NETGEAR AX1600 User manual

User Manual
AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender
Model EAX11
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria DriveFebruary 2021
San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-12229-01

Support and Community
Visit netgear.com/support to get your questions answered and access the latest
downloads.
You can also check out our NETGEAR Community for helpful advice at
community.netgear.com.
Regulatory and Legal
Si ce produit est vendu au Canada, vous pouvez accéder à ce document en français
canadien à https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.
(If this product is sold in Canada, you can access this document in Canadian French at
https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.)
For regulatory compliance information including the EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
For NETGEAR’s Privacy Policy, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/privacy-policy.
By using this device, you are agreeing to NETGEAR’s Terms and Conditions at
https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions. If you do not agree, return the
device to your place of purchase within your return period.
Trademarks
©NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

Contents
Chapter 1 Overview
Unpack Your Extender.........................................................................6
LEDs........................................................................................................7
Side panel..............................................................................................9
System Requirements........................................................................10
How the Extender Works...................................................................10
Chapter 2 Get started
Install the WiFi extender....................................................................12
Place the extender and apply power...............................................12
Connect to an existing WiFi network...............................................12
Connect with the Nighthawk app................................................13
Connect with WPS..........................................................................14
Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant......................17
Use the extender in access point mode..........................................18
Connect a device to the extender network.....................................19
Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi.............19
Connect a device to the extender network using WPS.............19
Log in to the extender after installation...........................................19
Run the Smart Setup installation.......................................................20
Chapter 3 Extender Network Settings
Enable or disable the One WiFi Name feature...............................23
Enable or disable Smart Connect.....................................................24
Enable or disable MU-MIMO............................................................26
Enable or disable WiFi 6....................................................................27
View connected devices....................................................................28
View WiFi settings...............................................................................29
Change the WiFi network name.......................................................29
Turn off the SSID broadcast to create a hidden network..............30
Disable or enable the WiFi radios....................................................31
Change the WiFi speed.....................................................................32
Set up a guest WiFi network.............................................................34
Use WPS to add a computer to the extender’s WiFi network.......36
Use WPS with the push button method......................................36
Use WPS with the PIN method.....................................................37
3

Deny access to a computer or WiFi device.....................................39
Set up an access schedule.................................................................40
Change the extender’s device name...............................................41
Set up the extender to use a static IP address................................42
Adjust the WiFi coverage..................................................................43
Enable FastLane technology.............................................................44
Configure a router with advanced MAC settings to work with your
extender...............................................................................................45
Chapter 4 Maintain and monitor the extender
Change the extender login user name and password..................48
Turn password protection off and on..............................................49
Recover a forgotten user name or password..................................50
Automatically adjust for daylight saving time.................................51
Manually set the extender clock.......................................................52
Set your time zone..............................................................................53
Back up and manage the extender configuration..........................54
Back up the configuration settings...................................................54
Restore the configuration settings...................................................55
Return the extender to its factory default settings.........................56
Use the Reset button.....................................................................56
Log in and reset the extender to factory settings......................57
Update the extender firmware..........................................................58
Check for new firmware and update the extender....................58
Manually upload firmware to the extender................................59
Restart the extender from the extender web interface..................60
Turn the LEDs On or Off....................................................................61
Chapter 5 FAQs and troubleshooting
FAQs.....................................................................................................64
Find the Extender’s IP address..........................................................65
Cannot Connect to the Extender......................................................66
Cannot Join a WiFi Network and Receive an Error Message.......66
Cannot access mywifiext.net.............................................................67
Cannot connect to extender using the Nighthawk app................68
Chapter 6 Supplemental Information
Factory Default Settings.....................................................................70
Technical and Environmental Specifications..................................71
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

1
Overview
The WiFi Range Extender boosts your existing network range and speed, delivering
tri-band WiFi.
This chapter covers the following topics:
• Unpack Your Extender
• LEDs
• Side panel
• System Requirements
• How the Extender Works
Note: For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support
website at support.netgear.com.
5

Unpack Your Extender
Your package contains an extender only.
Figure 1. Extender package contents
User Manual6Overview
AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

