NETGEAR EX6100 User manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
October 2013
<TBD>
EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac
WiFi Range Extender
User Manual
NOTE: This document is for certification
purposes. Images are for position only and may
differ from the actual product.

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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender
Support
Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products.
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product
at https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support.
NETGEAR recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web
support, visit http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at
http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of
NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change
without notice. ©2013 All rights reserved.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
How the Extender Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Find the Best Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Join the Extender WiFi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Extender Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Internet Connection Options (WiFi or RJ45). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
WiFi Internet Connection Away from Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
RJ45 Internet Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Ethernet Port Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Restore Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Chapter 2 Extender Network Settings
Log In to the Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Connect the Extender to Your WiFi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Set Up WPA, WPA2, or WPA + WPA2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Set Up WEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
IP Address Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Status Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Show Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Attached Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Back Up and Manage Extender Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Set the Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Upgrade the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Advanced Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Appendix A Supplemental Information
Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

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1. Getting Started
The EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender works as either a repeater or an
access point. It is dual band concurrent for Wifi 11n 2x2 300 Mbps + 11ac 1x1 433 Mbps, and
can be used easily when travelling.
This chapter covers the following topics:
•Hardware Features
•How the Extender Works
•Find the Best Location
•Extender Performance
•Internet Connection Options (WiFi or RJ45)
•Ethernet Port Connection
•Restore Factory Settings
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the Support website at
http://support.netgear.com.

Getting Started
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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender
Hardware Features
Figure 1. Extender
The LEDs on the front show how the Extender is working:
•Arrows.
•Power. This LED is lit when the Extender is powered on.
•WiFi. The side panel has the following features:
•Internet WiFi/RJ45. Select the preferred method to connect to the Internet.
•Device On/Off button. Turns the device on and off.
•WPS button. Press the WPS button to wirelessly connect the Extender to your router or
wireless adapter.
•Factory Reset button. To use this button, stick a paper clip into the reset hole and hold it
until the Status LED flashes.
•Ethernet port. You can use this for a wired connection to a computer or other device.
How the Extender Works
The Extender works like a bridge between a wireless router and a computer or wireless
device outside the wireless router’s range. To do this, the Extender has two main jobs:
1. The Extender connects to a wireless network that is up and running.
When the Extender connects wirelessly to a network, it acts as a network client. This is
similar to how a computer connects to a network.
2. The Extender acts as an access point for computers.
Ethernet port
Factory Reset button
WPS button
Device On/Off button
Internet WiFi/RJ45

Getting Started
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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender
The Extender has its own wireless network called NETGEAR_EXT that wireless
computers can join. In its role as an access point, the Extender performs tasks that
wireless 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.
Figure 2. Range Extender in a home
Find the Best Location
WiFi router
Client
Extender
Figure 3. Extender in a home setting.

Getting Started
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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender
When you install the extender and join the extender network, the arrow LEDs guide you to
the best location to plug in the extender. If no arrow is lit, the location is good.
Blinking left arrow. The extender is too far away from the router or gateway.
Blinking right arrow. The extender is too far away from your computer or wireless
device.
Join the Extender WiFi Network
After you install the extender, you can join the extender WiFi network.
To join the extender network:
1. Take your computer or wireless device to the location with poor WiFi coverage.
2. Find the new extender network name (MyNetworkName_EXT).
3. Select this network and enter the same WiFi password that you use for your home network.
4. Within 2 minutes, check the arrow LEDs on the extender.
•If no arrow is lit, the location is good.
•When the extender connects to a network and a client joins the extender network, an
arrow LED blinks for 2 minutes if the WiFi signal strength is weak to or from the
extender.
Blinking left arrow. The extender is too far away from the router or gateway.
Blinking right arrow. The extender is too far away from your computer or
wireless device.
Note: If you are having trouble getting a good WiFi signal, try to create a
better line of sight. For example, move the router up off the floor onto
a table or desk, or move furniture that might be blocking the
extender.
Extender Performance
The Router Link LED indicates performance between the router and the extender. If
this LED is off, the Extender is not connected to a WiFi network.
The Client Link LED indicates the performance between the extender and the client. If
this LED is off, no computer or wireless device is connected to the extender network.
These LEDs display the following colors:
•Green indicates the best performance.
•Amber indicates a workable performance.
•Red indicates a poor connection or no connection.

Getting Started
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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender
Internet Connection Options (WiFi or RJ45)
You can bring the extender with you when you travel. The extender supports both WiFi and
RJ45 cable connections, for flexibility in hotels or WiFi hotspots such as coffee shops. The
switch on the side of the extender specifies which connection you want to use.
Internet WiFi/RJ45
Figure 4. Internet connection switch
WiFi Internet Connection Away from Home
To use the extender WiFi Internet access when traveling:
1. Get the password if the hotspot or hotel requires a password for Internet access.
2. Log in to the extender.
3. Select the WiFi network that you want the extender to join.
4. If prompted, enter the password for Internet access.
5. Leave the Extender WiFi network name the same (do not change it).
Using the same WiFi network name saves time. Since your laptop and WiFi devices have
connected to the extender WiFi network before, you do not have to change their settings.
6. With your laptop or wireless device, join the extender Wifi network.
RJ45 Internet Connection
To use the extender as an access point:
1. Set the Internet switch on the side of the extender to RJ45.
2. Place the Extender and power it on.
3. Connect the Extender toyour router or gateway using RJ45 cable.
The Extender broadcasts its WiFi network name.
4. Join the Extender Wifi network.

Getting Started
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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender
Ethernet Port Connection
Do not use an Ethernet cable to connect the Extender to a router. If you do so, the Extender
does not work.
You can use the Ethernet port to connect a computer to the extender during setup, or you
can connect equipment such as a computer, TV, Blu-ray player, or gaming console to the
Ethernet port.
Wireless router
Access the Internet with a Blu-ray player
Range extender
in a home office
in the family room
Figure 5. Extender Ethernet port connection
Restore Factory Settings
You can use the extender Reset button to restore the factory settings.
To restore factory settings:
1. Insert a paper clip into the Reset hole and hold it until the Power LED blinks amber.
2. Release the button.

Getting Started
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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender
All LEDs turn off for about 3 seconds.
The Power LED lights solid amber for about 30 seconds.
The Power LED lights solid green.