TP-Link TL-WA854RE User manual

User Guide
300Mbps Wi-Fi Range Extender
TL-WA854RE
REV3.0.0 1910012500

Contents
About This Guide.........................................................................................................1
Chapter 1. Get to Know About Your Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
1. 1. Product Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. 2. Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. 2. 1.LED Explanation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. 2. 2.Port and Button Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Chapter 2. Set Up Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2. 1. Quick Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2. 1. 1.Method 1: Via the WPS Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2. 1. 2.Method 2: Via a Web Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2. 1. 3.Method 3: Via the TP-Link Tether App. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2. 2. Position Your Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 3. Customize Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3. 1. Check Internet Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3. 2. Configure Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3. 3. Change LAN Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3. 4. Specify DHCP Server Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3. 5. Adjust Wi-Fi Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3. 6. Set Access Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Chapter 4. Manage Your Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5. 1. Set Up System Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5. 2. Control LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5. 3. Power Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5. 4. Upgrade the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5. 5. Backup and Restore Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5. 6. Change Admin Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5. 7. System Log. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
FAQ ................................................................................................................................26

1
About This Guide
This guide is a complement to Quick Installation Guide. The Quick Installation Guide
provides instructions for quick internet setup, while this guide contains details of each
function and demonstrates how to configure them.
When using this guide, please notice that features of the extender may vary slightly
depending on the model and software version you have, and on your location, language,
and internet service provider. All screenshots, images, parameters and descriptions
documented in this guide are used for demonstration only.
Conventions
In this guide the following conventions are used:
Convention Description
Underlined Underlined words or phrases are hyperlinks and You can click to redirect to a website or
a specific section.
Teal Contents to be emphasized and texts on the web page are in teal, including the menus,
items, buttons, and so on.
>
The menu structures to show the path to load the corresponding page. For example,
Advanced > Wireless > MAC Filtering means the MAC Filtering function page is under the
Wireless menu that is located in the Advanced tab.
Note: Ignoring this type of note might result in a malfunction or damage to the device.
Tips: Indicates important information that helps you make better use of your device.
symbols on the web
page
• click to edit the corresponding entry.
• click to delete the corresponding entry.
*Maximum wireless signal rates are the physical rates derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications. Actual wireless
data throughput and wireless coverage are not guaranteed and will vary as a result of network conditions, client
limitations, and environmental factors, including building materials, obstacles, volume and density of traffic, and client
location.
More Info
The latest software, management app and utility are available from the Download
Center at https://www.tp-link.com/support.
The Quick Installation Guide can be found where you find this guide or inside the
package of the range extender.
Specifications can be found on the product page at https://www.tp-link.com.
A Technical Support Forum is provided for you to discuss our products at
https://forum.tp-link.com.
Our Technical Support contact information can be found at Contact Technical Support
page at https://www.tp-link.com/support.

Chapter 1
Get to Know About Your
Extender
This chapter introduces what the extender can do and its appearance.
It contains the following sections:
• Product Overview
• Appearance

3
Chapter 1 Get to Know About Your Extender
1. 1. Product Overview
Bring Dead Zones Back to Life
Tired of Wi-Fi “dead zones”? The TP-Link extender is connected to your router
wirelessly, strengthening its signal and expanding its coverage into areas that could not
otherwise be reached. The device also reduces signal interference to ensure reliable
Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home or office.
Easy Installation & Quick Position
The extender works with any standard wireless router. Instantly connect the extender
to a router by pressing the router’s WPS button (if available) followed by the extender’s
WPS button. Alternatively, follow the Quick Setup instructions on the extender’s web
management page.
Once the extender is connected to a router, you can relocate it to your preferred location
with no furthure configuration required. The intelligent signal light can help to find the
best location.
Easy Management with the Tether APP
Tether provides a simple, intuitive way to access and manage your extender with your
smart devices.
1. 2. Appearance
Note: The provided plug may differ from the picture due to different regional power specifications.

4
Chapter 1 Get to Know About Your Extender
1. 2. 1. LED Explanation
You can check the extender’s working status by following the LED Explanation table.
Name Status Indication
RE
On/Off The extender is connected or not connected to your router’s
wireless network.
Blinking WPS connection is in process.
Wireless On The extender’s wireless function is enabled.
Power
On/Off The extender is on or off.
Blinking The system is starting up or firmware is being upgraded.
(Signal Strength)
On Indicates the Wi-Fi connection between the extender and the
router. More lit LEDs indicate a better signal strength.
1. 2. 2. Port and Button Description
Ports or Buttons Description
(WPS Button)
Press the WPS button on your host router, and immediately press the button
on the extender for 1 second. The RE LED of the extender should change from
blinking to solid on, indicating successful WPS connection.
RESET Button With the extender powered on, use a pin to press the RESET button for 1
second. The extender will reboot.

