So, you have completed the initial setup of your Netgear wireless range extender. It is now ready to extend the existing WiFi network and increase the WiFi coverage in your home. You can connect your devices to its WiFi via Netgear_ext SSID and enjoy lag-free internet even in those areas where you never had WiFi earlier. But before you do so, is there something that you need to do after you have set up your WiFi extender? Well, if you have this query in your mind then let us tell you that of course there’s something that you should consider doing.
This post will help you gain a good insight into all those changes and updates that you can make to your WiFi extender before you begin enjoying its WiFi.
Netgear Extender Setup Done. What’s Next?
Now that you have completed setting up your Netgear WiFi extender, you should do what is mentioned in this section. Although it is not mandatory to perform these steps, if you do, you will be at an advantage. You will get more information on why you should perform each step mentioned ahead in the upcoming sections.
Let us now shed light on the steps that you should take after the setup process:
1. Relocate the WiFi Extender
We hope you have already completed this step. After the setup, the extender can be placed at a different location that is a little away from the router. The whole purpose of a WiFi extender is to extend the existing WiFi signals and eliminate WiFi dead spots. This can be done by placing the extender near the area where you do not get WiFi signals from the router.
Thus, relocate the WiFi extender to a place that is somewhere in between the router and the area with no WiFi. Since the extender takes in the input signals from the router, placing it within the range of the router is essential.
Choose an open and airy space and place it on a higher shelf for better signal transmission.
2. Change the WiFi & Admin Password
While setting up your Netgear WiFi extender, you must have noticed that it is assigned default values like the SSID, WiFi password, admin password, etc. These values are the same for most Netgear extender models. That weakens your network security. Anyone can have access to your network and anyone on the local network can log in to your WiFi extender admin panel.
It is thus suggested to change the default values. You have the option of making changes to the values during the setup process. But if you haven’t done it then, you should do it now.
You need to log in to the extender using the login URL mywifiext.net or the IP address, go to its settings, and update the passwords.
Consider changing the passwords once in three months to secure your network.
3. Update the Firmware Version
Finally, we recommend you update the firmware on your Netgear WiFi extender to the latest version. If you skipped updating the firmware during the setup procedure, then you should get it done right now.
Having the latest firmware installed on the extender has many benefits. A simple update brings new features, bug fixes, added security and overall performance enhancement of the extender. With so many benefits entailed, you must get your extender updated timely.
To get the firmware updated, you can use the web interface or use the Nighthawk app. We recommend referring to the user manual to learn the exact instructions about the Netgear extender firmware update.
In a Nutshell
This is all about what you should do once the Netgear extender setup is done. After you relocate your extender to a new place, connect to its network and check the WiFi strength. Try different locations and decide the best one wherein you are getting a better WiFi range.
After you have changed the Netgear WiFi extender password, all the devices that you connected to its WiFi will get disconnected. Go ahead and manually connect to the network using the updated WiFi password.
Apart from this, we suggest you keep an eye on the firmware updates rolled out by Netgear. Get your extender updated right away as soon as you see an update ready for it.
