NETGEAR EX6120 User manual

Quick Start
AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Range Extender
Model EX6120

2
Getting Started
The NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender increases the distance of a WiFi
network by boosting the existing WiFi signal and enhancing the overall
signal quality over long distances. An extender repeats the signals from an
existing WiFi router or access point.
WiFi Range
Extender
Boosts the range
of your existing
WiFi and creates
a stronger signal
in hard-to-reach
areas
Existing WiFi
Sometimes your
router does not
provide the WiFi
coverage that you
need

3
Meet Your Extender
Before you install your extender, familiarize yourself with its LEDs,
buttons, and port.
Router
Link LED
Device
Link LED
Power LED
WPS LED
Factory
Reset
button
WPS
button
Power On/O
button
Ethernet port
Power
connector
(varies by
region)
Power
connector
(varies by
region)

4
LED Descriptions
Router Link LED This LED indicates the connection between the extender and
the router or access point.
Solid green. Best connection.
Solid amber. Good connection.
Solid red. Poor connection.
O. No connection.
Device Link LED
This LED indicates the connection between the extender and
a computer or WiFi device.
Solid green. Best connection.
Solid amber. Good connection.
Solid red. Poor connection.
O. No connection.
Power LED Solid amber. The extender is booting.
Solid green. The extender is powered on.
O. The extender is powered o.
WPS LED Solid green. WiFi security is enabled (WPA or WPA2).
Blinking green. A WPS connection is being established.
O. WiFi security is not enabled.

5
Use the Extender in Extender Mode
Place the extender, apply power, and connect it to your WiFi network.
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 and wait for the Power LED
to light green.
If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/O button on
the extender.
Connect to an Existing WiFi Network
To extend the range of your WiFi network, you must connect the extender
to your existing WiFi network. You can do this in one of two ways:
• Connect with WPS. For more information, see Connect with WPS on
page 6.
• Connect with web browser setup. For more information, see
Connect with Web Browser Setup on page 9.

6
Connect with WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a secure WiFi network without
typing the network name and password.
Note: WPS does not support WEP network security. If you are using WEP
security, follow the instructions in Connect with Web Browser Setup on
page 9.
1. Press the WPS button on the side panel of the extender.
The WPS LED blinks.
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router or access
point.
The WPS LED on the extender lights solid green, the Router Link LED
lights, and the extender connects to your existing WiFi network.
If the Router Link LED does not light, try again. If it still does not light,
see Connect with Web Browser Setup on page 9.
3. If your WiFi router supports the 5 GHz band, repeat Steps 1 and 2 to
connect the extender to the 5 GHz band.
4. Unplug the extender and move it to a new location that is about
halfway between your router and the area with a poor router WiFi
signal.
The location that you choose must be within the range of your
existing WiFi router network.

7
5. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet and wait for the Power LED
to light green.
If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button on
the extender.
6. Use the Router Link LED on the front panel to help you choose a spot
where the extender-to-router connection is optimal.
7. If the Router Link LED doesn’t light amber or 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 amber or green.
8. On your computer or WiFi device, find and connect to the new
extended WiFi network.
The extender creates two new extended WiFi networks. The
extender’s new WiFi network names are based on your existing WiFi
network name, with _2GEXT and _5GEXT at the end of the name.
For example:
• Existing WiFi network name. MyNetworkName
• New extended WiFi network names. MyNetworkName_2GEXT
and MyNetworkName_5GEXT
Use the same WiFi password that you use for your WiFi router.

8
9. Test the extended WiFi range by moving your computer or WiFi device
to the area with a poor router WiFi signal:
a. Leave your computer or WiFi device in the area with a poor router
WiFi signal and return to the extender.
b. Check the Device Link LED on the extender:
• If the Device Link LED is solid green or amber, your extended
WiFi network reaches the area with a poor router WiFi signal
and your network setup is complete.
• If the Device Link LED is red, your extended WiFi network
does not reach the area with a poor router WiFi signal.
You must move the computer or WiFi device closer to the
extender until the Device Link LED turns solid green or
amber.
Router Extender Computer

9
Connect with Web Browser Setup
1. Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and
connect to the NETGEAR_EXT (SSID) WiFi network.
After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established,
the Device Link LED lights.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
The New Extender Setup page displays.
4. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.
5. When prompted, complete the fields on the page to set up your login
credentials and click the NEXT button.
6. Click the WIFI RANGE EXTENDER button.
The extender searches for WiFi networks in your area and displays a
list.
7. Select a WiFi network to extend and click the NEXT button.
If you do not want to extend both WiFi bands, clear the 2.4GHz WiFi
Networks or the 5GHz WiFi Networks check box.
8. In the Password (network key) field, type the existing WiFi network
password (also called passphrase or security key) and click the NEXT
button.

10
9. Set the network name (SSID) and password for your extender and
click the NEXT button.
Wait for the page to show a list of available extended WiFi networks,
which might take up to one minute.
10. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to
connect to the new extended WiFi network.
You must connect your computer or WiFi device before you click the
Continue button.
11. Click the Continue button.
A message displays confirming that the extender is connected to the
existing WiFi network.
12. Click the Next button.
The registration page displays.
13. Complete the registration fields and click the Finish button to
complete the setup.
If you do not want to register your extender, click the Skip
Registration link. Note that you must register your extender before
you can use NETGEAR telephone support.
The Status page displays.

