NETGEAR WiFi extender User manual

Do More

2
Experience Next-Generation WiFi
Your new WiFi extender supports the 802.11ac networking standard. This
new standard offers better speed, improved reliability, and more range
than older WiFi networking standards.
Your extender is backward compatible with prior WiFi standards. However,
to get the benefits of 802.11ac, your router must support the 802.11ac
WiFi networking standard.
To learn more about the 802.11ac WiFi networking standard, visit
http://www.netgear.com/landing/80211ac/.

3
Use the Extender in Extender Mode
Use the extender in extender mode to boost the range of your existing
WiFi network. For more information about setting up your extender in
extender mode, see the quick start guide card.
¾To use the extender in extender mode:
1. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to find
and connect to the NETGEAR_EXT (SSID) WiFi network.
Aer the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established,
the Device to Extender LED lights solid green.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
The login screen displays.
ExtenderRouter

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4. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.
The Extender Setup screen displays.
5. Complete the Extender Setup screen and click the NEXT button.
6. Select 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 and click the NEXT button.
9. Set the network name (SSID) and password for your extender, and
click the NEXT button.
Your settings are applied.
10. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to
connect to the new extended WiFi network.
11. Click the CONTINUE button.
A message displays confirming that the extender successfully
connected to the existing WiFi network.

5
Use the Extender in Access Point Mode
Use the extender in access point mode to set up the extender as a WiFi
access point and create a new WiFi hotspot by using a wired Ethernet
connection.
¾To use the extender in access point mode:
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your router to the Ethernet port on
the extender.
2. 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 solid green.
Note: In access point mode, you can connect your computer or WiFi
device to the extender only using a WiFi connection.
ExtenderRouter
Ethernet cable

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3. Launch a web browser.
4. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
A login screen displays.
5. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.
The Extender Setup screen displays.
6. Complete the Extender Setup screen and click the NEXT button.
7. Select the ACCESS POINT button.
The extender checks for an Internet connection.
8. Set the network name (SSID), security option, and password for each
band, and click the NEXT button.
Your settings are applied.
9. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to
connect to the new access point WiFi network.
10. Click the CONTINUE button.
A message displays that you successfully created an access point.

7
Log In to Access Extender Settings
After installation, you can log in to the extender to view or change the
extender’s settings.
¾To log in to the extender:
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 to Extender LED lights solid green.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
A login screen displays.
4. Type your email and password and click the LOG IN button.
The Status screen displays.
5. Make any needed changes.

8
Share Files Across Your WiFi Network
You can share data that is stored on most common USB storage devices
across your WiFi network with ReadySHARE® USB Storage Access.
¾To access your USB device from a Windows computer:
1. Insert your USB device into the USB 3.0 port on the extender.
If your USB device includes a power supply, you must use it when you
connect the USB device to the extender.
When you connect the USB device to the extender USB port, it might
take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the
USB device is available to all computers on your local area network
(LAN).
2. Select Start > Run.
3. Enter \\readyshare in the dialog box and click the OK button.
A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders on the
device.
¾To access your USB device from a Mac:
1. Insert your USB device into the USB 3.0 port on the extender.
If your USB device includes a power supply, you must use it when you
connect the USB device to the extender.

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When you connect the USB device to the extender USB port, it might
take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the
USB device is available to all computers on your local area network
(LAN).
2. On a Mac that is connected to the network, launch Finder and select
Go > Connect to Server.
3. Enter smb://readyshare in the Server Address field.
4. When prompted, select the Guest radio button.
5. Click the Connect button.
A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders on the
device.
Connect Ethernet-Enabled Devices
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 Ethernet cable

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Share a USB Printer on the WiFi Network
The ReadySHARE Printer utility lets you share a USB printer that is
connected to the USB port on your extender. You can share this USB
printer among the Windows and Mac computers on your network.
¾To set up ReadySHARE Printer:
1. Connect the USB printer to a USB port on the extender with a USB
printer cable.
2. On each computer that will share the printer, do the following:
a. Install the current USB printer driver software (available from the
printer manufacturer).
b. Download ReadySHARE Printer from
www.netgear.com/readyshare.
c. In the ReadySHARE Printer pane, click the PC Utility or Mac
Utility link.
d. Follow the onscreen instructions to download the file.
3. Double-click the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file that you
downloaded.
The InstallShield wizard displays.
4. Follow the wizard instructions to install NETGEAR USB Control Center.

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Boost Your Video Streaming
Get the most out of your HD entertainment with FastLane technology.
FastLane technology connects to your router using one band and connects
to your devices using another band. Because a band is dedicated to each
function, performance is enhanced.
¾To activate FastLane mode:
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 to Extender LED lights solid green.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
A login screen displays.
4. Type your email and password and click the LOG IN button.
The Status screen displays.
5. Select Do More > FastLane.
The FastLane Technology screen displays.
6. Select the FastLane Technology radio button.
7. Click the Save button.
Your changes are saved.

