Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP User M anual 350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA November 2012 202-10932-02 v1.
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 http://support.netgear.com.
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hardware Features5 Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Attach the Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 How the Extender Works . . . . . .
1. Getting Started 1 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.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Hardware Features Front Panel LEDs Power Link Rate 2.4 GHz Description • 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. Link Rate 5 GHz • Green.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Rear Panel Restore Factory Settings WPS Power 4 LAN Ethernet ports Power On/Off button Figure 1. Rear panel 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.
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 as an access point for computers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP 4. Enter the passphrase for your wireless network and click Continue. The next screen displays: 5. Make sure that the correct network name is shown, and then click Continue. The following screen displays: After about 2 minutes, the extender displays the following screen: 6. Review the settings, and make sure they are correct. Then, join the extender network with your wireless computer or device. 7. Select the check box after you successfully connect. 8.
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Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Connect the Extender to an Existing Network You can wirelessly connect the extender to your home network. 1. Select Setup > Connect to an Existing Network. The extender scans for wireless networks, and displays a list. If your wireless network is not on the list, and it is up and running, see Positioning Your Extender on page 8 for suggestions. 2. Select the radio button for your network, and click Continue.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Use WPS to Join the Extender’s Wireless Network WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) lets you connect a computer or wireless device to the extender’s network without entering the wireless network passphrase or key. Instead, you use a WPS button or enter a PIN to connect. WPS supports WPA and WPA2 wireless security. Note: You cannot use the Push 'N' Connect WPS button to connect the extender to your wireless network.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Extender Wireless Settings You can use the Wireless Settings screen to change the network name (SSID) for the extender’s network and to set up wireless security. If you do not change these settings, the network name is NETGEAR_EXT, and the network is open (no wireless security is set up). Note: If you use a wireless computer to change the extender’s wireless settings, you will be disconnected when you click Apply.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP • WPA-PSK [TKIP]. WPA is more secure than WEP. When using wireless computers or devices that support WPA, you can enter a passphrase to join the extender’s wireless network. • WPA2-PSK [AES]. WPA2 is even more secure, but some older computers do not support this standard. When using wireless computers or devices that support WPA2, you can enter the passphrase to join the extender’s wireless network. • WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PASK [AES].
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP 3. Select the encryption strength setting: • WEP 64-bit encryption. Enter 10 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0–9, a–f, or A–F). • WEP 128-bit encryption. Enter 26 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0–9, a–f, or A–F). 4. Enter the encryption keys. You can manually or automatically program the four data encryption keys. These values have to be identical on all computers and access points in your network: • Passphrase.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Extender IP Address Setup From the extender menu at http://www.mywifiext.net, under the Maintenance heading, select Setup > IP Address Settings. The IP Address Setup screen shows whether the extender is set to get its IP address dynamically from the router (this is the most common setting), or is set up with a static IP address. • Get Dynamically IP Address From Router.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Status Screen When you connect to http://www.mywifiext.net, after the automatic firmware check, the Status screen displays. You can also select Status from the menu to display this screen: This screen shows the current settings and the status of your extender. You can click Show Statistics to see device performance statistics such as the number of packets sent and number of packets received for each port. See Show Statistics on page 21.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP • IP Subnet Mask. The IP subnet mask associated with the LAN IP address of the extender. The default is 255.255.255.0. • Gateway IP Address. The IP address of the wireless network gateway. • Domain Name Server. The IP address of the Domain Name Server (DNS) of the wireless network. Extender Wireless Settings • Name (SSID). The name (SSID) of the wireless network. • Region. The location where the extender is operating. • Channel.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Attached Devices Select Maintenance > Attached Devices to display the following screen: Back Up and Manage Extender Settings Select Maintenance > Backup Settings to display this screen. The Backup and Restore options in the Backup Settings screen let you save and retrieve a file containing your extender’s configuration settings. Once you have your extender working correctly, you should back up the information to have it available if something goes wrong.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP CAUTION: Do not try to go online, turn off the extender, shut down the computer, or do anything else to the extender until it finishes restarting! 4. Close the message window. To erase settings: Under some circumstances (for example, if you have lost track of the changes that you made to the extender settings), you might want to erase the configuration. After an erase, the extender returns to its factory settings (see Factory Settings on page 30).
