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Forum Discussion
Can't connect to extender after setup
I setup the extender using the nighthawk app on my Android phone. Went OK. It automagically sets the extender wifi SSID to the same as my router. My router is a Netgear Orbi which has the 2.4 and 5g SSIDs the same. At the end of the setup, it downloaded and installed a firmware update. I now can't connect to the extender from my phone. When I try, I get a message "WiFi Router Not Supported RBR50 (which is the model # of my Orbi) The App does not support your router model." Gives me the option of opening the Orbi app (ok, connects to my Orbi but not my extender), New system setup and Connect via Anywhere Access. Try the latter which also fails - says I need to enable anywhere access. So, I go into my Orbi settings and find the IP of my extender. I connect from my computer to it. I change the SSID for the extender (which is what I wanted to do anyway) which works just fine. But, even if I connect to the new extender SSID from my phone, I still have the same issue with the nighthawk app. And looking at the extender settings, I don't see any way to enable anywhere access (which makes sense - it's an extender, not a router).
12 Replies
I'm a bit lost, nothing new there, but I can't follow what problem you are trying to fix.
Is it a case of trying to manage the extender? You have already found the way to get in there, through the IP address.
Anywhere Access lets you use the Nighthawk app alongside the Orbi app on an Android device, I do it all the time. It is a case of picking the right way in.
To use the Nighthawk app, don't look for Anywhere Access on the Extender. Set it up on the router. Then, when you launch the app, you should be able to connect with Anywhere Access.
I have a Netgear router that feeds an Orbi in AP mode. I can happily switch between the Nighthawk and Otbi apps with remote access.
The problem could be working out which wifi source. extender or router, you are connected to.
If one app fails, then try the other one. Or resort to using the IP address.
Yes, I'm trying to manage the extender and yes, I figured out how to do it from a computer via it's IP address. No way the average person will be able to figure that out tho. It should "just work" using the nighthawk phone app. I was connected to the extender (I gave it a different SSID) and it still wouldn't work. I have a fairly strong networking background so sure, I can figure out ways around. Hardware seems solid - seems to work way better than the extender it replaced. There are quite a few negative reviews on Amazon for it tho - mostly people having a hard time getting it setup. Partly, I'm bitching but I'd also like to be able to manage it via the nighthawk app on my phone.
jhoff909 wrote:
It should "just work" using the nighthawk phone app.
It does here. Or rather, it does on my network of routers, Orbi devices and satellites.
jhoff909 wrote:
Partly, I'm bitching but I'd also like to be able to manage it via the nighthawk app on my phone.
Clearly my explanation of what to do was not clear enough.
The clue is in using Anywhere (Remote) Access to get at both networks. Remember, it is the router that needs to be set up as the way in for Anywhere Access. You should then be able to get at the extender with the Netgear App. (As long as the app supports your EX6250, which you seem to have confirmed at the setup stage.) You need to use the Orbi app to control the Orbi.
Your complication may track back to mixing Orbi and Nighthawk devices. Few people do that. They have one or the other. Need to cover more area? Buy another satellite. I have this "hybrid network" because it cost nothing.
It might help if Netgear devised a single app to manage both Orbi and Nighthawk devices, but the technologies may be too complicated for that.
I suppose I confused things by mentioning anywhere access. I actually don't want to turn that on. If my phone is directly connected to the extender via wifi, the nighthawk app should just work. and it doesn't. IMO that's broken behavior - no way the average joe, if he has any complications at all, is gonna get this thing to work.
As a senior, I;m not savvy at all. I managed to install the box, and it works. However, I can't log into the Netgear extender. I CAN log into my router, using the extender. The default password(s) does not work. I have tried multiple times using different variations, to no avail. Anywhere Access does not work either.
So now what? Do I have an expensive paperweight?
