NETGEAR WiFi extender increases the range of coverage of your WiFi network. Many of our home devices and appliances require a stable and robust network to operate; hence need to use a WiFi extender. Routers cannot effectively transmit a strong network to all places in the compound and cannot support all the devices simultaneously.
It is essential to use a WiFi extender to effectively remove dead spots where you cannot access your WiFi network. The WiFi extenders are compatible with most routers. However, you can consider replacing them with modern routers which offer stable and robust connectivity.
The NETGEAR WiFi extenders function by capturing the weak signals of your routers and repeating them using superior antennas.
What is WPS on a Router
In order to connect to a secure wireless network, Wi-Fi® Protected Setup (WPS) is a feature built into many routers that makes it easier to connect Wi-Fi enabled devices to a Wi-Fi enabled network using a secure connection. WPS (Wireless Personal Area Network) can be used to allow you to connect your TV, Blu-ray DiscTM player, or any other compatible home video product to a wireless network via WPS.
Is it Possible to Setup a NETGEAR WiFi Extender as an Access Point
In case your NETGEAR WiFi extender supports access point setup, you will find a switch that can be flipped to enable it to function as an access point once you have plugged it in. You will need an Ethernet cord to connect it to your router and then use another Wi-Fi device (as explained above) in order to access the setup page in a browser if your model does not have this switch. It is recommended that you set it up as an access point rather than as an extender when prompted to do so.
How do you Setup your NETGEAR WiFi Extender
Step 1: Plug your WiFi extender into a power source and turn it on. The extender’s led lights will turn on. If they don’t turn on, power them on by pressing the ‘Power‘ button.
Step 2: Next, link up or connect your personal computer, laptop, or phone to Netgear’s network, which usually has the factory name of NETGEAR_EXT. If your extender requests a password, enter it as ‘Password,’ but most of them don’t ask for a password. Remember your WiFi extender has no internet access, and your computer or phone might notify you that the WiFi connection has no internet. Ignore and continue using the network.
Step 3: On your computer or phone, go to a web browser and search for ‘mywifiext‘; it will redirect to a screen of New extender setup. You can also enter ‘192.168.1.250‘ on your browser instead of ‘mywifiext‘.
Step 4: On the new screen, click ‘New Extender Setup‘ to start setting up your NETGEAR WiFi extender. You might also be asked to read the terms and conditions and whether to accept them or not. Scroll down and select ‘Yes‘ or tap on agreeing to continue.
Step 5: Next step is to set up the details of your WiFi extender’s admin. Set the user’s name of your extender as admin and set a password unique from your router or home network password. Set details that you will easily remember as you will use them to access all the settings of your WiFi extender on a web browser.
Step 6: You will be requested to choose security questions that you will use for recovery in case you forgot your password. Select questions you are likely to remember and give simple answers that you can’t forget.
Step 7: After answering the security questions for password recovery, click ‘NEXT‘ to proceed with the setup. Your NETGEAR WiFi extender will then try to locate the available WiFi networks. Select ‘Continue or Yes‘ if your NETGEAR WiFi extender requests you to use NETGEAR Genie to help.
Step 8: You will select your ‘WiFi Network Name’, also known as SSIDs. If your network name is not displayed, click ‘See More‘ to see other available networks. If it is not there, ensure your WiFi network is on, and you are next to the WiFi router or a place where it is accessible. You can also choose your network configurations if you want to extend both network bands or just a single band.
Step 9: After selecting your WiFi network name, click ‘Next‘ to proceed. You will be redirected to another page requiring you to enter your router’s password. Enter your WiFi network’s password and click ‘NEXT‘.
Step 10: In this step, you will choose what name you will use as your extender network name and the password of the extended WiFi network. The 2.4 Giga Hertz band will automatically set the name of the extended WiFi network as the name of your home WiFi network with a suffix ‘_2GEXT‘ and for 5.0 Giga Hertz ending with _5GEXT. The band will also be the same as the network you are trying to expand.
It is a bit different for mesh extenders as it is possible to use the exact name of the WiFi you are extending and the same password of the WiFi network you are expanding. To use a similar name and password of your existing WiFi network, click on Enable one WiFi name. It will depend if your extender supports the feature of using the same name and password as your WiFi network. If you enable one WiFi name, you can use the same password on both your extender and WiFi network.
Step 11: After completing the above procedure, click ‘NEXT‘ to set up your NETGEAR WiFi extender. All your settings will be configured into your extender. Wait until the process of setting up your extender is completed. The WiFi extender will display all your SSIDs or WiFi network name and their passwords. After completing the above process, your NETGEAR WiFi extender is almost ready for use.
Step 12: On your computer, mobile phone, or any device you will use to connect to the extender network, proceed to its WiFi settings. On your device, select and connect to the extender’s new network.
Step 13: Lastly, on your computer or phone, go to the browser you were using to set up your NETGEAR WiFi extender and select ‘Continue‘ to complete the setting of your WiFi extender. Your WiFi extender will start to amplify the signals from your WiFi router.
Is There a Way to Reset my NETGEAR WiFi Extender to a New Router
You need to locate the Reset or Factory Reset button on your extender in order to reset it. It is usually located behind a small hole on the side or bottom panel of the extender, which is where the button can be found. Press and Hold the Reset or Factory Reset button until the Power LED blinks.
You can use a straightened paper clip or similar sized object to Press and hold the ‘Reset or Factory Reset‘ button. It can take up to 10 seconds for this process to complete.
To Wrap Up
Choose the suitable Wi-Fi extender with various specifications that are compatible with your WiFi router in terms of network speed and how easily it can handle frequency. It is also advisable to select an extender with GE Ports or Gigabit Ethernet. Suitable Wi-Fi extenders should have external antennas that quickly pick up any weak signals and amplify them for rebroadcasting at stable and more robust signals.
Ensure the WiFi extender you are purchasing is a dual-band extender. Dual-band supports both bands giving it a broader range than single-band WiFi extenders. The procedure discussed above is one of the easiest ways to set up your NETGEAR WiFi Extender, and I hope it helps you.