Quick Start Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender Model EX7300
Getting Started 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.
Meet Your Extender Before you install your extender, familiarize yourself with its LEDs, buttons, and port.
LED Descriptions LED Description Router Link LED This LED indicates the connection between the extender and the router or access point. • Solid green. Best connection. • Solid amber. Good connection. • Solid red. Poor connection. • Off. No connection. Client Link LED This LED indicates the connection between the extender and your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device. • Solid green. Best connection. • Solid amber. Good connection. • Solid red. Poor connection. • Off. No connection.
Use the Extender in Extender Mode In extender mode, the extender repeats the signals from an existing WiFi router or access point. Set the Access Point/Extender switch, place the extender, supply power, and connect it to your WiFi network. Set the Access Point/Extender Switch To use the extender in extender mode, set the Access Point/Extender switch to Extender . Place the Extender and Supply Power 1. Place your extender in the same room as your WiFi router.
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 the following section. Connect with the NETGEAR installation assistant. For more information, see Connect With the NETGEAR Installation Assistant on page 9.
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. Router Extender Computer 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 to light green. Power LED 6.
The extender creates two new extender 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 extender WiFi network names. MyNetworkName_2GEXT and MyNetworkName_5GEXT Use the same WiFi password that you use for your WiFi router. 9.
Connect With the NETGEAR Installation Assistant 1. Connect your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the extender using a wired Ethernet or WiFi connection: • To connect with a wired Ethernet connection, use an Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet port on the extender to an Ethernet port on your WiFi-enabled computer. • To connect with 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.
6. Select a WiFi network to extend and click the NEXT button. If you do not want to extend both WiFi bands, clear the 2.4GHz WiFi Networks or the 5GHz WiFi Networks checkbox. 7. In the Password (network key) field, type the existing WiFi network password (also called passphrase or security key) and click the NEXT button. 8. Set the network name (SSID) and password for your extender and click the NEXT button.
The registration page displays. 13. 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. 14. Unplug the extender and move it to a new location about halfway between your router and the area with a poor WiFi signal.
18. Reconnect your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the new extender WiFi network. 19. Test the new extended WiFi range by moving your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the area with a poor router WiFi signal: a. Leave your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device in the area with a poor router WiFi signal and return to the extender. on the extender: b.
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. Extender Router 1. Set the Access Point/Extender switch to Access Point . 2. 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. 3.
4. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection manager and locate and connect to one of the following WiFi extender networks: • 2.4 GHz network. NETGEAR_EXT • 5 GHz network. NETGEAR_5GEXT When you join the network, the extender Client Link LED to show that you are connected. lights 5. Launch a web browser and enter www.mywifiext.net in the address field. The New Extender Setup page displays. 6. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button. The Create Account page displays. 7.
10. Click the CONTINUE button. A page displays that says you successfully created an access point. 11. Click the NEXT button. The registration page displays. 12. Follow the onscreen instructions to register your extender. Access Extender Settings After installation, you can log in to the extender to view or change the extender’s settings. 1. On your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, open the WiFi connection manager and locate and connect to a new extender WiFi network.
Frequently Asked Questions You can find more information about your product in the user manual, which is available at www.netgear.com/support. The NETGEAR installation assistant keeps asking me for my network password (passphrase) or security key, and I am sure that I entered the correct password. What can I do? The extender is probably placed at the borderline of the range covered by the router or access point. For more information, see Place the Extender and Supply Power on page 5.
I forgot my login email and password. What can I do? On the login page, click the Username & Password Help link to answer the security questions you set up during the initial setup. If you forgot the answers to your security questions, do the following to set up your login credentials again: 1. Restore the extender to its factory default settings. 2. Launch a web browser and in the address field, enter www.mywifiext.net. The New Extender Setup page displays. 3. Click the NEW EXTENDER SETUP button. 4.
I enabled a WiFi MAC filter, wireless access control, or access control list (ACL) on my router. What should I do when installing the extender? When a device connects through the extender to your router, the MAC address of the device shown on the router is translated to another MAC address. If your router’s MAC filter, wireless access control, or ACL is enabled, the device connects to the extender but cannot get an IP address from the extender and cannot access the Internet.
Enter your email address and password and click the LOG IN button. The Status page displays. 5. Select Settings > Connected Devices. The Connected Devices page displays the MAC addresses and virtual MAC addresses for the extender, wired devices, and WiFi devices that are connected to the extender. b. 6. On the router, add the extender’s virtual MAC addresses and all the virtual MAC addresses of the devices connected to the extender to your router’s MAC filter table. 7.
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. Trademarks © NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non‑NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only. Compliance For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://support.netgear.