12
Adjust the WiFi Coverage
You can set the extender’s WiFi coverage depending on how large you
would like your coverage area to be.
¾To adjust the WiFi coverage:
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 to Extender LED lights solid green.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
A login screen displays.
4. Type your email and password and click the LOG IN button.
The Status screen displays.
5. Select Do More > WiFi Coverage.
6. Select a WiFi Output Power radio button.
If your extender is covering a small area, select a lower output power
percentage. If your extender is covering a large area, select a higher
output power percentage.
7. Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved.

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Optimize Your WiFi
The NETGEAR WiFi Analytics app provides detailed information to help you
optimize your WiFi home network. To install the app, visit the Google Play
store or scan the QR code.
The WiFi Analytics app provides the following:
• Network status. Get an overview of all available WiFi networks,
including signal strength, channel, security protocol, MAC address, and
more.
• Channel interference. Identify crowded and clear WiFi channels and
get channel connection recommendations.
• Signal strength. Determine the data rate available in various
locations in your home.

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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
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. To improve your signal strength, move your
extender closer to your router and make sure that the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
Link Rate LED lights solid amber or green.
Solid green. Best connection
Solid amber. Good connection
Solid red. Poor connection
O. No connection
If you are using WEP security, make sure that you are typing the network
password in the correct field.

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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 are
using a valid IP address.
• Relaunch the web browser and enter www.mywifiext.net in the
address field. Type your user name and password and click the LOG IN
button.
• If you are installing the extender as an access point, make sure that
you are connecting your computer or WiFi device to the extender
through a WiFi connection instead of an Ethernet connection.
How do I restore the extender to its factory default settings?
1. Use a sharp object such as a pen or paper clip to press and hold the
Reset button on the bottom of the extender for at least five seconds
until the Device to Extender LED blinks amber.
2. Release the Reset button and wait for the extender to reboot.
The extender resets and returns to the factory default settings.

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I forgot my login email and password. What can I do?
On the login screen, click the Username & Password Help link to answer
the security questions 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 login screen displays.
4. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.
The login setup screen displays.
My router security is WEP, and I entered the wrong passphrase
or security key on the extender. I cannot access the extender
anymore. What can I do?
The extender cannot check to see if the WEP passphrase is correct. If you
entered the wrong passphrase, your wireless device is not able to get the
IP address from the extender. You must reset the extender to its factory
default settings to get the IP address back.

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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 5.
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 the WiFi device connects through the extender to your router,
the MAC address of the WiFi 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 WiFi device connects to the extender but cannot
get an IP address from the extender and cannot access the Internet.
To allow the WiFi device to receive an IP address from the extender and
access the Internet, you must provide the translated MAC address to the
router.
¾To add a translated MAC address to your router:
1. Log in to your router and disable the MAC filter, wireless access
control, or ACL.

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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 WiFi devices to the
extender.
3. Make sure that the Link Rate 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 screen displays.
c. Type your email and password and click the LOG IN button.
5. Select Settings > WiFi Settings.
6. Scroll down and select Connected Devices.
The Connected Devices section displays the MAC addresses and
virtual MAC addresses for computers and WiFi devices that are
connected to the extender network.
7. On the router, add all of the virtual MAC addresses from your
extender to your router’s MAC filter table.
8. Pull out the product label from the extender and find the extender’s
MAC 1 and MAC 2 addresses.
9. Add the extender’s MAC 1 address to your router’s MAC filter table.
10. Add the extender’s MAC 2 address to your router’s MAC filter table.

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You must type 02:0F:B5: first, then type the last six digits of your
MAC 2 address aer.
For example, if your MAC 2 address is C4:04:15:5F:20:AC, type
02:0F:B5:5F:20:AC in your router’s MAC filter table.
11. Convert the extender’s MAC 1 address and add the new MAC 1
address to your router’s MAC filter table.
For more information, see the extender’s user manual.
12. Convert the first two hexadecimal values in the extender’s MAC 1
address to binary.
See the extender’s user manual for the conversion table.
13. Toggle the second-to-last digit of the binary code to 1 or 0.
If the second-to-last digit is 1, toggle it to 0. If the second to last
digit is 0, toggle it to 1.
14. Convert the new binary code back to a hexadecimal value.
See the extender’s user manual for the conversion table.
15. Replace the first two hexadecimal values in the old MAC 1 address
with the new value you converted and add the new MAC 1 address to
your router’s MAC filter table.
For example, if your old MAC 1 address was C4:04:15:5F:20:AD, your
new MAC 1 address is C6:04:15:5F:20:AD.
16. Enable the router’s MAC filter, wireless access control, or ACL.

September 2014
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, 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/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.