Netgear EX2800 WiFi Range Extender
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Common questions
Common Questions
30 totalHow do I set up the Netgear EX2800 WiFi Range Extender for the first time?
First, place the extender in the same room as your WiFi router and plug it into an electrical outlet. Wait for the Power LED to turn green. Then connect to your existing WiFi network using either WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) by pressing the WPS button on both the extender and router within two minutes, or use the NETGEAR Installation Assistant by accessing www.mywifiext.net. Finally, move the extender to a location about halfway between your router and the area with poor WiFi signal.
What do the different LED indicators on the extender mean?
The Power LED shows device status: solid green means powered on, solid amber means booting, and off means powered off. The Router LED indicates connection quality: solid green is best, amber is good, red is poor, and off means no connection. The Device LED shows connection to computers or mobile devices with the same color scheme. The WPS LED shows solid green when WiFi security is enabled or blinks green during a WPS connection.
How do I factory reset the extender if I forgot my password?
You can reset the extender to factory default settings by inserting a straightened paper clip into the Reset button hole and holding it for about seven seconds until the Power LED lights amber, then release it. Alternatively, you can log in to the extender and select Settings > Other, then click the RESET button. Both methods erase all configured settings and return the device to factory defaults.
What should I do if I cannot access www.mywifiext.net?
First, make sure your computer or mobile device is connected to the extender network and the Device LED is solid green or amber. Try entering the extender's default IP address (192.168.1.250) in your web browser. If that doesn't work and your extender and router use the same WiFi network name, enter the extender's IP address directly (such as http://192.168.1.3). You can also try clearing your browser's cache, using a different browser, or assigning a static IP address to your computer.
How do I change the WiFi network name or password on my extender?
Log in to your extender by visiting www.mywifiext.net (or your extender's IP address if it shares the same SSID as your router). Enter your admin username and password, then click Settings > Wireless. In the Network Name (SSID) field, type a new network name and click SAVE. You can also use Smart Setup by clicking the SMART SETUP button on the Status page and following the prompts.
What is FastLane Technology and how do I enable it?
FastLane Technology enhances performance by dedicating one WiFi band to connect the extender to your router and another band to connect to your devices, preventing performance loss. To enable it, log in to your extender, select Do More > FastLane, select the FastLane Technology radio button, then choose whether to use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz for router-to-extender connection. This feature only works if you have devices supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Show 24 more questions
How do I deny access to specific WiFi devices on my extender?
How do I update the firmware on my extender?
What should I do if the Device LED is red or amber after setup?
How do I back up my extender's configuration settings?
What do the LED lights on the extender mean?
How do I find the best location to place my WiFi extender?
Can I change the WiFi network name on my extender?
How do I set up my Netgear EX2800 WiFi extender for the first time?
I forgot my admin password for the extender. How can I recover it?
How do I update the firmware on my EX2800 extender?
Can I block specific devices from accessing my extender's WiFi network?
What should I do if I cannot connect to the extender?
Where can I find official support and register my Netgear EX2800?
What is FastLane Technology and how do I use it?
What should I do if I forget my EX2800 admin username or password?
How do I access the extender's settings after installation?
What are the LED indicators on the Netgear EX2800 and what do they mean?
How do I update the firmware on my EX2800?
What should I do if I cannot connect to the EX2800?
How do I initially connect my EX2800 to my existing WiFi network?
Can I create a hidden WiFi network with the EX2800?
Can I set up an access schedule on the EX2800?
Where should I place the WiFi range extender for best performance?
What are the technical specifications of the Netgear EX2800?
