NETGEAR WN3000RP User manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
February 2011
202-10752-01
v1.0
Universal WiFi Range
Extender WN3000RP
User Manual

2|
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
©2011 NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated
into any language in any form or by any means without the written permission of NETGEAR, Inc.
Technical Support
Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. To register your product, get the latest product updates, or get support online,
visit us at http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR
Phone (Other Countries): See Support information card.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, ReadyNAS, ProSafe, Smart Wizard, Auto Uplink, X-RAID2, and NeoTV are
trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and Vista are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective holders.
Statement of Conditions
To improve internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes
to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur
due to the use, or application of, the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.

Contents |3
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
How the Range Extender Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
When to Use Your Range Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Positioning Your Range Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Connect a PC to the Extender with an Ethernet Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Log In to the Range Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Use the Smart Wizard to Set Up the Range Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Chapter 2 Range Extender Network Settings
Connect the Range Extender to an Existing Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Use WPS to Add a PC to the Range Extender’s Wireless Network. . . . . .13
Range Extender Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Setting Up WEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Setting Up WPA, WPA2, or WPA + WPA2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Range Extender IP Address Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Status Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Show Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Network Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Back Up and Manage Range Extender Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Backing Up Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Restoring Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Erasing the Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Set the Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Upgrade the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Advanced Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting
Smart Wizard FAQs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Connecting to http://www.mywifiext.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Joining Wireless Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Appendix A Supplemental Information
Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Appendix B Compliance Notification

Chapter 1. Getting Started |4
1
1. Getting Started
Front Panel
Text
WPS
PC to Extender
Extender Status
Link Rate
Figure 1. Front view
LEDs and Button Description
Link Rate
The wireless connection between the range extender
and the router is optimum.
The wireless connection between the range extender
and the router is good.
The wireless connection between the range extender
and the router is poor.

Chapter 1. Getting Started |5
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Side View
Ethernet
Factory Reset
WPS button
Device On/Off
button
port
button
Figure 2. Side view
How the Range Extender Works
The range 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 range extender has two main jobs:
1. The range extender connects to a wireless network that is up and running.
When the range 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 range extender acts as an access point for computers.
The range extender has its own wireless network called NETGEAR_EXT that wireless
computers can join. In its role as an access point, the range extender performs tasks that
wireless routers do, such as broadcasting its network name (SSID).
Extender Status The range extender is powered on.
PC to Extender Connection The range extender is connected to a PC.
WPS button The WPS button allows you to connect your
computer to the extender using Push 'N' Connect.
LEDs and Button Description

6|Chapter 1. Getting Started
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
The range extender must do each of these jobs so that both ends of the bridge are in place.
Figure 3. Range Extender in a home
When to Use Your Range Extender
NETGEAR recommends that you connect to the range extender only when your home
network connection is poor. Because data traffic routed through the range extender is
inherently slower than traffic routed directly from the network, the computer should stay on
the network if the connection is good enough. NETGEAR recommends that you connect
through the range extender network only when the computer is in a “dead zone” where
connection from the network is very poor or non-existent.
The range extender LEDs can help you tell if the extender is correctly set up and working as
it should.
• The best performance is delivered when both the Link Rate LED and the PC to Extender
Connection LED are green.
• A workable performance is delivered when the Link Rate LED is amber and the PC to
Extender Connection LED is green.

Chapter 1. Getting Started |7
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Positioning Your Range Extender
The ideal location to place the range extender is half-way between your wireless router and
your computer.
Figure 4. Range extender location
The best connection is established when there is a clear line of sight between the range
extender and the wireless router and also a clear line of sight between the range extender
and the computer you are using. If this straight path is blocked by a thick wall or other
materials, move the range extender to a different location half-way between the computer
and the router.
If there is no power outlet nearby, or you prefer to place the range extender elsewhere, move
the range extender closer to the computer. If the Link Rate LED is green or amber and the
PC to Extender Connection LED is green, the range extender is working as expected.
To improve the Link Rate LED from red or amber to green:
• Once you successfully connect to the range extender from a computer that is outside the
range of your router and log in to www.mywifiext.net, the Smart Wizard guides you
through the process to connect the range extender to a router.
• If the Link Rate LED is red or the Smart Wizard cannot connect the range extender to a
router, move the range extender closer to the router or to a different spot where it
provides a better line of sight. As you move the range extender, continue to check the
Link Rate and the PC to Extender Connection LEDs on the front panel until you find a
location where the Link Rate LED is green or amber, and the PC to Extender Connection
LED is green. Note that you might have to unplug the range extender as you move it to a
different location. If you do, from the new location, power up the range extender and
continue to check the LEDs.
Once the LEDs show that the range extender is in a good location, open a browser and
go to http://www.mywifiext.net to continue the setup process.
Connect a PC to the Extender with an Ethernet Cable
Usually, you connect to the range extender wirelessly, but you can use its LAN ports to
connect wired devices such as Ethernet-enabled gaming consoles, printers, or PCs.

