Netgear EAX20 User Manual

User Manual

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Model EAX20

NETGEAR, Inc.

350 E. Plumeria DriveJune 2020 San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-12035-02

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Support and Community

Visit netgear.com/support to get your questions answered and access the latest downloads.

You can also check out our NETGEAR Community for helpful advice at community.netgear.com.

Regulatory and Legal

Si ce produit est vendu au Canada, vous pouvez accéder à ce document en français canadien à https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.

(If this product is sold in Canada, you can access this document in Canadian French at https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.)

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.

For NETGEAR’s Privacy Policy, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/privacy-policy.

By using this device, you are agreeing to NETGEAR’s Terms and Conditions at https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions. If you do not agree, return the device to your place of purchase within your return period.

Trademarks

©NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.

Chapter 1 Overview

Unpack Your Extender.........................................................................6

LEDs........................................................................................................7

Back Panel..............................................................................................9

System Requirements........................................................................10

How the Extender Works...................................................................10

Chapter 2 Get started

Install the WiFi extender....................................................................12

Place the extender and apply power...............................................12

Connect to an existing WiFi network...............................................12

Connect with the Nighthawk app................................................13

Connect with WPS..........................................................................14

Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant......................17

Use the extender in access point mode..........................................18

Connect a device to the extender network.....................................19

Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi.............19

Connect a device to the extender network using WPS.............19

Run the Smart Setup installation.......................................................20

Chapter 3 Extender Network Settings

Enable or disable the One WiFi Name feature...............................23

Enable or disable Smart Connect.....................................................24

View connected devices....................................................................25

View WiFi settings...............................................................................26

Change the WiFi network name.......................................................27

Turn off the SSID broadcast to create a hidden network..............28

Disable or enable the WiFi radios....................................................29

Change the WiFi speed.....................................................................30

Use WPS to add a computer to the extender’s WiFi network.......31

Use WPS with the push button method......................................32

Use WPS with the PIN method.....................................................33

Deny access to a computer or WiFi device.....................................34

Set up an access schedule.................................................................35

Change the extender’s device name...............................................36

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Set up the extender to use a static IP address................................37

Adjust the WiFi coverage..................................................................38

Enable FastLane technology.............................................................39

Configure a router with advanced MAC settings to work with your

extender...............................................................................................40

Chapter 4 Maintain and monitor the extender

Change the extender login user name and password..................43

Turn password protection off and on..............................................44

Recover a forgotten user name or password..................................45

Automatically adjust for daylight saving time.................................46

Manually set the extender clock.......................................................46

Back up and manage the extender configuration..........................47

Back up the configuration settings...................................................48

Restore the configuration settings...................................................49

Return the extender to its factory default settings.........................50

Use the Reset button.....................................................................50

Update the extender firmware..........................................................52

Check for new firmware and update the extender....................52

Manually upload firmware to the extender................................53

Restart the extender from the extender web interface..................54

Turn the LEDs On or Off....................................................................55

Chapter 5 FAQs and troubleshooting

FAQs.....................................................................................................58

Find the Extender’s IP address..........................................................59

Cannot Connect to the Extender......................................................60

Cannot Join a WiFi Network and Receive an Error Message.......60

Cannot access mywifiext.net.............................................................61

Cannot connect to extender using the Nighthawk app................62

Chapter 6 Supplemental Information

Factory Default Settings.....................................................................64

Technical and Environmental Specifications..................................65

Overview

The WiFi Range Extender boosts your existing network range and speed, delivering tri-band WiFi.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Unpack Your Extender

• LEDs

• Back Panel

• System Requirements

• How the Extender Works

Note: For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at support.netgear.com.

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Unpack Your Extender

Your package contains an extender and power adapter.

Figure 1. Extender package contents

User Manual6Overview

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

LEDs

The following table describes the LEDs.

Figure 2. Front panel

User Manual7Overview

Table 1. LED descriptions

DescriptionLED

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Ethernet LED

5 GHz LED

2.4 GHz LED

Router Link LED

WPS LED

Solid white. An Ethernet device is connected to an Ethernet port.