Full Manual
48 pages
User Manual AC750 WiFi Range Extender Model EX2800 NETGEAR, Inc. 350 E. Plumeria Drive January 2020 San Jose, CA 95134, USA 202-12047-01
Support Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit https://www.netgear.com/support to register your product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR support resources. Compliance and Conformity For regulatory compliance information including the EU Declaration of Conformity, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/. See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply. Trademarks © NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only. 2 AC750 WiFi Range Extender
Contents Chapter 1 Overview Meet Your Extender..............................................................................6 LEDs...................................................................................................6 Buttons...............................................................................................7 When to Use Your Extender................................................................7 How the Extender Works.....................................................................7 Chapter 2 Get Started Install the WiFi Extender....................................................................10 Place the Extender and Apply Power..........................................10 Connect to an Existing WiFi Network..........................................10 Connect with WPS.....................................................................10 Connect with the NETGEAR Installation Assistant................12 Find the Best Location...................................................................13 Log In to the Extender After Installation..........................................13 Run Smart Setup Installation.............................................................14 Chapter 3 Extender Network Settings View Connected Devices...................................................................16 Boost Your Video Streaming with FastLane Technology..............16 View WiFi Settings..............................................................................18 Change the WiFi Network Name......................................................18 Turn Off the SSID Broadcast to Create a Hidden Network...........19 Disable or Enable the WiFi Radios...................................................20 Change the WiFi Speed.....................................................................21 Use WPS to Add a Computer to the Extender’s WiFi Network....22 Use WPS with the Push Button Method......................................22 Use WPS with the PIN Method.....................................................23 Deny Access to a Computer or WiFi Device...................................24 Set Up an Access Schedule...............................................................25 Change the Extender’s Device Name..............................................26 Set Up the Extender to Use a Static IP Address..............................27 Use the Extender with MAC Filtering or Access Control...............28 Chapter 4 Maintain and Monitor the Extender Change the Extender admin User Name and Password...............31 3
Turn Password Protection Off and On.............................................32 Recover a Forgotten User Name or Password................................32 Automatically Adjust for Daylight Saving Time..............................33 Manually Set the Extender Clock......................................................34 Back Up and Manage the Extender Configuration........................35 Back Up the Configuration Settings............................................35 Restore the Configuration Settings.............................................36 Return the Extender To Its Factory Default Settings......................37 Use the Reset Button.....................................................................37 Log In and Reset the Extender to Factory Settings....................37 Update the Extender Firmware.........................................................38 Check for New Firmware and Update the Extender.................39 Manually Upload Firmware to the Extender...............................39 Chapter 5 FAQs and Troubleshooting FAQs.....................................................................................................42 Cannot Connect to the Extender......................................................42 Cannot Join a WiFi Network and Receive an Error Message.......43 Cannot Access mywifiext.net............................................................43 Find Extender's IP Address...............................................................44 Chapter 6 Factory Settings and Technical Specifications Factory Default Settings.....................................................................47 Technical and Environmental Specifications..................................47 4 AC750 WiFi Range Extender
1 Overview The WiFi Range Extender boosts your existing network range and speed, delivering dual-band WiFi. This chapter covers the following topics: • Meet Your Extender • When to Use Your Extender • How the Extender Works Note: For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at support.netgear.com. 5
Meet Your Extender Before you install your extender, familiarize yourself with its LEDs and buttons. LEDs The following table describes the LEDs. Table 1. LED descriptions Description
Led
Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued) Description
Led
This LED indicates the network connection between the extender and a computer or mobile device.Wps
Buttons The side panel contains the following buttons: • Reset button. Pressing the Reset button for about five seconds resets the extender. • WPS button. Pressing the WPS button let's the extender connect to your existing WiFi network through WPS. You can also connect WPS-enabled devices to the extender using the WPS button. • Power button. Pressing the Power button turn the extender on or off. When to Use Your Extender NETGEAR recommends that you connect through the extender network only when the WiFi device is in a “dead zone” where connection from the existing network is poor or nonexistent. Data traffic routed through the extender is inherently slower than traffic routed directly from the network. How the Extender Works The extender works like a bridge between a WiFi router (or a WiFi access point) and a WiFi device outside the range of the WiFi router. The extender performs two main jobs: • The extender connects to a working WiFi network. User Manual 7 Overview AC750 WiFi Range Extender
When the extender connects over WiFi to an existing network, it functions as a network client, similar to how a WiFi device connects to a network. • The extender acts as an access point for WiFi devices. The extender broadcasts its own WiFi network that WiFi devices can join. In its role as an access point, the extender performs tasks that WiFi routers do, such as broadcasting its network name (SSID). The extender must do each of these jobs so that both ends of the bridge are in place. Figure 1. Connect your extender User Manual 8 Overview AC750 WiFi Range Extender
2 Get Started This chapter covers the following topics: • Install the WiFi Extender • Log In to the Extender After Installation • Run Smart Setup Installation 9
Install the WiFi Extender Place the extender, apply power, and connect the extender to your WiFi network. Place the Extender and Apply Power To place the extender and apply power:
If the Router Link LED does not light, try again. If it still does not light, see Connect with the NETGEAR Installation Assistant on page 12.
