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Forum Discussion
skeptocrat40
Sep 07, 2018Aspirant
Extender soes not show then 5G connection working but I can still connect devices
I can still seem to connect to the extended range 5Ghz band on my extender but the indicator on the extender is not on. I do not seem to be able to log into the extender or make any changes. I have...
StephenB
Sep 21, 2018Guru - Experienced User
skeptocrat40 wrote:
I found I could finally log onto the extender using the login and password I use to access this community. I guess Idon't understand the system.
Probably you entered those credentials when you set up the extender.
skeptocrat40 wrote:
but all is OK for now.
Great :smileyhappy:
skeptocrat40
Sep 21, 2018Aspirant
Actually, I set up that account just so I could access this community to figure out what my original problem was. I had to use a different password to do that.
- StephenBSep 21, 2018Guru - Experienced User
Well, you are asked for email/password as part of the set up process, and it would be natural to use your netgear credentials (since those are also used to register the product).
Anyway, it sounds like your problem is resolved.
- skeptocrat40Sep 28, 2018Aspirant
I think folks have mised the point I was trying to make. When I first installed the extender, I created credentials. When my probelm developed, I asked the community and created an entirely different set of credentials using diffent login and password.
In any case, here is what I have observed: When I was able to access the extender by way of the new credentials, I discovered that new firmware was required. I had received no notice of this any other way. I am guessing this firmware issue was at the base of my problems. When I aksed for the firmware to update I got a screen message saying this was under way and not to turn off or unplug the device until this completed. There was a little circle graphic that moved suggesting progress. The probelm is it never stopped even after an hour or so. I got impatient and finally just closed the browser (I could not access the log off feature while the "circle" was active) and unpuged the extender to restart it.
It seems the firmware was updated since when I reaccessed the device through the Netgear site, all was well. I was then able to set up both extended bands and everything works as before. Obviously several hours are not enough to update firmware or the process does not run to completion as one would expect.
Fast forward to yesterday when my network attached backup storage, a WD My Cloud disk, could no longer be accessed by my computers. This device could still be accessed directly as a network device and I could still log into it. Guess what? A firmware update was required there as well so I started the process. Low and behold, the same messages and "circle" progress graphics were there for this device as well. Perhaps Western Digital and Neatgear are all part of the same company but it is hidden from simple Internet searches. In any case (again), the update process never "finished." Identical behavior as withthe network extender. Furthermore, after waiting several hours for this to complete, I "violated" the warning and unplugged the disk and powered it up again. I could still log into the disk and now the dash board showed the firmware was up to date and my computers could now see the disk again and do backups.
Why do these two companies have the same interface behaviors and why does the firmware update process hang up the same way in two totally different products? Just wondering. So, the lesson seems to be: do not trust the warning to not power off these devices after the update process acts like it is hung. Just unplug and start up from scratch. Not a good way to run a product in my opinion.