•

Off. An Ethernet device is not connected to the extender.

•

Solid white. The extender’s 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.

•

Off. The extender’s 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.

•

Solid white. The extender’s 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.

•

Off. The extender’s 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.

•

This LED indicates the WiFi connection between the extender and the router.

Solid white. Best connection.

•

Solid amber. Good connection.

•

Solid red. Poor connection.

•

Off. No connection.

•

Blinking white. A WPS connection is being established.

•

Solid white. The extender network is enabled with WiFi security (either

• WPA, WPA2, or WPA3 WiFi security).

Off. The extender network is enabled without WiFi security.

•

Power LED

Solid amber. The extender is booting.

•

Solid white. The extender is powered on.

•

Blinking amber. The extender is resetting to its factory default settings.

•

Blinking white. The firmware is corrupted.

•

Off. The extender is powered off.

•

User Manual8Overview

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Back Panel

The back panel of the extender provides a Reset button, Ethernet ports, and a DC power connector.

Figure 3. Back panel

The back panel contains the following components:

1. Reset button. Pressing this button resets the extender. If the Reset button is pressed

for at least seven seconds, the Power LED blinks amber, and the extender returns to its factory settings.

2. Ethernet ports. Use the four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports to connect the

extender to LAN devices.

3. DC power connector. Connect the power adapter that came in the product package

to the DC power connector.

User Manual9Overview

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

System Requirements

You need the following to install your extender:

2.4 GHz or 5 GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax wireless router or gateway

•

Compatible web browser:

•

Microsoft Internet Explorer® 8.0 or higher

Firefox 2.0 or higher

Safari 5.1 or higher

- Google Chrome 25.0 or higher

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.

• 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.

User Manual10Overview

Get started

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Install the WiFi extender

• Place the extender and apply power

• Connect to an existing WiFi network

• Use the extender in access point mode

• Connect a device to the extender network

• Log in to the extender after installation

• Run the Smart Setup installation

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Install the WiFi extender

Place the extender, apply power, and connect the extender to your existing WiFi network.

Place the extender and apply power

To place the extender and apply power:

1. Place your extender in the same room as your WiFi router. Proximity to the WiFi router is required only during the initial setup process.

2. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.

Wait for the Power LED to light solid white.

Connect to an existing WiFi network

To extend the range of your WiFi network, you must connect the extender to your existing router's WiFi network.

Note: If your router’s WiFi security is set to WPA enterprise, WPA2 enterprise, or WEP, your extender can’t connect to your router. You must change your router’s WiFi security setting.

You can connect your extender to your router's WiFi netowrk using one of these methods:

Connect with the Nighthawk app. The Nighthawk app guides you through the

• connection process. For more information, see Connect with the Nighthawk app on

page 13.

Connect with WPS. If your router supportsWi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), use WPS

• to connect your extender to your router's WiFi network.

For more information, see Connect with WPS on page 14.

Connect with the web browser setup. You can use the extender's web browser

• setup, called the NETGEAR installation assistant. and For more information, see Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant on page 17.

User Manual12Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Connect with the Nighthawk app

You can connect your extender to your router using the NETGEAR Nighthawk app.

To connect with the Nighthawk app:

1. Download the Nighthawk app on your mobile device.

For more information about the Nighthawk app, visit Nighthawk-app.com.

2. On your mobile device, open the WiFi connection manager, then locate and connect to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT.

3. Launch the Nighthawk app.

4. Follow the prompts to connect your extender to your existing router WiFi network.

5. Unplug your extender and move it to a new location. We recommend that the new location be about halfway between your router and

the area with a poor WiFi signal.

6. Power on your extender.

7. Use the Router Link LED to help you choose a spot where the extender-to-router connection is optimal.

If the Router Link LED doesn’t light white, plug the extender into an outlet closer to the router and try again.

Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED lights white.

