Table of Contents

Set-up

Connection Wizard
Mode Settings

Advanced

Connection to Hub/Router
Extended Wireless Network
Wireless Advanced Settings
WPS Settings
Device List

System

Connection Status
System Information
Change Admin password
Firmware Upgrade
Reboot


Set-up

Connection Wizard

Back to Contents

Shows the current broadband router connection (if already connected) and the Wi-Fi Extender settings.
Use the connection wizard to guide you through connecting the wi-fi extender with broadband router/hub.

Wireless Connection to Router/Hub

This shows the wireless details of your connection back to your broadband hub/router.
If the connection status is Disconnected, the wireless network /SSID and security will be blank until a connection has been set up.
Click Start to set up a connection.

Extender Wireless Network

This shows the settings of your Extender's two wireless networks .
Those networks names are optional and are only used during set up if your router doesn't support WPS. We always recommend using WPS if your hub/router supports it.

After set-up, during normal use as an extension to your router, your devices connect using the usual wireless network name and key from your router; there's no need to connect your device to the extender.

Connection Wizard: Step 1

This screen lets you select your broadband hub/router you wish to connect to.

If your hub/router does not appear in the list, click on Refresh to update the network list.

To connect to a hidden network or to enter settings manually, click on Advanced in the top menu bar and type your settings under Connection to Router.

Connection Wizard: Step 2

To connect the extender to your selected broadband hub/router, enter the wireless key for the broadband router, then click Finish.

When you click Finish, you'll lose connection to your browser; it may display a network unavailable error which you can ignore. When the extender connects to your hub/router, it switches off its extender NetComm network name. So if your device was connected to this name for set-up purpose, the connection will end.

Your devices can now use the wi-fi extension without further set-up by using the same network name and key as your main broadband hub/router.


Mode Settings

Back to Contents

On this page you can choose your Wi-Fi Extender work mode.

Please note: switching mode need to restart the device to take effect.


Advanced

Connection to Hub/Router

Back to Contents

This section allows you to you manually configure the connection between your wi-fi extender and your wireless hub/router. You'll need to know the network name (SSID), security mode and the wireless key of your hub/router.

For automatic connection, go back to Set-up menu and click Start.

Wireless Key

This is the wireless key (pass phrase) of your hub/router.


Extended Wireless Network

Back to Contents

This section allows you to change the network name (SSID) and security settings of your Wi-Fi Extender.
In most cases, you shouldn't need to change these settings. By default your extender will relay the wireless settings from your main hub/router so your devices can benefit from the extension without further set up.
You may choose to change these settings if you want the extended network to use different network name and security settings to your main broadband hub/router; however under normal use you shouldn't need to do this.

If you make changes to the wireless network/SSID and/or security settings, ensure you write them down as you will need to enter them on any devices you wish to connect.
You can restore the default settings by using the "Reset" pinhole on the top of the Wi-Fi Extender. (use a paper clip or other thin object and press the button for 1 sec)

2.4GHz Bands Settings

These are the names that are broadcast to identify your Wi-Fi Extender for connecting new devices.
The default wireless network/SSIDs are unique and set to 'NetComm XXXX' where X are random alphanumeric characters.
You can change the Wireless network/SSID using up to 32 alphanumeric characters (case-sensitive).

Advice for choosing a Wireless network/SSID

  1. Characters ? " $ [ \ + aren't allowed
  2. Name can't start with ! #
  3. No <space> at start or end

Channel

There is no option to select the 2.4GHz channel because the extender uses the same channel as your main router for that band.

Wireless Security

These settings allow you to change the wireless security for each of your wireless networks (SSID) on your Wi-Fi Extender. If you don't select any of the encryption methods wireless data can be intercepted by unauthorised users.

WPA & WPA2 (Recommended)

WPA (WiFi Protected Access) is the next generation of security for wireless networks and offers improved security over WEP. Your Wi-Fi Extender is set to WPA & WPA2 by default.

Select WPA & WPA2 if all your wireless devices support WPA (check the instructions supplied with your wireless devices)

We recommend that you use the default WPA & WPA2 setting if all the wireless devices connecting to your Wi-Fi Extender support a combination of WPA or WPA2 as this setting is best for interoperability across a wider range of devices.

If using WPA & WPA2, your Wi-Fi Extender will accept devices that only support WPA and newer devices that can use WPA2. This is the default setting that guarantees the highest level of wireless security for all your devices.

Advice for a secure Wireless key

To help make your Wireless key as secure as possible, please make sure that it:

  • is at least 10 characters long, but no more than 63
  • is a combination of numbers, upper-case letters (or 'CAPITALS'), lower-case (or 'small') letters
  • does contain punctuation, but no spaces
  • is not a name or a dictionary word
  • does not repeat the same character one after another (e.g. aabbccdd00)
  • is not a commonly used key like 'abcd1234', 'welcome1', etc
  • is not the same as information given elsewhere (e.g. your Admin password, serial number, MAC address or wireless network/SSID

WEP

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) offers a standard level of security and is supported by older wireless devices.
Select WEP if you wish to connect older wireless adapters that don't support WPA (see below).


Wireless Advanced Settings

Back to Contents

Through this page, you can set advanced configuration parameters of the wireless, in general, keep the default configuration.

Fragmentation Length / CTS/RTS Threshold / Preamble Mode

These settings are reserved for wireless testing and advanced configuration only. Do not change these settings.

Transmit Power Control

This display the Wi-Fi Extender's available transmit power. You can adjust it as required.


WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) Settings

Back to Contents

Your Wi-Fi Extender has a Wireless WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button which supports PBC and PIN mode to Connect.

This means easy connection to a WPS-enabled PC (running Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista with Service Pack 2):

  1. use your PC's wireless network connection manager to select your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender network name/SSID
  2. when prompted press the Wireless WPS button on your device. For other types of WPS-device follow the device's instructions to activate WPS on the device itself (often this is simply a press of a WPS button)
  3. then simply press the PBC button on your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender
  4. if you use the PIN mode, please enter the pin code generated by the client, and then click the PIN button to connect

Please note: WPS supports None, WPA2-PSK(AES) and WPA-PSK(TKIP)+WPA2-PSK(AES) wireless security, WPS is not available if your wireless security is set to WEP or WPA-PSK(TKIP).

To find out more about WPS, go to www.wi-fi.org/wifi-protected-setup.


Device List

Back to Contents

This section shows all the devices that are connected to your Wi-Fi Extender.
When you first open this page, the Wi-Fi Extender will scan your local network to identify all devices connected to it. Each device is listed with its MAC Address to uniquely identify them; the MAC address is normally found on labels on products. The Device Name is a name built into the device and can't be changed on the extender; in some cases it may even be blank if the manufacturer hasn't set one up.

Note: To update the device list, click Refresh.


System

Connection status

Back to Contents

This page shows the connection status between your broadband router and the Wi-Fi Extender.

The signal strength will vary according to distance, layout of your home and the environment around your extender and hub/router.


System Information

Back to Contents

Firmware version

Your current firmware version. Visit support.netcommwireless.com/ to check if a newer firmware version is available for your device.

MAC addresses

Your Wi-Fi Extender has three MAC addresses, one for each of its interfaces: 2.4GHz Wireless and Ethernet. You can use these addresses to identify your Wi-Fi Extender on your home network from other devices such as a Broadband router.

If you use The Device Configuration Tool to access this user interface, the Wireless MAC address will be displayed.


System Logs

Back to Contents

The log is a detailed record of the Web sites that users on your network have accessed or attempted to access.

Save
Save the logs.

Clear
Clears the logs completely.

Refresh
Refresh the logs.


Change Admin Password

Back to Contents

The default Administration (Admin) Password of your Wi-Fi Extender has been generated randomly and is unique to your device.

If you wish to change the password:

  1. Enter the Old password
  2. Enter the new password twice, once in New password and again in the Confirm password fields
  3. Click Apply

Please note the following points about your new Admin password:

  • The new password can be up to 32 characters long, but for increased security, it should be as long as possible (at least 8 characters long), contain a mix of letters, numbers and capitalisation, and should also not include dictionary words or common names.
  • Your password is case sensitive
  • If you change your password, keep a note of it somewhere safe

If you forget your password, you can restore the default value by using the reset button on the bottom of your Wi-Fi Extender. Please note, pressing the reset button will restore all settings (EG Wireless Network/SSID, Wireless Security Settings) to their default values, and you'll need to reconnect to your broadband hub/router.

You will have 5 attempts to enter the password correctly. If you do enter it incorrectly 5 times, you will be locked out of Extender for 1 minute. If that happens, close your browser window and try again 1 minute later. Should the password still be incorrect on a subsequent attempt, the amount of time you'll be unable to access Extender will increase until it reaches 15 minutes. At that point you won't be able to enter a password for 15 minutes until it is entered correctly. Turning your Wi-Fi Extender off and on will reset this counter and allow you to have 5 consecutive attempts again.

Once you click 'Apply' to change your password

The new setting takes effect immediately. When you continue to access other pages, you may be prompted to log in again with your new password.


Firmware Update

Back to Contents

Firmware updates may be released periodically to improve the functionality of your Wi-Fi Extender. If you experience problems with your device please check if there is an update available on the NetComm Wireless support website support.netcommwireless.com.

To update the firmware in your Wi-Fi Extender:

  1. first, download the new firmware to your computer (the file will have an .img extension)
  2. click the browse button and select the new firmware
  3. if you wish to retain any settings you have changed, please ensure the Clear Config option is unticked
  4. Click Upload and Install

The update takes approximately 2 minutes after which your Wi-Fi Extender will re-boot. Please do not turn off your device until the update is complete.


Reboot

Back to Contents

Restore the factory default configuration

Click Restore.

Restore the Wi-Fi Extender will restore the factory default configuration.

Please note: Do not try to go online, turn off the Wi-Fi Extender, shut down the computer, or do anything else to the Wi-Fi Extender until the Wi-Fi Extender finishes restarting! When the test light stops blinking, wait a few more seconds before doing anything with the Wi-Fi Extender.

Reboot System

Click Reboot.

Restarting the Wi-Fi Extender does not affect current settings.