Netgear orporated 12300208 User Manual

Universal Dual Band WiFi
Range Extender ­Desktop/Wallplug
WN3500RP

User Manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

August 2012
202-11049-01
v1.0

Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

© 2012 All rights reserved
No part of this publication can 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.
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. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective
holders. © 2012 All rights reserved.

Technical Support

Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. To register your product, get the latest product updates, get support online, or
for more information, visit the Support website at

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

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 might
occur due to the use, or application of, the product(s) or circuit layout(s).

2

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Getting Started

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

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

3

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.

1

4

Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

Hardware Features

Front and Side Panels

Power On/Off

button

WPS

button

LEDs Description

Power

Link Rate 2.4
GHz

• 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.

• Yellow. The wireless connection between the extender and the router is good.

• Red. The wireless connection between the extender and the router is poor.

Power

On/Off LED

Link Rate

2.4 GHz LED

Link Rate

5 GHz LED

Wireless Device

to Extender LED

WPS
LED

Link Rate 5 GHz

Wireless Device
to Extender

WPS

• Green. The wireless connection between the extender and the router is optimum.

• Yellow. 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.

• Blinking. A WPS-capable wireless computer or device is connecting to the

extender.

• Off. No WPS activity is taking place.

Getting Started

5

Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

Bottom Panel

Figure 1. Bottom panel

Audio port

USB port

Reset

Factory

Settings

Ethernet port

Getting Started

6

Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

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 as a

n 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 2. Range extender in a home

Getting Started

7

Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

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 different location half-way between the computer and the router.

If there is no power outlet nearby, or you prefer to place the extender elsewhere, move the
extender closer to the computer. If the Link Rate LED is green or amber and the Wireless
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.mywifiext.net, the Smart Wizard guides you through the
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.

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 - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

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 - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP 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 - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

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 Set the Password
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.

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 - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP

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 - Desktop/Wallplug WN3500RP 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 Wizard. The following screen displays:

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.

Getting Started

11