8|Chapter 1. Getting Started
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Note: Before you connect wired devices or computers, first install and set
up your range extender as described in the Universal WiFi Extender
WN3000RP Installation Guide that came in the package.
1. Connect your computer to the range extender with an Ethernet cable.
2. Connect the range extender power adapter, and plug it into an electrical outlet.
CAUTION:
Do not use Ethernet cable to connect the range extender to a router. If you
do so, the range extender does not work because it is designed to use
only a wireless connection to the router.
3. Log in as described in the following section.
If you have trouble connecting:
• If you start your computer, connect the Ethernet cable to the range extender, and launch
your browser quickly, the computer might still need a couple of minutes to recognize the
Ethernet LAN connection before you can connect.
• Make sure that your Ethernet cable is securely connected to the range extender and the
computer, and that the range extender LAN LED is on. If the LED is not lit reconnect the
Ethernet cable, and relaunch your Internet browser.

Chapter 1. Getting Started |9
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Log In to the Range Extender
You can log in to the range extender to use the Smart Wizard or to use the menu selections
to view or change the extender’s settings.
1. On your computer, launch an Internet browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft
Internet Explorer.
2. In the address field of your browser, enter http://www.mywifiext.net. You are prompted to
enter a user name and password:
FPO
If you do not see the log in prompt, make sure to include http:// when you type
http://www.mywifiext.net in your browser.
3. Type admin for the user name. The default password is password. NETGEAR
recommends that you set a more secure password after you log in (see Set the Password
on page 21).
• If your range extender has an Internet connection, the Firmware Upgrade screen
displays (see Upgrade the Firmware on page 22), and the software automatically
checks for new firmware at the NETGEAR website.
• The Status screen displays with the menu on the left. This screen shows what the
current settings are for the range extender:
Menu Status screen
FPO

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Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Use the Smart Wizard to Set Up the Range Extender
The Smart Wizard can help you set up your range extender to connect to a wireless network.
For information about more configuration options, see Chapter 2, Range Extender Network
Settings.
The Universal WiFi Extender WN3000RP Installation Guide (included in the package)
explains how to install your range extender. During installation, when you launch your
Internet browser, the Smart Wizard automatically displays.
After installation, to use the Smart Wizard again:
1. Log in to the range extender.
Note: Once you begin using the Smart Wizard, you must complete all of its
steps before you can exit.
2. From the menu, select Setup Wizard. The following screen displays:
FPO
This is the same Smart Wizard that displays during installation as described in the
installation guide.
3. Either select a network from the list, or select the Manually input my wireless SSID radio
button and type the SSID.

Chapter 1. Getting Started |11
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
4. Enter the passphrase for your wireless network and click Continue. The next screen
displays:
FPO
5. Make sure that the correct network name is shown, and then click Continue.The following
screen displays:
FPO
6. The range extender connects to the wireless network and then displays the following screen:
FPO
7. Click Finish.
• If you are done making changes, disconnect your range extender from your computer,
and reconnect it to the device on which you want to use it.
• If you want to make more changes, make the appropriate menu selections.

Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings |12
2
2. Range Extender Network Settings
To change settings, connect the range extender to your computer and use your Internet browser
to go to http://www.mywifiext.net as described in Connect a PC to the Extender with an
Ethernet Cable on page 7.
Connect the Range Extender to an Existing Network
You can use this menu selection to wirelessly connect the range extender to your home
network.
1. From the range extender menu at http://www.mywifiext.net, under the Setup heading,
select Connect to an Existing Network. The range extender scans for wireless
networks, and displays a list.
FPO FPO
If your wireless network is not on the list, and it is up and running, see Positioning Your
Range Extender on page 7 for suggestions.
2. Click the radio button to select your
network from the list and click Continue.
The next screen displays: FPO
3. Enter your network’s passphrase or key
and click Continue.
The range extender joins your wireless
network.

Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings |13
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Use WPS to Add a PC to the Range Extender’s Wireless
Network
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) lets you connect a computer or wireless device to the range
extender’s network without entering the wireless network passphrase or key. Instead, you
use a WPS button or enter a PIN to connect. WPS supports WPA and WPA2 wireless
security. If your range extender network is open (no wireless security is set), then connecting
with WPS automatically sets WPA2 + WPA wireless security on the range extender network.
Note: You cannot use the Push 'N' Connect WPS button to connect the
range extender to your wireless network. The WPS button on the
range extender can be used only to connect a computer to the range
extender.
The Universal WiFi Extender WN3000RP Installation Guide explains how to use WPS during
installation.
To join the extender’s network using WPS after installation:
1. From the range extender menu at http://www.mywifiext.net, under the Setup heading,
select Add WPS Client. The following screen displays:
FPO
2. Select a radio button.
• Push Button (recommended). Either click the button or press the WPS
button on the front of the range extender.
• PIN Number. Select the radio button, and a PIN displays.
The range extender tries to find the wireless client (the computer) that is attempting to
join the network. If you are using a WPS button, it tries for 2 minutes. If you are using a
PIN, it tries for 4 minutes.
3. Go to your wireless computer. Use its WPS software to try to connect to the range
extender.
The first time you add a WPS client, WPS automatically sets the range extender’s
wireless security to WPA2 + WPA with a random passphrase. You can view these
settings in the Wireless Settings screen, described in the following section.

14 |Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Range Extender Wireless Settings
You can use the Wireless Settings screen to change the network name (SSID) for the range
extender’s network and to set up wireless security. If you do not change these settings, the
network name is NETGEAR_EXT, and the network is open (no wireless security is set up).
Note: If you use a wireless computer to change the extender’s wireless
settings, you will be disconnected when you click Apply. To
reconnect, you must select the new network name that you created,
and enter the passphrase or wireless security key that you set up.
To change the wireless settings for the extender’s network:
1. From the range extender menu at http://www.mywifiext.net, under the Setup heading,
select Wireless Settings to display the following screen:
FPO
2. In the Name (SSID) field, you can type in a new name to customize your extender network.
This will make it easier to identify your extender if more than one is operating in your
neighborhood.
3. In the Security Options section of the screen, select the type of wireless security that you
want to use on your network.
• None. This is an open wireless network. Any wireless computer or device is allowed
to join this network.
• WEP. WEP is an older standard, and is less secure than WPA or WPA2. WEP uses
encryption keys and data encryption for data security. You can select 64-bit or 128-bit
encryption.

Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings |15
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
• WPA-PSK [TKIP]. WPA is more secure than WEP. When using wireless computers or
devices that support WPA, you can enter a passphrase to join the extender’s wireless
network.
• WPA2-PSK [AES]. WPA2 is even more secure, but some older computers do not
support this standard. When using wireless computers or devices that support WPA2,
you can enter the passphrase to join the extender’s wireless network.
• WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PASK [AES]. When using wireless computers or devices
that support either WPA or WPA2, you can enter the passphrase to join the extender’s
wireless network.
4. Click Apply to save your settings.
5. Use your wireless computer to connect to the extender’s network with its new settings. The
Smart Wizard can guide you through this process.
Setting Up WEP
1. In the Wireless Settings screen, in the Security Options section, select the WEP radio
button.
2. Select the authentication type: Automatic, Open System, or Shared Key. The default is
Open System.
Note: The authentication is separate from the data encryption. You can
select authentication that requires a shared key, but still leaves data
transmissions unencrypted. Security is stronger if you use both the
Shared Key and WEP encryption settings.
3. Select the encryption strength setting:
• WEP 64-bit encryption. Enter 10 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0–9, a–f,
or A–F).
• WEP 128-bit encryption. Enter 26 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0–9, a–f,
or A–F).
4. Enter the encryption keys. You can manually or automatically program the four data
encryption keys. These values must be identical on all computers and access points in your
network:
• Passphrase. To use a passphrase to generate the keys, enter a passphrase, and
click Generate. This automatically creates the keys. Wireless computers must use
the passphrase or keys to access the range extender.
Note: Not all wireless computers support passphrase key generation. If
your computer does not support the passphrase, then you will need
to type the encryption key in order to join the wireless network.