LEDs
The following table describes the LEDs.
Figure 2. Front panel
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionLED
•Solid amber. The extender is booting.
•Solid green. The extender is powered on.
•Off. The extender is powered off.
Power LED
This LED indicates the WiFi connection between the extender and the router.
•Solid green. Best connection.
•Solid amber. Good connection.
•Solid red. Poor connection.
•Off. No connection.
Router Link LED
This LED indicates the a connection between the extender and a WiFi-enabled
computer or mobile device.
•Solid green. Best connection.
•Solid amber. Good connection.
•Solid red. Poor connection.
•Off. No connection.
Client Link LED
•Blinking green. A WPS connection is being established.
•Solid green. The extender is connected to the router WiFi network, and the
extender network is set up with WiFi security (either WPA, WPA2, or WPA3
WiFi security).
•Off. The extender network is set up without WiFi security.
WPS LED
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

Side panel
The side panel of the extender provides a WPS button, Reset button, and Ethernet port.
Figure 3. Back panel
The side panel contains the following components:
1. WPS button. Pressing the WPS button allows the extender to connect to your existing
WiFi network through WPS. You can also connect WPS-enabled devices to the
extender using the WPS button.
2. Reset button. Pressing this button resets the extender. If the Reset button is pressed
for at least seven seconds, the Power LED blinks amber, and the extender returns
to its factory settings.
3. Ethernet port. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN
port to a device that has a LAN Ethernet port.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

System Requirements
You need the following to install your extender:
•2.4 GHz or 5 GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax wireless router or gateway
•Compatible web browser:
-Microsoft Internet Explorer® 8.0 or higher
-Firefox 2.0 or higher
-Safari 5.1 or higher
- Google Chrome 25.0 or higher
How the Extender Works
The extender works like a bridge between a WiFi router (or a WiFi access point) and a
WiFi device outside the range of the WiFi router. The extender performs two main jobs:
•The extender connects to a working WiFi network.
When the extender connects over WiFi to an existing network, it functions as a
network client, similar to how a WiFi device connects to a network.
•The extender acts as an access point for WiFi devices.
The extender broadcasts its own WiFi network that WiFi devices can join. In its role
as an access point, the extender performs tasks that WiFi routers do, such as
broadcasting its network name (SSID).
The extender must do each of these jobs so that both ends of the bridge are in place.
User Manual10Overview
AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

2
Get started
This chapter covers the following topics:
• Install the WiFi extender
• Place the extender and apply power
• Connect to an existing WiFi network
• Use the extender in access point mode
• Connect a device to the extender network
• Log in to the extender after installation
• Run the Smart Setup installation
11

Install the WiFi extender
Place the extender, apply power, and connect the extender to your existing WiFi network.
Place the extender and apply power
To place the extender and apply power:
1. Place your extender in the same room as your WiFi router.
Proximity to the WiFi router is required only during the initial setup process.
2. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.
3. Wait for the Power LED to light solid green.
Connect to an existing WiFi network
To extend the range of your WiFi network, you must connect the extender to your
existing router's WiFi network.
Note: If your router’s WiFi security is set to WPA enterprise, WPA2 enterprise, or WEP,
your extender can’t connect to your router. You must change your router’s WiFi security
setting.
You can connect your extender to your router's WiFi netowrk using one of these methods:
•Connect with the Nighthawk app. The Nighthawk app guides you through the
connection process. For more information, see Connect with the Nighthawk app on
page 13.
•Connect with WPS. If your router supportsWi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), use WPS
to connect your extender to your router's WiFi network.
For more information, see Connect with WPS on page 14.
•Connect with the web browser setup. You can use the extender's web browser
setup, called the NETGEAR installation assistant. and For more information, see
Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant on page 17.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

Connect with the Nighthawk app
You can connect your extender to your router using the NETGEAR Nighthawk app.
To connect with the Nighthawk app:
1. Download the Nighthawk app on your mobile device.
For more information about the Nighthawk app, visit Nighthawk-app.com.
2. On your mobile device, open the WiFi connection manager, then locate and connect
to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT.
3. Launch the Nighthawk app.
4. Follow the prompts to connect your extender to your existing router WiFi network.
5. Unplug your extender and move it to a new location.
We recommend that the new location be about halfway between your router and
the area with a poor WiFi signal.
6. Power on your extender.
7. Use the Router Link LED to help you choose a spot where the extender-to-router
connection is optimal.
Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED
lights green.
8. If the Router Link LED doesn’t light green, plug the extender into an outlet closer to
the router and try again.
Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED
lights green.
9. Reconnect your computer or mobile device to the new extended WiFi network.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

