Netgear EX6410 User Manual

User Manual

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Model EX6410

NETGEAR, Inc.

350 E. Plumeria DriveJanuary 2019 San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-11969-01

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender

Support

Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit https://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.

Compliance and Conformity

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.

Trademarks

Chapter 1 Overview

LEDs........................................................................................................6

Side and bottom panels.......................................................................8

When to use your extender.................................................................9

How the extender works......................................................................9

Chapter 2 Get started

Install your extender in extender mode...........................................11

Place the extender and apply power..........................................11

Connect the extender to an existing WiFi network...................11

Connect with WPS.....................................................................11

Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant.................13

Install your extender in access point mode.....................................14

Connect a device to the extender network.....................................16

Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi.............17

Connect an Ethernet-enabled device to the extender.............18

Connect a device to the extender network using WPS.............18

Run the Smart Setup installation.......................................................19

Chapter 3 Maintain and monitor the extender

Change the extender login user name and password..................22

Turn password protection off and on..............................................23

Recover a forgotten user name or password..................................24

Automatically adjust for daylight saving time.................................25

Manually set the extender clock.......................................................25

Back up and manage the extender configuration..........................26

Back up the configuration settings..............................................27

Restore the configuration settings...............................................28

Return the extender to its factory default settings.........................29

Use the Reset button.....................................................................29

Update the extender firmware..........................................................31

Check for new firmware and update the extender....................31

Manually upload firmware to the extender................................32

Restart the extender from the extender web interface..................33

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Chapter 4 Extender Network Settings

Enable or disable One WiFi Name...................................................36

Enable or disable smart connect......................................................37

View connected devices....................................................................38

View WiFi settings...............................................................................39

Change the WiFi network name.......................................................40

Turn off the SSID broadcast to create a hidden network..............41

Disable or enable the WiFi radios....................................................42

Change the WiFi speed.....................................................................43

Use WPS to add a computer to the extender’s WiFi network.......44

Use WPS with the push button method......................................44

Use WPS with the PIN method.....................................................45

Deny access to a computer or WiFi device.....................................47

Set up an access schedule.................................................................48

Change the extender’s device name...............................................49

Set up the extender to use a static IP address................................50

Configure a router with advanced MAC settings to work with your

extender...............................................................................................51

Boost your video streaming with FastLane technology.................52

Enable or disable 20/40 MHz coexistence......................................54

Chapter 5 FAQs and troubleshooting

FAQs.....................................................................................................57

Find the extender’s IP address..........................................................58

Cannot connect to the extender.......................................................59

Cannot join a WiFi network and receive an error message..........59

Cannot access mywifiext.net.............................................................60

Chapter 6 Supplemental information

Factory default settings......................................................................63

Technical and environmental specifications...................................64

Overview

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

This chapter covers the following topics:

• LEDs

• Side and bottom panels

• 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.

LEDs

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Figure 1. LEDs

The following table describes the LEDs on the extender.

Table 1. LED descriptions

DescriptionLED

Router Link LED

Router Arrow LED

Client Link LED

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.

•

Off. The extender is in a good location.

•

Blinking. Move the extender closer to the router.

•

This LED indicates the connection between the extender and a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device.

Solid white. Best connection.

•

Solid amber. Good connection.

•

Solid red. Poor connection.

•

Off. No connection.

•

User Manual6Overview

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued)

DescriptionLED

Client Arrow LED

Power LED

WPS LED

Off. The extender is in a good location.

•

Blinking. Move your WiFi client, such as a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile

• device, closer to the extender. .

•

Solid green. The extender is powered on.

•

Solid amber. The extender is booting.

•

Off. The extender is powered off.

Solid green. WiFi security is enabled (WPA or WPA2).

•

Blinking green. A WPS connection is being established.

•

Off. WiFi security isn’t enabled.

•

User Manual7Overview

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Side and bottom panels

A switch and buttons are located on the side panel. An Ethernet port is located on the bottom panel.