Chapter 2
Set Up Internet Connection
This chapter informs you how to boost your host wireless coverage. Please follow the
step-by-step instructions to set up the internet connection.
It contains the following sections:
• Quick Setup
• Position Your Extender

6
Chapter 2 Set Up Internet Connection
2. 1. Quick Setup
Power on
Plug the extender into an electrical outlet next to your host router, and then wait until
the Power LED changes to solid on.
Note: For safety, we suggest that you plug the extender in upright directions as shown below.
Wait until the Wireless
LED turns solid on.
Connect to the host network
There are three ways to connect to the host network: via the WPS button, via a web
browser, or via the Tether app. Using the WPS button is an easier way to extend your
host network. We recommend you to use this way if your router has a WPS button. The
button might look like one of these: | WPS | .
2. 1. 1. Method 1: Via the WPS Button
1. Press the WPS button on your host router, and then press the button on the
extender within 2 minutes.
Note:
For more information about using WPS button on your host router, please refer to the router’s user
guide.
2. Wait until the RE LED changes from blinking to solid on, which indicates that the WPS
connection is successful.
3. Enjoy! Connect to the extended network and enjoy internet. The extended network
shares the same network name and password as your router.

7
Chapter 2 Set Up Internet Connection
Note:
• If the WPS method fails, or if you want to customize the extended network name, refer to Method 2:
Via a Web Browser or Method 3: Via the TP-Link Tether App.
• Since the performance of the extended network will be affected by the distance between the
extender and host router, we recommend that you relocate your extender by referring to Position
Your Extender.
2. 1. 2. Method 2: Via a Web Browser
1. Connect your computer to the extender wirelessly as follows:
• For Windows Users
1 ) Unplug the Ethernet cable from your computer (if any).
2 ) Click the Wi-Fi icon on the task bar and connect to the extender’s network:
TP-Link_Extender.
Connections are available
Wireless Network Connection
Connect automatically Connect
√
TP-Link_Extender
MyHome
• For Mac OS X Users
1 ) Unplug the Ethernet cable from your computer (if any).
2 ) Click the Wi-Fi icon in the top right corner of the screen, and connect to the
extender’s network: TP-Link_Extender.
Wi-Fi: On
Tu rn Wi-Fi O
MyHome
Join Other Network...
Create Network...
Open Network Preferences...
TP-Link_Extender
2. Follow the instructions of Quick Setup Wizard to connect the extender to your host
router.
1 ) Launch a web browser, enter http://tplinkrepeater.net or http://192.168.0.254
in the address field, create a password for future logins, and click Start.

8
Chapter 2 Set Up Internet Connection
Note:
If the login window does not appear, please refer to FAQ.
2 ) Select your host router’s 2.4GHz SSID (network name), enter its password (NOT
the password you just created for logins), and click Next.
3 ) Either keep the default SSID (network name) or customize it for the extended
network, and then click Next.
4 ) Verify your wireless settings and click Save.

9
Chapter 2 Set Up Internet Connection
5 ) Enjoy! Connect to the extended network and enjoy internet. The extended
network shares the same wireless password as that of your host network, but
may have different network name if you have customized the SSID during the
configuration.
Note:
Since the performance of the extended network will be affected by the distance between extender and
host router, we highly recommend you to relocate your extender referring to Position Your Extender.
2. 1. 3. Method 3: Via the TP-Link Tether App
1. Launch the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search TP-Link Tether or simply
scan the QR code to download and install the app.
OR

10
Chapter 2 Set Up Internet Connection
2. Go to Wi-Fi Settings and connect your device to the extender’s wireless network:
TP-Link_Extender.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
CHOOSE A NETWORK...
Other...
< Settings
TP-Link_Extender
3. Launch Tether and select your extender from the Local Device list.
4. Create a password for future logins.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the configuration.
Tips:
You can manage your extender via Tether, such as controlling LEDs, sharing the password of your network
and blocking devices.
Note:
Since the performance of the extended network will be affected by the distance between the extender and
host router, we recommend that you relocate your extender by referring to Position Your Extender.

11
Chapter 2 Set Up Internet Connection
2. 2. Position Your Extender
Please follow the instructions below to achieve optimal performance of the extender.
1. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet between your host router and the Wi-Fi
“dead“ zone. The location you choose must be within the range of your existing host
network.
2. Wait until the LEDs are lit. Make sure the extender is in a location with 3 or
more LEDs lit. If not, relocate it closer to the router to achieve better signal quality.
≥
3LEDs lit on
1
2
3
4
5
Slow/Unstable
Good
Best
Host Network
Host Router Clients
Extended Network
Tips:
To minimize signal interference, please choose a location which is far away from Bluetooth devices and
other household electronic devices, such as cordless phones, microwave ovens and baby monitors.

