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X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

greenbandit
Aspirant

X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

I have just taken a Billion 8800NL + WNDR4500 modem + router system off line and replaced it with an X4S D7800 unit. The 2.4GHz & 5GHz band main and guest networks have been set up in as similar a way as possible using the same SSIDs, same passwords, same channels, WPA2, and the fastest Mbps settings that leads to just a single channel for each band being used (i.e. I have avoided dual channel solutions in an attempt to be neighbour friendly).

The good news is that without any changes to my wireless devices, all of the following connect:-

- android phones,

- WNCE2001 on my garden cam,

- EX3700 range extender connects and extends both the 2.4GHz & 5GHz networks,

- Win 10 laptop connects,

- WN3000RP connects and extends the 2.4GHz guest network,

- WN2000RPTv3 connects, and extends, and provides wired network access to my EE signal box & SAT-top box.

Therefore it seems like good evidence that the SSIDs & passwords were correctly entered.

 

Now the bad bit. I have two WNCE4004 units that refuse to connect to the D7800.

 

Power up the WNDR4500 & they connect, but power up the D7800 instead & they will not connect. I have tried both the 2.4GHz & 5GHz main networks and guest networks but none of them will work with the WNCE4004 units.

Using the WNCE4004 Network Genie to do the setup lets the WNCE4004 units initially list all available networks, but after the SSID is selected and the password is entered the error message is always:-

"Please mode Device closer to your existing router or gateway. The selected network is no longer available. Please make sure that the existing network equipment is within the proximity of the Extender".

I am fairly sure that a distance of 2m from a D7800 is actually close enough!

I have also proven that:-

- one WNCE4004 will connect to the WNDR4500 at a distance of 2m,

- both WNCE4004 will connect to the WNDR4500 at a distance of 7m through 2 stud walls,

- one WNCE4004 Network Genie says the D7800 signal strength is 100%.

 

What am I missing?

 

Model: D7800|Nighthawk X4S – AC2600 WiFi VDSL/ADSL Modem Router
Message 1 of 7
greenbandit
Aspirant

Re: X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

More information.
I have just got one WNCE4004 to repeatedly fail to connect directly to the D7800, but it connected 1st time to an SSID that comes from the WN3000RP that I use to extend my 2.4GHz guest network and will then provide Internet access albeit at a much reduced Mbps so it is not a long term solution.
I just don't get why the WNCE4004 will only work when not connecting directly to the D7800. 😞
Message 2 of 7
greenbandit
Aspirant

Re: X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

There seems to be a trend here, see

https://community.netgear.com/t5/WiFi-Adapters/WNCE4004-will-not-connect-with-AC1750-router-despite-...

and

https://community.netgear.com/t5/WiFi-Adapters/WNCE4004-will-not-connect/td-p/1146582

 

I still don't have the answer but it is not just me having a problem with WNCE4004 devices.

Message 3 of 7
greenbandit
Aspirant

Re: X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

I found a solution and my home internet connection has now been working perfectly for over a month.

 

The WNCE units are in the bin and my new WN2000RPT units are working perfectly. Sorted. Smiley Very Happy

Message 4 of 7
Moscowsteve
Aspirant

Re: X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

can you post the solution (vs just saying you found one?) thanks.

 

I had my 4004 on a shelf for awhile only to spend about 4 hrs today and realized it was on the shelf for exactly the same problem you describe.. it would recongnize the wifi , but say i was not close enough.. really 5 ' away should be close enough and 100% signal strength...

 

 

Message 5 of 7
w3wilkes
Prodigy

Re: X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

Sounded like the solution was to throw away the 4004 units and replace them with another device. This is a "radical" solution as it does nothing to avoid the expense of buying another device when the one you have should work! There's an old skit on Saturday Night Live where Lily Tomlin is an phone operator. Her famous line in the skit is "we don't care, we don't have to, we're the phone company". This was before the DOJ law suit that broke up the old phone company monopoly in 1984. Netgear seems to now live by the old Lily Tomlin phone company moto.

Message 6 of 7
greenbandit
Aspirant

Re: X4S D7800 and WNCE4004

@Moscowsteve

Unfortunately the solution was to bin both of the WN4004 units. I never did find out why they would connect perfectly to my WNDR4500, to any of my range extenders, but not to the X4S D7800. It's a shame because I like the WNCE4004 units. Sorry I can't actually help.

Message 7 of 7
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