Figure 2. Side and bottom panel

The side panel contains the following components:

Factory Reset button. Pressing this button resets the extender. If the Factory Reset

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

Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the

• extender. The Power LED lights green when the extender is ready.

•

WPS button. Use this button to connect WPS-enabled devices to the extender.

Access Point/Extender switch. Use this switch to set your extender in access point

• mode or extender mode. To use your extender in access point mode, set the switch

to Access Point. To use your extender in extender mode, set the switch to Extender.

•

Ethernet port. Use an Ethernet cable to connect a router or Ethernet-enabled device to the Ethernet port on the extender.

User Manual8Overview

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

When to use your extender

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

How the extender works

The extender works like a bridge between a WiFi router (or a WiFi access point) and a WiFi-enabled 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-enabled device connects to a network.

The extender acts as an access point for WiFi-enabled 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 Manual9Overview

Get started

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Install your extender in extender mode

• Install your extender in access point mode

• Connect a device to the extender network

• Log in to the extender after installation

• Run the Smart Setup installation

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Install your extender in extender mode

To install your extender in extender mode, you must set the Access Point/Extender

switch to Extender.

Place the extender and apply power

To place the extender and apply power:

Set the Access Point/Extender switch to Extender.

2. For the initial setup, place your extender in the same room as your WiFi router.

3. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.

Wait for the Power LED to light amber and then turn green. This might take up to two minutes. If the Power LED does not light, press the Power

On/Off button on the extender.

Connect the extender to an existing WiFi network

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

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

setting.

You can connect the extender in one of two ways:

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

•

Note: WPS does not support WEP network security or a hidden SSID network. If your router WiFi network uses WEP security or its SSID is hidden, follow the instructions in Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant on page 13.

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

• NETGEAR installation assistant on page 13.

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

User Manual11Get started

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

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 13.

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

Press the WPS button on the extender. The WPS LED blinks.

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

extender lights solid white and the Router Link LED lights.

If the Router Link LED lights solid green, the connection between your router and extender is good. If the Router Link LED doesn't light, move the extender closer to the router and try again.

If it still does not light, see Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant on page

13.

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

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.

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

5. 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 amber or green, move the extender closer to the router and try again.

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

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AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

7. Connect your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the extended network. Your extender uses the same WiFi name as your router, based on the WiFi band that

it connects to first.

Dual-band router WiFi names

MyWiFiExample-5G

Extender connects to this network first

Extender WiFi name for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

MyWiFiExampleMyWiFiExampleMyWiFiExample

MyWiFiExample-5GMyWiFiExample-5GMyWiFiExample

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. Make sure that your computer or mobile device is set up to obtain an IP address automatically from a DHCP server.

2. 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 locate and connect to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT. When your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device is connected to the extender, the Client LED lights solid white.

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

•

to an Ethernet port on your computer.

3. Launch web browser.

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

5. Follow the prompts to connect your extender to your existing WiFi network.

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AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Unplug the extender and move it to a new location about halfway between your router and the area with a poor WiFi signal.

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 amber or green, move the extender closer to the router and try again.

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

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

Install your 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. The following instructions assume that this is the first time you're setting up the extender.

Figure 3. Extender in access point mode

To install your extender in access point mode:

1. Make sure that your computer or mobile device is set up to obtain an IP address automatically from a DHCP server.

Set the Access Point/Extender switch to Access Point.

3. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet.

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

User Manual14Get started

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

This might take up to two minutes. If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button on the extender.

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

WiFi connection to the extender. Connect your computer to your extender with

•

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

manager and connect to the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT. When your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device is connected to the extender, the Client LED lights solid green.

Launch a web browser and visit www.mywifiext.net. When you join the network, the Client Link LED lights to show that you are connected. The NETGEAR installation assistant displays.

c. 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.

