Netgear EX6130 User Manual

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Model EX6130 User Manual

March 2016

202-11627-01

350 East Plumeria Drive

San Jose, CA 95134

USA

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Support

Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit 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.

Conformity

For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621.

Compliance

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

See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.

Trademarks

Chapter 1 Overview

Meet Your Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Side Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

When to Use Your Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

How the Extender Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Chapter 2 Get Started

Use the Extender in Extender Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Place the Extender and Apply Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Check for Extender Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Connect to an Existing WiFi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Find the Best Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Connect an Ethernet-Enabled Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Use the Extender in Access Point Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Run Smart Setup Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Chapter 3 Optimize Extender Performance

Boost Your Video Streaming With FastLane Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Adjust the WiFi Coverage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Chapter 4 Network Settings

View Connected Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

View WiFi Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Change the Extender WiFi Network Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Change the Extender WiFi Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Turn Off the SSID Broadcast to Create a Hidden Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Disable or Enable the WiFi Radios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Change the WiFi Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Disable or Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence for 2.4 GHz WiFi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Use WPS to Add a Computer to the Extender’s WiFi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Use WPS With the Push Button Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Use WPS With the PIN Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Deny Access to a Computer or WiFi Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Set Up an Access Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Change the Extender’s Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Set Up the Extender to Use a Static IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Use the Extender With MAC Filtering or Access Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 5 Maintain and Monitor the Extender

Change the Extender Login User Name and Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Turn Password Protection Off and On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Recover a Forgotten User Name or Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Automatically Adjust for Daylight Saving Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Manually Set the Extender Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Change the Extender’s Time Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Back Up and Restore the Extender Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Back Up the Configuration Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Restore the Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Return the Extender to Its Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Use the Factory Reset Button to Reset the Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Update the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Restart the Extender Remotely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Chapter 6 FAQs and Troubleshooting

FAQs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Cannot Connect to the Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Cannot Join a WiFi Network and Receive an Error Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Appendix A Factory Settings and Technical Specifications

Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Technical and Environmental Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

1. Overview

The NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender increases the distance of a WiFi network by boosting the

existing WiFi signal and enhancing the overall signal quality over long distances. An extender repeats the signals from an existing WiFi router or access point.

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.

Note: Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made

available from time to time at products can regularly check the site and download new firmware, or you can check for and download new firmware manually.

downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Meet Your Extender

Before you install your extender, familiarize yourself with its LEDs, buttons, and port.

Front Panel

Router Link LED

Device Link LED

Power LED

WPS/Mode LED

Figure 1. Front panel LEDs

The following table describes the LEDs.

Table 1. Front panel LEDs

LED Description

This LED indicates the connection between the extender and the router or

Router Link LED

Device Link LED

access point:

• Solid green. Best connection.

• Solid amber. Good connection.

• Solid red. Poor connection.

• Off. No connection.

This LED indicates the connection between the extender and a computer or WiFi device:

• Solid green. Best connection.

• Solid amber. Good connection.

• Solid red. Poor connection.

• Off. No connection.

Overview

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Table 1. Front panel LEDs (continued)

LED Description

Power LED • Solid amber. The extender is booting.

• Solid green. The

• Blinking green.

access point mode.

• Off. The

extender is powered off.

extender is powered on.

The extender is switching between extender mode and

WPS/Mode

Side Panels

Power connector

LED • Solid green. The extender is in extender mode.

• Blinking green.

switching between extender mode and access point mode.

• Off. The

Factory Reset Button

WPS/Mode button

Power On/Off button

A WPS connection is being established or the extender is

extender is in access point mode.

Ethernet port

Power connector

Figure 2. Buttons and port on the side panels

When to Use Your Extender

We recommend that you connect through the extender network only when the WiFi device is in a “dead zone” where the 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.

Overview

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

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.

WiFi range extender

Boosts the range of your existing WiFi and creates a stronger signal in hard-to-reach areas.

Figure 3. Range extender in a home

Existing WiFi

Sometimes your router does not provide the WiFi

coverage that you need.

Overview

2. Get Started

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Use the Extender in Extender Mode

• Use the Extender in Access Point Mode

• Log In to the Extender After Installation

• Run Smart Setup Installation

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Use the Extender in Extender Mode

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

Note: You can also use the extender as a WiFi access point and create a

new WiFi hotspot by using a wired Ethernet connection. See

Extender in Access Point Mode on page 16.

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.

Use the

2. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.

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

If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button on the side of the extender.

Check for Extender Mode

To make sure that the extender is in extender mode, check to see if the WPS/Mode LED is solid green. If the WPS/Mode LED is off, press the WPS/Mode button for more than five seconds.

When the extender is in extender mode, the WPS/Mode LED and Power LED blink and then light solid green.

