mfox911

Q: How to repeat wireless signal using Airport Extreme as base, Netgear as repeater

Some input and/or assistance is appreciated.  I purchased a new 802.11ac Airport Extreme.  I have an old Netgear wndr3300 (802.11n, 2.4 or 5GHz).  I'm trying to repeat the 2.4GHz using the Airport Extreme as the master router and the Netgear as the repeater.  The Netgear DOES have an option for repeating in the admin menu.  I've followed what instructions I was given on the admin menu regarding providing the MAC address of the Airport to the Netgear router.  I have had no success finding a place to enter the MAC address of the Netgear router on the Apple router if that is necessary.  Can anyone assist?

Airport Extreme, Windows 8

Posted on Dec 28, 2013 9:31 AM

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Q: How to repeat wireless signal using Airport Extreme as base, Netgear as repeater

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Dec 28, 2013 9:41 AM in response to mfox911
    Level 9 (54,786 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 28, 2013 9:41 AM in response to mfox911

    Most likely you will not be able to extend the wireless range of the 802.11ac AirPort Extreme base station with the Netgear router as most, if not all, non-Apple routers are incompatible for this feature.

     

    However, if the connection between routers can be a wired one, then both routers could be configured for a roaming network.

  • by mfox911,

    mfox911 mfox911 Dec 28, 2013 12:06 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2013 12:06 PM in response to Tesserax

    So just to get some further clarification, are you saying that the repeating function is not possible because the base router is an Apple router and they don't want to play well with others? Or is there another reason that the repeating function would not be possible?  Every tech article I've read, and I've read quite a few, have said that you can use an old router to repeat a signal, it obviously can't repeat above and beyond what it signal capabilities are, but it should be able to be used as a repeater. Please clarify

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Dec 28, 2013 12:45 PM in response to mfox911
    Level 9 (54,786 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 28, 2013 12:45 PM in response to mfox911

    So just to get some further clarification, are you saying that the repeating function is not possible because the base router is an Apple router and they don't want to play well with others?

    Yes.

    Every tech article I've read, and I've read quite a few, have said that you can use an old router to repeat a signal, it obviously can't repeat above and beyond what it signal capabilities are, but it should be able to be used as a repeater.

    Since I do not know what tech articles you have read, I don't know if you are referring to Netgear or Apple routers that can "use an old router to repeat a signal." The only instances where older 802.11g AirPorts have worked with non-Apple routers are for the following models:

     

    • Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not v5)
    • Belkin F5D7230-4 and F5D7231
    • BT Voyager 2091
    • Netgear WGR614 v6
    • Buffalo WGR-G54
  • by EwerD,

    EwerD EwerD Jan 3, 2014 4:03 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 4:03 AM in response to Tesserax

    I second what Tesserax says. I came across this thread when googling the issues I was experiencing. During the hollidays I tried to use my new Airport Extreme 802.11ac base station and my old Netgear DGN 3500 as a repeater on the second floor. Even though I entered the MAC address of my base station in Netgears configuration and configured it accordingly it seems that it just didn't repeat. Got the same signal strength upstairs. I also got strange connecting issues to the base station when using the airport configuration software.

     

    I read and re-read the configuration instructions/tips a few times and searched for a possible solution online as well before I finally gave up. I guess another airport express(?)/extreme would be a better match as described here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259.

  • by brandito1,

    brandito1 brandito1 Feb 14, 2014 9:52 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 14, 2014 9:52 AM in response to Tesserax

    I just found this conversation. I am attempting the same (kinda...) I have a Time Capsule in the living room and I put a WNR2000 Netgear router in the garage. I configured the MAC of the TC into the NG router while it is in Repeater mode. I mirrored the network SSID, the Channel (for 2.4g), changed the NG IP to 10.0.1.33 so it would be in the same range as the TC, and put no password on - for testing.

     

    While in close proximity to the TC, I can successfully browse the web and can log into the NG routers admin panel and view its settings. However, when I go out into the garage, the signal stays very strong, but I lose connectivity to the Internet.

     

    So, it appears that both routers are on the same network and I can reach the NG router while on the TC, but when I cross into the border of the NG routers range, it all stops working.

     

    Any thoughts?

     

    brandito1

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 14, 2014 10:22 AM in response to brandito1
    Level 10 (105,273 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 14, 2014 10:22 AM in response to brandito1
    While in close proximity to the TC, I can successfully browse the web and can log into the NG routers admin panel and view its settings. However, when I go out into the garage, the signal stays very strong, but I lose connectivity to the Internet.

     

    When in close proximity to the TC, the Netgear is picking up a strong signal.

     

    Move the Netgear device out to the garage....but do not power it up.

     

    Log on to the TC wireless, if you can. That very weak and slow signal.....if you can log onto the Internet at all....is the same signal that the Netgear will be receiving.

     

    A repeater or extender or whatever you want to call it can only repeat or extend the quality of signal that it receives. It won't make a slow signal faster or a poor quality signal better.

     

    Therefore, the normal location for an repeater or extender would be a point that is about half way between the TC and and the garage.

     

    Extending this way always results in significant compromises in performance. The extender needs to be close to the TC to get a good signal to extend. At the same time, you want a strong signal from the repeater for devices in the garage, so the extender needs to be close to the garage.

     

    It cannot be close to the TC and be close to the garage at the same time with any method that I know of.

     

    You may need to look at running an Ethernet cable out to the garage if you want good performance out there. Since there is no signal loss in a wire, the device in the garage gets a top quality signal to work with.

  • by brandito1,

    brandito1 brandito1 Feb 16, 2014 2:58 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2014 2:58 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob, thanks so much for the reply. I didn't communicate what the moving was... it was not the router, but me moving around the house with an iPhone. I know the NG is connecting to the TC's network, as I can get to the NG router's admin panel while on the TC and also browse the web (everything is groovy here at this point).

     

    It is when I get clear out of the Time Capsule range that the signal is strong, but the iPhone won't even connect to it (early I said connect to the Internet, but should have stated that it won't even connect to the signal (with no password set too).

     

    I've attached a screenshot of it below if that helps. Just cycles over and over...

     

    Thanks,

    IMG_2108.jpg

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 16, 2014 3:34 PM in response to brandito1
    Level 10 (105,273 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 16, 2014 3:34 PM in response to brandito1

    Try turning off the WiFi on the iPhone and then log back on again to see if the iPhone will pick up the stronger signal.

     

    If it won't....then the Netgear is not extending the network correctly and more troubleshooting will be needed. There are really no settings to look at on the AirPort here.....so you might want to check on a Netgear support forum to see if someone there has solved a similar issue.

     

    If it is not too late, things would be tons easier with a lot fewer headaches if you used devices from the same manfacturer. Either decide to go all Netear or all Apple to insure compatibility among devices.