NETGEAR WN3500RP User manual

Installation
N600 WiFi Range Extender
Model WN3500RP

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.

3
Meet Your Extender
Before you install your extender, familiarize yourself with its LEDs,
buttons, and port.
LEDs
Buttons and Ports
Power LED
2.4 GHz Link Rate LED
5 GHz Link Rate LED
Device to Extender LED
WPS LED
Power On/O
button
WPS button
Audio port
USB port
Factory Reset
button
Ethernet
port

4
LED Descriptions
Power LED Solid amber. The extender is booting.
Solid green. The extender is powered on.
O. The extender is powered o.
2.4 GHz Link
Rate LED
This LED indicates the 2.4 GHz WiFi 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.
5 Ghz Link
Rate LED
This LED indicates the 5 GHz WiFi 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 to
Extender LED
Solid green. The extender is connected to a computer or WiFi
device.
O. The extender is not connected to a computer or WiFi
device.
WPS LED Solid green. WiFi security is enabled (WPA or WPA2).
Blinking green. A WPS connection is in progress.
O. WiFi security is not enabled.

5
Install the WiFi Extender
Prepare the extender, place the extender, apply power, and connect it to
your WiFi network.
Prepare the Extender
You can use the AC plug or the stand and power adapter cord that came
with your extender to plug it into an electrical outlet.
Note: The AC plug varies by region.
Stand
Power adapter
cord
AC Plug

6
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.
The Power LED lights green. If the Power LED does not light,
press the Power On/Off button.
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 7.
• Connect with web browser setup. For more information, see
Connect with Web Browser Setup on page 9.

7
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 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 2.4 GHz Link
Rate LED lights, and the extender connects to your existing WiFi
network.
If the 2.4 GHz Link Rate 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. Find the new extended network name on your computer or WiFi
device.

8
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 computer or WiFi devices to the new extended WiFi
network.
Use the same WiFi password that you use for your WiFi router.
6. Unplug the extender and move it to a new location closer to the area
with a poor WiFi signal.
The location that you choose must be within the range of your
existing WiFi router network.
7. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.
The Power LED lights green. If the Power LED does not light, press
the Power On/Off button.
8. Use the Link Rate LEDs to help you choose a spot where the
extender-to-router connection is optimal.

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 to Extender LED lights.
2. Open a web browser window from the same computer or WiFi device.
The browser takes you directly to the NETGEAR genie web browser
setup. If you are not automatically directed to NETGEAR genie, launch
a web browser and enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field.
Enter admin for the user name and password for the password.
The extender searches for WiFi networks in your area and displays a
list.

10
3. Select a 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 a 5 GHz WiFi network and click the Continue button.
If your router does not support the 5 GHz band, click the Skip button.
6. Type the network password (also called passphrase or security key) in
the Password field, and click the Continue button.
The following screen displays:
7. In the Name (2.4G SSID) and Name (5G SSID) field, type the
names (SSIDs) for your new extender WiFi networks and click the
Continue button.
You can use the same security settings as the settings for your
existing network by selecting the check box.