Chapter 3
Customize Your Network
This chapter guides you on how to configure network settings that are available for this
extender.
It contains the following sections:
• Check Internet Status
• Configure Wireless Network
• Change LAN Settings
• Specify DHCP Server Settings
• Adjust Wi-Fi Coverage
• Set Access Control

13
Chapter 3 Customize Your Network
3. 1. Check Internet Status
You can view the internet status of your extender to check whether you have successfully
set up the extended network(s).
1. Visit http://tplinkrepeater.net, and log in with the password you set for the extender.
2. Go to Settings > Status to view the internet status of your extender.
• The extender is functioning normally.
• The extender is not connected to the host network. Please go to Settings >
Wireless > Connect to Network to check whether the host network passwords
are correct. If the problem still exists, relocate the extender closer to the router to
achieve better signal quality.
• The extender is connected to the host network, but is not transmitting data. Please
check your router’s internet connection.
• The extender is connected to the router abnormally. Please go to Settings >
Network and try setting your extender to obtain an IP address automatically.
Click the Internet/Router/Range Extender/Clients icon to view corresponding
information.

14
Chapter 3 Customize Your Network
3. 2. Configure Wireless Network
If you want to extend another host network after Quick Setup, you can refer to this
section. Moreover, you can change the wireless settings for your extended network.
Visit http://tplinkrepeater.net, and log in with the password you set for the extender.
¾To extend another host network:
1. Go to Settings > Wireless > Connect to Network.
2. Click Wireless Scanner to find all available networks.
3. Select the host network you want to extend.
Note:
If the network you want to extend is on but not listed, please try the following steps.
1. Move the extender closer to your router, and click Rescan in the top-right corner of the list.
2. You can manually enter the parameters of the network you want to extend, and click Save.
4. Once a host network is selected, the SSID and security type will be automatically
filled in. If the selected network is encrypted, enter the password in the Password
field.
5. Click Save.
¾To change the wireless network name (SSID):
1. Go to Settings > Wireless > Extended Network.

15
Chapter 3 Customize Your Network
2. Create a new SSID in Extended 2.4GHz SSID or click Copy Host SSID. The value is
case-sensitive.
3. Click Save.
Note:
If you have changed the wireless settings via a wireless device, you will be disconnected after the settings
are applied. Please write down the new SSID for future use.
¾To hide the SSID of the extended network:
1. Go to Settings > Wireless > Extended Network.
2. Select Hide SSID broadcast, and the corresponding SSID will not be displayed when
wireless devices scan for local wireless networks. Devices must join the network
manually in order to connect.
3. Click Save.
3. 3. Change LAN Settings
The extender is preset with a default LAN IP 192.168.0.254, with which you can log in to
the web management page. The LAN IP address, together with the Subnet Mask, also
defines the subnet that the connected devices are on. If the IP address conflicts with
another device on your local network or your network requires a specific IP subnet, you
can change it.
1. Visit http://tplinkrepeater.net, and log in with the password you set for the extender.
2. Go to Settings > Network.
3. Select Use the following IP address.
4. Enter a new IP address as needed and leave the Subnet Mask as the default settings
and enter the gateway that is in the same subnet as the IP address. The gateway is
usually the LAN IP address of your extender.

16
Chapter 3 Customize Your Network
5. Click Save.
3. 4. Specify DHCP Server Settings
By default, the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Server is enabled and the
extender acts as a DHCP server; it dynamically assigns TCP/IP parameters to client
devices from the IP Address Pool. You can change the settings of the DHCP Server if
necessary.
1. Visit http://tplinkepeater.net, and log in with the password you set for the extender.
2. Go to Settings > Network.
¾To specify the IP address that the extender assigns:
1. Select Auto (recommended) or On to enable the DHCP Server.
2. Enter the starting and ending IP addresses in the IP Address Pool.
3. Enter other parameters if the ISP requires them. The Default Gateway is automatically
filled in and is the same as the LAN IP address of the extender.
4. Click Save.
¾To view the DHCP Client List:

17
Chapter 3 Customize Your Network
You can view the information of the DHCP clients connected to the extender in the
DHCP Client List.
3. 5. Adjust Wi-Fi Coverage
You can set the extender’s Wi-Fi coverage depending on how large you want your Wi-Fi
area to be.
1. Visit http://tplinkrepeater.net, and log in with the password you set for the extender.
2. Go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Wi-Fi Coverage.
3. Select Min, Mid or Max to adjust your Wi-Fi coverage of the extender.
4. Click Save.
3. 6. Set Access Control
Access Control allows you to permit or block specific devices from accessing internet
for a specific period.
1. Visit http://tplinkrepeater.net, and log in with the password you set for the extender.
2. Go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Access Control.
3. Enable Access Control.

18
Chapter 3 Customize Your Network
¾To block specific device(s):
1. Select Blacklist and click Save.
2. Select the device to be blocked in the Online Devices table by ticking the
corresponding checkbox.
3. Click Block and the selected device(s) will be added to the Devices in Blacklist table.
4. Click in the Devices in Blacklist table to set the Effective Time for a certain entry
as needed.
5. Click OK.