Netgear WiFi extender not seen by router question

Chris Wilson · 7 Jan 2018 at 12:10

Netgear WiFi extender not seen by router
I bought a Netgear WiFi extender and although my Android phone can see the extender and connect to it, the router, even with the extender 2 feet away and after a factory reset of the extender, does not list it. I link to a screen shot. Does this suggest the extender is faulty or am I missing something? Thanks.

http://www.gatesgarth.com/router.jpg

Orcvader · 7 Jan 2018 at 13:22

Can the extender see the router? Does devices connected to the extender have access to the internet?

Chris Wilson · 7 Jan 2018 at 13:37

Orcvader said:
Can the extender see the router? Does devices connected to the extender have access to the internet?

The only thing that sees the extender is my Android cell phone. that sees it but the phone's WiFi info says no internet connection. It also sees the router itself and connects to the internet fine direct through the router. The router's home page in my first post shows the router only seeing the Android cell phone. If I log in to the extender's home page it says "You are not connected to your extender's WiFi network". Does that help at all? Thanks for the speedy reply!

Orcvader · 7 Jan 2018 at 13:52

You need to access the extender's homepage, then there should be a setup option to connect to the router. Do you not see that at all?

Chris Wilson · 7 Jan 2018 at 14:02

Orcvader said:
You need to access the extender's homepage, then there should be a setup option to connect to the router. Do you not see that at all?

No, I do not see this at all.
I assume that I need to access it via my cell phone, rather than my PC which is hard wired to the router? If I try to access the home page via the cell phone it says it's not connected. The booklet talks about connecting to the router home page to get the IP address of the extender, but of course the router isn't seeing it to get this...I did see on line about connecting the PC via an ethernet cable. As none of my PC's have WiFi (all are on cables) maybe I need to do that? Or use a WiFi dongle in my laptop, I think I have one? Sorry for naieve questions, well outside my comfort zone here, as you can tell

Thanks again!

Caged · 7 Jan 2018 at 14:09

What is the model number of the device you have bought?

Is there a section in the user guide for 'WPS Setup' or similar?

Chris Wilson · 7 Jan 2018 at 14:30

I think I have cracked the darned thing. I found a WiFi dongle and put the lap top on WiFi. and this allowed, after a few attempts, for me to connect to the extender's home page, which now showed a New Setup button. It appears the extender is now on line, I just need to verify the router home page sees the extender, which I can do now via remote desktop...Which it does!

So by fumbling and bumbling I seem to have mastered it, thank you Orcvader and Caged, much appreciated

have a good weekend, what's left of it anyway.

Caged: My router hasn't got a WPS button, that did sound and easy way, but I believe it's sorted now, thanks.

Caged · 7 Jan 2018 at 15:52

I'm fairly sure the right-most button on the black strip with the lights in is a WPS button. However, it's known to be insecure so if you aren't using WPS then it's probably best to go into your router settings and disable it.

Chris Wilson · 7 Jan 2018 at 16:22

Caged said:
I'm fairly sure the right-most button on the black strip with the lights in is a WPS button. However, it's known to be insecure so if you aren't using WPS then it's probably best to go into your router settings and disable it.

Well I never, you are of course quite right, it's not a device I have really studied, it just sits up in the attic doing whatever it does. I had guessed it was too old to have a WPS button. If you say it's a security hole I will look at disabling it though, not that I have anything of importance on my home PC's. Thank you!