Settings.
2Click Network and Internet.
3Click WiFi, scroll down to the bottom in the right side and click Manage WiFi settings:

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4Find your WiFi network name/SSID and click Forget.
5Navigate back to Network and Internet > WiFi.
aMake sure WiFi in turned On.
bSelect your WiFi network name/SSID (Example: NetComm 8386)
cEnter your WiFi security key/password
dClick Next.
Note
–
If you cannot see a “Wireless Network Connection” item, your wireless adapter may not be installed or inserted correctly.
Please check this before continuing with steps in this guide.
6You will now be connected to WiFi network. Please remember to disconnect your ethernet cable.

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iPhone
Your iPhone may be storing your old WiFi password causing it not to connect to WiFi network.
In your iPhone, navigate to Settings > WiFi.
1Press the ( i) symbol as in the snapshot below,
2Press Forget this network and then,
3Click the Forget button in the popup dialog.
Scan for the WiFi network name/SSID and enter new WiFi security key/password again.

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Android
Your Android phone may be storing your old WiFi password causing it not to connect to the WiFi network.
1In your Android phone, navigate to Settings > Connections > WiFi.
2Press WiFi network name (Example: NetComm 8386) as in the snapshot below and press Forget.
3Scan for the WiFi network name/SSID and enter new WiFi security key/password again.

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Mac OS X
1Click on the Airport/WiFi icon at the top right corner of the screen as shown below.
2Scroll down and click “Open Network Preferences…”.
3Select WiFi and then select the Advanced…button.
4Select your WiFi network name (Example: NetComm 8386), click the minus sign “–“ as shown below, check
Remove and OK.

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5Next click Apply
6Scan for the WiFi network name/SSID and enter new WiFi security key/password again. You should see
a list of WiFi network name along with your WiFi network name/SSID (Example: NetComm 8386). Click
your WiFi network name/SSID to connect to this network.
7Enter your WiFi security key/Password and click the Join button to connect to the WiFi network.
If you enter an incorrect WiFi security key, a message will appear, and you will be prompted to enter
the correct key again.
8The Airport icon will now have black lines to indicate signal strength. To see if the wireless is connected,
click on the Airport icon again. You should be able to see a tick on your connected WiFi network.

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After completing the steps above, you should now be connected to your wireless network and able to surf
the internet. Please remember to disconnect your ethernet cable.
I am connected to WiFi network but unable to browse
internet
Check if you are using static IP address of different network range. It is mandatory to use the automatic IP
address from the Gateway.
1Press Windows + R key in your keyboard.
2In Run command, type ncpa.cpl and press enter. It will open Network connections window.

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3The Control Panel page will display:
4Right mouse click the Wireless Connection link and:
iFrom the drop down menu, click Properties (1),
The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog will open
ii Select the Networking tab and then select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) (2), then
click the Properties button (3),
The Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) dialog box will open.
iii Select the General tab and select Obtain an IP address automatically,
iv Click the OK button at the bottom of the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) dialog box,
and
vClick the OK button at the bottom of the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog
box.

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Should I choose 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi band?
By default, WiFi name (SSID) and password for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band is same, which creates single
roaming profile for the clients to switch between the bands automatically.
It is recommended to keep 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi name and password same, so that clients select the
suitable band automatically.
General Information
As the name suggests, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operate on different frequencies. The primary differences
between the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz wireless frequencies are area coverage and bandwidth.
5GHz provides faster data rates at a shorter distance, whereas 2.4GHz offers coverage for farther distances,
but may perform at slower speeds.
In most cases, 5 GHz has higher bandwidth but less area coverage. This is a because higher frequency
signals cannot penetrate solid objects like walls and floors. 5 GHz is suitable for streaming video and online
gaming (Television and Gaming device should be closer to the Gateway).
The 2.4 GHz has lower bandwidth but larger area coverage. Commonly, 2.4 GHz is used to browse internet
using mobile client devices such as Laptop, Mobile or Pad.