9. Reconnect your computer or mobile device to the new extended WiFi network.

User Manual13Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

The following tables show an example of what your 2.4 and 5 GHz extender WiFi names might look like if your extender connects to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi networks from a dual-band router:

Table 2. Existing dual-band router WiFi names example

Example router WiFi namesDual-band router WiFi networks

MyWiFiexample2.4 GHz router WiFi network

MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz router WiFi network

Table 3. New extender WiFi names example

Extender WiFi networks

Example extender WiFi names (if the extender connects to both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz router WiFi networks)

MyWiFiExample2.4 GHz extender WiFi network

MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz extender WiFi network

Connect with WPS

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a secure WiFi network without typing the network name and password. For help with the WPS button on your WPS-enabled device, check the instructions or online help that came with that device. Some older equipment cannot use WPS.

Note: WPS does not support WEP network security or a hidden SSID network. If your existing WiFi network uses WEP security or its SSID is hidden, follow the instructions in Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant on page 17.

To use WPS to connect the extender to your WiFi router:

1. Press the WPS button on the extender until the WPS LED blinks.

2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router. When the extender connects to your existing WiFi network, the WPS LED on the

extender lights.

If the Router Link LED lights white, the connection between the router and extender is good. If the Router Link LED lights amber or red, move the extender closer to the router and try again.

User Manual14Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

If the Router Link LED lights white, the connection between your router and extender is good. If the Router Link LED lights amber or red, move the extender closer to the router and try again.

Note: If your router supports the 5 GHz band and your extender didn’t connect to that band, repeat the WPS process.

3. Unplug your extender and move it to a new location. We recommend that the new location be about halfway between your router and

the area with a poor WiFi signal.

The extender must be within the range of your router WiFi network.

4. Power on your extender.

5. Use the Router Link LED to help you choose a spot where the extender-to-router connection is optimal.

Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED lights white.

If the Router Link LED doesn’t light white, plug the extender into an outlet closer to the router and try again.

Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED lights white.

7. Reconnect your computer or mobile device to the new extender WiFi network. After the setup, the One WiFi Name feature is enabled, which allows your extender

to use the same WiFi network settings as your router.

8. Connect your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the extended network. Your extender uses the same WiFi network settings as your router for its 2.4 GHz

and 5 GHz extended networks.

User Manual15Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

For example, if your extender connects to the router’s 2.4 GHz WiFi band only, your extender uses your router’s 2.4 GHz WiFi settings for both its networks. The following tables show an example of what your extender WiFi network names might look like:

Table 4. Existing dual-band router WiFi names example

Example router WiFi namesDual-band router WiFi networks

MyWiFiexample2.4 GHz router WiFi network

MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz router WiFi network

Table 5. New extender WiFi names example

Extender WiFi networks

Example extender WiFi names (if the extender connects to the 2.4 GHz router WiFi network only)

MyWiFiExample2.4 GHz extender WiFi network

MyWiFiExample5 GHz extender WiFi network

If your extender connects to the router’s 5 GHz WiFi band, your extender uses your router’s 5 GHz WiFi settings for both its networks. The following tables show an example of what your extender WiFi network names might look like:

Table 6. Existing dual-band router WiFi names example

Example router WiFi namesDual-band router WiFi networks

MyWiFiexample2.4 GHz router WiFi network

MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz router WiFi network

Table 7. New extender WiFi names example

Extender WiFi networks

Example extender WiFi names (if the extender connects to the 5 GHz router WiFi network only)

MyWiFiExample-5G2.4 GHz extender WiFi network

MyWiFiExample-5G5 GHz extender WiFi network

User Manual16Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Note: Since your router and extender networks share the same WiFi network name,

only one WiFi network name is broadcast.

Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant

You can use the NETGEAR installation assistant to connect your extender to your existing WiFi router network. To use the NETGEAR installation assistant, you must launch a web browser on your computer or mobile device.

To use the NETGEAR installation assistant to connect the extender to your WiFi router:

1. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection manager and locate and connect to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT.

2. Launch web browser.

Enter http://www.mywifiext.net/. The NETGEAR installation assistant displays.

4. Follow the prompts to connect your extender to your existing router WiFi network.

5. Unplug your extender and move it to a new location. We recommend that the new location be about halfway between your router and

the area with a poor WiFi signal.