To log in to the extender:
3 Extender Network Settings This chapter covers the following topics: • View Connected Devices • Boost Your Video Streaming with FastLane Technology • View WiFi Settings • Change the WiFi Network Name • Turn Off the SSID Broadcast to Create a Hidden Network • Disable or Enable the WiFi Radios • Change the WiFi Speed • Use WPS to Add a Computer to the Extender’s WiFi Network • Deny Access to a Computer or WiFi Device • Set Up an Access Schedule • Change the Extender’s Device Name • Set Up the Extender to Use a Static IP Address • Use the Extender with MAC Filtering or Access Control 15
View Connected Devices You can view a list of devices that are connected to the extender network. To view connected devices:
When you enable FastLane Technology, two options are available: • Use the 2.4 GHz band to connect the extender to the WiFi devices and use the 5 GHz band to connect the extender to the WiFi router. Use this mode if your WiFi router supports the 5 GHz band but the devices that you want to use for gaming and streaming support the 2.4 GHz band. • Use the 5 GHz band to connect the extender to the WiFi devices and use the 2.4 GHz band to connect the extender to the WiFi router. Use this mode if the devices that you want to use for gaming and streaming support the 5 GHz band but your WiFi router supports the 2.4 GHz band. To activate FastLane mode:
View WiFi Settings To view the WiFi settings:
A login page displays.
Your settings are saved. Change the WiFi Speed The 2.4 GHz network WiFi speed to set to a specific WiFi speed. You can only change the 5 GHz WiFi speed. To change the WiFi speed:
Use WPS to Add a Computer to the Extender’s WiFi Network WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) lets you connect a computer or WiFi device to the extender’s network without entering the WiFi network passphrase or key. Instead, you use a WPS button or enter a PIN to connect. If you use the push button method, the WiFi device that you are trying to connect must include a physical button or a software button. If you use the PIN method, you must know the PIN of the WiFi device that you are trying to connect. WPS supports WPA and WPA2 WiFi security. If your extender network is open (no WiFi security is set), connecting with WPS automatically sets WPA + WPA2 WiFi security on the extender network and generates a random passphrase. You can view this passphrase on the WiFi Settings page (for more information, see View WiFi Settings on page 18). Use WPS with the Push Button Method For you to use the push button method to connect a WiFi device to the extender’s WiFi network, the WiFi device that you are trying to connect must include a physical WPS button or an onscreen WPS button that you can click. To use WPS to add a computer or WiFi device to the extender’s WiFi network:
The Connected Devices (WPS) page displays.
The extender menu displays.
Use the Extender with MAC Filtering or Access Control When the WiFi device connects through the extender to your router, the MAC address of the wireless device that is 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 wireless device to receive an IP address from the extender and access the Internet, you must provide the translated MAC address to the router. To add a translated MAC address to your router:
4 Maintain and Monitor the Extender This chapter covers the following topics: • Change the Extender admin User Name and Password • Turn Password Protection Off and On • Recover a Forgotten User Name or Password • Automatically Adjust for Daylight Saving Time • Manually Set the Extender Clock • Back Up and Manage the Extender Configuration • Return the Extender To Its Factory Default Settings • Update the Extender Firmware 30
Change the Extender admin User Name and Password You can change the admin user name and password to log in to the extender. To add an extender user:
Turn Password Protection Off and On NETGEAR recommends that you leave password protection on to help keep your network secure. You can turn password protection off and on. To turn password protection off or on:
To recover your password to access the extender:
For more information about how to find your extender's IP address, see Find Extender's IP Address on page 44. A login page displays.
CAUTION: After you click the RESTORE button, do not try to go online, turn off the extender, shut down the computer, or do anything else to the extender until it finishes restarting!
To log in to the extender and reset the extender's factory settings:
Check for New Firmware and Update the Extender Unless you changed the settings in the Firmware Update page previously, the extender is set up to check for new firmware automatically at login. To check manually for new firmware and, if available, update the firmware:
You might need to unzip the firmware file.