11
14. Unplug the extender and move it to a new location that is about
halfway between your router and the area with a poor router WiFi
signal.
The location that you choose must be within the range of your
existing WiFi router network.
15. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet and wait for the Power LED
to light green.
If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button on
the extender.
16. Use the Router Link LED to help you choose a spot where the
extender-to-router connection is optimal.
17. If the Router Link LED doesn’t light amber or 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 amber or green.
18. Reconnect your computer or WiFi device to the new extended WiFi
network.
Router Extender Computer

12
19. Test the extended WiFi range by moving your computer or WiFi device
to the area with a poor router WiFi signal:
a. Leave your computer or WiFi device in the area with a poor router
WiFi signal and return to the extender.
b. Check the Device Link LED on the extender:
• If the Device Link LED is solid green or amber, your extended
WiFi network reaches the area with a poor router WiFi signal
and your network setup is complete.
• If the Device Link LED is red, your extended WiFi network
does not reach the area with a poor router WiFi signal.
You must move the computer or WiFi device closer to the
extender until the Device Link LED turns solid green or
amber.
Connect an Ethernet-Enabled Device
After the extender is connected to your existing WiFi network, you can
connect a wired device to the extender using an Ethernet cable. That
device can then access your existing network through the WiFi connection.
Extender Blu-ray player Router

13
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.
1. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet and wait for the Power LED
to light green.
If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/O button.
2. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet port on the extender
to a router Ethernet LAN port or a remote Ethernet LAN jack with LAN
access.
The extender joins the LAN and creates a WiFi hotspot.

14
3. Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and
connect to the NETGEAR_EXT (SSID) WiFi network.
After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established,
the Device Link LED lights.
4. Launch a web browser and enter www.mywifiext.net in the address
field.
The New Extender Setup page displays.
5. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.
6. When prompted, complete the fields on the page to set up your login
credentials and click the NEXT button.
7. Click the ACCESS POINT button.
The extender checks for an Internet connection.
8. Click the HOME NETWORK or PUBLIC NETWORK button.
9. When prompted, set the network name (SSID), security option, and
password for each access point network, and click the NEXT button.
Your settings are applied and the extender is ready to be used as an
access point.
10. Use a WiFi network manager on your computer or WiFi device to
connect to the new access point WiFi network.
11. Click the Continue button.
A screen displays that says you successfully created an access point.

15
12. Click the Next button.
The registration page displays.
13. Follow the onscreen instructions to register your extender.
Log In to Access Extender Settings
After installation, you can log in to the extender to view or change the
extender’s settings.
1. Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and
connect to the new extended WiFi network.
After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established,
the Device Link LED lights.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
A login page displays.
4. Type your email address and password and click the LOG IN button.
The Status page displays.
5. Make any needed changes.

16
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find more information about your extender in the user manual,
which is available at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com.
The web browser setup guide keeps asking me for my network
password (passphrase) or security key, and I am sure that I entered
the correct password. What can I do?
The extender is probably placed at the borderline of the range covered by
the router or access point. For more information, see Place the Extender
and Apply Power on page 5.
If you are using WEP security, make sure that you are typing the network
password in the correct field.
Can I set up the extender in extender mode if I connect it to the
router or access point with an Ethernet cable?
No. The extender is designed to connect wirelessly to the router or access
point if it is in extender mode. If the extender is in access point mode, you
can connect it to the router or access point with an Ethernet connection.
For more information about access point mode, see Use the Extender in
Access Point Mode on page 13.

17
I forgot my login email address and password. What can I do?
On the login page, click the Username & Password Help link to answer
the security questions that you set up during the initial setup.
If you forgot the answers to your security questions, do the following to
set up your login credentials again:
1. Restore the extender to its factory default settings.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
The New Extender Setup page displays.
4. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.
5. When prompted, complete the fields on the page to set up your login
credentials again.
How do I restore the extender to its factory default settings?
1. Use a sharp object such as a pen or straightened paper clip to press
and hold the Factory Reset button on the extender for at least five
seconds until the Power LED lights amber.
2. Release the Factory Reset button and wait for the extender to
reboot.
The extender resets and returns to the factory default settings.

18
I enabled a wireless MAC filter, wireless access control, or access
control list (ACL) on my router. What should I do when installing
the extender?
When a device connects through the extender to your router, the MAC
address of the device shown on the router is translated to another MAC
address. If your router’s MAC filter, wireless access control, or ACL is
enabled, the device connects to the extender but cannot get an IP address
from the extender and cannot access the Internet.
To allow your device to receive an IP address from the extender and access
the Internet, you must provide the translated MAC address to the router.
1. Log in to your router and disable the MAC filter, wireless access
control, or ACL.
For more information about how to disable your router’s MAC filter,
wireless access control, or ACL, see your router’s documentation.
2. Power on the extender and connect all of your devices to the
extender network.
3. Make sure that the Router Link LED remains lit.
4. Log in to your extender:
a. Launch a web browser.
b. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
A login page displays.

19
c. Type your email address and password and click the LOG IN
button.
The Status page displays.
5. Select Settings > Connected Devices.
The Connected Devices page displays the MAC addresses and virtual
MAC addresses for the extender, wired devices, and WiFi devices that
are connected to the extender.
6. On the router, add the extender’s virtual MAC addresses and all of the
virtual MAC addresses of the devices connected to the extender to
your router’s MAC filter table.
7. Enable the router’s MAC filter, wireless access control, or ACL.
I am connected to NETGEAR_EXT and launched a browser. Why
can’t I see the web browser setup guide?
Try these troubleshooting steps:
• Make sure that your computer is set up to use DHCP (most are).
• Make sure that the Device Link LED is green and that you are using a
valid IP address.
• Relaunch the web browser and type www.mywifiext.net in the
address field. Type your email address and password and click the
LOG IN button.

May 2015
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134, USA
Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. 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.
NETGEAR recommends that you use only the official NETGEAR support resources. You
can get the user manual online at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a link
in the product’s user interface.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Compliance
For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621/.
For regulatory compliance information, visit
http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.