The following tables show an example of what your 2.4 and 5 GHz extender WiFi
names might look like if your extender connects to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi
networks from a dual-band router:
Table 2. Existing dual-band router WiFi names example
Example router WiFi namesDual-band router WiFi networks
MyWiFiexample2.4 GHz router WiFi network
MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz router WiFi network
Table 3. New extender WiFi names example
Example extender WiFi names
(if the extender connects to both the 2.4 GHz
and 5 GHz router WiFi networks)
Extender WiFi networks
MyWiFiExample2.4 GHz extender WiFi network
MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz extender WiFi network
Connect with WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a secure WiFi network without typing the
network name and password. For help with the WPS button on your WPS-enabled
device, check the instructions or online help that came with that device. Some older
equipment cannot use WPS.
Note: WPS does not support WEP network security or a hidden SSID network. If your
existing WiFi network uses WEP security or its SSID is hidden, follow the instructions in
Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant on page 17.
To use WPS to connect the extender to your WiFi router:
1. Press the WPS button on the extender until the WPS LED blinks.
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router.
When the extender connects to your existing WiFi network, the WPS LED on the
extender lights.
If the Router Link LED lights green, the connection between the router and extender
is good. If the Router Link LED lights amber or red, move the extender closer to the
router and try again.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

If the Router Link LED lights green, the connection between your router and extender
is good. If the Router Link LED lights amber or red, move the extender closer to the
router and try again.
Note: If your router supports the 5 GHz band and your extender didn’t connect to
that band, repeat the WPS process.
3. Unplug your extender and move it to a new location.
We recommend that the new location be about halfway between your router and
the area with a poor WiFi signal.
The extender must be within the range of your router WiFi network.
4. Power on your extender.
5. Use the Router Link LED to help you choose a spot where the extender-to-router
connection is optimal.
Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED
lights green.
6. If the Router Link LED doesn’t light green, plug the extender into an outlet closer to
the router and try again.
Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED
lights green.
7. Reconnect your computer or mobile device to the new extender WiFi network.
After the setup, the One WiFi Name feature is enabled, which allows your extender
to use the same WiFi network settings as your router.
8. Connect your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the extended network.
Your extender uses the same WiFi network settings as your router for its 2.4 GHz
and 5 GHz extended networks.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

For example, if your extender connects to the router’s 2.4 GHz WiFi band only, your
extender uses your router’s 2.4 GHz WiFi settings for both its networks. The following
tables show an example of what your extender WiFi network names might look like:
Table 4. Existing dual-band router WiFi names example
Example router WiFi namesDual-band router WiFi networks
MyWiFiexample2.4 GHz router WiFi network
MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz router WiFi network
Table 5. New extender WiFi names example
Example extender WiFi names
(if the extender connects to the 2.4 GHz router
WiFi network only)
Extender WiFi networks
MyWiFiExample2.4 GHz extender WiFi network
MyWiFiExample5 GHz extender WiFi network
If your extender connects to the router’s 5 GHz WiFi band, your extender uses your
router’s 5 GHz WiFi settings for both its networks. The following tables show an
example of what your extender WiFi network names might look like:
Table 6. Existing dual-band router WiFi names example
Example router WiFi namesDual-band router WiFi networks
MyWiFiexample2.4 GHz router WiFi network
MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz router WiFi network
Table 7. New extender WiFi names example
Example extender WiFi names
(if the extender connects to the 5 GHz router
WiFi network only)
Extender WiFi networks
MyWiFiExample-5G2.4 GHz extender WiFi network
MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz extender WiFi network
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

