Netgear WN2500RP User Guide
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
User Manual
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
November 2012
202-10932-02
v1.0
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
© 2012 NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated
into any language in any form or by any means without the written permission of NETGEAR, Inc.
Technical Support
Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. To register your product, get the latest product updates, or get support online,
visit us at
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR
Phone (Other Countries): See Support information card.
http://support.netgear.com.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, ReadyNAS, ProSafe, Smart Wizard, Auto Uplink, X-RAID2, and NeoTV are
trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and Vista are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective holders.
Statement of Conditions
To improve internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes
to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur
due to the use, or application of, the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Getting Started
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hardware Features5
Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Attach the Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How the Extender Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
When to Use Your Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Positioning Your Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Connect a Computer to the Extender with an Ethernet Cable . . . . . . . . . . .9
Log In to the Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Use NETGEAR Genie to Set Up the Extender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Chapter 2 Extender Network Settings
Connect the Extender to an Existing Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Use WPS to Join the Extender’s Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Extender Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Set Up WPA, WPA2, or WPA + WPA2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Set Up WEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Extender IP Address Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Status Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Show Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Attached Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Back Up and Manage Extender Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Set the Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Upgrade the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Advanced Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting
Smart Wizard FAQs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Connecting to http://www.mywifiext.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Joining Wireless Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Appendix A Supplementary Information
Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Appendix B Notification of Compliance
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1. Getting Started
This chapter covers the following topics:
• Hardware Features
• How the Extender Works
• Connect a Computer to the Extender with an Ethernet Cable
• Log In to the Extender
• Use NETGEAR Genie to Set Up the Extender
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at
http://support.netgear.com.
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4
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
Hardware Features
Front Panel
LEDs Description
Power
Link Rate 2.4
GHz
Link Rate 5 GHz
Wireless Device
to Extender
1–4
LAN ports
WPS
• On. Power is supplied to the extender.
• Off. Power is not supplied to the extender.
• Green. The wireless connection between the extender and the router is optimum.
• Y
ellow. The wireless connection between the extender and the router is good.
• Red.
The wireless connection between the extender and the router is poor.
• Green. The wireless connection between the extender and the router is optimum.
• Y
ellow. The wireless connection between the extender and the router is good.
• Red.
The wireless connection between the extender and the router is poor.
• On. The extender is connected to a wireless computer or device.
• Off. No wireless device or computer is connected to the extender.
• Green. The LAN port has detected an Ethernet link with a device.
• Off. No link is detected on this port.
• Blinking. A WPS-capable wireless computer or device is connecting to the
extender.
• Off. No WPS activity is taking place.
Getting Started
5
Rear Panel
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
Restore Power Power On/Off
Factory
Settings
Figure 1. Rear panel
WPS
4 LAN Ethernet ports
button
Attach the Feet
The extender comes with two feet in the package. You can attach them as shown so that you
can use the extender in a vertical position.
Figure 2. Attach the feet if you want to use a vertical position
Getting Started
6
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
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.
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 needs to do each of these jobs so that both ends of the bridge are in place.
The extender is halfway
between the router
and the computer.
Figure 3. Range extender in a home
Getting Started
7
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
When to Use Your Extender
NETGEAR recommends that you connect to the extender only when your home network
connection is poor. Because data traffic routed through the extender is inherently slower than
traffic routed directly from the network, the computer should stay on the network if the
connection is good enough. NETGEAR recommends that you connect through the extender
network only when the computer is in a “dead zone” where connection from the network is
very poor or non-existent.
The extender LEDs can help you tell if the extender is correctly set up and working as it
should.
• The best performance is delivered when a the Link Rate LED
Wireless Device to Extender LED
• A workable performance is delivered when the Link Rate LED is amber and the Wireless
Device to Extender LED
is green.
are green.
or and the
Positioning Your Extender
The ideal location to place the extender is half-way between your wireless router and your
computer.
