Netgear Ex7000 Nighthawk Ac1900 Wifi Range Extender User Manual

							Overview 11
 AC1900 WiFi Range Extender
Retrieve and Display the Product Label
The product label that you can retrieve from the extender contains the l\
ogin URL, serial 
number, security PIN, MAC addresses of the radios, and other information.
To retrieve the product label from the extender:
1.  Place the  extender upside down, with the red panel facing you.
  
The red panel is the bottom.
2.  Locate the label handle with NETGEAR printed on it, and pull out the pro\
duct label.
Label handle
Figure 3.  Pulling out the product label
When to Use Your Extender
NETGEAR recommends that you connect through the extender network only wh\
en the WiFi 
device is in a “dead zone” where connection from the existing netw\
ork 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 acces\
s 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.
When the extender connects over WiFi to an existing network, it function\
s as a network 
client, similar to how a WiFi device connects to a network.
• The extender acts as an access point for WiFi devices.  
						

							Overview 12
AC1900 WiFi Range Extender 
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.
Existing WiFiSometimes your router 
does not provide the WiFi 
coverage you need.
WiFi Range 
Extender
Boosts the range of your 
existing WiFi and creates 
a stronger signal in 
hard-to-reach areas.
Figure 4. Range extender in a home
Support for the 801.11ac Networking Standard
The extender supports the 802.11ac networking standard. This new standard offers better  speed, improved reliability, and more range than older WiFi networking standards.
The extender is backward compatible with earlier WiFi standards. However\
, to get the  benefits of 802.1
 1ac, your WiFi 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/ .
Figure 5. Speed comparison between the 802.11n and 802.11ac standards 
						

							13
2
2.   Get Started
This chapter covers the following topics: 
•Install the Extender to Boost Your WiFi Range 
•Install the Extender as an Access Point 
•Log In to the Extender After Installation 
•Run Smart Setup Installation  
						

							Get Started 14
AC1900 WiFi Range Extender 
Install the Extender to Boost Your WiFi Range
The most common way to use the extender is to boost the range of your ex\
isting WiFi 
network. You can also use the extender as a WiFi access point and create a new WiF\
i 
hotspot by using a wired Ethernet connection. For information about acce\
ss point installation, 
see Install the Extender as an Access Point on page  18.
Set Up the Extender Hardware
To set up the extender hardware:
1. Attach the stand or the rubber feet.
For more information, see Attach the Stand on page  9 or Attach the Rubber Feet on 
page   10.
2.  Attach the antennas.
For more information, see Attach the Antennas  on page
  10.
3.  T
urn on your extender.
Place the extender close to your WiFi router. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet. 
Press the Power button if necessary
 .
The NETGEAR LED lights white and the Link Rate LEDs and the Device to Ex\
tender LED  light amber and then turn of
 f.
Use WPS to Connect the Extender to Your WiFi Router
You can use WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) to connect the extender to your \
WiFi router without typing your existing router’s WiFi network name (SSID) or WiFi password. If you do not want 
to use WPS, see Use a Web Browser to Connect the Extender to Your WiFi Router  on 
page   15.
To use WPS to connect the extender to your WiFi router:
1. Make sure that the extender is powered on.
2.  Press the WPS button on the extender
 .
Both Link Rate LEDs 
  and the Device to Extender LED  blink green for two 
minutes.
3.  Within two minutes, press the  WPS button on your WiFi router
 .
4.  Add a WiFi band.
If your WiFi router supports the 5 GHz band (not all routers do), and \
you want to extend 
that band, repeat and check that the 5 GHz Link Rate LED lights green to\
 confirm the 
connection. 
						

							Get Started 15
 AC1900 WiFi Range Extender
Use a Web Browser to Connect the Extender to Your WiFi 
Router
You can use a web browser to log in to the extender and set up its WiFi c\
onnection to your 
existing WiFi router.
To use a web browser to connect the extender to your WiFi router:
1.  On a computer
 , tablet, or smartphone, open the WiFi connection manager and connect 
to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT.
When you are connected to the extender, the Device to Extender LED 
 lights solid 
green.
2.  Launch a web browser
 . 
The first time that you log in to the extender, the Create Account screen displays. If the  Create 
 Account screen does not display, go to  www.mywifiext.net.
3. Complete the fields and click the  NEXT button.
4. Click the  WiFi RANGE EXTENDER  button.
The extender scans for WiFi signals and finds the WiFi networks in your \
area and  displays a list.
5.  If you do not want to extend both WiFi bands, clear the  2.4GHz W
 iFi Networks or the 5 
GHz WiFi Networks  check box.
6.  Select your WiFi network and click the NEXT button. 
						

