NETGEAR WM2500RP User manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
October 2013
202-11320-01
MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi
Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
User Manual

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
Support
Contact your Internet service provider for technical support.
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. © NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Setup
Unpack Your WiFi Bridge/Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Label. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Position Your WiFi Bridge/Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Cable Your WiFi Bridge/Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Verify the Cabling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Chapter 2 Get Started with NETGEAR genie
WiFi Bridge/Extender Setup Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Use Standard TCP/IP Properties for DHCP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Wireless Devices and Security Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Types of Logins and Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
NETGEAR genie Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Use NETGEAR genie after Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Upgrade WiFi Bridge/Extender Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Change the Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Your Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Manual Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Chapter 3 Connections Setup
Basic Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, and WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK Mixed Mode . . .25
WPA/WPA2 Enterprise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
WEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
IP Address Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Coax Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Chapter 4 Maintenance
WiFi Bridge/Extender Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
View Network Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Manage the Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Back Up Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Restore Configuration Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Erase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
Upgrade the WiFi Bridge/Extender Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Chapter 5 Advanced Settings
Advanced Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Set Up a Wireless Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Set Up the WPS Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Set Up a Wireless Card Access List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
Quick Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Sequence to Restart Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Check Ethernet Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Troubleshoot with the LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Power LED Is Off or Blinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Power LED Stays Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
All LEDs Remain Lit After Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Internet or LAN Port LEDs Are Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
WiFi LEDs are Off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
WPS Button Blinks Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Cannot Log In to the WiFi Bridge/Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Cannot Access the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Changes Not Saved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Wireless Connectivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Appendix A Supplemental Information
Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Appendix B Notification of Compliance

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1
1. Hardware Setup
Get to know your WiFi bridge/extender
If you have not already set up your new WiFi bridge/extender using the installation guide that
comes in the box, this chapter walks you through the hardware setup. Chapter 2, Get Started
with NETGEAR genie, explains how to set up your Internet connection.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Unpack Your WiFi Bridge/Extender
•Hardware Features
•Position Your WiFi Bridge/Extender
•Cable Your WiFi Bridge/Extender
•Verify the Cabling
Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time on
downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some products can regularly check the site and download new
firmware, or you can check for and download new firmware manually. If the features or behavior
of your product does not match what is described in this guide, you might need to update your
firmware.

Hardware Setup
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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
Unpack Your WiFi Bridge/Extender
Open the box and remove the WiFi bridge/extender, cable, adapter, and installation guide.
Ethernet cable
Power adapter
MoCA WiFi Bridge/Extender
Figure 1. Package contents
Your box contains the following items:
•MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
•AC power adapter (plug varies by region)
•Category 5e (Cat 5e) Ethernet cable
•Installation guide
If any parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer.

Hardware Setup
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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
Hardware Features
Before you cable your WiFi bridge/extender, take a moment to become familiar with the label
and the front and back panels. Pay particular attention to the LEDs on the front panel.
Front Panel
The WiFi bridge/extender front panel has the following status LEDs and buttons:
2.4 GHz
5 GHz
WPS button and LED
LAN LED
2.4 GHz WiFi LED
MoCA LED
Power LED
WiFi On/Off button
5 GHz WiFi LED
Figure 2. Front panel