The best connection is established when there is a clear line of sight between the extender
and the wireless router and also a clear line of sight between the extender and the computer
you are using. If this straight path is blocked by a thick wall or other materials, move the
extender to a dif
If there is no power outlet nearby, or you prefer to place the extender elsewhere, move the
extender closer to the computer
Device to Extender LED is green, the extender is working as expected.
To improve the Link Rate LED from red or amber to green:
• Once you successfully connect to the extender from a computer that is outside the range
of your router and log in to www
process to connect the extender to a router.
• If the Link Rate LED is red or the Smart Wizard cannot connect the extender to a router
move the extender closer to the router or to a different spot where it provides a better line
of sight. As you move the extender, continue to check the Link Rate and the Wireless
Device to Extender LEDs on the front panel until you find a location where the Link Rate
LED is green or amber, and the Wireless Device to Extender LED is green. Note that you
might have to unplug the extender as you move it to a different location. If you do, from
the new location, power up the extender and continue to check the LEDs.
ferent location half-way between the computer and the router.
. If the Link Rate LED is green or amber and the Wireless
.mywifiext.net, the Smart Wizard guides you through the
,
Once the LEDs show that the extender is in a good location, open a browser and go to
http://www
.mywifiext.net to continue the setup process.
Getting Started
8
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
Connect a Computer to the Extender with an Ethernet Cable
CAUTION:
Do not use an Ethernet cable to connect the extender to a router. If you do
so, the extender does not work because it is designed to use only a
wireless connection to the router.
You can use the LAN ports on the extender to connect wired devices such as
Ethernet-enabled gaming consoles, printers, or computers.
Note: Before you connect wired devices or computers, first install and set
up your extender as described in the Universal Dual Band WiFi
Range Extender WN2500RP Installation Guide that came in the
package.
To cable a computer to the extender:
1. Locate the four LAN ports on the rear panel of the extender..
2. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to one of these LAN ports.
3. Connect the extender power adapter, and plug it into an electrical outlet.
4. Log in as described in the following section.
Getting Started
9
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
Log In to the Extender
You can log in to the extender to use NETGEAR Genie or to use the menu selections to view
or change the extender’s settings.
1. On your computer, launch an Internet browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft
Internet Explorer.
2. In the address field of your browser, enter http://www.mywifiext.net. You are prompted to
enter a user name and password.
If you do not see the log in prompt, make sure to include http:// when you type
http://www.mywifiext.net in your browser.
3. Type admin for the user name. The default password is password. NETGEAR
recommends that you set a more secure password after you log in (see
on page 23).
• If your extender has an Internet connection, the Firmware Upgrade screen displays
(see
Upgrade the Firmware on page 24), and the software automatically checks for
new firmware at the NETGEAR website.
• The Status screen displays with the menu on the left. This screen shows what the
current settings are for the extender.
Set the Password
If you have trouble connecting:
• If you start your computer, connect the Ethernet cable to the extender, and launch your
browser quickly, the computer might still need a couple of minutes to recognize the
Ethernet LAN connection before you can connect.
• Make sure that your Ethernet cable is securely connected to the extender and the
computer, and that the extender LAN LED is on. If the LED is not lit, reconnect the
Ethernet cable, and relaunch your Internet browser.
Getting Started
10
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP
Use NETGEAR Genie to Set Up the Extender
The Smart Wizard can help you set up your extender to connect to a wireless network. For
information about more configuration options, see Chapter 2, Extender Network Settings.
The Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Installation Guide (included in
the package) explains how to install your extender. During installation, when you launch your
Internet browser, the Smart Wizard automatically displays.
After installation, to use NETGEAR Genie again:
1. Log in to the extender.
Note: Once you begin using NETGEAR Genie, you have to complete all of
its steps before you can exit.
2. From the menu, select Setup W
This is the same Smart Wizard that displays during installation, as described in the
installation guide.
3. Either select a network from the list, or select the Manually input my wireless SSID radio
button and type the SSID.
izard. The following screen displays:
Getting Started
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