							Get Started 16
AC1900 WiFi Range Extender 
If your existing WiFi network is hidden, select the Manually input my wireless SSID 
radio button and type your WiFi network name.
7.  When prompted, enter the password to connect to your WiFi network and cl\
ick the  NEXT 
button.
The extender connects to your existing router’s WiFi network.
8.  Complete the fields to name your extended networks and click the  NEXT button.
The extender applies your settings. This means that its WiFi network names and WiFi  passwords change to the ones that you entered. 
 To make this change, the extender must 
disconnect the computer or WiFi device that you are using from its WiFi \
network.
The following screen displays:
9.  Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to connect to \
the new 
extended WiFi network, and click the  Continue button. 
						

							Get Started 17
 AC1900 WiFi Range Extender
10. 
Click the  Next button.
You are prompted to log in and register your product.
Choose a Location and Check the Signal Strength
Now that the extender is connected to your WiFi router, you can move it to a location that will 
boost your WiFi range. The location that you choose must be within the range of your existing 
WiFi router network. The ideal location to place the extender is halfway between your WiFi 
router and your WiFi device. 
Figure 6. Extender location
The best connection is established with a clear line of sight between th\
e extender and the  WiFi router and a clear line of sight between the extender and the WiFi \
device that you are 
using. 
To move the extender to a good location and check the signal strength:
1.  Move the extender to a location where you can boost your WiFi range. 
The location you choose must be within the range of your existing WiFi r\
outer network. 
2.  Plug the extender into an electrical outlet at the new location and rest\
art the extender.
Unless the extender is outside the range of your WiFi router, the extender connects 
automatically to the WiFi router
 .
The Link Rate LEDs help you choose a spot with a good connection between\
 the  extender and the router
 . The following tables describe how the LEDs show the quality of 
the connection.
2.4 GHz and 5 GHZ LED StatusLED ColorPerformance
Both the Link Rate LED and the Device 
to Extender LED are green.
 and The extender provides the best performance.
The Link Rate LED is amber and the  Device to Extender LED is green.
 and The extender provides a workable performance.
The Link Rate LED is red.
  The extender provides a poor performance.
The Link Rate LED is off.  The extender is not connected to the router
 . 
						

							Get Started 18
AC1900 WiFi Range Extender 
3. 
If the  extender is not connected or the connection is poor,  move the extender closer to 
your WiFi router and try again until the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Link Rate LED \
is green, or at least 
amber.
4.  Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or mobile device to connect t\
o the extender’
 s 
newly created  WiFi network.
By default, the extender adds _2GEXT to the end of the 2.4 GHz network n\
ame and 
_5GEXT to the end of the 5 GHz network name, for example:
• Existing network name. MyNetworkName
• New extended 2.4 GHz network name. MyNetworkName_2GEXT
• New extended 5 GHz network name.  MyNetworkName_5GEXT
5.  Select the new network and use your WiFi router password to connect. 
You are now using your extended WiFi network. 
Connect Ethernet-Enabled Devices
After the extender is connected to your existing WiFi network, you can c\
onnect wired devices  to the extender using Ethernet cables. Those devices can then access your existing network 
through the extender’s WiFi connection.  
Ethernet LAN ports (5)
Figure 7. Rear panel Ethernet LAN ports
Install the Extender as an Access Point
You can cable your extender to your existing router and then set up the e\
xtender in access 
point mode to work to create a new WiFi hotspot.
To use the extender in access point mode:
1.  Attach the stand or the rubber feet.
For more information, see Attach the Stand on page  9 or Attach the Rubber Feet on 
page   10.
2.  Attach the antennas.
For more information, see Attach the Antennas  on page
  10. 
						

							Get Started 19
 AC1900 WiFi Range Extender
3. 
Use an Ethernet cable to connect your router to the Ethernet port on the\
 extender.
Ethernet
Extender Ethernet LAN port
WiFi router
4.  Turn on your extender.
Plug the extender into an electrical outlet. Press the  Power button if necessary
 .
The NETGEAR LED lights white and the Link Rate LEDs and the Device to Ex\
tender LED  light amber and then turn of
 f.
5.  Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and conn\
ect to the 
NETGEAR_EXT (SSID) WiFi network.
After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established, th\
e 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.
6.  Launch a web browser
 .
7.  Enter  www
 .mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.
The first time that you log in to the extender, the Create Account screen displays. 
						

							Get Started 20
AC1900 WiFi Range Extender 
8. 
Complete the fields and click the  NEXT button.
9. Click the  ACCESS POINT  button.
The extender checks for an Internet connection through the router that y\
ou connected to  the extender
 .
10.  When prompted, set the network name (SSID), security option, and passw\
ord for each WiFi 
band, and click the  NEXT button.
Your settings are applied.
11.  Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to connect to \
the new access 
point WiFi network.
12.  Click the  CONTINUE button.
A message displays that you successfully created an access point.
Log In to the Extender After Installation
You can log in to the extender to view or change the extender’s settings.
To log in to the extender:
1.  Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and conn\
ect to the 
new extended WiFi network.
After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established, th\
e 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.  Enter your email address and password and click the  LOG IN button.
The Status screen displays.