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Erik72's avatar
Erik72
Aspirant
Mar 05, 2021
Solved

Need Support for a WBC502

I need support help setting up my WBC502.  I recently purchased this from the NETGEAR store on Amazon, but the neatgear.com/support site claims my S/N was purchased over a year ago, so I cannot get support.  Called the phone support, learned it was registered to somebody else (?!?!), so tech support could ot help me. They were supposed to transfer me, but they disconnected teh call. My second call was also disconnected.  My online case was closed without being resolved.  I would love NETGEAR to reopen my case (#44269148) and contact me.

 

But at the end of the day, I just want to learn how to set up as a remote Wifi Access point, but cannot get it configured to my network.  Any help would be appreciated.

  • I gave up & returned the Airbridge, I'll buy the hardware I need from a different company.

8 Replies

  • I see that BretD says in another post that my WBC502 should be able to "attach itself to existing WiFi networks".  Any tips on how to do that would be appreciated, the manual is lacking in that area.

     

    I have one WBC502 that I'm trying to attach to an existing network, to extend wifi range to my workshop ~125ft away.  If I direct-wire to the router, the house obsctructs the signal, so I want to Wifi-connect to the router from the opposite side of teh house, and extend out to the shop.

    • plemans's avatar
      plemans
      Guru - Experienced User

      A couple things. 

      1. The WBC502 is a point to point system. It can go quite far (up to 9000ft) when used with a pair of them. But when you only have 1, its limited to the same broadcast distances as standard routers. In which 125ft can be quite far. Especially if  the routers having to broadcast through an extentior wall. Exterior walls tend to have more materials that block wifi and sometimes that material itself blocks wifi very well. LIke cement board, brick, adobe, foil lined insulation, metal siding, etc. These all do a great job of blocking wifi signals. 

       

      2. The WBC502 does have a client bridge mode where it can pick up that signal. It doesn't rebroadcast it like an extender but allows you to use the signal it recieves through its ethernet port. The manual goes over this.  

       

      at 125ft, you might be needing a pair of wbc502's and not just 1. 

       

      You might find more people that've used the WBC502 in the forum for it. You're currently in the standard extender forum. 

      Business Wireless - NETGEAR Communities

       

      In terms of the registration, you might be able to get it switched to your name so you can get support. Maybe Christian_R can help with that. 

      • Erik72's avatar
        Erik72
        Aspirant

        Thanks Plemans.

         

        1. I understand it has that mode, but Netgear marketing led me to believe it also had other modes.

         

        2. Again, Netgear marketing led me to believe it would rebroadcast.  

         

        I understand that 125 feet might have been a stretch too far, but I cannot get to that point, because I bought a product that does not have the modes that wer advertised to me.

         

        In terms of support, Netgear keeps hanging up on me when I call, they closed the online case without resolving, & I have already wasted 4 hours of my life trying to get support.  It would be great if Netgear provided support.