16 |Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
• Key 1–Key 4. These values are not case-sensitive. You can manually enter the four
data encryption keys. These values must be identical on all computers and access
points in your network. Enter 10 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0–9, a–f, or
A–F).
5. Select which of the four keys will be the default.
Data transmissions are always encrypted using the default key. The other keys can be
used only to decrypt received data. The four entries are disabled if WPA-PSK or WPA
authentication is selected.
6. Click Apply to save your settings.
Setting Up WPA, WPA2, or WPA + WPA2
Both WPA and WPA2 provide strong data security. WPA with TKIP can be used on Windows
systems with Service Pack 2 or later. WPA2 with AES is a hardware implementation; see your
device documentation before implementing it.
To configure WPA or WPA2 in the range extender:
1. On the Wireless Setting screen, select the radio button for the WPA or WPA2 option of
your choice.
2. The settings displayed on the screen depend on which security option you select.
3. For WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK, enter the passphrase.
4. Click Apply to save your settings.
Range Extender IP Address Setup
From the range extender menu at http://www.mywifiext.net, under the Maintenance heading,
select IP Address.
The IP Address screen shows whether the range extender is set to get its IP address
dynamically from the router (this is the most common setting), or is set as a static IP address.
• Get Dynamically From Router. The wireless network router assigns an IP address when
the range extender connects to its wireless network. Most networks are set up so that the
router automatically does this.
• Use Static IP Address. Specify a static IP address. This is not usually necessary. If you
set this up, you should be technically experienced or have a technically experienced
person help you.
-IP Address. The static IP address.
-IP Subnet Mask. The subnet mask associated with the IP address.
-Gateway IP Address. The IP address for the gateway.
-Primary DNS. The primary domain name server (DNS).
-Secondary DNS. The secondary domain name server (DNS).

Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings |17
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Status Screen
When you connect to http://www.mywifiext.net, after the automatic firmware check, the Status
screen displays. You can also select Status from the menu to display this screen:
FPO
This screen shows the current settings and the status of your range extender.
• You can click Show Statistics to see device performance statistics such as the number
of packets sent and number of packets received for each port. See Show Statistics on
page 19.
• The following table describes the fields in the Status screen.
Table 1. Status Settings
Field Description
Hardware Version The hardware version of the range extender.
Firmware Version The current firmware version of the range extender. If you
upgrade the firmware, this field changes.
GUI Language Version The language version running on the range extender. If
you upgrade the firmware, this field changes.
Connection Status to
Existing Network Name (SSID) Your range extender is set up to connect to this SSID, also called the wireless name.
Connection Status The status of your wireless connection (connected or
disconnected).
Link Rate The actual transmission (Tx) and receive (Rx) link rate in
the current wireless connection.

18 |Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Extender PC Info MAC Address The physical address of the range extender, as seen from
the local area network (LAN).
IP Address The IP address of the range extender. The default is
192.168.1.250.
DHCP Server Identifies the network DHCP server on the wireless
network.
IP Subnet Mask The IP subnet mask associated with the LAN IP address
of the range extender. The default is 255.255.255.0.
Gateway IP Address The IP address of the wireless network gateway.
Domain Name Server The IP address of the Domain Name Server (DNS) of the
wireless network.
Extender Wireless
Settings Name (SSID) The name (SSID) or the wireless network.
Region The location where the range extender is operating.
Channel The channel of the wireless network.
Wireless AP On or Off.
Broadcast Name On or Off.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup Configured.
Table 1. Status Settings (Continued)
Field Description

Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings |19
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Show Statistics
On the Device Status screen, click Show Statistics to display the following screen:
Table 2. Show Statistics Fields
Field Description
LAN or WLAN (Port) The statistics for the LAN (local), and wireless LAN (WLAN) ports. For each
port, the screen displays the following:
Status The link status of the port.
TxPkts The number of packets transmitted on this port since reset or manual clear.
RxPkts The number of packets received on this port since reset or manual clear.
Collisions The number of collisions on this port since reset or manual clear.
Tx B/s The current line utilization—percentage of current bandwidth used on this
port.
Rx B/s The average line utilization for this port.
Up Time The time elapsed since the last power cycle or reset.
Poll Interval Specify the poll interval frequency. If you change this value, click Set
Interval so that your change takes effect.

20 |Chapter 2. Range Extender Network Settings
Universal WiFi Range Extender WN3000RP
Network Devices
From the range extender menu at http://www.mywifiext.net, under the Maintenance heading,
select Network Devices to display the following screen:
FPO
Back Up and Manage Range Extender Settings
From the range extender menu at
http://www.mywifiext.net, under the Maintenance
heading, select Backup Settings to display this
screen.
FPO
The Backup and Restore options in the Backup
Settings screen let you save and retrieve a file
containing your range extender’s configuration
settings. Once you have your range extender
working correctly, you should back up the
information to have it available if something goes
wrong. When you back up the settings, they are
saved as a file on your computer. You can restore the device’s settings from this file.
Backing Up Settings
1. Click Backup. Your browser extracts the configuration file from the range extender.
2. If you do not have your browser set up to save downloaded files automatically, locate where
you want to save the file.
3. You can give the file a meaningful name at this time, such as internet_adapter.cfg.
Restoring Settings
1. On the Backup Settings screen, click Browse.
2. Locate and select the previously saved backup file.
3. Click Restore.
A screen displays letting you know that the device has been successfully restored to the
previous settings. The range extender restarts. This takes about 1 minute.