This was a gift. I got my daughter to install it. From the first it gave me weak security, but it seemed to work, For about a couple of hours. I could go outside and make Facetime calls. Had no time to try to fix, went on a camping trip for a week, came home and it does not work. Says not connected. I tried calling Netgear and the guy there gave me a bunch of reasons that I did not understand and told me the thing was now broken because I had a virus. But the things he highlighted on my pc (I took pictures of the screen) are integral to windows, according the internet searches I have done. No confidence in calling them again. I have decent security on my pc. He tried to say I have a virus. No virus.
Can anyone else help?
I am using a PC with windows 10, and the weak security is for an IPhone 12 mini, so the issue of weak security does not bother me, but the fact there is no wifi is a huge issue.
1. if "the guy" was remoting into your pc, doubtful it was Netgear. Many people google for netgears contact information and get scam/con sites. The way to contact them if to click on mynetgear at the top. You register an account and the device. From there you contact them.
2. what router is the EX6120 connected to?
3. What is telling you "weak security"? Is it an apple device? they're really good at giving users notices if the security isn't WPA3. (Wireless AC devices are only wpa2)
4. How far from the router is the extender? They need to still have a signal to pickup and retransmit.
5. Whats between the router and the extender? (what are you walls/objects inbetween made from? certain materials block wifi signals)
6. What method of setup did your daughter use? the WPS push button method or using the installation assistant?
So I am supposed to register the extender? I don't think I have done that.
1. I think you may be correct about them not being from netgear. That would explain why "they" told me I needed a new extender and would need to buy another one, that this one was now broken. I will do a scan and check my pc. Thanks!
2. Router Network name (SSID) PN: CGM4141SHW Shaw Canada Router for WIFI
It is a kind of shaped like a rectangle with slanted sides, like some shuttles in science fiction shows. (stargate atlantis)
3 The weak security message is on my apple iphone 12 mini.
4 Initially we put the extender near the router, then moved it upstairs.
We did it with the installer instructions with the access point mode. I think. ( I am really not sure) It was just above the router in the living room, about 6 feet laterally and 1 foot vertically. After a few hours - and my daughter left- I got the weak security in red and not connected. The device link led was red.
Since writing this post I (myself) recently put the extender in the basement about 8 feet from the router, which is in the basement ceiling between the floor joists. The plug is near the floor. The extender shows up on the phone since then with weak security but in black. I did this with the WPS button on the router (had to call shaw to find out where it was)
But I still can't go too far like out in the yard. I have 3 WiFi signals I can link to on my phone, the old shaw one, the new _5GEXT one and the new _2GEXT one. The two GEXT ones work well for FaceTime if I remember to select them. So I got the router issue partly fixed. I have yet to try to move it to another point in the house.
I now have the issue that the phone will not connect any of my apps, safari, weather, ect. while in the 5G or 2G networks. So now am trying to figure out if it my phone that is the problem or the WiFi network. I know I can call Apple but just have not had a large block of time to sit on the phone. ( it took almost a whole day to complete the above tasks, between phone wait times and watching youtube videos)
5 The fact I wanted the extender is due to my house being 1914 construction with large wood planks and plaster walls, the outside is also covered by asphalt shingles under old aluminum siding. So no wonder no signals reach the back yard.
I really appreciate the kind help and any suggestions or observation you may have.
I have not tried to move it back upstairs, decided to solve the no app functioning situation first. Then work on moving the extender to the edge of my current WiFi.
Since iOS 14, apple has started notifying users if they're using wep, wpa, or wpa2 security. The newer version is wpa3 but its a hardware change and not a firmware change. That'd be why your apple devices are saying weak security.