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Upgrade the Firmware Unless you changed the settings in the Firmware Upgrade screen previously, the extender is set up to check for new firmware automatically at log in. If you do not want to use the automatic firmware check, clear the Check for New Version Upon Login check box. To check for firmware and upgrade if it is available: 1. Select Maintenance > Firmware Update. The following screen displays: 2. Click Check to see if new firmware is available.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Advanced Wireless Settings The extender is already configured with the optimum settings. Do not alter these settings unless directed by NETGEAR support. Incorrect settings might disable the extender unexpectedly. To view or change the advanced wireless settings: From the extender menu at http://www.mywifiext.net, select Advanced > Wireless Settings.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP • - Disable Device’s PIN. Selecting this check box disables the extender’s PIN. The PIN can be used for a WPS wireless connection. - Keep Existing Wireless Settings. When this check box is selected, the settings in the Wireless Settings screen stay the same when WPS is used for a wireless connection. Wireless Card Access List. Specify a list of computers or wireless devices that are allowed to connect to the network.
3. Troubleshooting 3 This chapter includes the following sections: • Smart Wizard FAQs • Connecting to http://www.mywifiext.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Smart Wizard FAQs 1. When I connect to the network, Smart Wizard keeps asking me for my passphrase, and I am sure I entered the correct passphrase. What can I do? It is very likely that the extender is placed at the borderline of the range covered by the router. See Positioning Your Extender on page 8. 2. I got an error message in the Review Settings screen in the Smart Wizard.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Joining Wireless Networks To join a wireless network you have to know its network name (also called the SSID) so that you can select it. If the network is secure, you have to know the passphrase or wireless key. If the extender does not connect to the network that you selected, the following message displays: Connection was not established to the selected network.
A. Supplementary Information A Factory Settings You can press and hold the Restore Factory Settings button on the rear panel for 7 seconds. The extender resets, and returns to its factory settings. Factory Settings Smart Wizard Enabled Wireless Wireless communication Enabled Wireless network name (SSID) NETGEAR_EXT Security Disabled Transmission speed Auto1 Country/Region United States (varies by region) Operating mode 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b Data rate Up to 300 Mbps 1.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Technical Specifications Technical specifications Network protocol and standards compatibility Data and routing protocols: TCP/IP, DHCP server and client, DNS relay, NAT (many-to-one), TFTP client, VPN pass through (IPSec, PPTP) Power adapter • North America (input): 120V, 60 Hz, input • All regions (output): 12 V DC @ 1A output 12W maximum Physical specifications • Dimensions: • Weight: Environmental • Operating temperature: 32° to 140° F (0° to 40°
B. Notification of Compliance NETGEAR Dual Band - Wireless B Regulatory Compliance Information This section includes user requirements for operating this product in accordance with National laws for usage of radio spectrum and operation of radio devices. Failure of the end-user to comply with the applicable requirements may result in unlawful operation and adverse action against the end-user by the applicable National regulatory authority.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Español [Spanish] Por medio de la presente NETGEAR Inc. declara que el Radiolan cumple con los requisitos esenciales y cualesquiera otras disposiciones aplicables o exigibles de la Directiva 1999/5/CE. Ελληνική [Greek] ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΑ NETGEAR Inc. ΔΗΛΩΝΕΙ ΟΤΙ Radiolan ΣΥΜΜΟΡΦΩΝΕΤΑΙ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΙΣ ΟΥΣΙΩΔΕΙΣ ΑΠΑΙΤΗΣΕΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΙΣ ΛΟΙΠΕΣ ΣΧΕΤΙΚΕΣ ΔΙΑΤΑΞΕΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΔΗΓΙΑΣ 1999/5/ΕΚ. Français [French] Par la présente NETGEAR Inc.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Íslenska [Icelandic] Hér með lýsir NETGEAR Inc. yfir því að Radiolan er í samræmi við grunnkröfur og aðrar kröfur, sem gerðar eru í tilskipun 1999/5/EC. Norsk [Norwegian] NETGEAR Inc. erklærer herved at utstyret Radiolan er i samsvar med de grunnleggende krav og øvrige relevante krav i direktiv 1999/5/EF. This device is a 2.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP • For product available in the USA market, only channel 1~11 can be operated. Selection of other channels is not possible. • This device and its antenna(s) must not be co-located or operation in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender WN2500RP Interference Reduction Table The table below shows the recommended minimum distance between NETGEAR equipment and household appliances to reduce interference (in feet and meters).