Table 1. Front panel LED and button descriptions
LED Description
WPS button
and LED WPS button. Pressing this button initiates a WPS wireless connection procedure.
WPS LED
•Solid green. Wireless security is enabled.
•Blinking green. The WiFi bridge/extender is attempting to use WPS to add a wireless
device or computer to the wireless network.
•Blinking green rapidly for about five seconds. WPS has failed to add a wireless device
or computer.
•Blinking green rapidly and continuously. The WiFi bridge/extender is stuck in the
temporary AP setup locked state. For more information, see WPS Button Blinks Amber on
page 53.
•Off. No WPS connection exists.
WiFi On/Off
button Pressing this button turns the wireless radios in the WiFi bridge/extender on or off.
5 GHz WiFi
5 GHz
•Solid blue. The 5 GHz wireless radio is operating.
•Off. The 5 GHz wireless radio is off.
2.4 GHz WiFi •Solid green. The 2.4 GHz wireless radio is operating.
•Off. The 2.4 GHz wireless radio is off.
LAN •Solid green. The LAN port has detected a 100 Mbps link with an attached device.
•Solid amber. The LAN port has detected a 10 Mbps link with an attached device.
•Off. The LAN port has not detected a link with an attached device.
Online •Solid amber. The IP address was not acquired.
•Solid green. The WiFi bridge/extender received an IP address and is ready to transmit
data.
•Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the WiFi bridge/extender and the other MoCA
device.
Power •Solid amber. The WiFi bridge/extender is starting up after being powered on.
•Solid green. The power is on, and the WiFi bridge/extender is ready.
•Blinking amber. A firmware update is in progress.
•Blinking green. The firmware is corrupt.
•Off. Power is not supplied to the WiFi bridge/extender.
Hardware Setup
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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP

Hardware Setup
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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
Back Panel
The back panel has the following ports, connector, and buttons:
LAN port
Internet port
AC power connector
Power On/Off button
Reset button
Figure 3. Back panel
Table 2. Back panel port, connector, and button descriptions
Port, Connector, or Button Description
LAN port A local area network (LAN) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port for connecting the
WiFi bridge/extender to your local computer.
AC power connector An AC power connector to connect the power adapter to the WiFi
bridge/extender.
Power On/Off button Press the Power On/Off button to power the WiFi bridge/extender on and off.

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
Label
The label of the WiFi bridge/extender shows the default login information, default WiFi
network name (SSID), network key (also referred to as wireless network password or
passphrase), serial number, MAC address, and other information.
user name: admin
password: password
http://routerlogin.net
Router Login
Figure 4. Label
Position Your WiFi Bridge/Extender
The WiFi bridge/extender lets you access your network from virtually anywhere within the
operating range of your wireless network. However, the operating distance or range of your
wireless connection can vary significantly depending on the physical placement of your WiFi
bridge/extender. For example, the thickness and number of walls the wireless signal passes
through can limit the range.
To position your router:
Reset button Press the Reset button to restore the factory settings. See Factory Settings
on page 57.
Internet port A MoCA port for connecting the WiFi bridge/extender to a cable broadband
modem. The Internet port is also referred to as the WAN port.
Table 2. Back panel port, connector, and button descriptions (continued)
Port, Connector, or Button Description

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
1. Place your router near the center of the area where your computers and other devices
operate, and within line of sight to your wireless devices.
2. Make sure that the router is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for
wired computers.
3. Place the router in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings between
the router and your other devices.
4. Place the router away from electrical devices such as these:
•Ceiling fans
•Home security systems
•Microwaves
•Computers
••Base of a cordless phone
•2.4 GHz cordless phone
5. Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, and insulated walls
such as these:
•Solid metal door
•Aluminum studs
•Fish tanks
•Mirrors
•Brick
•Concrete
Cable Your WiFi Bridge/Extender
The installation guide that came in the box has a cabling diagram on the first page. This
section describes how to connect the WiFi bridge/extender, the computer, and the cable
broadband modem, and provides detailed illustrations.

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
To cable your WiFi bridge/extender:
1. Install a MoCA-capable signal splitter between the coaxial port and your existing TV (1).
1
2
3
4
5 7
6
MoCA gateway
MoCA WiFi
bridge/extender
You can skip this step if you do not have a TV or other device connected to the coaxial
port.
2. Use a coaxial cable (2) to connect the WiFi bridge/extender to the MoCA-capable signal
splitter or your coaxial port.
3. Use the Ethernet cable (3) to connect your computer to the WiFi bridge/extender.
4. Connect the power adapter (4).
5. Power on your WiFi bridge/extender (5).
The WiFi bridge/extender takes a couple of minutes to join your network.
6. After the WiFi bridge/extender joins your network, the following LEDs are lit:

