N300 WiFi Range Extender Model WN3000RP User Manual September 2014 202-11409-01 350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA
N300 WiFi Range Extender Support Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products. After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web support, visit http://support.netgear.com. Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
N300 WiFi Range Extender Contents Chapter 1 Get to Know Your Extender Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Extender Side and Bottom Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How the Extender Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . When to Use Your Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
N300 WiFi Range Extender Appendix A Supplemental Information Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Get to Know Your Extender 1 This chapter covers the following topics: • Front Panel • Extender Side and Bottom Panels • How the Extender Works • When to Use Your Extender For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at http://support.netgear.com. Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time at downloadcenter.netgear.com.
N300 WiFi Range Extender Front Panel The LEDs are located on the front panel. Router Client Arrow Arrow LED LED Router Link LED Client Link LED Power LED WPS LED Figure 1. Extender front panel Table 1. LEDs LED Description Router Link LED The connection between the extender and the router or access point. • Solid green. Best connection. • Solid amber. Good connection. • Solid red. Poor connection. • Off. No connection.
N300 WiFi Range Extender Extender Side and Bottom Panels Buttons are located on the side panel has buttons. The Factory Reset button and an Ethernet port are located on the bottom panel. Power On/Off button WPS button Factory Reset button Ethernet port Figure 2. Extender side and bottom panels How the Extender Works The extender increases the distance of a WiFi network. The extender connects to your network’s WiFi signal and it broadcasts its own WiFi signal.
N300 WiFi Range Extender When to Use Your Extender NETGEAR recommends that you connect to the extender only when your WiFi network connection is poor. Data traffic routed through the extender is inherently slower than traffic routed directly from the network.
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N300 WiFi Range Extender Install the Extender as a Range Extender The extender connects to your network’s WiFi signal and then rebroadcasts that signal to extend the WiFi signal coverage. Place the Extender and Apply Power NETGEAR recommends that you place the extender near the router during initial setup. Then move it farther away from the router as needed to increase the area that receives a WiFi signal. To place the extender: 1. Place your extender in the same room as your WiFi router. 2.
N300 WiFi Range Extender The extender’s wireless network name (SSID) changes to your existing WiFi network name, with _EXT at the end of the name, for example: • Existing WiFi network name. MyNetworkName • New extended network name. MyNetworkName_EXT 4. Connect your WiFi devices to the new extended network. Use the same WiFi password that you use for your WiFi router. 5. Unplug the extender and move it to a new location closer to the area with a poor WiFi signal.
N300 WiFi Range Extender The NETGEAR genie screen displays. 3. Select the WiFi Range Extender (Wireless) radio button and click the Continue button. The extender finds WiFi networks in your area and displays a list. 4. Select a WiFi network to extend and click the Continue button. 5. When prompted, type the network password (also called passphrase or security key) in the Password field and click the Continue button. 6.
N300 WiFi Range Extender The settings are applied and the following screen displays: On iPads, iPhones, and MacBook computers, this screen closes automatically. 7. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to connect to the extender’s newly created WiFi network. Repeat this step for all of your computers and WiFi devices. 8. If the screen is still displayed on your computer or device, select the check box shown in the following figure and click the Continue button.
N300 WiFi Range Extender The Power LED lights green within one minute. If the Power LED does not light, press the Power button. on the front panel to help you choose a spot where the 12. Use the Router Link LED extender-to-router connection is optimal. Find the Best Location If the WiFi signal is weak, the first time you join the extender network, an arrow LED blinks for two minutes. If this happens, adjust the position of the extender. Use the following table to understand the arrow LEDs. Table 2.
N300 WiFi Range Extender Connect an Ethernet-Enabled Device After the extender connects to your existing WiFi network, you can connect a wired device to the extender using an Ethernet cable. That device can then access your existing network through the extender’s WiFi connection. Figure 4.
