Unable to connect laptop to N300 EX2700, but can with other devices

[fflanders]

I have successuflly setup my N300 EX2700 WiFi Range Extender and updated to Firmware V1.0.1.52

However:

I did so with an ethernet chord connected to the extender, in the same room as the router.
I am able to connect my phone and tablet wirelessly to the extender, but when I attempt to do so with the very same laptop I setup the extender with, I get the error message 'Windows was unable to connect to Network_EXT.' I am also unable to connect to http://www.mywifiext.net/ from my laptop. (Operating System on the laptop is Windows 7.)

Why would this be?

[Christian_R]

Hi @fflanders - Please refer to the article below. Once you're able to get into the extender's UI, please ensure that your Internet IP address is set to "Get Dynamically IP Address From Router" is enabled. In order to do this go to Setup>Internet Setup.

https://kb.netgear.com/29746/I-can-t-access-www-mywifiext-net-what-do-I-do

~Christian 

[fflanders]

Hi Christian,

What do you mean by, 'once you are able to get into the extender's UI.' By this, do you mean access the http://www.mywifiext.net/

page? How do I do the method: Setup>Internet Setup, to ensure that my Internet IP address is set to "Get Dynamically IP Address From Router" is enabled?

Is this done someplace within the windows OS control panel? Or elsewhere?

Thanks

[Christian_R]

Hi fflanders, 

Correct. Please use http://www.mywifiext.net/ to access the extender's admin page. Once logged into the admin page, please click Setup and then click Internet Setup. After, please click on Get Dynamically IP Address From Router. 

~Christian 

[fflanders]

I can only login with one device, my tablet, and when I do, the screen says at the top:
'Your Wifi extender connection is up and running.' Beneath that is a image depicting the router, the extender, and various device.
Beneath that, a blue button, which says, "SMART SETUP." and then beneath that, various information, such as hardware version, firmware version, and on and on.

If I click on "SMART SETUP," it is basically a do-over of the entire setup process, asking me to "select an existing network you would like to extend."

If I do this, I would have to be in the same room as the router, so I have optimal conditions for connectivity to the router.

Is this the only way to find Internet Setup. After, please click on Get Dynamically IP Address From Router. ?
Or am I missing something?

Thanks

[fflanders]

So, basically, do I have to setup the extender again to access the admin page?

Sorry, for sounding so daft, I simply do not see a way to access the mywifext.net without starting the entire process all over again

Is there a way to simply go in and see the settings and alter then without redoing the entire setup?

thanks

[Christian_R]

Hello fflanders

You may log into the extender's admin page by using a device that is connected to the extender's wifi network. Running through the setup is not necessary to access the admin page.

~Christian 

[fflanders]

Hi Christian,

Please see the attached image: under IP address>Dynamically get IP Address from Router  is selected.

To recapitulate the problem: I can connect with my wireless devices such as a smartphone (which I took this screenshot with) and an old-model nexus7 tablet, but cannot connect with my laptop, which is what I used to setup the N300 WiFi Range Extender. I can see it listed as a wifi option, but it fails to connect everytime I attempt to do so. 

As a reminder, I setup using the laptop with an ethernet cable. Could that be the issue? Should I restore the N300 to the factory settings, and redo the setup wirelessly, without the ethernet cable?

Thanks again

[StephenB]

---

@fflanders wrote:

To recapitulate the problem: I can connect with my wireless devices such as a smartphone (which I took this screenshot with) and an old-model nexus7 tablet, but cannot connect with my laptop, which is what I used to setup the N300 WiFi Range Extender. I can see it listed as a wifi option, but it fails to connect everytime I attempt to do so. 

---

This is a clearer statement of your problem than what was above, so thx for clarifying.

When you connect the laptop to the range extender with ethernet, can you reach the internet (turning the laptop wifi off)?

[fflanders]

"When you connect the laptop to the range extender with ethernet, can you reach the internet (turning the laptop wifi off)?"

Hi. 
Are you asking, can I turn the laptop wifi off when I connect to the range extender with an ethernet cable and still reach the internet? 

Or, can you restate what you would like me to try?

This is how my configuration looks currently (see image attached.)

[StephenB]

---

@fflanders wrote:

Or, can you restate what you would like me to try?

---

I was asking you to 

• turn off the laptop wifi
• connect the laptop to the extender with an ethernet cable
• see if you can reach the internet 

if you can't reach the internet, you could also try to reach www.mywifiext.net.

