Netgear EX6100 User Manual

EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender

User Manual

October 2013
<TBD>

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

NOTE: This document is for certification
purposes. Images are for position only and may
differ from the actual product.

EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender

Support

Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products.
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product

at https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support.
NETGEAR recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web
support, visit http://support.netgear.com.

Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at

http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.

Trademarks

NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of
NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change
without notice. ©2013 All rights reserved.

Compliance

For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

How the Extender Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Find the Best Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Join the Extender WiFi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Extender Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Internet Connection Options (WiFi or RJ45). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

WiFi Internet Connection Away from Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

RJ45 Internet Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Ethernet Port Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Restore Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Chapter 2 Extender Network Settings

Log In to the Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Connect the Extender to Your WiFi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Set Up WPA, WPA2, or WPA + WPA2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Set Up WEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

IP Address Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Status Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Show Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Attached Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Back Up and Manage Extender Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Set the Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Upgrade the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Advanced Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Appendix A Supplemental Information

Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

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1. Getting Started

The EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender works as either a repeater or an

access point. It is dual band concurrent for Wifi 11n 2x2 300 Mbps + 11ac 1x1 433 Mbps, and
can be used easily when travelling.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Hardware Features

• How the Extender Works

• Find the Best Location

• Extender Performance

• Internet Connection Options (WiFi or RJ45)

• Ethernet Port Connection

• Restore Factory Settings

For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the Support website at

http://support.netgear

.com.

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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender

Hardware Features

Internet WiFi/RJ45

Device On/Off button
WPS button

Factory Reset button
Ethernet port

Figure 1. Extender

The LEDs on the front show how the Extender is working:

• Arrows.

• Power.

• W

• Internet W

• Device On/Off button.

This LED is lit when the Extender is powered on.

iFi. The side panel has the following features:

iFi/RJ45. Select the preferred method to connect to the Internet.

Turns the device on and off.

• WPS button. Press the WPS button to wirelessly connect the Extender to your router or

wireless adapter

• Factory Reset button.

.

To use this button, stick a paper clip into the reset hole and hold it

until the Status LED flashes.

• Ethernet port.

You can use this for a wired connection to a computer or other device.

How the Extender Works

The Extender works like a bridge between a wireless router and a computer or wireless
device outside the wireless router’s range. To do this, the Extender has two main jobs:

1. The Extender connects to a wireless network that is up and running.

When the Extender connects wirelessly to a network, it acts as a network client. This is
similar to how a computer connects to a network.

2. The Extender acts a

s an access point for computers.

Getting Started

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EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender

The Extender has its own wireless network called NETGEAR_EXT that wireless
computers can join. In its role as an access point, the Extender performs tasks that
wireless 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 2. Range Extender in a home

Find the Best Location

WiFi router

Extender

Figure 3. Extender in a home setting.

Client

Getting Started

6

EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender

When you install the extender and join the extender network, the arrow LEDs guide you to
the best location to plug in the extender. If no arrow is lit, the location is good.

Blinking left arrow. The extender is too far away from the router or gateway.
Blinking right arrow. The extender is too far away from your computer or wireless

device.

Join the Extender WiFi Network

After you install the extender, you can join the extender WiFi network.

 To join the extender network:

1. Take your computer or wireless device to the location with poor WiFi coverage.

2. Find the new extender network name (MyNetworkName_EXT).

3. Select this network and enter the same WiFi password that you use for your home network.

4. Within 2 minutes, check the arrow LEDs on the extender

• If no arrow is lit, the location is good.

• When the extender connects to a network and a client joins the extender network, an

arrow LED blinks for 2 minutes if the WiFi signal strength is weak to or from the
extender.

.

Blinking left arrow. The extender is too far away from the router or gateway.
Blinking right arrow. The extender is too far away from your computer or

wireless device.

Note: If you are having trouble getting a good WiFi signal, try to create a

better line of sight. For example, move the router up off the floor onto
a table or desk, or move furniture that might be blocking the
extender.

Extender Performance

The Router Link LED indicates performance between the router and the extender. If

this LED is off, the Extender is not connected to a WiFi network.

The Client Link LED indicates the performance between the extender and the client. If

this LED is off, no computer or wireless device is connected to the extender network.
These LEDs display the following colors:

•

•

•

Green indicates the best performance.
Amber indicates a workable performance.
Red indicates a poor connection or no connection.

Getting Started

7

EX6100 Universal Dual Band 11ac WiFi Range Extender

Internet Connection Options (WiFi or RJ45)

You can bring the extender with you when you travel. The extender supports both WiFi and
RJ45 cable connections, for flexibility in hotels or WiFi hotspots such as coffee shops. The
switch on the side of the extender specifies which connection you want to use.

Internet WiFi/RJ45

Figure 4. Internet connection switch

WiFi Internet Connection Away from Home

 To use the extender WiFi Internet access when traveling:

1. Get the password if the hotspot or hotel requires a password for Internet access.

2. Log in to the extender

3. Select the WiFi network that you want the extender to join.

4. If prompted, enter the password for Internet access.

5. Leave the Extender WiFi network name the same (do not change it).

Using the same WiFi network name saves time. Since your laptop and WiFi devices have
connected to the extender WiFi network before, you do not have to change their settings.

6. With your laptop or wireless device, join the extender Wifi network.

.

RJ45 Internet Connection

 To use the extender as an access point:

1. Set the Internet switch on the side of the extender to RJ45.

2. Place the Extender and power it on.

3. Connect the Extender t

The Extender broadcasts its WiFi network name.

o

your router or gateway using RJ45 cable.

4. Join the Extender Wifi network.

Getting Started

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