Ethernet connection directly to the extender. You can connect your computer

•

directly to your extender using an Ethernet connection. When the setup is complete, you must disconnect the Ethernet cable that is connected to your computer so that your extender can connect to your router with an Ethernet connection.

a. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer's Ethernet port to your

extender's Ethernet port.

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

c. Follow the prompts to set up your extender in access point mode.

At the end of the installation, the NETGEAR installation assistant displays the extender's WiFi network credentials.

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AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

d. Connect your computer to the extender using the extender's WiFi credentials

that display in the NETGEAR installation assistant.

Disconnect the Ethernet cable from your computer and connect the Ethernet cable to your router. Your router and extender are connected using an Ethernet connection, and your computer and extender are connected using a WiFi connection.

Ethernet connection to the extender using a router. You can connect both

•

your computer and extender to your router with an Ethernet connection.

a. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer's Ethernet port to an Ethernet

port on your router.

b. Use another Ethernet cable to connect your extender's Ethernet port to another

Ethernet port on your router.

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

d. Follow the prompts to set up your extender in access point mode.

At the end of the installation, the NETGEAR installation assistant displays the extender's WiFi network credentials. Use the extender's WiFi credentials to connect your WiFi-enabled devices to the extender network.

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, wired, or WPS connection.

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AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi

If you enabled the One WiFi Name feature, your extender uses the same WiFi network name and password as your router. The following is an example of what your WiFi network names might look like if One WiFi Name is enabled:

•

Router 2.4 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample

•

Router 5 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample-5G

•

Extended 2.4 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample

•

Extended 5 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample-5G

If you set up your extender using WPS, your extender uses the same WiFi network settings as your router for its 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz extended networks. For example, if your extender connects to the router’s 2.4 GHz WiFi band, your extender uses your router’s 2.4 GHz WiFi settings for both its networks:

•

Router 2.4 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample

•

Router 5 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample-5G

•

Extended 2.4 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample

•

Extended 5 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample

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:

•

Router 2.4 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample

•

Router 5 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample-5G

•

Extended 2.4 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample-5G

•

Extended 5 GHz WiFi network name. MyWiFiExample-5G

Since your router and extended networks share the same WiFi network name, only one WiFi network name is broadcast.

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 WiFi network name (SSID) and enter your WiFi password. This is the SSID and password that you set up during the installation process.

User Manual17Get started

ON/STANDBY

OPEN?CLOSE PLAY STOP

P-SCAN

POWER

DVD PLAYER

PROGRESSIVE SCAN

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

Connect an Ethernet-enabled device to the extender

After the extender is connected to your existing WiFi network, you can connect a wired device to the extender using an Ethernet cable.

Figure 4. Ethernet LAN port

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:

Press the WPS button on the extender. The WPS LED blinks white.

Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your WPS-enabled device. If your WPS enabled device successfully connects to extender, the WiFi connection

manager on your device will show connection status.

User Manual18Get started

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

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:

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://mywifiext.local/

•

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/ or http://mywifiext.local/

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 58.

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 or to 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://mywifiext.local/

•

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/ or http://mywifiext.local/

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

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

User Manual19Get started

AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender Essentials Edition

For more information about how to find your extender’s IP address, see Find the extender’s IP address on page 58.

A login page displays.

Enter your admin user name and password and click the LOG IN button. The Status page displays.

Click the SMART SETUP button.

5. Follow the prompts.

User Manual20Get started

+ 44 hidden pages

Netgear EX6410 User Manual

Contents

Overview

LEDs

Side and bottom panels

When to use your extender

How the extender works

Get started

Install your extender in extender mode

Place the extender and apply power

Connect the extender to an existing WiFi network

Connect with WPS

Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant

Install your extender in access point mode

Connect a device to the extender network

Connect a device to the extender network using WiFi

Connect an Ethernet-enabled device to the extender

Connect a device to the extender network using WPS

Log in to the extender after installation

Run the Smart Setup installation