NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.

Forum Discussion

Tsar_maximilian's avatar
Oct 02, 2025

Linking mismatch with two EX80 nighthawks

I have 2 nighthawks, one is Ethernet connected to the router and the other is linked to the connected AX6000  nighthawk via an Ethernet cable. Essentially they are daisy chained to each other.

 

The first AX6000 is setup via the nighthawk app but the other one will not let me add it to the app. It appears as”NETGEAR_EXT” and when I do the setup, I connect to WiFi called the same, run through the setup, but get to a point where the setup “cannot connect to NETGEAR_EXT”. I’m sat right next to it, it shows power light is white, WiFi light is white, 2.4 GHz light is white and the Ethernet port 1 ( where it is connected to the other AX6000) is also white. 

 

What is wrong with this ? Why can’t I get it setup up correctly ?

 

 

 

 

11 Replies

  • plemans's avatar
    plemans
    Guru - Experienced User

    FURRYe38​ is correct. when hardwired they need to be in access point mode. Shut one off and go through its setup first (making sure to select access point mode), then once its setup, shut it off and setup the other one. I'd recommend the installation assistant over using the app for this setup. 

    Should be a pretty awesome setup with 2x of them daisy chained with a hardwired backhaul. Just keep in mind that devices will be a little more "sticky" setup in access point mode versus a traditional mesh setup. But it should still be darned quick. 

  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User

    What is the brand and model# of the main host router? 

    You have two EAX80s? 

     

    Does setting up the first extender with the host router work? Does this have a different SSID name network?

    Is the first extender running in AP mode? 

     

    What distances are in between the two extenders? 

    Size of home in sq feet please.

    • Tsar_maximilian's avatar
      Tsar_maximilian
      Aspirant

      What is the brand and model# of the main host router? - TalkTalk Wi-fi Hub

      You have two EAX80s? - I have two AX6000 nighthawks, these are linked to each other by an Ethernet cable and to the WiFi hub

       

      Does setting up the first extender with the host router work? - Yes, the first one is set up and has both 2.5GHZ and 5GHZ connection available 
      Does this have a different SSID name network? -
      It does, to understand which one I was connected to I kept the router name the same but the AX6000 that connected is called TalkTalk_Upstairs

      Is the first extender running in AP mode? - I don’t know what AP mode is so I guess no  

       

      What distances are in between the two extenders? - I don’t know the answer to this but surely Ethernet cable doesn’t require a distance ? I will guess by saying around 2000 square foot Victorian house  

      Size of home in sq feet please.

      • StephenB's avatar
        StephenB
        Guru - Experienced User
        Tsar_maximilian wrote:

        I don’t know the answer to this but surely Ethernet cable doesn’t require a distance ?

        The maximum distance is 100m (~328 feet).  But I think FURRYe38​ is focused on the wifi performance.

         

         

         

        Tsar_maximilian wrote:

        I don’t know what AP mode is so I guess no  

        AX6000 is a speed rating, so it doesn't clearly identify what you have.

         

        Do you have two EAX80s (which is an Nighthawk extender), or do you have two RAX120s (which is a Nighthawk router)?  Both are labeled as AX6000.

         

        If you have the routers they should be in AP (access point) mode - which is setting them up to run as extenders.