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Mesh?
Confusion abounds. The box for my new AX1800 extender describes it just as such. But I note at least one other Netgear by that moniker. Mine apparently can also be called an EAX14. This is grounds for confusion among non-cyberphile consumers.
That aside, we already were using an older Netgear extender, plus one D-link extender that no longer had security. I bought the AX1800, or EAX14, or whatever it goes by to basically replace the D-link. I juggled extender locations within the home with reasonable success, and improved speed on our main MacBook as a result.
But I note that my Settings WiFi information indicates one Netgear device. Am I to assume that both the older Netgear extender (EX3700) and the new EAX14 are considered the same as far as my in-house network goes? The setup procedure for the new one was different than that I recall for the EX3700. I presume that setup technology has advanced, and that is fine, but I am wondering about two Netgear extenders that appear to be as one; this confused my knowledge of which one is being accessed by any one device, etc. Shouldn't they list on my iPad Settings WiFi options as 2 separate sources? Right now only one Netgear 2GB and one Netgear 5GB device (I presume the same unit) appears there.
My current inferred explanation, since no one responded here other than Michael, is that the new extender acts differently than my other ones, and essentially is indeed a so-called “mesh” actor. It operates as a “clone” of the Frontier/Ziply router rather than a separate network. So the Netgear moniker that appears on my available networks list is the old Netgear 3700 extender. The new one appears under the guise of the router’s ID. As to the “Client” lamp on the new extender, it’s being off or on must depend on whether a device in the house happens to be connecting to it at that moment.
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So why can't I edit the message? I hit the 3 dot menu, click Edit Message, and nothing happens. I simply wanted to add examples of other AX1800 monikered devices.
Hafcanadian wrote:
Confusion abounds. The box for my new AX1800 extender describes it just as such. But I note at least one other Netgear by that moniker. Mine apparently can also be called an EAX14. This is grounds for confusion among non-cyberphile consumers.
AX1800 is not a unique Netgear model number. Many devices come with the AX tag, but it is essentially a label that Netgear, and other brands, attach to hardware to describe wifi speeds.
Look at the label on the device for the Model Number. And, if there is one, include the "V" bit to show the hardware version. If there is no V number, then you have V1.
I just noticed that there is an orange lamp on the new EAX14 at "Client Link".
Even when an iPad is very close to that device, the signal strength shows stronger to the home router (Frontier/Ziply) than to the "Netgear" identified WiFi option. The older Netgear extender (EX3700) is further away (maybe 30 feet) than the router (~17 ft.) from that iPad, so it seems logical to assume the iPad is sensing that Netgear extender and not the EAX14 that's only 6 feet away from the iPad.
So I still have the same issue of telling the two Netgears apart, but is it because the Client Link lamp is not green, and the EAX14 isn't detectable by my iPads or MacBook?
When I unplug the old EX3700 from the outlet, this computer goes to the router, and the Netgear 2G and 5G options are dimmed on the list of found WiFi sources; neighbors' systems show up better. This also implies that since no other dimmed or undimmed Netgear WiFi device is listed, the new EAX14 is not connecting in some fashion; it has green Power, Router Link, and WPS LEDs, but an orange Client Link one.
Do I need to reset the EAX14, or press the WPS button like we used to to connect to a router system?
I still can't edit my posts, so I have to Reply to add information.
On the Netgear site I signed in but it says I don't have permission to access the owners manual for the EAX14! I can open the Installation Guide, but that is little more than the Quick Start card that came with the device.
I will next go to the iPad I downloaded the app on and "installed" the extender with and see if there's some sort of corrective option proffered there.
This is not the "quick setup" touted on the box and sales promos.
This site asked me to give feedback on this experience. When I got to the question, "Based on your experience in the community, how likely are you to recommend NETGEAR to a friend or colleague?", the options and the "Next" button dimmed and don't respond. This site is not exactly working much better than its product.