N300 WiFi Range Extender To install the extender as an access point: 1. Place your extender in the same room as your WiFi router. 2. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet. The Power LED lights green within one minute. If the Power LED does not light, press the Power button. 3. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to find and connect to the NETGEAR_EXT (SSID) WiFi network. After the connection with the computer or WiFi device is established, the Client Link LED lights. 4.
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N300 WiFi Range Extender Log In to the Extender After Initial Setup After installation, you can log in to the extender to view or change its settings. To log in to the extender after the initial setup: 1. Connect a computer or WiFi device to the extender’s network. 2. Launch a web browser and in the address field, enter www.mywifiext.net or www.mywifiext.com. A login screen displays. 3. Enter admin for the user name and password for the password.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 3. Type admin for the user name and password for the password. If you already changed the password and want to change it again, type your personalized password. 4. Select Maintenance > Set Password. 5. Type the old password, and type the new password twice. 6. To be able to recover the password, select the Enable Password Recovery check box. NETGEAR recommends that you enable password recovery. 7. Click the Apply button. Your changes take effect.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 4. Select Maintenance > Set Password. 5. Select the Enable Password Recovery check box. 6. Select two security questions and provide answers to them. 7. Click the Apply button. Your changes are saved. To recover your password: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. In the address field of your browser, enter http://www.mywifiext.net. A login screen displays. 2. Click the Cancel button.
N300 WiFi Range Extender To use the Setup Wizard to connect the extender to a WiFi network: 1. On your computer, launch a web browser. 2. In the address field of your browser, enter http://www.mywifiext.net. You are prompted to enter a user name and password. If you do not see the login prompt, make sure to include http:// when you type http://www.mywifiext.net in your browser. 3. Type admin for the user name and password for the password.
N300 WiFi Range Extender The settings are applied and the following screen displays: 9. Use a WiFi network manager on the computer or WiFi device to connect to the extender’s newly created WiFi network. 10. Enter your password. Your computer or wireless device connects to the network. Add a WPS Client to the Extender Network A WPS client is a computer or wireless device. WPS lets you add a wireless computer or device to the extender’s WiFi network without typing the WiFi password.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 4. Select Add WPS Client. 5. Click the Next button. 6. Select a setup method: • Push button. Click the WPS button on this screen. • PIN Number. The screen adjusts. Enter the client security PIN, and click the Next button. 7. Within two minutes, go to the client device and use its WPS software to connect to the WiFi network. The WPS process automatically sets up your wireless computer with the network password when it connects.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 6. In the Region list, select your region. In some locations, you cannot change this setting. 7. To change the wireless channel, select a number in the Channel list. In some regions, not all channels are available. Do not change the channel unless you experience interference (shown by lost connections or slow data transfers). If this happens, experiment with different channels to see which is the best.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 5. Under Security Options, select a radio button for a WPA option. The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security, but some older computers and wireless devices cannot use WPA2. By default, the WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] radio button is selected so that new or old computers and wireless devices can connect to the WiFi network by using either WPA2 or WPA security. The Passphrase field displays. 6. In the Passphrase field, enter the network key (password).
N300 WiFi Range Extender If you already changed the password, type your personalized password. 4. Select Advanced > Wireless Settings. 5. Select or clear the Enable Wireless Access Point check box. When this check box is selected, the extender allows WiFi connections. Clearing this check box prevents wireless devices from connecting to the extender. LAN devices can still connect to the extender over an Ethernet cable. 6. Select or clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 4. Select Advanced > Wireless Settings. All the check boxes are selected by default. 5. Select or clear the check boxes: • Enable Wireless Access Point. When this check box is selected, the extender allows WiFi connections. Clearing this check box prevents wireless devices from connecting to the extender. LAN devices can still connect to the extender over an Ethernet cable. • Enable SSID Broadcast.