5 FAQs and Troubleshooting This chapter covers the following topics: • FAQs • Cannot Connect to the Extender • Cannot Join a WiFi Network and Receive an Error Message • Cannot Access mywifiext.net • Find Extender's IP Address 41
FAQs This section provides answers for difficulties you might experience with the extender. The web browser setup 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. For more information about where to place the extender, see Find Extender's IP Address on page 44. If you are using WEP security, make sure that you are typing the network password in the correct field. I forgot my admin email address and password. What can I do? In the login window, click the Username & Password Help link to answer the security questions that you set up during the initial setup. For more information, see Recover a Forgotten User Name or Password on page 32. To restore factory settings:
Cannot Join a WiFi Network and Receive an Error Message To join a WiFi network, you must know its network name (also called the SSID) so that you can select it. If the network is secure, you must know the passphrase or key. If the extender does not connect to the network that you select, the cause might be one of the following: • It is possible that you typed the network name, passphrase, or key incorrectly. Use Smart Setup (see Run Smart Setup Installation on page 14) to select a WiFi network and retype the passphrase or key. The passphrase or key is case-sensitive. For example, PASSWORD25 is not the same as Password25 or password25. • If the extender cannot detect your WiFi network, check to see if your WiFi network is still working. Make sure that the WiFi router is turned on. If possible, move the extender closer to the WiFi router. • If the extender Device Link LED is red, the WiFi connection between the WiFi router and the extender is poor. You can establish the best connection with a clear line of sight between the extender and the WiFi router. Make sure that no physical obstacles exist between the extender and the WiFi router, and try to move the extender closer to the WiFi router. If you use Smart Setup, and the extender does not connect to the WiFi router, does not connect to the Internet, or cannot get an IP address from the WiFi router, Smart Setup displays a message to notify you that the extender is not configured. To run Smart Setup again, click the YES button. To manually configure the extender, click the NO, CONFIGURE MANUALLY button. Cannot Access mywifiext.net When you try to access www.mywifiext.net to set up your extender, you might receive an error message that says you are not connected to the extender's WiFi network. This website is not a regular Internet website. It is a local web address used to log in to the extender web interface and view the extender's settings. Your computer or mobile device must be connected to your extender network to access www.mywifiext.net. User Manual 43 FAQs and Troubleshooting AC750 WiFi Range Extender
Try these troubleshooting tips to connect to www.mywifiext.net: • If you're trying to access www.mywifiext.net for the first time to set up your extender, see Connect with the NETGEAR Installation Assistant on page 12 and follow the instructions. • After you connect your computer or mobile device to the extender network, make sure that the extender's Device LED is solid green or amber. If the Device LED is not lit, open your computer's or mobile device's WiFi connection manager and make sure that your device is still connected to the extender network. • Launch a web browser and enter the extender's default IP address, which is 192.168.1.250. If this IP address does not work, your extender's IP address might have changed. You can log in to your router to view your extender's IP address. For more information, see Find Extender's IP Address on page 44. • If your extender and router use the same WiFi network name (SSID), enter http://
To log in to your extender and find your extender's IP address:
6 Factory Settings and Technical Specifications This appendix covers the following topics: • Factory Default Settings • Technical and Environmental Specifications 46
Factory Default Settings To reset the extender to factory default settings, you can use the Reset button on the side panel or you can log in and click the onscreen RESET button. For more information, see Return the Extender To Its Factory Default Settings on page 37. The following table shows the factory default settings. Table 2. Factory default settings Default Settings Feature Enabled Smart Setup Enabled WiFi communication
Netgear_Ext
WiFi network name (SSID) Disabled Security Auto1 Transmission speed Varies by region Country/region 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Operating mode 54/145/300 Mbps Data rate in the 2.4 GHz band 54/145/300/433/867 Mbps Data rate in the 5 GHz band Client enabledDhcp
1Maximum WiFi signal rate (IEEE Standard 802.11). Actual throughput can vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead lower actual data throughput rate. Technical and Environmental Specifications The following table shows the technical and environmental specifications. User Manual 47 Factory Settings and Technical Specifications AC750 WiFi Range Extender
Table 3. Technical specifications Technical Specifications Data and routing protocols: TCP/IP, DHCP server and client, DNS relay, Network protocol and standards compatibility