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Forum Discussion
Netgear nighthawk connected to router...or is it ?
Model EX6410 ..had to type it here as its not listed in the above I've followed everything to the book and getting no joy in getting any connection Extender> Power outlet Waits for power ...
I don't follow. In order to see what im connected to i only need to look on wifi connection on my phone or any other device.
Its looking clear Ive bought a lemon because this thing does not work.
As you can see in my screen shot all lights are showing green. Yet on my phone the only connection on offer is the original router name.
I followed all instructions even looking on Youtube.
You're not understanding.
Because its a mesh extender, it sets up using the same ssid as the router. it won't show as a seperate network under a standard wireless scan. Thats the whole purpose of a mesh extender or mesh network.
It relies on your devices to roam between the router and the extender as needed.
Because of this, to tell if you're connected to the router or the extender, you can log into the router/extender and check their attached devices list.
If you don't like that, you can disable "one ssid" which is the mesh feature.
Misunderstanding how something functions doesn't make it a lemon.
It still works as an extender but its supposed to be a seamless device and not something you have to go into your phone/tablet to change networks.
Ok fair enough but this where im being thrown.
On two "help" videos the user actually looks for a wifi connection that had their router name with EXT on the end.
Also on the nighthawk app it tells you to look for the extender network called NETGEAR_EXT
So that instantly tells me it would be showing on wifi connections list
Easily to misunderstand but then its easy to be when you have that instruction in the manual
I have now plugged in the Extender in another room. Several in fact . Connection no different . Sparodic to very weak.
Sadly its not doing what I expected. Best to look at other alternatives
But thank you for taking the time out to advise
Try this.
Factory reset the extender. Push and hold reset for 7-15 seconds while its powered on.
That should get you back to the _ext setup. Connect to that and set it up using that method.
During setup, don't use the one ssid feature or the smart connect feature (combines the 2.4ghz and 5ghz into one ssid).
Then you can test speeds on the extenders 2.4ghz and the 5ghz to compare speeds
5ghz is much faster than 2.4ghz but doesn't broadcast as far.
if you have it setup in mesh mode, it uses the same ssid as the router and it combines the 2.4ghz and 5ghz. It then steers devices between the 2.4ghz and the 5ghz as needed. And as I said, 2.4ghz is slow. Its also sensitive to interference. So it'll make the extender seem slow if your devices are on the 2.4ghz.
One other thing to keep in mind with all (not just netgear) single/dual band extenders. They drop speeds 50% of what the extender is getting. Reason this happens is they have to use the same chip to go router---->extender and then extender----->device. And they don't fuction at the same time. So they run at half the speed of the routers connection. This is the same for all single/dual band. The tribands dedicate a chip just for router--->extender communication so have higher throughput and lower speeds.
But that is what I've been doing. Constantly factory resetting before making an attempt to connect
You say "don't use the one ssid feature or the smart connect feature".
I can only see two methods. The WPS method which if it is connected has no improvement to signal or via the app that tells there is no internet connection and too go to settings and look for Netgear_EXT (which you say doesnt exist)
That said the latter did finally give me info that I had a collection and upon moving the Extender downstairs the signal became weak.
Then ontop of that i get logged off the app and being to told to sign back in which seems to keep giving me the an error message "logon timed out" within one second of attempt.