Prerequisites

• NETGEAR EX6200 AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Overview

This article provides information on how to configure NETGEAR EX6200 AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender over Wi-Fi using the Smart Setup Wizard.

Symptoms

• unable to connect my wifi extender to my wireless network

Resolution

If your Wi-Fi router does not support WPS, access the extender over Wi-Fi and use the browser-based NETGEAR Genie Smart Setup to connect the extender to an existing Wi-Fi network.

The extender has a default NETGEAR_EXT Wi-Fi network name (SSID) in the 2.4 GHz band so you can access it over Wi-Fi. After you have used Smart Setup to connect the extender to an existing Wi-Fi network, the extender changes its default NETGEAR_EXT network name to the name of the existing Wi-Fi network and adds _2GEXT to the end of the 2.4 GHz network name 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

To access the extender over Wi-Fi and use Smart Setup to connect the extender to an existing Wi-Fi network:

1. Place the extender close to the Wi-Fi router.

   Note: In a later step in this procedure, after you have established a connection to the Wi-Fi router, you can place the extender at its permanent location.

2. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.
3. If necessary, press the Power button.

   The Device to Extender LED and the two Link Rate LEDs light amber during the startup process. After about one minute, these LEDs turn off.

4. Make sure that your computer or mobile device is not connected to an Ethernet network.

   If the computer or mobile device is already connected to an Ethernet network, you might not be able to connect to the extender.

5. Open a Wi-Fi network manager on your computer or mobile device to find and connect to the default NETGEAR_EXT Wi-Fi network of the extender.
6. You can use any Wi-Fi network utility on a computer, tablet, or smartphone to find and connect to the NETGEAR_EXT Wi-Fi network of the extender. The following figure shows an example of a Wi-Fi network utility.

    

   

   After the connection with the computer or mobile device is established, the Device to Extender LED  light turns solid green.

7. Open a web browser window from the same computer or mobile device.

   The browser takes you directly to the NETGEAR Genie Smart Setup start screen.

   Note: If you are not automatically directed to the NETGEAR Genie Smart Setup start screen, go to www.myWi-Fiext.net, and enter admin for the user name and password for the password.

   

   Smart Setup searches for existing WiFi networks automatically and displays the networks in the 2.4 GHz band.

    

    

    

8. Select a 2.4 GHz WiFi network to extend, and click the Continue button.

   

9. Enter the security settings for the existing 2.4 GHz network:
    
   • If the network uses WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, or a combination of these options, do the following:
     a. In the Password (network key) field, type the network passphrase (also called a password or network key).
     b. Click the Continue button.

    

   • If the network uses WEP, do the following:
     a. From the Encryption Strength menu, select the encryption strength (64 bit or 128 bit).
     b. Select the radio button that corresponds to the key that you want to use (Key 1, Key 2, Key 3, or Key 4).
     c. Next to the selected radio button, enter the network WEP key.
     d. Click the Continue button.

   If Smart Setup detects any networks in the 5 GHz band, it displays them.

   

10. Select a 5 GHz WiFi network to extend, and click the Continue button.

    Note:If your router does not support the 5 GHz band (not all routers do) or you want to set up the 5 GHz extender network later, click the Skip button, and go to Step 12.

    

11. Enter the security settings for the existing 5 GHz network:
     
    • If the network uses WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, or a combination of these options, do the following:
      a. In the Password (network key) field, type the network passphrase (also called a password or network key).
      b. Click the Continue button.

     

    • If the network uses WEP, do the following:
      a. From the Encryption Strength menu, select the encryption strength (64 bit or 128 bit).
      b. Select the radio button that corresponds to the key that you want to use (Key 1, Key 2, Key 3, or Key 4).
      c. Next to the selected radio button, enter the network WEP key.
      d. Click the Continue button.

    Smart Setup displays the network names and adds _2GEXT to the end of the 2.4 GHz network name and _5GEXT to the end of the 5 GHz network name.

    

     

     

     

12. Use the default extension names, or, in the Name (2.4GHz SSID) field, and, if you have set up a 5 GHz network, in the Name (5GHz SSID) field, enter new network names for your extender WiFi networks, and click the Continue button.

    Note:If you do not want to use the same security modes for your extender networks as you use for your existing networks, clear the check box before you click the Continue button. You then can configure the security settings for the extender networks. However, you can also change the security settings later.

    The extender applies the settings.

    

13. Wait a couple of minutes while the extender creates the WiFi networks.When the extender is ready, Smart Setup summarizes the extender networks.

    

14. Use a Wi-Fi network manager on the computer or mobile device to connect to the extender’s newly created 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.

    Note: Unless you entered a new network name in Step 11, the extender changes its default NETGEAR_EXT network name to the name of the Wi-Fi network to which you connected the extender and adds _2GEXT to the end of the 2.4 GHz

    

15. Select the My wireless devices are connected to the Extender network check box, and click the Continue button.

    

    Smart Setup describes the color of the Link Rate LED on the front of the extender. Because you placed the extender close the WiFi router, the Link Rate LED is green.

    

     

     

16. Click the Finish button.

    A pop-up screen displays.

17. To bookmark the URL of the extender, click the OK button.
18. If you are prompted to enter a user name and password, type admin for the user name and password for the password.

    The NETGEAR registration screen displays. You are now online.

19. To register the extender, enter your information in the fields onscreen, and click the Register button.

    A message displays, congratulating you that you have extended your network.

20. Close your browser.
21. Now that the extender is connected to the Wi-Fi router and you can connect a computer or mobile device to the extender’s Wi-Fi network, move it to a location where you can boost your Wi-Fi range.

    The location you choose must be within the range of your existing Wi-Fi router network.

22. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet at the new location and restart the extender.

    Unless the extender is outside the range of your Wi-Fi router, the extender connects automatically to the Wi-Fi router.