Extender will not connect to router that is using smart connect

[TheITWizard]

How should I set up a Netgear range extender when Smart Connect is enabled on my router? I have R6700v2 router and EX8000 extender. The extender wants to deal with router bands discretely. In the extender setup, do I choose the same SSID in both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, with the expectation that the router will decide which band to allow the extender to use? Or does the extender override the ability of the router's Smart Connect to assign a band to the extender dynamically?

[StephenB]

---

@TheITWizard wrote:

 the ability of the router's Smart Connect to assign a band to the extender dynamically?

---

Ultimately the wifi clients choose what band they want to use - the router can offer hints, but that's about it.  Generally clients will follow those hints.

---

@TheITWizard wrote:

In the extender setup, do I choose the same SSID in both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands

---

Yes, and of course you have to do that since the networks have the same SSID.

Are you saying that this isn't working, or are you simply asking the question?

[TheITWizard]

It is not working. It appears that when the router is using sma rt connect, it will not accept a virtual connection request from the extender. This is a tri band router and only one of the three connections gets an IP address from the router dhcp. The other two connections do not, they are virtual connections. With smart connect turn on the router, it will not accept the virtual connections, therefore the extender fails to connection.

I am looking for either a fix for the router  or a work around. Any ideas?

[StephenB]

---

@TheITWizard wrote:

This is a tri band router

---

@THE R6700v2 is a dual-band router - 450 Mbps @ 2.4ghz +1300Mbps @ 5ghz, with both bands being 3x3.  Did you enter the correct model number in your earlier post? 

[TheITWizard]

Yes. Right off the router login page. 

Router R6700v2  Firmware Version V1.2.0.24_1.0.1

Extender EX8000 Firmware Version: V1.0.1.186

[StephenB]

---

@TheITWizard wrote:

Yes. Right off the router login page. 

Router R6700v2  Firmware Version V1.2.0.24_1.0.1

Extender EX8000 Firmware Version: V1.0.1.186

---

Ok.  Well, the router certainly isn't triband.  Were you meaning to say that the extender is triband?

Also, have you confirmed that that the extender works properly with Smart Connect turned off?

[TheITWizard]

Yes. The extender does connect OK when Smart Connect is turned off at the router. I wish to use the router with Smart Connect on and the Extender (with Smart Connect on). It provides the optimum experience for all connected devices.

[TheITWizard]

Does anyone have a fix for my problem? Netgear support has no clue.