6. Power on your extender.

7. Use the Router Link LED to help you choose a spot where the extender-to-router connection is optimal.

If the Router Link LED doesn’t light white, plug the extender into an outlet closer to the router and try again.

Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED lights white.

9. Reconnect your computer or mobile device to the new extended WiFi network.

User Manual17Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Use the extender in access point mode

You can use the extender as a WiFi access point, which creates a new WiFi hotspot by using a wired Ethernet connection.

Figure 4. Extender in access point mode

To use the extender in access point mode:

1. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.

Wait for the Power LED to light amber and then turn white.

3. Connect a computer or mobile device to the extender using a WiFi or Ethernet connection:

WiFi. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection

•

manager and connect to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT.

Ethernet. Connect the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your computer and

•

extender.

Note: If you want to use an Ethernet connection, you must do this before you connect your extender to your modem router or router.

Launch a web browser and visit http://www.mywifiext.net/. The NETGEAR installation assistant displays.

5. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your router to an Ethernet port on the extender.

Note: Do not connect your extender directly to your DSL or cable modem. The extender does not function as a router. If your network includes a DHCP server, you can connect the extender to a switch or hub that is connected to the DHCP server.

Return to the NETGEAR installation assistant and follow the prompts to finish setting up your extender as an access point.

User Manual18Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

Connect a device to the extender network

After you complete the setup process, you can connect all your devices to the new extender network using a WiFi or WPS connection.

Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi

If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, your extender uses the the same WiFi network name and password as your router.

To connect to the extender WiFi network:

1. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection manager that manages your WiFi connections. The WiFi connection manager scans for WiFi networks in your area.

2. Find and select your extender’s WiFi network name (SSID) and enter your extender’s WiFi password.

This is the SSID and password that you set up during the installation process. If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, use your router’s SSID and password.

Connect a device to the extender network using WPS

For help with the WPS button on your WPS-enabled device, check the instructions or online help that came with that device. Some older equipment cannot use WPS.

To connect to the extender using a WPS connection:

1. Press the WPS button on the extender until the WPS LED blinks white.

2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your WPS-enabled device. When the extender connects to your WPS-enabled device, the WPS LED lights solid

white.

Log in to the extender after installation

After installation, you can log in to the extender to view or change the extender’s settings.

User Manual19Get started

AX1800 4-Stream WiFi Mesh Extender

To log in to the extender:

Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to your extender network.

2. Log in to your extender:

If you did not enable the One WiFi Name feature, enter

•

http://www.mywifiext.net/ in the address field of the browser.

If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, enter one of the following URLs:

•

Windows-based computers. http://mywifiext.local/ or http://mywifiext/

Mac computers and iOS devices. http://mywifiext.local/

Android devices. http://<extender’s IP address> (for example, http://192.168.1.3) For more information about how to find your extender’s IP address, see Find the Extender’s IP address on page 59.

Run the Smart Setup installation

You can use the Smart Setup to change the extender settings. This is an easy way to connect the extender to a different router orto change the extender WiFi network name (SSID) or WiFi password.

To run the Smart Setup:

Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to your extender network.

2. Log in to your extender:

If you did not enable the One WiFi Name feature, enter

•

http://www.mywifiext.net/ in the address field of the browser.

If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, enter one of the following URLs:

•

Windows-based computers. http://mywifiext.local/ or http://mywifiext/

Mac computers and iOS devices. http://mywifiext.local/

Android devices. http://<extender’s IP address> (for example, http://192.168.1.3)

For more information about how to find your extender’s IP address, see Find the Extender’s IP address on page 59.

A login page displays.

User Manual20Get started

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Netgear EAX20 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Overview

Unpack Your Extender

LEDs

Back Panel

System Requirements

How the Extender Works

Get started

Install the WiFi extender

Place the extender and apply power

Connect to an existing WiFi network

Connect with the Nighthawk app

Connect with WPS

Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant

Use the extender in access point mode

Connect a device to the extender network

Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi

Connect a device to the extender network using WPS

Log in to the extender after installation

Run the Smart Setup installation