Hardware Setup
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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
•Power LED. Solid green
•MoCA LED. Solid green
If the Power LED is not solid green, check your power adaptor connections.
If the MoCA LED is not solid green, make sure that the MoCA feature on your existing
cable router (6) is enabled. For more information, see the manual that came with your
cable router or contact your Internet service provider.
Note: The MoCA gateway is not supplied with this packaging.
7. (Optional) Connect WiFi devices (7) such as desktop computers, laptops, smart phones, and
tablets to your WiFi bridge/extender:
•You can connect these WiFi devices manually.
•You can also use the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) method.
For more information, see Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Your Network on
page 19.
Verify the Cabling
Verify that your WiFi bridge/extender is cabled correctly and that the cables are attached
securely by checking the WiFi bridge/extender LEDs:
•The Power LED is solid green when the WiFi bridge/extender is turned on.
•
5 GHz
The 5 GHz WiFi LED is solid blue.
•The 2.4 GHz WiFi LED is solid green.
•The MoCA LED is solid green.
•The LAN LED is solid green or solid amber for any computer cabled to the WiFi
bridge/extender by an Ethernet cable.

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2. Get Started with NETGEAR genie
Connect to the WiFi bridge/extender
This chapter explains how to use NETGEAR genie to set up your WiFi bridge/extender after you
complete cabling as described in the installation guide and in the previous chapter in this book.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•WiFi Bridge/Extender Setup Preparation
•Types of Logins and Access
•NETGEAR genie Setup
•Use NETGEAR genie after Installation
•Upgrade WiFi Bridge/Extender Firmware
•Change the Password
•Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Your Network

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
WiFi Bridge/Extender Setup Preparation
You can set up your WiFi bridge/extender with NETGEAR genie automatically, or you can
use the genie menus and screens to set up your WiFi bridge/extender manually.
Use Standard TCP/IP Properties for DHCP
If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, you must change the settings so that it
uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Wireless Devices and Security Settings
Make sure that the wireless device or computer that you are using supports WPA or WPA2
wireless security, which is the wireless security that the WiFi bridge/extender supports. For
information about the WiFi bridge/extender’s preconfigured security settings, see Basic
Wireless Settings on page 22.
Types of Logins and Access
Different types of logins have different purposes. It is important that you understand the
difference so that you know which login to use when.
•WiFi bridge/extender login. The user name admin logs you in to the WiFi
bridge/extender user interface from NETGEAR genie. For more information, see Use
NETGEAR genie after Installation on page 16.
•Wireless network login. Your WiFi bridge/extender is preset with a unique wireless
network name (SSID) and password for wireless access. This information is on the
product label.
NETGEAR genie Setup
NETGEAR genie runs on any device with a web browser. It is the easiest way to set up the
WiFi bridge/extender because it automates many of the steps and verifies that those steps
have been successfully completed. It takes about 15 minutes to complete.
To use NETGEAR genie to set up your WiFi bridge/extender:
1. Connect the router to a power source.
2. Make sure that your device is connected with an Ethernet cable to your WiFi
bridge/extender.
3. Launch your Internet browser in one of the following ways:
•If you are setting up the Internet connection for your WiFi bridge/extender for the first
time, the browser automatically goes to http://www.routerlogin.net, and the
NETGEAR genie screen displays.

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
•If you already used NETGEAR genie, type http://www.routerlogin.net in the
address field for your browser to display the NETGEAR genie screen. For more
information, see Use NETGEAR genie after Installation on page 16.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the NETGEAR genie setup.
NETGEAR genie guides you through connecting the WiFi bridge/extender to the Internet.
5. If the browser cannot display the web page, do the following:
•Make sure that the computer is connected to the LAN Ethernet port or wirelessly to
the WiFi bridge/extender.
•Make sure that the WiFi bridge/extender is running. If it is, its WiFi LEDs are lit.
•Close and reopen the browser to make sure that the browser does not cache the
previous page.
•Browse to http://routerlogin.net.
•If the computer is set to a static or fixed IP address (this situation is uncommon),
change it to obtain an IP address automatically from the WiFi bridge/extender.
6. If the WiFi bridge/extender does not connect to the Internet, do the following:
a. To be sure that you have selected the correct options and typed everything correctly,
review the WiFi bridge/extender’s settings.
b. Contact your ISP to verify that you have the correct configuration information for
your main Internet connection.
c. Read Chapter 6, Troubleshooting.
Use NETGEAR genie after Installation
When you first set up your WiFi bridge/extender, NETGEAR genie automatically starts when
you launch an Internet browser on a computer that is connected to the WiFi bridge/extender.
To use NETGEAR genie again to view or change settings:
1. Launch your browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the WiFi
bridge/extender.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com in the web browser
address bar.
A login screen displays.
admin
********