Also, there is a difference between "can't connect" and "can connect but can't reach the internet".   Are you saying the attempt to connect is being rejected, even though you are entering the correct wifi password?  Or just that you can't reach the internet after you connect?

[fflanders]

Hi Stephen B,

I did as you instructed: turned laptop wifi off, connected to extender with ethernet, and reached the internet.

I was able to reach mywifiext.net and check on things in there, which I was unable to do heretofore (on the laptop, could do so from phone and tablet).

Yes, you are correct, when I choose the extender as an option to connect to, I get the error message, "Windows was unable to connect to...Network_EXT." It offers no explanation as to why. See attached. (However, I am at no point in time being prompted for a wi-fi password.)

[fflanders]

I also went in the setup and saw under the 'connected devices' section WiFi Devices and the checkbox for "enable access control.
I checkmarked that. I'm not sure what this gives priviliges to, but am guessing this mywifixext.net page ? See attached.

[fflanders]

Lastly, someone earlier in this thread mentioned ensuring "dynamically get IP address from Router" was selected on the radio button.
It is (see attached), but yet I still cannot connect to the extender with my laptop.

[StephenB]

---

@fflanders wrote:

I did as you instructed: turned laptop wifi off, connected to extender with ethernet, and reached the internet.

I was able to reach mywifiext.net and check on things in there, which I was unable to do heretofore (on the laptop, could do so from phone and tablet).

Good. So this is specific to WiFi and it only happens on the PC.

---

@fflanders wrote:

I also went in the setup and saw under the 'connected devices' section WiFi Devices and the checkbox for "enable access control.
I checkmarked that. I'm not sure what this gives priviliges to, but am guessing this mywifixext.net page ? See attached.

---

The access control lets you prevent devices from connecting (when you check the "deny" box next to them).  You should probably change it back to the way it was, as it could cause confusion later on.  But it will do nothing unless you check some of the "deny" boxes.

---

@fflanders wrote:

Lastly, someone earlier in this thread mentioned ensuring "dynamically get IP address from Router" was selected on the radio button.
It is (see attached), but yet I still cannot connect to the extender with my laptop.

---

That control tells the extender to get it's own IP address from the router.  It's set the way it should be.  Plus your problem doesn't appear to be related to IP address management (since it is working with ethernet).

Let's try deleting the WiFi profile for Janet's Network_EXT in the PC.  If you are running Windows 10, there is a guide here: https://kb.netgear.com/29889/How-to-delete-a-wireless-network-profile-in-Windows-10

After that's done, you should still see Janet's Network_EXT in the list.  Try connecting again and see if you get the password prompt.

[fflanders]

I followed you instructions, and for a brief moment thought I was successful. I am connected to the netgear extender now, but now

the extender will not connect to the network (router).

I did as instructed and deleted the WiFi profile for Janet's Network_EXT from the laptop, refresed the list, and the connected to it again.
I was prompted to enter an 8-digit PIN. I recalled seeing this PIN in mywifiext.net settings somehere previously, and went back to where it was, copied and entered it. I then connected and had internet access for a few mere moments.

I then unchecked "enable access control' under the 'connected devices' WiFi Devices section, and then it seemed a few minutes later I had no connection using the network_ext with any device. This may only be coincidene that I unchecked this and then lost connectivity to the router.

All of the green lights on the netgear extender are lit up, so I don't see what the problem is.

Again, I can connect to the netgear extender with laptop, phone, and tablet, but the extender does not connect to the internet.

[Christian_R]

Hi fflanders, 

When prompted to enter an 8 digit PIN, there should be an option that says "Connect using a security key instead." If you're able to see that option, please select and enter the security key. 

~Christian 

[fflanders]

I think it may have said security key... I entered the PIN number and it worked.

On a sidenote, I unplugged the extender, plugged it back in and retried to connecting to the network, and everything 

is smooth sailing now. I can connect the laptop to the extender! 

[fflanders]

I think it may have said security key... I entered the PIN number and it worked.

On a sidenote, I unplugged the extender, plugged it back in and retried to connecting to the network, and everything 

is smooth sailing now. I can connect the laptop to the extender! 

[Christian_R]

@fflanders - Glad to hear! Enjoy and thank you for your post as it may helpful others.

~Christian