Connect to an Existing WiFi Network

To extend the range of your WiFi network, you must connect the extender to your existing WiFi network. You can do this in one of two ways:

• Connect with WPS. For more information, see Connect With WPS on page 11.

• Connect with web browser setup. For more information, see Connect With the

NETGEAR Installation Assistant on page 12.

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Connect With WPS

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a secure WiFi network without typing the network name and password.

Note: WPS does not support WEP network security. If you are using WEP

security, follow the instructions in Connect With the NETGEAR

Installation Assistant on page 12.

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

1. Press the WPS/Mode button on the extender for less than five seconds until the

WPS/Mode LED blinks.

Note: If you press the WPS/Mode button for more than five seconds, the

extender switches to access point mode. When the extender switches to access point mode, the WPS/Mode LED and Power LED blink and then the WPS/Mode LED turns off and the Power LED lights solid green.

2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your router or access point.

When the extender connects to your existing WiFi network, the WPS/Mode LED on the extender lights solid green and the Router Link LED lights. 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.

3. If your WiFi router supports the 5 GHz band, repeat Steps 1 and 2 to connect the extender

to the 5 GHz band.

4. Unplug the extender and move it to a new location that is about halfway between your router

and the area with a poor router WiFi signal.

The location that you choose must be within the range of your existing WiFi router network.

5. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet and wait for the Power LED to light green.

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

is optimal.

7. If the Router Link LED doesn’t light amber or green, plug the extender into an outlet closer

to the router and try again.

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Keep moving the extender to outlets closer to the router until the Router Link LED lights amber or green.

8. On your computer or WiFi device, find and connect to the new extended WiFi network.

The extender creates two new extended WiFi networks. The extender’s new WiFi

network names are based on your existing WiFi network name, with _2GEXT and _5GEXT at the end of the name.

For example:

• Existing WiFi network name. MyNetworkName

• New extended network names. MyNetworkName_2GEXT and

MyNetworkName_5GEXT

Use the same WiFi password that you use for your WiFi router.

9. Test the extended WiFi range by moving your computer or WiFi device to the area with a

poor router WiFi signal:

a. Leave your computer or WiFi device in the area with a poor router WiFi signal and

return to the extender.

b. Check the Device Link LED on the extender:

• If the Device Link LED is solid green or amber, your extended WiFi network

reaches the area with a poor router WiFi signal and your network setup is complete.

• If the Device Link LED is red, your extended WiFi network does not reach the area

with a poor router WiFi signal.

You must move the computer or WiFi device closer to the extender until the Device Link LED turns solid green or amber.

Connect With the NETGEAR Installation Assistant

You can use a web browser to log in to the extender and set up its WiFi connection to your existing WiFi router.

 To connect with web browser setup:

1. Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and connect to the

extender WiFi network NETGEAR_EXT.

After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established, the Device Link LED

lights.

2. Launch web browser.

3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.

The New Extender Setup page displays.

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

4. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.

5. Complete the fields on the page to set up your login credentials and click the NEXT button.

6. Select your country or region and click the Continue button.

A message displays saying that the extender switch is set to extender mode.

7. If a message displays asking if you want to enable

AP mode, click the NO button to continue

with the extender mode setup.

The extender searches for WiFi networks in your area and displays a list.

8. Select a WiFi network to extend and click the NEXT button.

If you do not want to extend both WiFi bands, clear the 2.4 GHz W

iFi Networks or the

5 GHz WiFi Networks check box.

9. In the Password (Network Key) field, type the existing WiFi network password (also called

passphrase or security key) and click the NEXT button.

10. Set the network name (SSID) and password for your new extender WiFi network and click

the NEXT button.

Note: We recommend that you use a network name (SSID) for your

extender that is different from the network name (SSID) that your router uses.

Wait for the page to display a list of available extended WiFi networks, which might take up to one minute.

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

11. Connect your computer or WiFi device to the new extender WiFi network using the extender

SSID and password that you created in Step 10.

12. Make sure that your computer or WiFi device is successfully connected before you click the

Continue button.

13. Click the Continue button.

A page displays confirming that the extender successfully connected to the existing WiFi

network.

14. Click the Next button.

The registration page displays.

15. Complete the registration fields and click the Finish button to complete the setup.

If you do not want to register your extender, click the Skip Registration link. Note that you must register your extender before you can use NETGEAR telephone support.

The Status page displays.

16. Unplug the extender and move it to a location that is about halfway between your router and

the area with a poor router WiFi signal.

The location that you choose must be within the range of your existing WiFi router

network.

17. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet and wait for the Power LED to light green.

If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button.

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

is optimal.

19. If the Router Link LED doesn’t light amber or green, 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 amber or green.