Note: Since your router and extender networks share the same WiFi network name,
only one WiFi network name is broadcast.
Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant
You can use the NETGEAR installation assistant to connect your extender to your existing
WiFi router network. To use the NETGEAR installation assistant, you must launch a web
browser on your computer or mobile device.
To use the NETGEAR installation assistant to connect the extender to your WiFi
router:
1. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection
manager and locate and connect to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT.
2. Launch web browser.
3. Enter http://www.mywifiext.net/.
The NETGEAR installation assistant displays.
4. Follow the prompts to connect your extender to your existing router WiFi network.
5. Unplug your extender and move it to a new location.
We recommend that the new location be about halfway between your router and
the area with a poor WiFi signal.
6. Power on your extender.
7. Use the Router Link LED to help you choose a spot where the extender-to-router
connection is optimal.
8. If the Router Link LED doesn’t light green, plug the extender into an outlet closer to
the router and try again.
Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED
lights green.
9. Reconnect your computer or mobile device to the new extended WiFi network.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

Use the extender in access point mode
You can use the extender as a WiFi access point, which creates a new WiFi hotspot by
using a wired Ethernet connection.
Figure 4. Extender in access point mode
To use the extender in access point mode:
1. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.
2. Wait for the Power LED to light amber and then turn green.
3. Connect a computer or mobile device to the extender using a WiFi or Ethernet
connection:
•WiFi. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection
manager and connect to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT.
•Ethernet. Connect the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your computer and
extender.
Note: If you want to use an Ethernet connection, you must do this before you
connect your extender to your modem router or router.
4. Launch a web browser and visit http://www.mywifiext.net/.
The NETGEAR installation assistant displays.
5. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your router to an Ethernet port on the extender.
Note: Do not connect your extender directly to your DSL or cable modem. The
extender does not function as a router. If your network includes a DHCP server, you
can connect the extender to a switch or hub that is connected to the DHCP server.
6. Return to the NETGEAR installation assistant and follow the prompts to finish setting
up your extender as an access point.
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AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

Connect a device to the extender network
After you complete the setup process, you can connect all your devices to the new
extender network using a WiFi or WPS connection.
Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi
If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, your extender uses the the same WiFi network
name and password as your router.
To connect to the extender WiFi network:
1. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection
manager that manages your WiFi connections.
The WiFi connection manager scans for WiFi networks in your area.
2. Find and select your extender’s WiFi network name (SSID) and enter your extender’s
WiFi password.
This is the SSID and password that you set up during the installation process. If you
enabled the One WiFi Name feature, use your router’s SSID and password.
Connect a device to the extender network using WPS
For help with the WPS button on your WPS-enabled device, check the instructions or
online help that came with that device. Some older equipment cannot use WPS.
To connect to the extender using a WPS connection:
1. Press the WPS button on the extender until the WPS LED blinks green.
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your WPS-enabled device.
When the extender connects to your WPS-enabled device, the WPS LED lights solid
green.
Log in to the extender after installation
After installation, you can log in to the extender to view or change the extender’s settings.
User Manual19Get started
AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender

To log in to the extender:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to your
extender network.
2. Log in to your extender:
•If you did not enable the One WiFi Name feature, enter
http://www.mywifiext.net/ in the address field of the browser.
•If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, enter one of the following URLs:
-Windows-based computers. http://mywifiext.local/ or http://mywifiext/
-Mac computers and iOS devices. http://mywifiext.local/
-Android devices. http://<extender’s IP address> (for example,
http://192.168.1.3)
For more information about how to find your extender’s IP address, see Find
the Extender’s IP address on page 65.
Run the Smart Setup installation
You can use the Smart Setup to change the extender settings. This is an easy way to
connect the extender to a different router or to change the extender WiFi network name
(SSID) or WiFi password.
To run the Smart Setup:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to your
extender network.
2. Log in to your extender:
•If you did not enable the One WiFi Name feature, enter
http://www.mywifiext.net/ in the address field of the browser.
•If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, enter one of the following URLs:
-Windows-based computers. http://mywifiext.local/ or http://mywifiext/
-Mac computers and iOS devices. http://mywifiext.local/
-Android devices. http://<extender’s IP address> (for example,
http://192.168.1.3)
-For more information about how to find your extender’s IP address, see Find
the Extender’s IP address on page 65.
A login page displays.
User Manual20Get started
AX1600 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender