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Forum Discussion
Is netgear Ex7300 extender now obsolete?
It’s impossible to find answers online, so could you please be so kind as to help me with the EX7300 extender?
I successfully used the ex7300 extender for probably 8-10 years with the Arris modem with Xfinity. I just upgraded to the Xfinity Gateway modem. The extender no longer connects wirelessly to the new modem even with factory reset. WPS pairing does not work. And the Nighthawk app states it does not support the Ex7300. All documentation for EX7300 are no longer at netgear (404 error).
I see a NETGEAR_EXT in my network but it says “no Internet connection”.
So please advise if the EX7300 is now obsolete with this new Xfinity Gateway modem.
8 Replies
Look here for EoL/EoS status:
https://www.netgear.com/about/eos
Most likely due to age and protocols being out of date on the EX and newer protocoles on the gateway being made, probably no longer comaptible. Check your WPA settings. WPA2 or WPA1 against what the EX7300 supported. WPA2 should be compatible. If WPA3 is being used on new host router, this would be one cause of the EX not working since it never supported WPA3.
Thank you. Yes the new Xfinity Gateway is WPA3. Sad that I spent so much wheel spinning and Xfinity did not know this. Time to get a new compatible extender, though I notice the new modem is considerably faster with a wider range.
Does the new gateway offer Mixed mode WPA2 and WPA3? If it does, try that.
advise if the EX7300 is now obsolete
The EX7300 does appear on Netgear's list of devices that are "End of Service" and thus will no longer receive firmware updates:
https://www.netgear.com/about/eos
The User Manual remains available on the Netgear support web site:
https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/EX7300/EX7300_UM_EN.pdf
There have been occasions when some web browsers return that "404 error" when attempting to open things at Netgear.
WPS pairing does not work
That is a bit of a puzzle, since WPS does not require inputting a password. Perhaps the new gateway has "settings" for WPS?
It should also be a snap with the Nighthawk app. Well the app does not even support the EX7300. The nice thing about the new Xfinity Gateway is that for the most part dead spots are gone; signal strength is more than doubled sometimes tripled everywhere. The exception is the basement where I stream. It’s working fine without extender, but its prudent to get more signal strength there. The solution is one compatible Xfi pod at the foot of the stairs of the basement. I appreciate the higher WPA3 security, and will leave it at that setting. So I will be putting the Arris modem and extender on eBay at a bargain. I am sure this fine router and extender has some life left in it.
Ya newer tech probably has more capabilities then the older EX unit. It's about 10 years old. Ya, won't be compatible with WPA3 security for sure. And be aware that if you have other older wifi devices, those won't be compatible either with WPA3. Unless you can get mixed Mode WPA2 and WPA3 enabled.
Ya get something more compatible with WPA3 and with the newer tech in the gateway that matches that for additional coverage.
Good Luck.