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
3. Enter the WiFi bridge/extender user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
Note: The WiFi bridge/extender user name and password are different from
the user name and password for logging in to your Internet connection. For
more information, see Types of Logins and Access on page 15.
4. Click the OK button.
5. The Status screen displays.
Upgrade WiFi Bridge/Extender Firmware
When you set up your WiFi bridge/extender and are connected to the Internet, the WiFi
bridge/extender automatically checks for you to see if newer firmware is available. If it is, a
message is displayed on the top of the screen. The message might be A router firmware
upgrade is available, or a similar message.
To upgrade the firmware after the WiFi bridge/extender has detected newer firmware
and displays a message:
1. Click the message.

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
The Firmware Upgrade Assistant displays.
2. Click the Yesbutton.
The WiFi bridge/extender upgrades to the latest firmware. After the upgrade, the WiFi
bridge/extender restarts.
CAUTION:
Do not try to go online, turn off the WiFi bridge/extender, shut down the
computer, or do anything else to the WiFi bridge/extender until the WiFi
bridge/extender finishes restarting and the Power LED has been solid
green for several seconds.
For more information about upgrading firmware, see Upgrade the WiFi Bridge/Extender
Firmware on page 39.
Change the Password
The default password that you use to log in to the WiFi bridge/extender is password. Best
practice is that you change this default password to a secure password.
Changing the default password is not the same as changing the password for wireless
access. The label on your WiFi bridge/extender shows your unique wireless network name
(SSID) and the passphrase (also referred to as the wireless network password or network
key) for wireless access (see Label on page 10).
To change the default password that you use to log in to the WiFi bridge/extender:
1. Log in to the WiFi bridge/extender.
For more information, see Use NETGEAR genie after Installation on page 16.

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
2. Select Maintenance > Set Password.
3. Type the old password and type the new password twice.
4. Click the Apply button.
Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Your Network
Choose either the manual or the WPS method to add wireless devices and other equipment
to your wireless network.
Manual Method
To connect manually:
1. Open the software that manages your wireless connections on the wireless device
(laptop computer, gaming device, smart phone) that you want to connect to your WiFi
bridge/extender.
The wireless software scans for all wireless networks in your area.
2. Look for your network and select it. If you did not change the name of your network during
the setup process, look for the default WiFi network name (SSID) and select it.
The default SSID is on the WiFi bridge/extender’s product label.

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MoCA 2.0 N600 WiFi Bridge/Extender WM2500RP
3. Enter the WiFi bridge/extender wireless network password (passphrase) and click the
Connect button.
The default WiFi bridge/extender passphrase is on the WiFi bridge/extender’s product
label.
4. Repeat Steps 1–3 to add other wireless devices.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you connect to a secure WiFi network without typing its
password. Instead, press a button. NETGEAR calls WPS Push 'N' Connect.
During the connection process, the client gets the security settings from the WiFi
bridge/extender so that every device in the network has the same security settings.
Some older WiFi equipment is not compatible with WPS. WPS works only with WPA2 or WPA
wireless security.
To use WPS to join the wireless network:
1. Press the WPS button on the WiFi bridge/extender front panel.
The WPS LED (on the button) starts to blink green.
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your wireless device or follow the WPS
instructions that came with the device.
The device is now connected to your WiFi bridge/extender.
3. Repeat Steps 1–2 to add other WPS wireless devices.