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

21. T

est the extended WiFi range by moving your computer or WiFi device to the area with a

poor router WiFi signal:

a. Leave your computer or WiFi device in the area with a poor router WiFi signal and

return to the extender

b. Check the Device Link LED on the extender:

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

• If the Device Link LED is solid green or amber, your extended WiFi network

reaches the area with a poor router WiFi signal and your network setup is complete.

• If the Device Link LED is red, your extended WiFi network does not reach the area

with a poor router WiFi signal.

You must move the computer or WiFi device closer to the extender until the Device Link LED turns solid green or amber

Find the Best Location

If the WiFi signal is weak, the first time you join the extender network, the Router Link LED or Device Link LED is amber or red. If this happens, adjust the position of the extender:

• If the Router Link LED is amber or red, move the extender closer to the router.

• If the Device Link LED is amber or red, move the computer or WiFi device closer to the

extender

Connect an Ethernet-Enabled Device

After the extender is connected to your existing WiFi network, you can connect a wired device to the extender using an Ethernet cable. The device can then access your existing network through the extender’s WiFi connection.

Figure 4. Connect a device to the extender’s Ethernet port

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range 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 5. Extender in access point mode

 To use the extender in access point mode:

1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet port on the extender to an Ethernet LAN

port on a router or a remote Ethernet LAN jack with LAN access.

2. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet and wait for the Power LED to light green.

3. If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button on the extender

4. T

o make sure that the extender is in access point mode, check to see if the WPS/Mode LED

is off.

5. If the WPS/Mode LED is lit, press the WPS/Mode button for more than five seconds.

While the extender switches to access point mode, the WPS/Mode LED and Power LED blink for up to 50 seconds. When the extender is in access point mode, the WPS/Mode LED turns of

6. Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and connect to the

NETGEAR_EXT (SSID) WiFi network.

After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established, the Device Link LED

lights.

7. Launch a web browser and enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field.

The New Extender Setup page displays.

f and the Power LED lights solid green.

8. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button.

The Create Account page displays.

9. Complete the fields on the page to set up your login credentials and click the NEXT button.

10. Select your country or region and click the Continue button.

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

A message displays saying that the extender switch is set to extender mode.

11. If a message displays asking if you want to enable AP mode, click the YES button to

continue with the AP mode setup.

12. Set the network name (SSID), security option, and password for each access point network

and click the NEXT button.

Your settings are applied and the extender is ready to be used as an access point.

13. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to connect to the new access

point WiFi network.

14. Click the Continue button.

A page displays confirming that the extender successfully connected to the existing WiFi network.

15. Click the Next button.

The registration page displays.

16. Follow the onscreen instructions to register your extender.

Log In to the Extender After Installation

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 connect to the

new extended WiFi network.

After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established, the Device Link LED lights solid green.

2. Launch a web browser.

3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.

A login window opens.

4. Enter your email address and password and click the LOG IN button.

The Status page displays.

Run Smart Setup Installation

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

Get Started

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

 To run Smart Setup:

1. Use a WiFi network manager on a computer or WiFi device to find and connect to the

new extended WiFi network.

After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established, the Device Link LED

lights solid green.

2. Launch a web browser.

3. Enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field of the browser.

A login window opens.

4. Enter your email address and password and click the LOG IN button.

The Status page displays.

5. Click the SMART SETUP button.

The Welcome page displays.

6. Click the WIFI RANGE EXTENDER button.

The extender scans for WiFi signals and finds the WiFi networks in your area and

displays a list.

7. Select a WiFi network to extend and click the NEXT button.

If you do not want to extend both WiFi bands, clear the 2.4 GHz WiFi Networks or the

5 GHz WiFi Networks check box.

8. In the Password (Network Key) field, type the existing WiFi network password (also called

passphrase or security key) and click the NEXT button.

9. Set the network name (SSID) and password for your new extender WiFi network and click

the NEXT button.

Note: We recommend that you use a network name (SSID) for your

extender that is different from the network name (SSID) that your router uses.

Wait for the page to display a list of available extended WiFi networks, which might take up to one minute.

10. Connect your computer or WiFi device to the new extender WiFi network using the extender

SSID and password that you created in Step 9.

11. Make sure that your computer or WiFi device is successfully connected before you click the

Continue button.

12. Click the Continue button.

A page displays confirming that the extender successfully connected to the existing WiFi

network.

13. Click the Next button.

Get Started

+ 41 hidden pages

Netgear EX6130 User Manual

AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Table of Contents

1. Overview

Meet Your Extender

Front Panel

Side Panels

When to Use Your Extender

How the Extender Works

2. Get Started

Use the Extender in Extender Mode

Place the Extender and Apply Power

Check for Extender Mode

Connect to an Existing WiFi Network

Find the Best Location

Connect an Ethernet-Enabled Device

Use the Extender in Access Point Mode

Log In to the Extender After Installation

Run Smart Setup Installation