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Forum Discussion
We've unlocked the potential of our WiFi Extenders by adding WiFi Mesh!
Our latest firmware update allows users of our EX6400 and EX7300 extenders to enjoy the benefits of WiFi Mesh! With a single WiFi Network Name and Smart Roaming, you can create a whole hom...
I could get much faster speeds when I manually selected the 5 Ghz extender SSID but now when I create the single WiFi name, it doesn't seem to ever select the faster one. I've even tested and reverted back and forth and as soon as I go back to broadcasting the invidual radios and manually select it, I can get aboug 150 Mbps. When I have the single WiFi SSID, I get about 10-20 which is more like what the 2.4 Ghz extender was providing. I've reset multiple times.
Thanks for your comments which I totally agree. It caused me more trouble then its worth, especially if the router is turned off. It seems to lose the configuration settings that is made and unable to make a internet connection. I ended up doing a full reset of the router and starting a fresh and just kept the Basic settings for both 2.4MHz and 5MHz.
Netgear has tried to make basic Extender/Access Point routers to do more then what they were designed and capable of doing, by thinking that a Firmware Upgrade V1.0.1.78_1.0.140 will make it equal to the new mesh systems.
ozzcaddy wrote:
Netgear has tried to make basic Extender/Access Point routers to do more then what they were designed and capable of doing, by thinking that a Firmware Upgrade V1.0.1.78_1.0.140 will make it equal to the new mesh systems.
The .78 firmware clearly has a bunch of issues, and Netgear is looking into them.
To your larger point: Netgear isn't aiming to make the mesh extenders the equal of a new mesh system like Orbi. They are aiming at a point in between a traditional extender and a full mesh system. As far as I can see that is possible with current hardware, and there are some emerging specs from the WiFi alliance (EasyMesh) that would make this easier to do this with future routers. They've hit a bump in the road, but that doesn't mean they won't reach the desired destination.
Agree and I did the same thing - just reverted back to the individual SSIDs and have to manaully toggled to select the best one. For example, I can be on my primary SSID in my living room and next to the main router, but when I walk back to my bedroom, the signal is poor but I have to manually select the "_EXT" SSIDs. Once I do, I get a better signal.
I could have just paid a fraction fo the cost and got the AC750 since I'm doing the same thing.
I had received 2 emails regarding this new Firmware Upgrade. The first email received was on 29 Sept '18, for the following subject: "We've Enhanced Your Product's Security. Please Update to the Latest Firmware". As it was to do with security, I downloaded and installed the new Firmware immediately.
The second email was received on 9th October '18, boasting how I can turn my Netwgear EX7000 Extender/Access Point router into a poweful wifi mesh. Here is the actual wording of part of the email: "Upgrade your existing EX7000 Range Extender into a powerful WiFi Mesh! We're announcing a new firmware upgrade that will improve your coverage and works with your home WiFi to create a powerful WiFi System for your entire home".
It was not a 'NEW' firmware upgrade, it was exactly the same Firmware that I had installed for security as per the email. To how I read the exerpt, Netgear is trying to make it equal to the Orbi system, not in the middle as you mentioned. If Netgear new that there were problems with this firmware update, then why release it OR why send a second email about turning my EX7000 router into a powerful wifi mesh. There are no excuses for such large companies such as Netgear for releasing updates that have not been fully and robustly tested. I put this equal to Microsofts reecnt October '18 Windows 10, which deletes personal files from the computer it was installed on.
ozzcaddy wrote:
To how I read the exerpt, Netgear is trying to make it equal to the Orbi system, not in the middle as you mentioned.
Orbi remains the premium mesh solution and the wording in the email doesn't contradict that. Technically, the mesh extenders need to work with any router, and that does put some limits on what can be done. This is not to say that the mesh extenders can't work well (despite the firmware issues with .78). Just that the goal with the extenders is to provide a flexible mesh solution that doesn't require you to fully replace your existing wifi system. It's not intended to replace Orbi.
ozzcaddy wrote:
There are no excuses for such large companies such as Netgear for releasing updates that have not been fully and robustly tested.
It definitely was a miss that has created a lot of issues for customers - as the volume of posts on this update confirms. Hopefully they will get the fixes needed in place soon.