N300 WiFi Range Extender the network configuration utilities of the computer. You might also find the MAC addresses on the Network Devices screen (see View Wired and Wireless Network Devices on page 35). CAUTION: If you use a wireless device to set up the access list, add your wireless device to the access list. Otherwise, you are disconnected when you click the Apply button. To avoid this situation, use a computer with a wired connection to access the extender.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 8. In the MAC Address field, type the MAC address of the wireless device. 9. Click the Apply button. The Wireless Card Access List screen displays. 10. Select the Turn Access Control On check box. 11. Click the Apply button. Now only computers and devices in the Wireless Card Access List can join the extender’s WiFi networks. Set Up the Extender to Use a Static IP Address By default, the extender gets its IP address dynamically from the router in your network.
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N300 WiFi Range Extender Back Up the Extender Configuration When the extender works correctly after initial setup, NETGEAR recommends that you back up the extender configuration settings. After you have backed up the settings, if you change the extender settings but are not content with the new settings, you can restore the backed-up configuration settings. To back up the extender configuration settings: 1. On your computer, launch a web browser. 2.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 3. Type admin for the user name and password for the password. If you already changed the password, type your personalized password. 4. Select Maintenance > Backup Settings. 5. Click the Browse button. 6. Locate and select the previously saved backup file. By default, the name of the backup file is NETGEAR_WN3000RP.cfg.
N300 WiFi Range Extender To restore factory settings: 1. Insert a paper clip into the Factory Reset hole and hold it until the Power LED blinks amber. Factory Reset button 2. Release the button. All the LEDs turn off for about three seconds. The Power LED lights solid amber for about 30 seconds. The Power LED lights solid green. The extender returns to its factory settings.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 4. Select Maintenance > Backup Settings. CAUTION: After you click the Erase button, do not try to go online, turn off the extender, shut down the computer, or do anything else to the extender until it finishes restarting! 5. Click the Erase button. A confirmation pop-up screen displays. 6. Confirm your decision. The extender restarts. This process takes about one minute.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 4. Select Maintenance > Firmware Upgrade. 5. Click the Check button. 6. If new firmware is available, follow the onscreen prompts to download it onto your computer. Note: You might need to unzip the firmware file. 7. Click the Browse button. 8. Locate and select the new firmware file. CAUTION: After you click the Upload button, do not try to go online, turn off the extender, shut down the computer, or do anything else to the extender until it finishes restarting! 9.
N300 WiFi Range Extender 4. Select Maintenance > Network Devices. For each wired and wireless device, the IP address, device name, and MAC addresses display. 5. (Optional) Click the Refresh button. The screen is updated.
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N300 WiFi Range Extender FAQs This section provides answers for difficulties you might experience with the extender. The NETGEAR genie Smart Setup keeps asking me for my network security key (passphrase), and I am sure that I entered the correct passphrase. What can I do? The extender is probably placed at the borderline of the range covered by the router or access point. For more information, see Place the Extender and Apply Power on page 10.
N300 WiFi Range Extender To get the translated MAC address: 1. Log in to your router and disable the MAC filter, wireless access control, or ACL. For more information about how to disable your router’s MAC filter, wireless access control, or ACL, see your router’s documentation. 2. Power on the extender and connect all of your WiFi devices to the extender network. 3. Make sure that the Client Link LED remains lit. 4. Log in to your extender. a. Launch a web browser and in the address field, enter www.
N300 WiFi Range Extender Cannot Join the Extender WiFi Network To join a WiFi network, you must know its network name (also called the SSID) so that you can select it. If the network is secure, you must know the passphrase or key. If the extender does not connect to the network that you select, the following message displays: Connection was not established to the selected network.
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N300 WiFi Range Extender Factory Default Settings The following table lists the factory settings for the extender. You can use the Factory Reset button or the Erase feature to return the extender to these settings. (See Return the Extender to Its Factory Settings on page 32.) Table 4.
N300 WiFi Range Extender Table 5. Technical specifications (continued) Extender Specifications Environmental • • • Interface • • Operating temperature: 32° to 140°F (0° to 40°C) Operating humidity: 90% maximum relative humidity, noncondensing Electromagnetic emissions: Meets requirements of FCC Part 15 Class B. Local: 10BASE-T, 100BASE-Tx, RJ-45 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.
