NETGEAR WN2500RP User manual

WN2500RP WiFi Range Extender
Installation Guide

2
Getting Started
The WN2500RP 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.
Existing WiFi
Sometimes your router
does not provide the WiFi
coverage you need.
WiFi Range
Extender
Boosts the range of your
existing WiFi and creates
a stronger signal in
hard-to-reach areas.

3
Meet Your Extender
Before you install your extender, familiarize yourself with its LEDs,
buttons, and ports.
Front Panel
5 GHz Link Rate LED
Device to Extender LED
WPS LED
2.4 GHz Link Rate LED
Ethernet LEDs
Power LED

4
Rear Panel
Factory reset button
Ethernet ports
Power input
Power On/Off button
WPS button
Note: The WPS button is located
on the top of the extender.

5
LED Descriptions
Use the LEDs during installation to find the best location for the
extender or to monitor the extender performance.
Power LED Solid Green. The extender is powered on.
Off. The extender is powered off.
2.4 GHz Link
Rate LED
This LED indicates a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection between the
extender and the router or access point.
•Solid Green. Best connection.
•Solid Yellow. Good connection.
•Solid Red. Poor connection.
•Off. No connection.
5 GHz Link
Rate LED
This LED indicates a 5 GHz WiFi connection between the
extender and the router or access point.
•Solid Green. Best connection.
•Solid Yellow. Good connection.
•Solid Red. Poor connection.
•Off. No connection.

6
Device to
Extender LED
•Solid Green. The extender is connected to a computer
or mobile device.
•Off. The extender is not connected to a computer or
wireless device.
Ethernet
LEDs •Solid Green. The Ethernet port has detected an
Ethernet connection.
•Off. No device is detected to an Ethernet port.
WPS LED • Solid Green. WiFi security is enabled (WPS or WPA2).
•Blinking Green. A WPS connection is in progress.
•Off. WiFi security is not enabled.

7
Install the WiFi Extender
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.
Note: Proximity to the WiFi router is required only during the
initial setup process.
2. Connect the power adapter to the extender and plug it into an
electrical outlet.
The Power LED lights solid green.
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 8.
•Connect with the genie web browser setup. For more
information, see Connect with NETGEAR genie Smart Setup on
page 10.

8
Connect with WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you easily join a secure WiFi
network without typing the network name and password. The WPS
button is a physical button on the router or access point.
To connect with WPS:
1. Press the WPS button located on the bottom of the extender.
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router or access
point.
The extender connects to your existing WiFi network, and the
WPS LED and the 2.4 GHz Link Rate LED on your extender
lights solid green.
If the 2.4 GHz Link Rate LED does not light, or the LED is blinking
amber, try again. If it still does not light, follow the instructions in
Connect with NETGEAR genie Smart Setup on page 10.
3. If your WiFi router supports the 5 GHz band, repeat steps 1 and 2
to connect the extender to the 5 GHz band.

9
4. Find the new extender network name.
The extender’s wireless network name (SSID) changes to your
existing WiFi network name, with _2GEXT or _5GEXT at the end
of the name, depending on whether the extender is connecting to
your WiFi network in 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
For example:
•Existing WiFi network name. MyNetworkName
•New extended network name. MyNetworkName_2GEXT
or
MyNetworkName_5GEXT
5. Connect your WiFi devices to the new extended network.
Use the same WiFi password that you use for your WiFi router.

10
Connect with NETGEAR genie Smart Setup
1. After the extender is powered-on and the Power LED lights
green, use a WiFi network manager on a computer or mobile
device to find and connect to the NETGEAR_EXT (SSID) WiFi
network.
You can use any WiFi network utility on a computer, tablet, or
smartphone to find and connect to the extender WiFi network.
After the connection with the computer or mobile device is
established, the Device to Extender LED lights solid green.
2. Open a web browser window from the same computer or mobile
device.
The browser takes you directly to the NETGEAR genie® smart
setup.
Note: If you are not automatically directed to NETGEAR genie,
launch an Internet browser and type www.mywifiext.net in the
address field of the browser. Enter admin for the user name and
password for the password.

11
3. Select your 2.4 GHz WiFi network to extend, and click the
Continue button.
4. Type the network password (also called passphrase or security
key) in the Password field, and click the Continue button.
5. Select your 5 GHz WiFi router network, and click the Continue
button.
Note: If your router does not support the 5 GHz band, select the
My router does not support 5GHz band radio button, and click
the Continue button.

12
6. Type the network password (also called passphrase or security
key) in the Password field, and click the Continue button.
7. Create a name (SSID) for your new extender WiFi network in the
2.4GHz Network Name (SSID) and the 5GHz Network Name
(SSID) field, and click the Continue button.
Note: You can change the SSID and WiFi password or use the
same security settings as you existing network by selecting the
check box.

13
The settings are applied and the following screen appears:
8. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or mobile device to
connect to the extender’s newly created WiFi network.
Use your password to connect.

14
9. After you connect your device to the extender network, select the
My wireless devices are connected to the Extender network
check box, and click the Continue button.

15
Improve Extender Performance
If the WiFi signal is weak, move the extender to a different location to
improve extender performance.
1. Unplug the extender’s power adapter.
2. Move the extender closer to the router or access point or to a
different location with a better line of sight.
The location you choose must be within the range of your existing
WiFi router network.
3. Connect the power adapter to the extender and plug the power
adapter into an electrical outlet.
The Power LED lights solid green. If the Power LED does not
light, press the Power button.
Use the Link Rate LEDs to help you choose a spot where the
extender-to-router connection is optimal.
DO DON’T

16
Connect Ethernet-Enabled Devices
After the extender is connected to your existing WiFi network, you
can use the extender to connect up to four devices wirelessly to your
wireless router or access point.
To connect an Ethernet-enabled device to your WiFi router
or access point:
1. Set up the extender.
For more information, see Place the Extender and Apply Power
on page 7.
2. Connect the extender to an existing WiFi network.
For more information, see Connect to an Existing WiFi Network
on page 7.
3. Plug the Ethernet cable from an Ethernet-enabled device to an
Ethernet port on the extender.
The Ethernet-enabled device connects to the router or access
point.

17
Access Extender Settings
After installation, you can log in to the extender to view or change the
extender’s settings.
To log in to the extender after the initial set up:
1. Connect a computer or mobile device to the extender’s network.
2. Launch an Internet browser.
3. Type www.mywifiext.net or www.mywifiext.com in the address
field of the browser.
A login screen displays.
4. Enter admin for the user name and password for the password.

18
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find more information about your product in the user manual,
which is available at http://support.netgear.com.
The web browser setup guide keeps asking me for my network
security key (password), and I am sure I have 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 7.
If you are using WEP security, make sure that you are typing the
wireless key in the correct field.
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 to Extender LED is green and that you
have a valid IP address.
•Relaunch the web browser and type www.mywifiext.net or
www.mywifiext.com in the address field of the web browser.
Enter admin for the user name and password for the password.

19
Will the extender work if I connect it to the router with an
Ethernet cable?
No. The extender is designed to connect wirelessly to the router or
access point.
What are the user name and password to log in to the extender?
The user name is admin, and the default password is password.
Both are case-sensitive.
How do I restore the extender to its factory default settings?
1. Use a sharp object such as a paper clip to press and hold the
Factory reset button on the extender for at least five seconds
until the Status LED blinks amber.
2. Release the Factory reset button and wait for the extender to
reboot.
The extender resets and returns to the factory default settings.
You can now access the extender from your web browser using
the factory default settings.

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.
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, 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.
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/.
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
October 2013
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